Litespeed Vortex Record

Price Paid:  $4500.00 at Components = eBay /

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
Banff -> Calgary ~140km

Bike Setup:
2007 LiteSpeed Vortex
2008 Campy Record
2007 Spinergy Stealth PBO FCC
Continetal GP 4000 S
ITM Melinium Wing Bar
ITM Melinium Stem
Easton EA70 seatpost
Fitzik Arione Ti Salddle
Silva Bar Tape
Ultegra 6600 pedals

Summary:
The ride of the Vortex is simply fabulous. The first thing I noticed was how smooth the ride was compared to my aluminum Allez Pro w/ Ksyrium SL wheels. I intentionally took it to a rough part of pavement on one of my local loops. This road features very course chip asphalt. The Allez used to rattle my fillings loose but the Vortex seemed to put down a layer of velvet over everything. It is indeed the "long day in the saddle" bike that I wanted.

The BB & chain stays are stiff. On the trainer under heavy hammering, judging by eye, the BB has VERY little to deflection. Under normal loads, there was no visible deflection at all. On the road, this titanium rocklet felt alive.

The Vortex is very sensitive to rider position. I hadn't dialed in my saddle forward/aft position before I took it out for its inaugural ride. It was a handful to drive and required my full attention especially in sweeping high speed turns. I could've done those turns half asleep while making a sandwich on the Allez Pro. I immediatly noticed that my position was too far back on the bike which made the handling very light in front to the point of being twitchy. Once I corrected my saddle position, it handled like a dream and I railed the same corners with ease.

In some reviews of the Vortex on this site, some riders experienced high speed wobble. I'm positive that this is happening because of improper rider position. (I.e. too far back) With my corrected position, I descended at speeds up to 65km/hr and the bike felt very stable. No wobbles and very predictable even in a cross winds.

The head tube junction on the Vortex seems a bit “flexy” compared to my stiff as nails aluminum frame. While climbing and really yanking hard on the bars, I could notice some deflection.

This is a high caliber bike for high caliber riders. Novice riders will not be able to fully understand nor appreciate its qualities.

Strengths:
Handles like a dream once dialed in.
Vertically compliant frame that provides a very smooth ride.
The frame is has very a stiff BB and chain stays every watt is transformed into forward motion.
The 6/4 ti frame is uber light.
The Vortex is SEX to look at.

Weaknesses:
Sensitive to rider position.
A little flexible at the head tube junction.

Similar Products Used:
2003 Allez Pro. Full D/A & Ksyrium SL
1987 Bianch Campione Del Mondo. Full 105

View Comments (2)

Would you like to Comment?
Join RoadbikeReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Competitive Cyclist

Model Year:
2005

Favorite Ride:
Dam Loop

Bike Setup:
Campagnolo Record. Ksyrium SSL.

Summary:
Take Litespeed's description of the Vortex with a grain of salt. Yes, the Vortex is light and stiff. But... the Vortex is the worst handling bike that I have ever owned.

Strengths:
Great climbing bike. Nice looking. Strong on flat, windless sections.

Weaknesses:
An absolute nightmare to descend on. The Vortex does not instill confidence. I heard the phrase "noodling" used to describe this bike. I'm getting rid of the Vortex PDQ.

Similar Products Used:
Litespeed Classic. I wish Litespeed continued making the Classic. Now that was a terrific bike. The name says it all.

View Comments (1)

Would you like to Comment?
Join RoadbikeReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.

Price Paid:  $0.00

Favorite Ride:
rolling hills NW Ill or SW Wis

Bike Setup:
Campagnolo Record 10
Campagnolo Neutron Wheelset

Summary:
Excellent bicylce. Very smooth ride. This is my 2nd Vortex. My 1st Vortex was a 2001 model. I upgraded primarily because I needed a frame that is one size large than I had ridden the last few years. (55 cm to 57 cm)

Strengths:
The strength to weight ratio makes it top line. This is not the lightest bike out there, but it is still quite competitive and the fact that many pros race with this model is a strong endorsement in itself.

Weaknesses:
Litespeed has gone with their own brand name fork instead of the Reynolds Forks provided in past years. The new fork gives an excellent ride, however the walls of the tube are super thick and the compression cap for the headset is quite small. I have had a lot of difficulty with this new smaller compression cap slipping. I have had to tighten my headset after almost every ride. Finally I went to another brand of compression cap so I wouldn't get any loosening in the headset.

Similar Products Used:
Litespeed Vortex 2001, Trek 5200, Quintan Roo Tiphoon, Bianchi, Raliegh, etc.

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Bicycle Exotica Dire

Favorite Ride:
any

Bike Setup:
61cm Vortex frame, 2004 Campag Record with carbon cranks, Eurus wheels, Reynolds Ouzo Pro fork, Kestrel EMS bars, Record Carbon seat post and a Fizik Arione to round it out.

Summary:
This bike is simply fantastic compared to my last ride. The frame is not ultra-light, but it combines ample stiffness and the complete package is only 8kg for a 61cm frame size. The record group performs as you would expect and compliments the frame well. The record carbon cranks are also very stiff. There is no discernable flex through them.

The front end is Kestrel Carbon bars on a USE stem on the reynolds ouzo pro fork. This front end is confidence inspiring for descending and is exceptionally stiff when out of the saddle working in the drops.

Strengths:
Weight, stiffness, lifetime warranty, and it looks good to boot!

Weaknesses:
Stickers, it looks like you are riding on an advertising billboard

Similar Products Used:
Trek 5200, Trek 1500