Lapierre 2017 Bikes
Fri 1st Jul, 2016 @ 9:30 pm
Heading out to Dijon, to the check out the Lapierre press launch for the 2017 range, there seemed like a distinct lack of hills rolling through on the train, but the countryside was beautiful and the abundance of vineyards was promising. Luckily for us the team had hunted down some prime tracks, and the sloppy mud in the woods only exaggerated the fun of the bikes Lapierre had on offer (especially the eBikes, in turbo, on hills.)
Two days, in a classically french hotel, amazing food, wine tasting lessons and great company with the Lapierre team and plenty or European media guru’s. We had the opportunity to ride the 2017 eBike, AM and XC offering from Lapierre.
Lapierre XR
First up was the heavily redeveloped, for 2017, XR cross country race bike, 100mm travel, 29er wheels and boost 148 spacing. A piece of Carbon engineering at its finest it really looks like a bike that means business, still only weighing 1.8kg. The XR is sporting the OST+ virtual pivot point suspension system which has been developed to be adapted to race usage. The top end XR 929 will come with the all new SRAM Eagle 12 speed drive chain as well, upping the anti for the upcoming seasons spec.
The XR is sporting the Ei Shock, keeping the bike running smooth in changing conditions. 0.1 second response time to the front fork hitting changing terrain, and allowing 60 alterations per minute. They have also updated the battery, connector and mount this year to make it more waterproof and easier to remove.
Lapierre have pushed the geometry towards shorter stiffer stems while maintaining a 20mm longer reach. Combine this with a degree slacker head tube, a steeper seat tube angle and 5mm off the chain stays and you have a bike that feels like it has a lot more than 100mm of travel.
Although it wasn’t big mountain riding, we found ourselves testing the XR on steep rocky descents, tight sloppy turns in the trees and flat out muddy sections, it never once felt out of its depth. Some of the steeper elements did require a quick allen key adjust to drop the saddle to a manageable height, but the XR has, although not fitted as standard, the routing for a stealth dropper. As well as TDT (trap door technology) to allow easy, efficient fitting of Di2 down near the BB, allowing easy charging and keeping the weight low in the frame.
Lapierre Overvolt XC
The Overvolt range. Where to start, eBikes are a hot topic in bike shops and bars a like all over the world right now. But without argument, the market is growing and without forward movement, development and progression any bike company is going to be left behind quickly. eBike races are becoming more and more common. They’re allowing older and less fit riders to stay with the pack as well as riders, like Lapierre’s very own Nico Vouilloz, using them as a means to come back from injury. With battery technology moving forward power output and longevity are becoming more and more useable also.
Lapierre had the usual contenders on show, with a few tweaks and added features, as well as something a little bit special, but we’ll get to that. The Overvolt XC and the Overvolt AM come in at 120mm and 140mm respectively, with a 150mm fork on the AM. Whilst they have the look of an eBike as you would expect, motor based around the BB and a battery placed parallel with the down tube there is a little more than meets the eye to them both.
They are both based around the OST+ suspension system and have modern geometry and sizing to make them genuinely capable bikes, despite of the obvious weight penalty for carrying a battery and motor around. This is obviously counteracted by the solid and faultless assistance, working on a sliding scale from Eco mode which is a gentle nudge against your pedalling exception through to turbo which is a veritable wild ride in comparison. Really making you feel like you’re getting the most from the bike.
They come with boost drop outs, in a 27.5, but with an aftermarket purchase there is the option to simply adjust the frame to accommodate a 27.5+ whilst as well. The lower price bracket, lower power models come equipped with a Yamaha motor system, while the higher end come with a Bosch CX Performance 500wh motor, which definitely packs a punch.
The XC will come in a female specific model as well, with specified geometry and colour ways.
Lapierre Overvolt AM Carbon
Up last, was the bike that really stole the show, the Overvolt, AM, Carbon. A genuinely, stunning looking bit of kit. The AM Carbon represents a changing direction in the design of eBikes in the serious mountain biking market. With the same boost rear end, plus size compatibility and Bosch 500wh motor, to the AM and XC alloy, it has a strong grounding. But the stand out feature, even at first glance is the slumped down design and positioning of the battery and motor, dropping all the weight to a much more manageable and functional height and position on the bike. This non symmetrical design was only possible to create in carbon, creating a one sided cradle to hold the battery securely whilst painting the frames rigidity and shape.
The change in position of the weight is noticeable before you even throw a leg over the bike. just holding the bike by the handlebars you feel like it moves more freely, whereas the classic down tube battery design has a noticeable weight when you lean the bike.
Once you do get your self onboard the weight and painstaking design by Nico and the Lapierre team really come into play. At speed, even on the rough stuff, you’d be hard pressed to even really notice you’re on an eBike as once up to pace it feels nimble and balanced enough to get through the rocky, steep and slidy elements of the tracks we rode. In the air you were obviously aware of the additional weight you were trying to shift about, but still a great improvement on the classic eBike design, and it wasn’t unnerving, as I have found on alternatives.
Lapierre have created their own wheelset for the eBike movement, firstly a competitively prices plus sized pair, making it viable to not only upgrade your rear end to a plus size, but to have both sets of wheels and set up available for changing conditions and use. They also have an Overvolt set available, to compliment and function specifically for the AM eBike. The front wheel comes in Boost with straight pull spokes, the rear hub is a downsized 150mm DH hub to 148mm boost, with J-Bend spokes. The spoke choice is a combination of both strength and also functionality. combating motor torque and if the spoke containing the the magnet that triggers to the motor is allowed to turn the motor will no longer work. They have different widths front and rear, 30c front and 25c rear, wider front providing more control and precision.
The AM bikes also come with the new Lapierrre dropper, shifter cable actuation, and forged from a single piece of 7000-series aluminium for a good weight to strength balance. The construction felt really solid, and although they are obviously new, the seemed to have very little play as some posts do. Available in 100,125 and 150mm, ticking all the boxes. The levers were easy to use and felt solid, with a satisfying feedback to the pull. There was no definitive answer as to whether the dropper would be sold independently in the future, but they will be a good addition to the Lapierre 2017 range.
Prices for the 2017 Lapierre range are yet to be confirmed.
