Vitus Nucleus 27 VRS Mountain Review
- Price: $983
- Frame: Aluminum
- Tires: 27.5 inches
- Gear: 1×10
What we like about it: The time-tested Nucleus geometry offers reassuring stability and agility.
What we don’t like about it: The convenient disassembled wheelset design provides no barrel axle stability in intense riding conditions.
Rating: (4.8/5)
The Vitus Nucleus 27 VRS Mountain is versatile enough to ride anywhere, with excellent capabilities for trail riding, going over rough terrain and overcoming obstacles on trails.
Below, we will analyze the riding experience, key features, components, and specifications as well as other versions of this bike.
Additionally, at the end of the review, we will also compare several best bike models. If you want to know more about bike reviews, don’t hesitate to follow us.
Riding Experience
This bike has a nice geometry with carefully selected components.
It employs a large 29-inch wheelset and 140mm damped fork, giving me strong expectations for its off-road performance.
So I packed it and booked a hotel via IHG Hotels & Resorts.
Windrock Park (Tennessee) has everything from easy to difficult grades, from gravel roads to extremely rugged mountain terrain. It’s a great place to ride.
Climbing
The most immediate riding feeling I got from the Vitus Nucleus 27 VRS Mountain while climbing was the quick and responsive power generation.
This was due to its hardtail aluminum frame that didn’t feel like a letdown when pedaling than a full-suspension mountain bike.
Then, on the steeper climbs, I was able to climb up without too much effort by using the largest gears available with the Shimano M5100 Deore, 170mm, 32t crankset and Sunrace 10 Speed, 11-46T Range flywheel.
Not only that, but the excellent geometry allowed me to maintain an upright riding position at all times, which kept the weight forward and pedaled more crisply on my upward climbing ride.
Decline
The Vitus Nucleus 27 VRS Mountain still gave me credit for its ability to descend as a hardtail trail bike.
First of all, the 120mm travel SR Suntour XCR32 Boost Air LOR DS fork could easily cope with this kind of rocky road, and the swift rebound and contraction reduced the jitter when riding, allowing me to control the bike easily.
On top of that, the aggressive geometry combined with the excellent grip provided by the Maxxis Ardent, 27.5″ x 2.25″ large grain outer tire, allowed me to get through the winding trails quickly.
Finally, the Clarks M2’s hydraulic brakes with the 180mm front and 160mm rear discs had reliable braking ability when I descended and gave me more peace of mind.
All in all, the Vitus Nucleus 27 VRS Mountain is a well-balanced hardtail trail bike with all-round performance. And the price really doesn’t let me find fault with it.
Specification
The Vitus Nucleus 27 VRS Mountain is available in a total of (S-XL) 4 sizes of aluminum frames for external cable routing.
This facilitates the maintenance and replacement of the cable ducts.
First, the looser geometry and 29-inch wheel diameter with a 2.6-inch outer tire give it a stable, high-speed descending performance.
The tried-and-true Nucleus geometry, coupled with the 27.5-inch wheelset, has good control as the trail winds its way through twists and turns, with reassuring stability and agility.
Next, the top tube and seat tube are reinforced to give the whole bike a stronger frame. This also provides the rider with the confidence to ride more intensely.
Finally, the mounting holes at the lower tube can support full-size kettle installation, which certainly brings more convenience.
Video
Other versions
The Vitus Nucleus 27 VRS Mountain is an all-round excellent hardtail trail bike, with the tried-and-true Nucleus geometry offering reassuring stability and agility, but for a more stable descent ride, the larger 29-inch wheelset would perform even better.
For this purpose we offer a hardtail trail bike with the same geometry aluminum frame under the same brand, but with a larger diameter wheelset for increased passability and stability.
Vitus Nucleus 29 VRS Mountain
The Vitus Nucleus 27 VRS Mountain and Vitus Nucleus 29 VRS Mountain share the same geometry and external cable routing on the frame, which facilitates daily maintenance.
Next, in terms of component selection, the Vitus Nucleus 29 VRS Mountain employs the SR Suntour XCR32 fork with 120mm of damping travel. The same Shimano drivetrain components and Clarks M2 brake components are used as on the Vitus Nucleus 27 VRS Mountain.
However, the biggest difference between the two bikes is that the Vitus Nucleus 29 VRS Mountain uses a larger wheelset, which is faster and smoother on the descent, and has better passing power.
So between these two nearly identical hardtail trail bikes, the Vitus Nucleus 27 VRS Mountain will operate more nimbly and the Vitus Nucleus 29 VRS Mountain will ride smoother and faster.
Below, we will list the specific parameters of the Vitus Nucleus 27 VRS Mountain in detail and some other brands of hardtail trail bikes at similar prices for your reference.
What do we like about it?
- The character of a mountain bike in line with radical geometry helps newbies love riding.
- The whole bike is designed with external cable routing, which will be more convenient for the maintenance.
- It enjoys a light and agile handling, helping effortlessly traverse the trails quickly.
- Hydraulic disc brakes are responsive under all conditions and have reliable performance.
- Shimano Deore’s drivetrain ensures fast and light shifts during the ride.
- SR Suntour XCR32 Supercharged 120mm travel fork with air spring for longer shock travel than any other mountain bike in its class.
What don’t we like about it?
- Although with Easy disassembly wheelset design, it lacks no barrel axle stability in intense riding conditions.
FAQ
- What kind of wheelset does this bike use?
Front wheelset: Vitus KT MS6F, 32h, 6 Bolt Disc Fitment, 110mm x 15mm Thru-Axle.
Rear wheelset: Vitus KT K68R, 32h, 6 Bolt Disc Fitment, 135mm x 9mm QR.
- Is it suitable for newcomers?
It boasts excellent frame and carefully selected components, but at the right price, so it will be specifically tailored to the needs of novice mountain bikers.
- How do I choose the right size?
Here we provide you with a size chart, but of course you do not have to follow this standard. The best way to find the most suitable size is to test ride.
| Rider height | SIZE |
| 5’2″ – 5’7″ | S |
| 5’5″ – 5’11” | M |
| 5’9″ – 6’3″ | L |
| 6’1″ – 6’8″ | XL |
Specs
Build
| Frame | Nucleus Aluminium 6061-T6, BSA Threaded BB, IS Disc Brake Mounts, 135mm x 9mm QR Rear Dropouts BB Standard: BSA, 73mm, Threaded Color: Oryx Grey |
| Fork | SR Suntour XCR32 Boost Air LOR DS, 120mm Travel, 27.5″, 1.5″ – 1 1/8″ Tapered Steerer, Post Mount Brake Mounts, 110mm x 15mm Thru-Axle, Air Spring |
| Rear Shock | N/A, N/A |
| Bottom Bracket | Shimano Hollowtech, BSA Threaded BB, 73mm Shell |
| Headset | Neco ZS44/28.6 upper & ZS56/39.8 lower, 1-1/8″ Upper To 1.5″ Lower Headtube To Suit Tapered Steerer |
| Stem | Vitus 50mm Reach, Alloy, 31.8mm Handlebar Clamp Diameter, 3° Rise |
| Handlebar | Nukeproof Neutron V2 Riser, 6061 Alloy, 25mm Rise, 9° Back Sweep, 31.8mm Clamp Diameter, 760mm Wide S/M, 780mm Wide L/XL |
| Saddle | Nukeproof Neutron, N/A |
| Seatpost | Vitus 6061 Alloy, 31.6mm Diameter x 400mm Long |
| Grips | Vitus Lock On, N/A |
Groupset
| Rear Derailleur | Shimano Deore M5120 10 Speed, Shadow Plus, Clutch |
| Front Derailleur | N/A, N/A |
| Crank | Shimano M5100 Deore, 170mm, 32t Narrow Wide Chainring, for 73mm BB |
| Shifters | Shimano Deore M4100 10 Speed, Optical Gear Display |
| Cassette | Sunrace 10 Speed, 11-46T Range |
| Chain | KMC X10, 112 Link |
| Brakes | Clarks M2, Two Piston Calliper |
Wheels
| Rims | Clarks M2, Two Piston Calliper |
| Front Hub | Vitus KT MS6F, 32h, 6 Bolt Disc Fitment, 110mm x 15mm Thru-Axle |
| Rear Hub | Vitus KT K68R, 32h, 6 Bolt Disc Fitment, 135mm x 9mm QR |
| Tires | Maxxis Ardent, 27.5″, 2.25″ Width |
| Disk Rotors | Clarks M2, 180mm Front, 160mm Rear, 6 Bolt Hub Fitment |
Comparison Table
| Bicycles | Click View | Travel | Frame | Brake | Drivetrain |
| Trek Marlin 6 Gen 2 | Click View | 100mm front | Aluminum | Hydraulic Disc | 1 × 10 |
| GT Aggressor Expert | Click View | 80mm front | Aluminum | Hydraulic Disc | 3 × 8 |
| Norco Storm 1 29 | Click View | 100mm front | Aluminum | Hydraulic Disc | 1 × 11 |
| Orbea ALMA H30 | Click View | 100mm front | Aluminum | Hydraulic Disc | 1 × 12 |
Vitus Nucleus 27 VRS Mountain vs Trek Marlin 6 Gen 2
Comparing the Vitus Nucleus 27 VRS Mountain with the Trek Marlin 6 Gen 2, I would recommend the former more because it comes with better components.
In terms of damping, the Nucleus 27 VRS Mountain uses the SR Suntour XCR32 Boost Air LOR DS fork with longer travel and better support as well as lubrication than the Marlin 6 Gen 2 Suntour XCT 30.
In terms of drivetrain components, both bikes use similar Shimano drivetrain components, giving them similar drivetrain efficiency and shifting feel.
Speaking of braking components, the Clarks M2 brakes on the front of the bike are stronger than the Tektro HD-M275 brakes on the back of the Marlin 6 Gen 2.
In the end, between these two hardtail trail bikes, the Vitus Nucleus 27 VRS Mountain will perform better and I would recommend it more.
Learn More: Is Trek Marlin 6 Worth Buying? [Trek Marlin 6 Review]
Vitus Nucleus 27 VRS Mountain VS GT Aggressor Expert
The Vitus Nucleus 27 VRS Mountain and the GT Aggressor Expert are two hardtail trail bikes with their own specialties.
The first difference lies in their drivetrain components. The front bike uses a higher grade Shimano shifting system, and the 1×10 speed makes it more suitable for off-road riding than the latter’s Shimano Tourney 3×8 speed, but the latter will be faster on flat roads.
As for the fork, the Nucleus 27 VRS Mountain’s SR Suntour XCR32 Boost Air LOR DS fork has longer travel than the Aggressor ExpertSR’s Suntour XCM-DS, which has a better ability to cope with complex roads.
In terms of brakes, the former Clarks M2 brakes have faster brake response and better braking effort than the Tektro HD-M275 brakes on the rear Marlin 6 Gen 2.
So, between these two bikes, I would recommend the Vitus Nucleus 27 VRS Mountain, which has more advanced components and better handling of complex roads.
Learn More: Is GT Aggressor Comp Worth Buying? [GT Aggressor Comp Review]
Vitus Nucleus 27 VRS Mountain vs Norco Storm 1 29
The Vitus Nucleus 27 VRS Mountain and Norco Storm 1 29 are both excellent and good hardtail trail bikes, both with their own merits.
In terms of damping, the former’s SR Suntour XCR32 Boost Air LOR DS fork has longer travel and lubrication than the latter’s Suntour XCM HLO.
When it comes to drivetrain components, both are Shimano Deore RD-M5100, but the latter has more speed.
As for the braking system, Nucleus 27 VRS Mountain’s Clarks M2 will have more braking power than Storm 1 29’s Tektro HD-M275.
However, the Norco Storm 1 29 has an elevated seat tube design that keeps the center of gravity stable between climbs and descents.
Finally, if you like the internal cable routing and dropper design then the Norco Storm 1 29 will be more suitable for you.
For a better ride when descending, the Vitus Nucleus 27 VRS Mountain is worth choosing.
Learn More: Is Norco Storm 1 Worth Buying? – [Norco Storm 1 Review]
Vitus Nucleus 27 VRS Mountain VS Orbea ALMA H30
The latter will have a higher grade in terms of components and will be correspondingly more expensive.
First of all, the Nucleus 27 VRS Mountain has longer damping travel, but the latter’s RockShox Judy damping has better initial sensitivity and performs better on continuous bumpy and rocky roads.
Then on the drivetrain components, the latter uses the higher grade Shimano Deore M6100, which is more efficient than the former, and the shifting feel will be more smooth.
As for the braking kits, both bikes enjoy excellent braking ability and both employ trustworthy brakes.
Overall, if you have enough budget then the Orbea ALMA H30 is really better; if you don’t want to spend too much money, the Vitus Nucleus 27 VRS Mountain is worth your money.
Summary
Above is my review of the Vitus Nucleus 27 VRS Mountain ride. In our opinion, this is a great bike for the money in its class at a similar price point and is suitable for every rider. That’s why we gave it a 4.8 rating.
Of course, if you’re interested in exploring other similar bikes, we have reviewed a variety of bikes at different price points that you might find interesting. Feel free to check out our other reviews as well.
Lastly, if you enjoy our content, please consider sharing it with your friends! If you find our content helpful, you can also click on the subscription button below to receive updates via email. Thank you for your support！
