Vitess

city799–4500 EUR

Origin

2012. The Vitess was Bergamont's answer to the European city/trekking market — a sporty commuter that doesn't sacrifice practicality for looks. From launch it came with full StVZO equipment (dynamo, fenders, rack) as standard, positioning it squarely at the German/Northern European all-weather commuter.

Specifications

Frame: AL-6061 'ultra lite tubing' aluminium; Gent (diamond), Lady (trapezoid) or Amsterdam (full step-through) frame, 28"/700c
Weight: kg
Drivetrain: Vitess 6: Shimano Deore derailleur; N7: Nexus 7-speed hub; N8 Belt: Shimano Nexus/Alfine 8-speed hub + Gates CDN Carbon belt (near maintenance-free)
Brakes: Hydraulic disc (Shimano BL-MT200 on N8 Belt)
Wheels: 28" / 700c; hub dynamo (Shimano DH-3D37 centerlock on belt variants)

The verdict

+Strengths

Full StVZO equipment standard on ALL acoustic Vitess — dynamo, fenders, rack included, not optional
Gates Carbon Drive belt + Shimano hub gear (N8 Belt) = nearly zero maintenance. No oil, no chain wear, silent operation.
TQ-HPR50 on E-Vitess: 'surprisingly torquey shove around town', 'light and nimble for an e-urban bike', 'slicing through traffic and making lane changes easy' (opticycles)
E-Vitess Elite at 19.6kg — light for a fully-equipped city e-bike
Schwalbe Marathon Almotion / Efficiency tyres — puncture protection + low rolling resistance + reflective stripe
Carbon fork on E-Vitess variants — lower maintenance than suspension fork, better vibration damping than alloy
E-Vitess brake light function — rear safety in urban traffic
Wide size range on acoustic (48–64cm) — covers very tall riders

−Weaknesses

E-Vitess battery non-removable (360Wh InTube) — cannot charge indoors without bringing entire bike. Critical issue for apartment dwellers.
360Wh is small — range 30–50km 'tailored to short, sweat-free runs rather than marathon commutes' (opticycles). Long-distance commuters need more.
E-Vitess Expert hub gear = 5-speed Nexus only — narrow range for hillier terrain
Bergamont does not publicly acknowledge TQ motor — no marketing support, harder for buyers to research motor specs and service
Acoustic Vitess alloy fork on base models (carbon only on E-Vitess) — heavier and slightly harsher ride
Limited English-language press coverage of Vitess vs Trek FX, Specialized Sirrus, Giant Escape competitors

Did you know

01The E-Vitess uses TQ-HPR50 motor — NOT Bosch, unlike every other Bergamont e-bike. This is a deliberate stealth choice: TQ motor is 1.85kg, barely visible, and nearly silent. Bergamont chose NOT to appear on TQ's official partner list, keeping the motor choice quiet.
02The 'Expert' E-Vitess costs MORE than the 'Elite' — because hub gear (Nexus 5-speed) is more expensive to manufacture than a derailleur. Bergamont inverted the usual tier logic deliberately: Expert = more practical, not more performant.
03The N8 Belt Amsterdam variant is a full step-through — one of few Bergamont bikes designed explicitly for Amsterdam-style upright riding, named after the Dutch cycling capital.
04The Vitess N8 Belt was tested by Velomotion for 'a few months including snowy late-winter conditions' — the belt drive produced zero chain noise even on bad paths; SKS fenders produced zero splash noise on potholes. Exceptional urban refinement.
05The Gates Carbon Drive belt on the N8 Belt uses Center-Track technology — the belt runs in a central groove on the sprocket to prevent derailment. This is a premium Gates feature normally seen on more expensive bikes.
06E-Vitess Elite features a brake light function — decelerating activates a rear light signal. Rare for a city e-bike and significantly increases rear visibility in urban traffic.
07The acoustic Vitess lineup spans 9 models (Velomotion 2018 count) including diamond, trapezoidal and step-through frames — unusually wide family for a single model name.

Who it’s for

Daily urban commuter wanting reliable all-weather transportWeekend tourer on paved roads and cycle pathsMaintenance-averse rider (N8 Belt = nearly zero upkeep)Urban professional wanting discreet e-assistance (E-Vitess)Retiree wanting comfortable city cycling without heavy maintenanceRider in hilly city wanting hub-gear reliability in all conditions