Rumored from the outset of BB386EVO’s introduction, Litespeed now has a near-production versions of their new L1R road bike.
Shown above, we’re a bit light on the full frame construction details, but there are some rather unique design cues worth showing alongside the usual frame pics. With a bit more standard looking frame than their Archon, the L1R looks pretty darn good in this matte black design with dark red striping and glossed logo. They wouldn’t let us weigh it because this is a pre-production from, but I will tell you this: It was light.
For the dirt loving crowd, there’s a new titanium 29er hardtail called the Cohutta. Check it all out behind the jump…
The L1R frame was shown with wiring ports for Di2 and standard cable bosses. As a quick refresher, the BB386EVO standard easily retrofits to any crankset except regular BB30 (PFBB30 works).
The downtube is fairly stout, leading into an asymmetric BB shell. Yep, it’s off center – a design cue borrowed from sister triathlon brand Quintana Roo – to put the cranks more centered under the rider and presumably disperse power transfer better. Note the Di2 battery mounts on the driveside chainstay, an interesting position considering other bikes we’ve seen all put it on the non-drive side. Disregard all that…it’s on the non-drive side.
The QR bikes use the offset drivetrain (18mm to be exact) along with slanted aero tube shapes to divert air away from the drivetrain. That doesn’t look to be the case here exactly, perhaps it’s just more subtle. It’s hard to capture in pixels, but you can see from the shot above, left, that the non-drive BB shell extends further out. At right, the bulge outward from the seat tube is substantial.
The new Cohutta 29er brings some very oversized tubing to the party.
1.5″ straight headtube combines with a top tube that appears as big or bigger in diameter than the down tube. A slight drop in it’s junction with the seat tube should improve standover clearance.
Pricing and availability on these isn’t nailed yet.
