The new "Lightest frame in the world"
08-31-05 | 06:40 PM
#1
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08-31-05 | 06:49 PM
#2
Wow... Less money than the Madone SSL too.
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08-31-05 | 07:02 PM
#3
Overacting because I can
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From: The Mean Streets of Bethesda, MD
Bikes: Merlin Agilis, Trek 1500
It will be interesting to see how the reviews go. Even manufacturer Fanzines like Bicycling thought the old Ghisallo was a bit flexy.
I sometimes worry that I'm riding a tin can (or at least Ti can) anyway, and my frame has a pound more metal in it. If Litespeed actually managed to make a solid frame, hats off to the engineers.
I sometimes worry that I'm riding a tin can (or at least Ti can) anyway, and my frame has a pound more metal in it. If Litespeed actually managed to make a solid frame, hats off to the engineers.
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08-31-05 | 07:24 PM
#5
the great shark hunt
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From: Manitoba Canada
Bikes: 2005 Cervélo Soloist w/ Campag Chorus (06/07 parts mix), 2001 Cervélo Prodigy w/ Campag Centaur '06, Giant Bowery Fixed-Gear, old steel black '70s bike waiting for FG build, trusty red SS mountain bike waiting for snow-bike build
^i think it has MORE than a chance of being a little MORE than slightly flexible, but what do i know, i've never ridden Ti. I think it looks pretty nice though.
08-31-05 | 07:26 PM
#6
the great shark hunt
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From: Manitoba Canada
Bikes: 2005 Cervélo Soloist w/ Campag Chorus (06/07 parts mix), 2001 Cervélo Prodigy w/ Campag Centaur '06, Giant Bowery Fixed-Gear, old steel black '70s bike waiting for FG build, trusty red SS mountain bike waiting for snow-bike build
i like the new vortex a lot more though, i think its dead sexy
https://www.litespeed.com/bikes/2005/vortexcom.aspx
https://www.litespeed.com/bikes/2005/vortexcom.aspx
08-31-05 | 07:44 PM
#7
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I'm diggin' the return to regular 2-cup threadless headsets in the 2006 Vortex and Ghisallo.
Does anyone know any weights on the SSL frame for any given size?
Originally Posted by cydewaze
Wow... Less money than the Madone SSL too.
Does anyone know any weights on the SSL frame for any given size?
08-31-05 | 07:51 PM
#8
2-Cyl, 1/2 HP @ 90 RPM
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: NYC
Bikes: 04' Specialized Hardrock Sport, 03' Giant OCR2 (SOLD!), 04' Litespeed Firenze, 04' Giant OCR Touring, 07' Specialized Langster Comp
I like the top tube on the vortex, that looks badass.
08-31-05 | 08:06 PM
#9
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From: Boulder, CO
Originally Posted by sirshane13
I'm diggin' the return to regular 2-cup threadless headsets in the 2006 Vortex and Ghisallo.
Does anyone know any weights on the SSL frame for any given size?
Does anyone know any weights on the SSL frame for any given size?
08-31-05 | 08:51 PM
#10
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you know, someone in another thread mentioned the fact that the ghisallo had the non-integrated headset always. I guess I was thinking about the other high end Litespeeds that had the integrated headset design - the 2005 Vortex, Ultimate, Tuscany, Siena.
08-31-05 | 10:43 PM
#14
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From: Mesa, AZ
Bikes: Moots RCS, tandem, beach-cruiser, MTB, Specialized-Allez road-bike, custom track-bike
Looks like one of the largest diameter Ti tubing ever used on a bike, so it'll be plenty stiff. The rigidity of a tube is a function to the 4th power (^4) of the diameter. So just a slight increase in diameter can result in twice the stiffness. Then remove some material from the inside to restore stiffness back to previous levels and you've got the weight-savings.
Also the orientation of the ovalized tubing results in increase stiffness in certain directions. Notice that the major axis of the tubing at the bottom of the seat-tube and down-tube is aimed laterally? This definitely will reduce lateral deflection of the bottom bracket under pedaling forces.
Also the orientation of the ovalized tubing results in increase stiffness in certain directions. Notice that the major axis of the tubing at the bottom of the seat-tube and down-tube is aimed laterally? This definitely will reduce lateral deflection of the bottom bracket under pedaling forces.
09-01-05 | 01:25 AM
#15
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bleh, more smoke and mirrors from litespeed
surprise, competitivecyclist just took $1,000 off the 05 ghisallo
and who would pay $4,000 for this noodle when you can get a custom, triple-butted, colorado-tubed Legend frame from Serotta????
the people litespeed is shooting for will pay $3,000 for a fully built Scott CR-1 bike, not this 4k frame
litespeed = nice bikes--but wildly overpriced, ******** company
surprise, competitivecyclist just took $1,000 off the 05 ghisallo
and who would pay $4,000 for this noodle when you can get a custom, triple-butted, colorado-tubed Legend frame from Serotta????
the people litespeed is shooting for will pay $3,000 for a fully built Scott CR-1 bike, not this 4k frame
litespeed = nice bikes--but wildly overpriced, ******** company
09-01-05 | 02:07 AM
#16
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From: Wherever good bikes are sold
Bikes: Thylacines...only Thylacines.
Originally Posted by Ziggurat
and who would pay $4,000 for this noodle when you can get a custom, triple-butted, colorado-tubed Legend frame from Serotta????
Heh.
(Bell -- Tyler's old helmet)
09-01-05 | 07:19 AM
#20
Baby it's cold outside...
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From: SK, Canada
Bikes: Trek 5000, Rocky Mountain Wedge, GT Karakoram K2, Litespeed Tuscany
I like the new Gishalo 
The Compact Vortex is sweet too!
Man those prices are stratospheric
The Compact Vortex is sweet too!
Man those prices are stratospheric
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09-01-05 | 07:46 AM
#21
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Originally Posted by Thylacine
Or spend under 3k and get a Reynolds 3/4 butted frame, built by any one of the smaller builders who spend their money building bikes, not brand promotion or say, ridiculous 8 grand carbon frames?
Heh.
Heh.
09-01-05 | 08:08 AM
#22
Cannondale
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From: Oakland, CA
Bikes: 05' bianchi 938 carbon, 05' cervelo p3 carbon, 05' cervelo soloist carbon, torrelli road, cannondale mountain
very sweet and very expensive, the frameset cost as much as a p3 carbon (factory built)!?!?!?
09-01-05 | 08:45 AM
#23
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The first Ghisalos are quite flexible. But I love mine. I bought it for absorbing bumps on centuries and it's fast up hills. I bought it because it WAS flexible. They actually made the seat tube larger diameter later on, to add stiffness. I have a tough time imagining a lighter bike being stiffer.
However, the new three piece BB may add stiffness and reduce the weight.
Since it's mainly the shape that adds stiffness just about anything is possible.
Three years ago the medium large was 900 grams. It has been the lightest production frame since then as far as I know. That's what they claim and I can't find a lighter production frame. I don't think they are removing a huge amount of weight from that.
They always had regular headsets.
Edit post: After looking at the tube shapes and reading about it I would believe that the new one is even stiffer. Also my XL size is 990 grams. The New one is 900 grams. Not bad, but not earth shattering, I would guess the front derailleur clamp is probably that much.
However, the new three piece BB may add stiffness and reduce the weight.
Since it's mainly the shape that adds stiffness just about anything is possible.
Three years ago the medium large was 900 grams. It has been the lightest production frame since then as far as I know. That's what they claim and I can't find a lighter production frame. I don't think they are removing a huge amount of weight from that.
They always had regular headsets.
Edit post: After looking at the tube shapes and reading about it I would believe that the new one is even stiffer. Also my XL size is 990 grams. The New one is 900 grams. Not bad, but not earth shattering, I would guess the front derailleur clamp is probably that much.
Last edited by 2manybikes; 09-01-05 at 08:51 AM.
09-01-05 | 09:09 AM
#25
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From: Tallahassee, FL
Bikes: Douglas Precision Ti
Originally Posted by goldfish
i like the new vortex a lot more though, i think its dead sexy
I have yet to see a compact frame that I thought was sexy.
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