Finished my Grail today... Litespeed Excess....
11-13-19, 07:35 PM
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Finished my Grail today... Litespeed Excess....
So, a little later than my usual "old" bikes, but this frame is an '03 Litespeed Ultimate. I decided to pull most of the stops except for building a carbon wheelset. Full Dura-Ace 9100, CK Hubs and BB, Thompson Stem and post amongst others... I was unsure about the color changing tape, but ended up loving how it blended in with the Ti... 
11-13-19, 07:42 PM
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Nice...
I'm not familiar with that model. My '96 Classic (Lynskey signature) looks nothing like that. I like the clean, spartan look.
A set of DA C24 or C35 hoops would be great, but the King hubs are in keeping with the business look.
A set of DA C24 or C35 hoops would be great, but the King hubs are in keeping with the business look.
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11-13-19, 07:51 PM
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Neat bike, I love the TI look! What’s the spacing on the rear dropouts? I do not think I’ve seen spacing that wide before on a road bike.
11-13-19, 08:20 PM
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11-13-19, 08:58 PM
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I like the color-matched anodizing on spoke nipples, hubs, and headset spacers 
How much does it weigh?
How much does it weigh?
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Owner & co-founder, Cycles René Hubris. Unfortunately attaching questionable braze-ons to perfectly good frames since about 2015. With style.
Owner & co-founder, Cycles René Hubris. Unfortunately attaching questionable braze-ons to perfectly good frames since about 2015. With style.
11-13-19, 09:16 PM
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Oh, it is worse than that. Four on each wheel follow the progression in color on the Litespeed Coat of arms. Yeah, I'm a shameless detail nerd... I haven't weighed it yet...
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11-13-19, 11:08 PM
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Litespeed nerd alert.
The original Litespeed head badge on your bike would make it a 2002.
I think all their models had the new version head badge by 2003, but it was a period of transition for that company.
The original frame decals would have helped nail the year, but it's clearly 02 or 03 given the carbon seat stays are non-aero.
Ultimate stays were titanium through 2001. Aero carbon seat stays in 2004 and 2005.
There might have been other differences between those model years, but I think they were slight.
The original Litespeed head badge on your bike would make it a 2002.
I think all their models had the new version head badge by 2003, but it was a period of transition for that company.
The original frame decals would have helped nail the year, but it's clearly 02 or 03 given the carbon seat stays are non-aero.
Ultimate stays were titanium through 2001. Aero carbon seat stays in 2004 and 2005.
There might have been other differences between those model years, but I think they were slight.
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11-13-19, 11:39 PM
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Litespeed nerd alert.
The original Litespeed head badge on your bike would make it a 2002.
I think all their models had the new version head badge by 2003, but it was a period of transition for that company.
The original frame decals would have helped nail the year, but it's clearly 02 or 03 given the carbon seat stays are non-aero.
Ultimate stays were titanium through 2001. Aero carbon seat stays in 2004 and 2005.
There might have been other differences between those model years, but I think they were slight.
The original Litespeed head badge on your bike would make it a 2002.
I think all their models had the new version head badge by 2003, but it was a period of transition for that company.
The original frame decals would have helped nail the year, but it's clearly 02 or 03 given the carbon seat stays are non-aero.
Ultimate stays were titanium through 2001. Aero carbon seat stays in 2004 and 2005.
There might have been other differences between those model years, but I think they were slight.
11-14-19, 12:15 AM
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No, unfortunately. And my impression from the 5 or 6 times I've contacted them with SNs, it's not a simple thing.
I think a couple of bikes had the first two digits for frame size, but not all the road bikes were that way.
And the mountain bikes I've checked didn't seem to have any correlation between SN digits with either frame size or year.
So I just contact them through their website for any frames I buy. They've been pretty good about getting back to me even concerning early 90s frames.
For what it's worth, it's been my experience that used Litespeed frames don't always match up with what the seller says they are.
Good luck,. You have a very nice looking bike!
I think a couple of bikes had the first two digits for frame size, but not all the road bikes were that way.
And the mountain bikes I've checked didn't seem to have any correlation between SN digits with either frame size or year.
So I just contact them through their website for any frames I buy. They've been pretty good about getting back to me even concerning early 90s frames.
For what it's worth, it's been my experience that used Litespeed frames don't always match up with what the seller says they are.
Good luck,. You have a very nice looking bike!
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WTB: Bicycle Guide issues 1984 (any); Jun 1987; Jul, Nov/Dec 1992; Apr 1994; 1996 -1998 (any)
WTB: Bike World issue Jun 1974.
WTB: Slingshot bicycle promotional documents (catalog, pamphlets, etc).
WTB: American Cycling May - Aug, Oct, Dec 1966.
WTB: Bicycle Guide issues 1984 (any); Jun 1987; Jul, Nov/Dec 1992; Apr 1994; 1996 -1998 (any)
WTB: Bike World issue Jun 1974.
11-14-19, 12:49 AM
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I love the look of your Litespeed and the bartape really suits. I bet it's a brilliant riding bike too.
11-14-19, 02:02 AM
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Great looking bike, nice job on the bar tape!
Tim
Tim
