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2014 Lapierre Mountain Bikes – Electronics, Enduro & 650B Rule

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Chatel
Looking out towards the valley from Chatel

Lapierre chose the beautiful village of Chatel, France, in the heart of the French Alps, to unveil their 2014 line of mountain bikes. This particular product launch focused mostly on all-mountain and enduro bikes, as they are obviously the most sexy segment at the moment.

Of particular interest for this product launch is the fact that Lapierre has removed 26” bikes from a significant selection of their mountain bike line. As it stands now, only the Lapierre dowhnill, freeride and entry-level hardtail bikes will run 26”. The Spicy and Zesty All Mountain are now 27.5” (650b), while the new Zesty Trail and entire cross-country range will be 29”.

Since we’re talking suspension with all the bikes in this launch, it’s important to note that Lapierre has employed the Rock Shox e:i “intelligent” rear shock system on these bikes. This electronically-modulated rear shock system, announced last year, is found on 13 of the 2014 models. Switch past the break for all the details…

e:1
The control/display unit for the RockShox e:i electronically modulated shock.

Lapierre’s patented OST (Optimized Suspension Technology) has also been updated for the 2014 model year. Lapierre worked with enduro racing phenom Nicolas Vouilloz to develop OST+, which is still based on a virtual pivot point and promises to eliminate pedal bob.

OST+
Nicolas Vouilloz helped develop OST+

As for materials used in frame construction, Lapierre has made more use of carbon fiber, and they’ve done away with 7005 aluminum. Instead, they’ve moved to use the Supreme 6 aluminum alloy, which is stated to be 12% stronger, 1.5% lighter and offers a longer life for the bicycle frame.

So let’s get to the bikes.

2014 Lapierre Spicy

Spicy
The Lapierre Spicy Team

The completely updated Spicy is only available with 27.5” wheels, which keep it “enjoyable and maneuverable.” With 150mm front and 160mm rear travel, it now comes in four sizes, with an XL added to the range. Lapierre has lengthened the top tube  by 15mm (on the medium), and dropped the bottom bracket by 10mm. They also claim to have made the bike stiffer: 16% for the rear triangle; 25% at the bottom bracket and 8% at the head tube. Three models of the Spicy are available: Team (full carbon); 527 and 327. We also rode the re-introduced RockShox Pike fork on the Spicy Team.

Spicy
Spicy Graphics

2014 Lapierre Zesty AM

Zesty AM
Zesty All Mountain

AM stands for all-mountain, and the Zesty AM aims to live up to its name with the same frame as the Spicy, but with different suspension settings, promising more efficiency. The Zesty AM runs with 150/150 travel, which gives it a 67 degree heat tube angle. As with the Spicy, the Zesty AM is 27.5, and comes in four sizes. Lapierre must be betting on the Zesty AM because there are six versions of it: the 927; 727 and the 527, which are all carbon for the main frame and Supreme 6 for the rear triangle. The 427, 327 and Lady 327 are all Supreme 6 affairs.

Zesty AM

2014 Lapierre Zesty TR

Zesty TR
Zesty Trail

The Zesty TR is a brand new model in the Lapierre family , as they felt such a trail bike was missing from the line last year. The TR runs 29” wheels, offers 120mm of travel, and sports 67/74 degree seat/head tube angles. The bottom bracket drop is –35mm, which is quite low. Four sizes are available, and there are three models: 929; 729; 529.

Guides
Internal cable routing, or traditional cable guides.

2014 Lapierre XR

XR
XR 929

The cross-country XR has not changed much from 2013, but Lapierre aimed to lower its weight. The 100% full carbon frame is said to weigh in at 1.8 kilo (3.96lbs), but we couldn’t verify since no bare frame was available. Front and rear travel is 100mm, and it now sports a 142×12 through axle in the back.

Check back soon for initial ride impressions on the Spicy Team and the Zesty TR.

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LP
LP
10 years ago

Nice bikes!

Still can’t believe how Cannondale was so ahead with their electronic lockout approx. 13yrs ago!

Sardinian rider
Sardinian rider
10 years ago

My 2010 Zesty was THE bike,black,slick,understated. I still don’t get why Lapierre started this LSD doped graphics thing in 2013/2014. The black and yellow Zesty should be a sure bet ultra cool color combo but I only see an ugly @ss Transformer bike. And where is the damn bottle cage ? Sold my Zesty because of the lack of it,these frenchies never learn…

satisFACTORYrider
satisFACTORYrider
10 years ago

you bought it cuz it was THE bike then sold it cuz you realized/learned you needed a water bottle cage? learning, eh?

härbert
härbert
10 years ago

Locking forward to test this electronics…But

still can´t believe that they finally were able to shed space for a bottle-mount
but they wasted this to fix a battery!?

Please there should be enough space for such a thing!

To me this doesnt seem like a lack of engineering rather a usual misdoing of an PM…

Sardinian rider
Sardinian rider
10 years ago

@ satisFACTORYrider. Thank you for asking. Yes I am learning,you should do the same with your grammar my friend.

John
John
10 years ago

Manufacturers cannot make water bottle mounts a priority! If there is room, then fine, but the suspension system and frame design have to be the number one considerations. And, let’s face it, those who ride with bottles instead of hydration packs are a pretty small minority.

Kudos to Lapierre for their work with electronic suspension. In 5 years from now (or less) it will dominate FS designs and greatly improve their performance.

RickyBob
RickyBob
10 years ago

+1 John. The “no space for my water bottle cage” argument has no place on an article about trail/all mountain/enduro bikes. Save it for your XC friends.

härbert
härbert
10 years ago

@ RickyB & John

but now there is the space for a bottle
but someone diddn´t care… and put that battery there?!
I realy can´t understand that…
And”Sardinian rider” at least couldn´t too

Belive me or not, I am aware of engineering priorities…
…and the often misterious spec components.
While watching these frame shapes the bottle got quite some attention!

satisFACTORYrider
satisFACTORYrider
10 years ago

@sardinian- we’ve both grown. people helping people…

Sardinian rider
Sardinian rider
10 years ago

More power to all of you that have the guts to keep your idration pac cleaned and sanitized even in winter time. In the mean time I’ll keep riding my all american trail bike bottle cage equipped Stumpy FSR 29. Europeans can keep play with style over practicality, I’ll keep buying american. Can’t wait to see their prices,Lapierre is already obscenely expensive without the funky electronic stuff……

Steve M
Steve M
10 years ago

Spicy? Zesty? I am going to Taco Bell for lunch!

John
John
10 years ago

harbert, I imagine the battery was placed there for a couple of reasons: 1) where else is it going to fit and have some degree of protection? 2) the weight of the battery needed to be placed as low as possible in the frame

I bet that at some point in the future the battery is housed internally, but I believe they placed it well given its current size and configuration 🙂

satisFACTORYrider
satisFACTORYrider
10 years ago

atleast we have fsr in common, sardinian! dig my enduro as well. i don’t use the water bottle mount and instead use a hydration pack. I can see that not everyone is in racerboi enduro mode and if truly used for longer epic rides it’s never gonna hurt to be able to run a bottle. they can perhaps make a provision on the downtube. plenty of great choices around so NBD.

However, most of these models are bike park and mini-dh capable so running bottles is never going to be a priority when taking on techy chunk at speed. If Nico had a hand in the design it would be definitely function and practicality first.

professorVelo
professorVelo
10 years ago

way to play nice – seriously. water bottle or no, it’s nice to see an opinion section where folks can ease off their high horse long enough to find some common ground.

and @sardinian I think you’ll find the colors more martini racing than timothy leary. (http://www.gtspirit.com/2012/07/31/official-pictures-of-the-martini-racing-porsche-918-spyder-prototype/) which I actually like. my problem is with the tribal-90s-schwinn homegrown-spicey logo that is out of place with the racing stripe graphics…

those frenchies will never learn. 😉

hello?
hello?
10 years ago

hmm, always wanted a titus el guapo…

gringo
gringo
10 years ago

No discussion about water bottles as a design priority is complete without referencing the Cannondale Moto. The worst performing, ugliest fully ever to be designed around a water bottle.

Funny how Germans and Italians push for bikes that are water bottle compatible, and the rest of the world has to suffer the design consequences.

I'm on a boat
I'm on a boat
10 years ago

I wanted to see a 27.5 hardtail.
all mountain smoutain. silly downhill bikes that weigh too much and can’t be ridden to their potential by about 80%.
Most of the population don’t live near a downhill course or a mountain.

Mindless
Mindless
10 years ago

Frames without a water bottle (inside the front triangle, now random manure on the bottle for me, please) are STUPID. Sucking on a backpack sucks. It is hot and inconvenient.

bin judgin
bin judgin
10 years ago

i put my bottle in my jersey like a true rider. these bikes are cool i guess, but FSR is garbage. yeti for the win, once again. santa cruz not far behind (cause yknow, they made more than one good bike)

El Guapo
El Guapo
10 years ago

Internally mounted H20 is the answer!

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