DanelleF

I'm looking at a lite speed with the disc brakes. Is that a good brand or is there another brand you would recommend? They have to order it so I've only test road a different version. I loved it though. what do you all recommend?

McBTC

Ti is the only frame material I have yet to experience -- I'm jealous.

Walter

Not all Litespeeds nowadays are Ti. I ride a Ti Litespeed and love it but you need to specify what model you are looking at.

Wingsprint

Are you referring to the T-5? If so, it is a very nice bike. The geometry is more for long rides and comfort over racing.

CliffordK

I built a road bike out of a Titanium Litespeed MTB frame. Wonderful "beater bike"

I don't have an aluminum (or CF?) Litespeed frame, although I assume they would be similar to any other quality aluminum frame.

Discs would be nice for a general purpose bike. They haven't been widely adopted by the racing community yet.

DanelleF

well I went ahead and ordered the T5 today. I wanted to see if there were other brands that I could compare to or try out. I wanted to buy local anyway............Is disc brakes the way to go?

Shuffleman

Litespeed makes very nice bikes so I am sure that you will be happy with your choice. As for your question about disc brakes.......it is highly subjective. Some people love them and some people do not. Many people do not see the need for them or can't justify the cost. I think that you have a very nice bike on the way and that is all that matters. Don't worry about what others like or do not like. Enjoy it and ride it.

DanelleF

Thankyou Shuffleman! I learned along time ago its cheaper to buy once......lol I just wish I could of rode a few other comparable brands but now I just have to wait for it to get here.........

merlinextraligh

Lynksey>litespeed.

Just say no to the American Bicycle Group.

Shuffleman

I would not worry about it. Test rides in parking lots are overrated. Its really hard to tell much on short rides. You can always change stems and etc to make the bike more comfortable if needed. Litespeed makes a great bike that you will be very happy with.

DanelleF

thankyou!

Wingsprint

I agree. Regardless of some negativity about A.B.G. you will read here and other places, the post Lynskey era Litespeed titanium bikes are very good.

DanelleF

thankyou! I appreciate the advice!

fnckr

Alright I've read enough of these Litespeed threads and found almost nothing from recent purchase owners in my searches. I bought a Litespeed T5 with SRAM Force components (rim brakes) last year through adrenalinbikes. I love the way it rides and the quality seems fantastic. It's not overly flexible for my 185lbs., nor slow, but rather feels sporty yet planted going down the many hills I ride in Northwest NJ, and climbs great. For twice the price, a low version Moots is not a better bike in my opinion (more unwanted flex). I test rode one at my LBS. This mid level Litespeed beat out my other option of a carbon Synapse mostly because I wanted to avoid having to treat my bike delicately. Plus the geometry is a little more aggressive than the Synapse.

I didn't like the vast number of decals on the bike. I mean like on every tube. Do I really need to have PF30 stickers near the BB or the Litespeed.com decal inside the chainstay? I removed nearly all of them with acetone. Still toying with removing the big white Litespeed decals on the down tube and the inside of fork. Also considering adding some color with a temporary Plastidip paint job. The decals are the worst thing that ABG did to the bike. The rest is great including the welds. Don't pay attention to the negative ABG comments vs Lynskey. If anything ABG needs to prove themselves by putting out quality frames and we benefit with a competitive price. I almost removed the decals because of the shame of buying a "cheap" ti bike. I even agonized over it because of the Lynskey comments. I watched YouTube videos, and read old posts on warranty claims and brand x vs y. The most recent Litespeed videos and Gravel T5 reviews tell me the company cares enough to put out a good frame and I'm very satisfied with the value I've received for my money. Can't comment on warranty claims yet, and hope I never have to. Plus I get to support American and not pay an inflated premium for it.

In the end, the bike arrived, and it's all but disappeared under me during my rides. Now I agonize over how to schedule more riding and if I should add a color stripe or two. Enjoy yours in good health!

DanelleF

thanks for the info!

merlinextraligh

A teammate of mine got totally screwed by ABG on a Litespeed warranty claim. A number of people in this forum have had similar experiences.

Litespeed was a respectable family run company owned by the Lynskey family.


ABG is a private equity company that buys once good brands like Litespeed and Merlin, and milks them for their last value.

Add in that Litspeed has been all over the place on what they want to be post Lynskey. (Ad campaigns that carbon fiber sucks, then marketing CF bikes).


Google Litespeed warranty problems, then google Lynskey warranty problems. The difference in the results is telling.


There are better ways to spend your money than giving it to the ABG. One of which is Lynskey, which is the family that made Litespeed a good brand before ABG trashed it.

Also consider the fact that fnckr has 3 posts; can we say shill?

bikejrff

My Litespeed T3. My favorite bike. 2nd favorite is the Lynskey

znomit

Being titanium, those decals will help hold it together when it cracks.

ARPRINCE

Well he got one already so too late. But I would prefer NO22 Great Divide (anodized BLUE). Eyeing one as my next ride!

rms13

If I was going to get a ti, I'd get the BD one with ultegra forfor $1899
Save Up To 60% Off Titanium Road Bikes and Bicycles from bikesdirect.com

fnckr

You seem like the kind of snob that I wouldn't want representing this, or any other sport. And, what a predictable response to boot. Did you even read my two other posts?

For the record, I'm not a shill. I'm 3 years into the sport and finally decided to upgrade from a low-end Cannondale Synapse bought at my local LBS for full price, a slightly large Synapse from REI on clearance, and an infrequently used MTB. I am fully aware of the warranty and quality perception of Litespeed, and noted that in my post. Those issues, to me, make the frame worth less, but not worthless. An analogy might be, someone not buying a Mercedes E or BMW 5 and instead buying a GM vehicle CTS despite GM's govt bailout, service, warranty, and performance slightly lagging. The CTS was still a great car as noted by several car magazines. That was the message I was trying to convey. Also, I was trying to comfort DanelleF on the purchase.

As as for my 2014MY Litespeed T5 purchase, I had originally called adrenalinbikes to order a Lynskey Peloton. After describing my characteristics and preferences (including frame stiffness) it was suggested the T5, with a promotional price, might be a better fit for my price range. It was a gamble, but I considered the store's experience with their customers, bikes, and their return policy in my purchase. In the four months I've owned the bike I've come to like it. I'm playing the odds on any warranty issues.

So, that's my experience, to this point of ownership, without compensation, with only a little remorse for buying the brand everyone looks down on and having to endure the "stupid newb"(from a local Seven rider) or "company shill" comments. Tomorrow I'm going to go for a ride to keep building my base miles in preparation for my first Gran Fondo in September. If you're there, perhaps you can save me a beer after you finish an hour ahead of me. However, don't worry you can drink all the craft beers and leave me the lite stuff.

fnckr

OK, I take it back. Your posts are very informative and helpful, mostly. I just don't appreciate being called a shill. If anything I'm over-enthusiastic and defensive, a bit.

Anyway, on topic, the Lynskey videos are fantastic and persuasive, but I figured I was buying an old and proven frame geometry in the T5. When I get my miles and power up, you can certainly bet I'll be considering a Lynskey Helix. Though, along will come someone else declaring the superiority of Moots or Seven, and decrying that Lynskey is a self-promoting sellout (those comments exist in these forums too). You never win...

plumberroy

Although not a road bike , ^^^^^^^^^this is why I found a place I could rent the last bike I bought and rode it an hour around a local trail before I bought one . I Don't know if you can rent good road bikes ????

merlinextraligh

I was wrong on the shill comment, and apologize. At the time, you had 3 posts. When people post enthusiatic reviews of a product, with very limited posts, it often is the sign of a shill.

Looking more closely, given your earlier join date, and a couple of posts months earlier on unrelated subjects, you didn't deserve the shill comment.

Wilfred Laurier

The decals should be made from Reynolds 531.