Strengths: Road feel, handling, and excelleration. It just rides like you expect a bike should. Comfortable enough for the century or epic.
Weaknesses: Unrelated to Litespeed, I've worn out the Shimano rear hub and regularly break rear spokes. Maybe a little heavy for serious racing.
Bottom Line:
Purchased in 2000 from a nut who buys a new bike every year. This bike is fantastic! I've had an opportunity to try friend's bikes over the years. Some are real flexy, others are stiff but you feel every pebble in the road. Because I'm a hardcore MTBer I thought I zipped through corners and excellerated faster because of my handling skills. But on friend's bikes, some felt nervous in the corners or tough to excellerate. I ride this bike a lot to stay in shape for my off road adventures and believe its a lot of bang for the buck.
Similar Products Used: Ridden friends' carbon, steel, aluminum bikes and it only confirmed value of this bike.
Bike Setup: Natchez with Profile Carbon fork, Shimano hubs/Mavic hoops, a mix of 105 and Ultegra components, Michelin Tires.
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Atombomb
a Road Racer
from Houston, TX USA
Date Reviewed: October 24, 2002
Strengths: Price and performance
Weaknesses: None that I have found
Bottom Line:
Yeah..Right...Bottom of the line. I got this bike as a great deal off the internet, as I was looking for one of the higher dollar Litespeeds or Merlins. For less than I would have paid for a bare frame...I got a bike that I love to ride on everyday. I'm 6'1" and 175, bike has no real perceivable flexing, is very light, handles very well, soaks up choppy roads exceptionally well. If you want a good solid titanium bike, that will suprise and impress you, and not break the bank...go find one of these : )
Submitted by
Eric
a Recreational Rider
from Ridgewood, NJ
Date Reviewed: June 26, 2001
Strengths: Quck and responsive and what a ride! Feels like you are going from Honda to Benz when you step it up to Litespeed...
Weaknesses: None found as of yet
Bottom Line:
This is a GREAT BIKE and I got a steal because I put the bike together with the guys at Westwood Cycle from left over equipment that was still in the box. This is a $2000 bike that I snagged for under $1200 including all the gear (Computer, clothes, accesories, etc.). The guys at Westwood Cycle are awesome and the bike is a killer at this price or more...you can't go wrong with Litespeed.
Similar Products Used: Cannondale, Trek, Klein, Bianchi
Bike Setup: Natchez Frame (1999), Shimano 105 Group (1999), Mavic Open Pro
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
ling
a Recreational Rider
from jackson wy usa
Date Reviewed: January 4, 2001
Strengths: very stable, lots of get up and go, climbs well
Weaknesses: none that I've found
Bottom Line:
This is way too much bike to be considered bottom of the line in anybodys book. Sure you might find a bike better suited for you, but if you put in long hilly miles the only thing you could ask for is MAYBE better specs. Ultegra or dura-ace would be an upgrade, but don't let that stop you from buying this bike. Buy it with the best componants you can afford, then wear them out. You cant buy a better bike.
Bike Setup: 105, ritchey pro wheels, selle italia saddle, vittoria tyres
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Ken Robb
a Recreational Rider
from La Jolla,CA.
Date Reviewed: November 21, 2000
Strengths: handling,tracks well through corners,no wobbles down steep hills, neat to look at-beautiful welds and finish. Easy maintenance-no paint to chip and a new set of decals si $15. Pretty light weight and a fairly supple ride. Softer than my Trek aluminum but firmer than my LeMond Zurich. Litespeed customer service has been very helpful and I bought this bike used.
Weaknesses: Haven't found any.
Bottom Line:
I rode Lightspeed Vortex w/straight-blade Look fork and found I could feel every pebble in the road. I prefer the ride of the Natchez even if the frame is 1/2 lb. more. There is a corner that is downhill, 90 degree left, uphill, then 90 right turn that I do frequently. On my Trek 2000 I would brake heavily, wobble through the left and hammer up the grade and around the right. On my Zurich I would brake lightly,coast through the left at 20mph and pedal up the hill. On the Natchez I thought "what the heck, it feels so good" so I pedalled in hard without braking, banked it over while pedalling hard, then I planted the left pedal and got bounced about a foot to the right scaring the helln out of a pedestrian and me. I didn't go down and now I know my limits, but until I got this bike I never had the confidence to try so hard in a corner. In spite of this I find it very comfortable for 3 hour rides. When I talked to one LBS about Litespeed he was steering me toward the stiffer pricier models because I am 6'1 205lbs. I don't have a problem w/frame flex on this bike. I don't think we can say that there is a "low-end" Litespeed. Some just cost more than others.
I have the opportunity to purchase a 1999 Litespeed Natchez, with a full Dura-Ace 7700 drivetrain/shifters, 105 brake calipers, Easton bars and seatpost (carbon), Cenelli stem and Read More »
I'm about to buy a used '99 Natchez with the original carbon Time forks.
How safe are these older carbon forks? I want to build up the bike period correct with a 1" ti quill stem, Read More »
