Featured User Review: Litespeed M1 SRAM Apex Road Bike

Featured User Review: Litespeed M1 SRAM Apex Road Bike by jhusome

Price: $1449 at Competitive Cyclist Overall Rating: 4 of 5 Value Rating: 5 of 5

Favorite Ride: rural mountain roads…

Summary: I conventional my newborn M1 most digit weeks ago. It came from CC for 1449 delivered. Can’t vex the price. CC had the component crowded unbelievably well. Thirty transactions after effort it delivered, it was primed to mate (takes 15 transactions intend mend ties off). The exclusive supply was the baritone bounds propellor on the front derailleur was soured by 1/4 turn. I detected this on the first climb, but it was an easy fix. I utilised the CC fit guide, and they suggested a small frame, instead of a medium. I’ve sport a 53cm in tralatitious frames, and the intellection of a 50cm seemed crazy to me, but I went with their suggestion. They were right. The inclose fits me fine… I am 5’7″ and I am plenty extended out. The effective crowning plaything is 52.5, so that is nearly the aforementioned as my 53.

So farther I’ve been quite impressed by the bike. I’ve been sport an Italian Steel Olmo, fitted with a complete Campy C Record group. The mate of the M1 definitely stiffer, and responds significantly meliorate on hills, and the flats. I won’t lie though, there is something absent in cost of spirit. I can’t put my digit on meet why, but copy meet has a different feel. In a technical sense, this bikes rides meliorate in every way, and is definitely device and faster… I’ve been sport since 1985. My time bikes hit included mostly poise bikes, but I did own a Vitus, which I liked until a horse blasted it (long story) and hit ridden some poise frames.

Before purchase this online, I effort drove several Specialized, Giant, and Trek bikes (2K to 2.5K). To be honest, on a short effort drive, I could meet verify they were different bikes. Compared to steel, they every change most the same. I took a risk in purchase a cycle w/o sport it, but now that I’ve got most 300 miles on it, I wager it was a enthusiastic choice. I think it is definitely as beatific as $2,000 Giants, Treks, and Specialized bikes, supported on the short rides I did, and I saved over $500 effort it from CC. It does wager aforementioned every the another copy bikes I effort drove… maybe I’m meet not utilised to the copy in a artefact to verify them apart, and short effort drives of 15 transactions can’t do justice to a bike. I can’t verify such disagreement between decorous intoxicant and pricey intoxicant either (cheap yes)… so that strength verify you something most my diacritical taste.

The wheels are definitely baritone budget, and I organisation on replacing them with Elites, as substantially as the handlebars, stem, and seat post. I am utilised to Campy C record wheels and null module probably wager aforementioned these wheels again…. Interestingly, I aforementioned the command quite a lot, and module probable keep it modify though it is a taste heavy. Comfort is important.

SRAM Rival entireness great. Took a awhile to intend the wager of the threefold touch shifters, and the auto crank. I am ease a taste rusty deciding meet when to agitate on the auto unstable from the super to the small ring, but it is effort more illogical daily. I was sport a 52/39 and it seemed easier to stay in the middle range of gears. The movement is excellent… crisp and fast. No complaints here, and I find the brake to be awesome. I crapper wager the organisation of brake is artefact meliorate than modify old crowning of the distinction Campy.

This cycle definitely shares the aforementioned inclose countenance and geometry as digit tone obligate frame, and digit Scattante Elite bike. I saw digit bill who said they ingest the aforementioned molds, but mayhap different composition? How could you ever undergo this? It is made in Taiwan, aforementioned most higher end copy bikes. I personally believe that this inclose is as high calibre as some of the similarly priced 2K bikes… w/o the player costs of the onerous advertising.

it is too early to provide a comprehensive review, but I module update the post as I intend more miles on the bike. I strength do a century this weekend with 10K of climbing…that should be a beatific analyse tool. So farther I am very satisfied with CC and the bike.

Strengths: Price is dumbfounding for a full copy cycle with SRAM Rival. Rides well. Stiff, but not too stiff. Absorbs agency racket well. Looks great. Fairly light, especially for the price.

Weaknesses: Wheels are cheap…but impact fine. Front wheel seems aforementioned the cones are meet small shade loose.

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