Litespeed Ghisallo

Price Paid:  $2500.00 at friend

Favorite Ride:
Litespeed Ghisallo

Bike Setup:
all campagnolo super record 11 parts
Mavic Ksyrium Sl wheels
Easton EC90 handle bars and stem, seat post
Fizik saddle

Summary:
let me tell you...this is by far the best bike i have ever ridden..just upgraded all campagnolo super record 11 parts..this bike flies....!

Strengths:
great bike for up hills...feels like you're on a straight away...

Weaknesses:
none

Similar Products Used:
Specialized Tarmac SL-3

Price Paid:  $3500.00 at Litespeed Demo

Favorite Ride:
Fast ones

Bike Setup:
Durace with Zipp 303 wheels.

Summary:
I bought this bike in 2005 and it was a Litespeed demo built with durace 7800 and a carbon wheelset. I average about 5K miles a year and weigh 175 lbs. I enjoyed this bike until last weekend when I noticed a stress crack from the cable stop mounted on the head tube into the down tube. Fortunately, it has a lifetime warranty and Litespeed is sending an Icon to replace it. I hope to have better luck with a heavier titanium tubeset.

Strengths:
Light, compliant and fast. Titanium does not rust or corrode.

Weaknesses:
Expensive, not strong enough for a 175 lb. rider.

Similar Products Used:
Pinarello, Lemond, Specialized.

Price Paid:  $2000.00 at Ebay

Favorite Ride:
Palos Verdes and S.Cal Bike Trails.

Bike Setup:
Full DA 7800 components, Real Design Superspher Wheels.

Summary:
Simply Amazing!! Nimble, light and moves like a snake and with fluid motion without any lost in energy. Climbs the hill with ease that I've never experienced before. Forget the comfort of carbons; if it drags down your energy then you are tired after few hours. This is like a miracle in cycling technology. Many thousand thanks to Litespeed.

Strengths:
Climbs hill like mountain goat, Fast and very stable down hill, Great looks and performance.

Weaknesses:
Trying to find some; let you know if I find any.

Similar Products Used:
Trek 5200, Look 486, Specialized Roubaix Pro, Giant TCR Carbon, other Litespeeds.

Price Paid:  $6000.00 at online frame

Favorite Ride:
country roads

Bike Setup:
Changed from its original DA to Campy Record, Zipp wheels, Powertap SL2.4, Zipp stem/bar, Easton ec90sx fork, with result that total cost as equipped exceeds price referenced above.

Summary:
I have a special fondness for silver bikes, as my first road bike was a silver steel columbus tubed bike in 1970. The Ghisallo is very light and adequately stiff. It is smooth over rough roads and for me descends well at 40+mph. I like the way titanium is impervious to the usual paint chips, and it cleans up well. The thin tubes take a little getting used to, but they appear to be very strongh and adequately stiff. This is my favorite bike (I have a Colnago E1 and Tomassini Fire).

Strengths:
Weight, stiffness, ride, appearance, longevity.

Weaknesses:
price (although all high end bikes are expensive, particularly similar quality carbon bikes)

Similar Products Used:
Colnago, Tomassini.

Price Paid:  $3000.00 at Built by myself

Favorite Ride:
Litespeed Teramo 06'

Bike Setup:
As stated above.......

Summary:
Stiff frame that performs well. I bought the frame only from a online store new. The fork is marginal which is a Real Design HP. May replace it down the road. I have all ultegra set up minus the R700 compact crank. The frame has made for a light ride with my set up. I also bought a Spinergy Xaero Lite wheelset that has been a great compliment to this bike.

Strengths:
Light at just over 3 lbs. for the frame alone. Well made and welds are very smooth.

Weaknesses:
Hated the badging so I made the bike naked by stripping off decals. replaced with custom ordered decals.

Similar Products Used:
None.