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Prototype Lapierre Spicy 27.5 Enduro Bike Raced by Nico Vouilloz w/ Fresh Spec

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Nico Vouilloz is heading to the first round of the Enduro World Series at Punta Ala aboard a prototype alloy Lapierre Spicy Supreme 6 27.5″ mountain bike.

It’s a 60XX alloy that they’re using on their mountain bikes as of 2013 on hardtails, but they’ll be pushing the lighter material to their full suspension bikes for 2014. And in that range, you’ll find this bike.

Nico’s a SRAM Blackbox athlete, and while many of these parts have since been announced (new Pike forks, for example), these could be new wheels from SRAM. Originally, they looked like they might be some blacked out Easton prototypes, but Lapierre’s folks suggested he’s running on SRAM hoops. These are blacked out, but look like the new Roam wheels. However, those tires…

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The Spicy uses their OST+ (Optimized Suspension Technology) design, which is similar to a Horst Link but carries their own patent. More on that in an upcoming factory tour post from Lapierre, but the key difference is the wheel path.

Everything on Nico’s nicely color matched, including ODI grips. Even the XX1 cranks and derailleur get matched decals. And those new black stanchions are just beautiful…waiting for the day Rockshox puts those on the shocks, too. These photos are of the first build, but word is he’ll be racing with the e:i electronic automatic suspension set up co-developed with Rockshox last year.

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The Schwalbe First Ride prototype on the front looks different than anything in their current lineup. The 2-2-2-3 block center combination isn’t found on any of their existing models but the size and shape are consistent with their all-mountain treads. The side knobs have a consistent shape with the double siping of their gravity treads, so looks like a mashup aimed at extremely aggressive riding.

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The rear looks similar to the new Rocket Ron, but (from this pic) with center knobs that are shorter and more tightly spaced. However, the side knobs look taller and bigger than the current Rocket Ron, so these “First Ride – Schwalbe Develoment Program” demarcations could mean they’re both new tires being tested. We can certainly see the appeal of a fast rolling tire like this second one with more aggressive bite in the corners for the exploding enduro market.

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Jak0zilla
Jak0zilla
11 years ago

That has got to be the 500th black MTB with big goofy white lettering I have seen this year. It’s a shame that no one has access to a paint booth any more.

I know, I know … the travel … the hydraulics …

bin judgin
bin judgin
11 years ago

sweet bike

John
John
11 years ago

C’mon, what wheelpath & Horst link combo could possibly be patented? Everyone and their dog busted out a Horst link design before Specialized reigned them all in… Patents are nothing more but expensive means that big companies use to bully each other and the little guys with. So many completely lame ones have been issued in the last ten years that it makes me ill…

satisFACTORYrider
satisFACTORYrider
11 years ago

nice ride. don’t mind the murdered-out versions. Lapis ride really well plus nico can make alot of bikes look good.

GN
GN
11 years ago

What’s the clamp looking device around the Reverb Stealth? Some sort of stop?

Dave
Dave
11 years ago

GN, The Reverbs come with a clamp on collar that you can use to limit the travel. I just keep it in my pack just in case the post goes all saggy while out on a ride. Luckily I haven’t had to use it yet.

the dude
the dude
11 years ago

yea, a stop for the post, incase you want to spent $600 on half a fork that moves your seat up and down that you want to make travel less than it is capable of. I would think a way to limit internal travel to be able to bring the saddle down on smaller models would be a wiser invention. but sick a** bike. holy crap.

mirciu
mirciu
11 years ago

How much more custom – prototipish can one bike get ?…

Aaron long
Aaron long
11 years ago

Will be good to see Nico in action again, so smooth…

Maestro
Maestro
11 years ago

That shock tech reminds me of the old K2 Smartshock concept – didnt work out well for K2, good luck RS.

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