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IB15: Litespeed Races In with New Carbon Blade TT Speed Machine, Sub 1000g Titanium T1SL

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Litespeed blade tt bike t3 kuwa t1sl flat mount titanium(62)

Certainly better known for their titanium frames, Litespeed is continuing to push forward with the carbon side of things as well. The introduction of a TT bike is a little odd given their sister brand Quintana Roo specializes in all things aero, but the Blade is not built for triathlons. Instead, it is a TT bike through and through. The Blade is new enough that it isn’t even in the Litespeed 2016 catalog, but it will be taking names out on the course next year…

Litespeed blade tt bike t3 kuwa t1sl flat mount titanium(64) Litespeed blade tt bike t3 kuwa t1sl flat mount titanium(63)

Details are still pretty thin on the Blade, but it is meant to be a super light TT bike with a frameset weight under 1,300g. The limited edition offering will run $4,100 for the frameset which will include the extremely adjustable aero seatpost and carbon fork. All cable routing is internal with provisions for electronic drivetrains and the ability to run hydraulic brakes like the Magura RT8 TT. If you’re looking for a TT specific speed machine that is available to consumers, this could be it.

Litespeed blade tt bike t3 kuwa t1sl flat mount titanium(46)

Litespeed blade tt bike t3 kuwa t1sl flat mount titanium(47) Litespeed blade tt bike t3 kuwa t1sl flat mount titanium(48)

Litespeed blade tt bike t3 kuwa t1sl flat mount titanium(50) Litespeed blade tt bike t3 kuwa t1sl flat mount titanium(49)

Since we saw the titanium bikes back in August, nothing has really changed but we still wanted to get the super light T1SL on the scale.

Litespeed blade tt bike t3 kuwa t1sl flat mount titanium(45) Litespeed blade tt bike t3 kuwa t1sl flat mount titanium(44)

Thanks to numerous weight saving techniques including thinner tube walls, a 6/4 top tube made from a single sheet of Ti, a lighter BB shell, and even an engraved head tube badge, the frame (without hardware) came in at 990g on our scale. For a medium titanium frame, that is impressive. However, the price is impressive too, at $4,000 for the frame.

Litespeed blade tt bike t3 kuwa t1sl flat mount titanium(57)

Litespeed blade tt bike t3 kuwa t1sl flat mount titanium(59) Litespeed blade tt bike t3 kuwa t1sl flat mount titanium(58)

The T3 Disc runs flat mount brakes front and rear as most of Litespeed’s bikes do, with a 12×100 front and 135mm QR rear axle. The frame also includes a spacer so you can run 130mm spaced rear wheels as well. Available now, T3 Discs will sell for $2900 for the frame and fork, or $5750 complete as shown.

Litespeed blade tt bike t3 kuwa t1sl flat mount titanium(51)

Litespeed blade tt bike t3 kuwa t1sl flat mount titanium(54) Litespeed blade tt bike t3 kuwa t1sl flat mount titanium(53)

Litespeed blade tt bike t3 kuwa t1sl flat mount titanium(56) Litespeed blade tt bike t3 kuwa t1sl flat mount titanium(52)

The Ku:Wa adventure bike also runs flat mount discs with the same axle spec as the T3 Disc. Tire clearance is massive meaning you should be able to at least fit 700x45c tires, but probably even bigger. Frame only prices start at $2,400.

litespeed.com

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nightfend
nightfend
8 years ago

Non-integrated stem and aerobars puts it at a disadvantage compared to the “super bikes” out there.

maxG
maxG
8 years ago

I think a lot of athletes that don’t have factory support and need to test and tweak out their preferred position is pretty happy about that.

Veganpotter
Veganpotter
8 years ago

Nightfend, while I don’t like the looks of the Cervelo P5-3… it’s still the fastest legal bike you can buy. It has so special top tube/stem integration. It’s possible that this is also pretty fast but who knows until someone other than them test it?

Timbo
Timbo
8 years ago

I’m glad they kept the Blade name. I’m pretty sure that’s what Armstrong rode back in ’99 before Trek had an adequate TT frame. And the team didn’t even bother painting the spare on top of the team car.

Neilthemeal
Neilthemeal
8 years ago

I think the market has room for nice TT bikes that don’t have every part integrated. I’m just not sure that people are going to be willing to spend $4100 on a frame set whose biggest claim is being 200 grams lighter than the competition. I’d wager a Cervelo P3 is not much over 1600 grams for a frameset and you can get a whole bike for $4100. And the P3 strikes a nice balance between aerodynamics and non-integration.

Papadopoulos
Papadopoulos
8 years ago

QR doesn’t specialize in all things aero, they specialize in Tri…This isn’t a tri bike. I can see some aspects of their PRsix and PRfive in there though (simple). Litespeed sponsors a pro team that now has an option in TT’s, even if they are mostly a Crit team. The bike looks rad and I doubt they are trying to go after the masses here (or Cervelo). Just trying to make a splash.

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