Long Termer: Lapierre Spicy 516

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With so many highly capable and down right desirable trail bikes on the market right now, it can be a bit of a mine field for the discerning rider looking for a dialed component package and premium frame combo. Lapierre have been at the forefront of the aggressive trail bike market for a number of years now, with some of the most compliant and attractive bikes out there and for 2013, it looks to be no different for the French super brand…

Words: Nathan Carvell | Photos: Nathan Carvell & Olly Forster

With a new year knocking, and with it a fresh outlook on my riding I knew I wanted a new bike that rode as well as it looked, but most of all, it had to be ready to shred, straight from the box. Enter the 2013 Lapierre Spicy 516, who I have decided to call Simone…

It all started, Simone and I, at Eurobike 2012 and after a few beers had a lovely chat with non other than Nico Vouilloz, there she was, standing there, gleaming at me… Having heard nothing but praise about the Spicy range, it was on my list, but when I clapped eyes on the 2013 516, it was all but a done deal and yeah, Lapierre have nailed it once again! Nothing is missed and it all adds up to an amazingly well specced bike that will leave you wondering “how could I improve this awesome bike?”

For the price of £3100, you are going to be hard pushed to find a better specced ‘out of the box Enduro bike’ this year. With quality and well chosen components from Shimano, Fox, Raceface, Easton, Mavic and Formula, amongst others, Lapierre haven’t missed a thing, producing a ready-to-shred bike that oozes quality and most definitely turns heads.

Here’s the Spec:

Frame 2013 Lapierre Spicy, Size Medium
Forks FOX 34 Float 160 CTD Fit Performance
Shock FOX Float CTD BV LV Performance
Headset FSA Orbit Tapered 1 1/8-1.5’’
Stem EASTON Haven 31.8x55mm
Bars EASTON Havoc 31.8x20x750mm
Brakes FORMULA The One
Grips Lapierre Lock-On
Saddle FIZIK GOBI XM
Post ROCKSHOX Reverb Stealth 31.6x355mm 100mm travel
Shifters SHIMANO KSLM780 XT 2×10 speed
Rear Mech SHIMANO RDM786DGSL New XT Shadow + 10 speed
Chain Shimano 10 Speed
Cassette SHIMANO HG62 11×36 10 speed
Chainset RACE FACE Turbine 24×36 10 Speed
Chainring RACE FACE 24 & 36T
Front Mech SHIMANO KFDM675E26X New SLX 10 speed
Pedals None Supplied
Wheels MAVIC Crosstrail
Tyres CONTINENTAL Rubber Queen 26×2.2 TS

Detail…

Every last element has been thought of on the new 516 – from a carbon guard for the rear mech, to the addition of the Rock Shox Reverb Stealth and even bike tape where is matters. Cable routing on the whole is dialed and another reason to make me wonder of why so many bike companies continually get it wrong? Their is a neat logo embossed, moulded rubber and plastic chain stay protector, which you fit and secure with the pre-applied double sided tape within – devils in the detail! All the frame bolts have their individual torque figures printed on them to make sure things stay tight, but one minor point, or niggle, is that the rear axle QR lever resides in an awkward position.

From just the first few rides, all the components have performed flawlessly to the point where I wouldn’t know where to start if I had to change parts around – it’s that well specced! The component package and the dialed geo all add up to create a well balanced bike that is both confidence inspiring and fun on the trail. The Fox 34’s were a little sticky from the get-go, even for unbedded forks, but soon freed up and came to life, as did the brakes, which took some bedding in but after two steady days shredding mini-downhill tracks, things were soon right were they needed to be. I don’t think there is much you would want to change, but if you wanted to shed a few grams from the 31lb out of the box weight, going tubeless with the Rubber Queen and Crosstrail combo would be a goo place to start.

Testing is testing and I’m already making a few adjustments and additions to the 516 including some rad new pedals from Kore and the new Renthal FatBar Lite trail bars and Medium compound Lock-On grips. The Lapierre Spicy 516 is available in sizes Small, Medium and Large with a UK RRP of £3099.99, which considering how bad ass this bikes looks both on paper and in real life, well, review on!!!

Lapierre bicycles are distributed in the UK by the fine folk at Hotlines, so if you want some more info on the 516 or any Lapierre model, hit up the logo below and see the full 2013 range. See you on the trails, Nathan!

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