Entry-level carbon from Tennessee’s house of titanium
Few names in the cycling industry
are as synonymous with titanium as Litespeed, and the Tennessee-based
brand still offers several titanium road bike models. But over the years Litespeed has also been making carbon fiber frames, and we’ve tested both the aero-road C1R and the stiffness-to-weight-minded L1. Now we’re taking a look at the latest edition of Litespeed’s M1, the flagship model from their entry-level M-Series carbon line.
Bike Test
M1’s stiff chassis, others found the level of road feedback to be on the harsher side, particularly during long days in the saddle. We suspect that the M1’s relatively thin seat stays would better help mitigate some
of the high-frequency road chatter brought up to the saddle if they didn’t terminate in a robust mono stay shape at the seat tube junction.
Punch lines
• Stiff ride, plenty of road feedback
• Compliance lacking for endurance- minded riders
• Parts offer good—not great—value