pgjackson

Popped in to the LBS today and found a nice Litespeed M1 with Apex in my size. I have been considering getting a CF bike in the $1500 range and this looked like a pretty good deal. I don't kow squat about SRAM. How does the Apex compare to the 105? Also, would it be much of an upgrade going from a fairly high-end AL frame to a low end CF frame? I am not unhappy with my Defy 1, but I am getting the itch to get something new, but I don't want to spend a ton of $$$. $1500 is my max limit. I could probably talk the LBS down a little on the M1.

dalava

Apex is very good, and I would say comparable to 105. Nothing to worry there.

As far as the bike goes, Realcyclist.com sells them for less than $1500 (https://www.realcyclist.com/litespeed-m1-bike-apex). It pops up once in a while on BT for much less (if I remember correctly, the last time I saw it, it was in the $800-900 range. Personally I have no experience with the new Litespeed carbon stuff, though.

ColinL

Competitive Cyclist was blowing out their M1s with Rival for $1450 from like April until September (when they ran out of stock).

I am happy with mine, but am unconvinced that it is a good deal with Apex for $1500.

ilovecycling

I am also unconvinced that it's a good deal considering the Competitive Cyclist deal @ $1450 with Rival. Now that was a pretty good deal.

pgjackson

I forgot to mention that the M1 is $1400. Could probably talk them down a little.

abstractform20

apex, rival, force, and red (for rear shifting) all have the same quality of shifting.

only red has zero loss for the front.

other than that, weight, stiffness, and stopping power will vary between them.

imo, a little overpriced for apex. i would think about 1200-1300 at the max. what wheels and hoopla are on it?

James1:17

I personally wouldn't go for it just because there are so many out there.

NathanC

Those carbon Litespeeds are some of the ugliest bikes in existence.

pgjackson

I really wanted the BMC Road racer for $1500 at Competitive Cyclist, but I contacted them and they don't carry that bike any more. They only have a couple left over in really big and really small sizes. I actually kind of like the Litespeed bikes. Basic black and white. Flat TT. Looks pretty good.

pgjackson

After looking around the inter-web and reevaluating my options, I think I will put my hunt for a $1500 CF bike on hold until I see something that really excites me. The Litespeed is very nice, but I didn't have the "holy sh1t...must have" moment like I did with my other bikes...or the BMC that I am truly lusting for. That Kestrel Talon is pretty close. Hopefully there will be some good post-Christmas sales coming up.

PhotoJoe 

https://www.bikesdirect.com/fantastic/xmas.htm

The deal is officially over, but I've heard if you try ordering, they may still honor the price. The Talon was deal #1