Question for the cycling crowd...

Jeff Alton · 06-11-2016, 08:02 PM

What do you think of this machine?

https://www.speedx.com/en/leopardpro/

Seriously considering...

Reddy Kilowatt · 06-11-2016, 08:11 PM

Beautiful bike. I'm a bit of a Luddite re bicycles, so the integrated electronic control system scares me a touch. That said, if it's well executed, it could be great. I think Ultegra is the best bang/buck group, and the price on this beast seems more than fair. Any chance to ride it? Why did this bike catch your eye?

P.S. It's likely to be very stiff. If you're racing and/or want the performance, that's just fine.

Jeff Alton · 06-11-2016, 08:16 PM

The 105 bike is about a grand cheaper. One of my bikes is 105 now and it is just fine, so that may be an option. I am intrigued by Di2 though but I have not ridden a bike with it yet...

I do race (duathlon and tri), and ride/train to race so the stiffness is not an issue.

Reddy Kilowatt · 06-11-2016, 08:35 PM

Do it! (Get the Ultegra Di2!) I'd love to see a disc brake on this.

look 171 · 06-11-2016, 08:40 PM

Once you go DI2, you never go back. I have their first 10 speed DI2 and like it a lot. Still, I can go out and do an all day ride with mechanical shifting and I am OK with that. Why that bike, just curious? Looks, performance?

Jeff Alton · 06-11-2016, 08:42 PM

The disc set up will be more widely available on race geometry bikes soon. Not legal in most racing which limits the availability. Even though most buyers of said race geometry bikes don't race or race in sanctioned events, they still follow what the racers use. Many "endurance" geometry bikes feature discs as they are less likely to be raced.

My wife has a kick a$$ Liv (giant for ladies) endurance carbon bike with full ultegra. Great bike and the disc was a selling feature for her coming from down hill mountain biking.

Cheers

Jeff Alton · 06-11-2016, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by look 171

Once you go DI2, you never go back. I have their first 10 speed DI2 and like it a lot. Still, I can go out and do an all day ride with mechanical shifting and I am OK with that. Why that bike, just curious? Looks, performance?

thanks for the feedback on Di2.

Why that bike? Great question. I like the idea of an upstart trying to get it right. I like the looks. Hard to judge the performance until I ride it. Like the idea of trying something new. Like the price and the 7 day money back guarantee if I don't like it... I like the technology with the built in computer and lights.

Plus, I like to try things different from mainstream. I love my Cannondale, super happy with it. Have carbon 50mm wheels on it and it has served me very well and never let me down. It is more bike than I am rider while racing. But on most weekends we pass a couple of people on one...

I was on the website and the wife looked over at the computer and said "you should get one". I asked why. Her response was "your bike is like our 997 S and this one is like a GT3 RS, only it doesn't cost more." How can I argue with that support??

Couple that with the fact that having a second road/race bike logistically helps me a lot, I figured would be worth the try. Having a spare bike (my current one) for my son and I to have access to, and having one for winter or trainer duty does serve me well.

Ok, fine, just a bunch of justification...

For some reason I really want to ride this bike and can't define exactly why. Sort of like when you see that car you just want to buy, but can't really articulate why it would be a good purchase.

Hence why I asked the collective here what they thought of the bike!

Cheers

Reddy Kilowatt · 06-11-2016, 09:00 PM

Nobody ever need justify a new bike.

sc_rufctr · 06-11-2016, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Alton

What do you think of this machine?

https://www.speedx.com/en/leopardpro/

Seriously considering...

Very cool bike IMO. You could do a lot worse for $2,500.

greglepore · 06-12-2016, 04:22 AM

Dissenting vote here. Interesting idea, but the brakes will likely suck in a major way. It took the largest bike company in the world, Giant, a couple years to get similar fork mounted brakes to work on their Propel, and everyone in the cycling world HATES under bb brakes-they are a pain to adjust, set up and keep clean. Specialized has had issues with similar brakes on its new $10000 Venge Vias.

The aero chainstains will ride very harsh, particularly in a "full t1000" bike-btw, no major manufacturer uses "all" t1000 in their top end bikes, its too stiff.

A leftover 2015 cannodale Supersix EVO Highmod will be similar money. Yes, it won't have the integrated lights and garmin, but will be 100% better bike. Its ride quality is revered.

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

What are you doing on the bike?

That bike looks like a Tri-Bike. The geometry is different than a standard road bike.

The wheels are carbon. While light, they are fragile. Not wheels for regular riding.

Di2 is an electronic shifting system, no cables. IF anything goes wrong, it will not be fixed, except by a mechanic that specializes and stocks the parts. If you work on your own bike, it is a step up in complication.

greglepore · 06-12-2016, 05:13 AM

Actually, no-di2 is super reliable (have it on 3 bikes) and really easy to work on. And deep carbon wheels? Actually not light, the advantage is aero. They're also hella stout-shorter spokes and they don't bend from impact. They do ride harsh and are heavy on climbs (about a half pound of extra rotating mass).

These aero road bikes have standard road geometry, unlike a tt/tri bike that has a more forward position.

Sorry, don't mean to be a ninny.

Bill Verburg · Bill Verburg's Garage

I've got a full carbon bike, frame, wheels, bars, seat post, all internal cables cables, integrated front light(never use it), Di2 etc. It's nice, It's light. Also have an older Ti w/ upgraded component set to the latest 11 speed manual Ultegra, not quite as light, but still nice.

I couldn't choose between them, they are both great rides, each has things I like and things that are less likable

Biggest difference is price the all Carbon Di2 was twice the cost of the older Ti/upgraded Ultegra.

intakexhaust · intakexhaust's Garage

Being such a retro-head, I'm obviously not qualified to comment, but had tried the Di2. Only had a 20 mile demo ride in. Worked flawless and with perfection. Still don't know if I'd really want it as I felt disconnected from the 'shift feel'. Amplified if riding in colder temps with full finger gloves. Thats just a personal thing and not making it bad. I'm not ready anyways or have a must need but would wait and see how the Sram wireless etap gizmo shift group is received.

Good luck!

https://www.sram.com/stories/introducing-sram-red-etap

Jeff Alton · 06-12-2016, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greglepore

A leftover 2015 cannodale Supersix EVO Highmod will be similar money. Yes, it won't have the integrated lights and garmin, but will be 100% better bike. Its ride quality is revered.

Current bike is a 2015 Supersix EVO with a mix of 105 and ultegra with reynolds 50mm aero wheels. Yes, the ride quality is exceptional.

Cheers

Duane V · 06-12-2016, 07:38 AM

It looks interesting especially at that price point. But is the bike even available? I could not find a review of the bike by anyone that has actually ridden it.

Won · 06-12-2016, 08:12 AM

Hi Duane!

I did watch their fund-me video and basically what they have is an unknown-background carbon bike with some new electronic gizmo which is not far off Garmin and other kits by now, I imagine. So, at the end of the day their selling point is the price.

I'm all for supporting start-ups but unless they can prove significant credentials in composite design and manufacture, I would say it the price point may not be worth it compared to the name brands and (hopefully) their experience. Trust me Jeff, I've seen things in this industry and still so much is left to black magic. Just because someone can learn to drive an FEA software in a week and buy some T1000 prepreg doesn't mean they actually know what they're doing...

greglepore · 06-12-2016, 09:57 AM

Jeff-I have a Supersix and an aero bike-a Willier Cento Uno. The Willier is similar in shape but lacks the integrated brakes. It does have some aero benefit, at above 20 mph and on descents, but it doesn't climb as well. Its comfortable for an aero bike, but big bumps are MUCH less damped than on the Supersix. I'd save the money and put di2 on the C'dale. It's cheap right now as Shimano is about to introduce a very incrementally new DA and the old stuff is being blown out.
And honestly, there's no way you can do a t1000 bike in Japan for that price. No way.

LEAKYSEALS951 · 11:24 AM

And another voice of dissent.

Cool looking bike, but the more I looked at the website, the less I was impressed. Considerable fluff alert, and from a startup and unknown design, I don't want fluff.

I think if you knew the guys pitching the idea and had a vested interest in making the idea work, it might be the right decision. It could very well turn out to be a good bike, but a whole bunch of new design elements make me want to wait until they've ironed out the bugs.

On the plus side, at least it weighs a lot less than the "typical 35 lb" bike they compared it to....

intakexhaust · intakexhaust's Garage

^I caught that too. Goofy and think they would know their target market is smarter than that. Also, the drama vid is a waste of bandwith. Give me the scoop on the plant, R&D, mil. spec strands whateva, not some wannabe fondling his bike.