I’m very much enjoying this series! I appreciate the fact you all are testing a good variety of bikes, with most not being “super” bikes. Having a bike with 105 and HED Ardenne wheels, I’m not surprised by this review. One of these days I need to buy a Ti bike!
I've had a lot of bikes over the years, including steel bikes, aluminum, carbon "climbing" bikes, aero road bikes, etc. While I love my top-end aero bike (well, top-end 5 years ago), I've never felt at home on a bike as much as my titanium road bike. Every other one that I get on after riding another bike, I have to "get used to it", but my titanium bike always felt like home as soon as I jumped on it. Granted, it was custom, but still - I've ridden my Pinarello just about every day for months now without touching any other bike, but if my titanium bike was still around, I'd instantly feel more at home on that than my Pinarello.
Thanks for this review. I was thinking about getting this bike for many reasons, but kept debating about it because as you say, it's not cheap. After seeing this though, it set my mind at ease, and I bought one while they were on sale for labor day. Comfortable, durable, Made in the USA, and also, definitely stands apart from the normal carbon fiber that's out there.
Great video. The bike looks nice. I have a 20 year old Litespeed Siena frame and Ultegra 6800 components. It rides as good as new and, and you said about ti, runs buttery smooth. The Cherohala looks like an interesting bike. Thank you for the insights.
Same here but with a 1993 Litespeed Ocoee hardtail. As you said: rides perfectly like on day one…was a really good decision to go for titanium 30 years ago (god, this sounds horrible….but the folks at Litespeed knew already back then how a perfect hardtail has to look and ride like).
Im looking at getting an upgrade Gravel bike to replace my current more "beginner" gravel adventure bike the 2018 Giant Toughroad SLR2. I don’t need a $12000 pro bike.. But I do think I want to go Titanium instead of Carbon. Id definitely like to use a reputable brand like Litespeed. They've been around awhile. Im going to budget myself for $4000-$5000 and Im between 2 bikes from Lightspeed. Cherohala & Ultimate G2 with either a 105 & Ultegra 2X set up. I will be buying a bike that Ill be keeping probably till I die. So.. I think a $4000-5000 investment into a solid bike should get me there.
There is nothing quite like a Titanium bike. I have a 2018 WHY R+: It's still an amazing, light and capable bike on road or gravel! Made in the USA. IDK why Lightspeed has spec'd for up to 38c clearance. My R+ is still a "Road-Plus+ or "All-Road" bike and I can fit up to 47mm ! I think 38 will get the job done, but I would have liked to see more tire capacity. 45mm seems to be minimum nowadays and I agree with that notion. Also this bike sorely needs a carbon 27.2 seatpost - even if you used an adapter. 31.8 is way too unyielding for this frame.
The Watia and Ultimate are their gravel bikes (me and the wife own Watia's with Ekar) and you can probably get a 50mm in there if you wanted to. The Cherohala is definitely more all-road focused and I'd assume sees more road and touring use than the Watia or Ultimate.
I purchased this bike recently with the mechanical Ultegra and upgraded wheelset to replace an older 15+ year Ti road bike (which I still use). It's definitely "buy it for life" kinda bike!
This bike suffers from an identity crisis. A bike with 38 mil tire clearance should not give away too much road capability these days. To me, that mountain bike seat tube diameter and head angle really hurt it.
@@mellissanash7517 Nothing wrong with it per se. It's slack compared to road bikes which will make it feel sluggish or wallowy on pavement. Since the bike doesn't fit fat tires, it seems they could have designed it with snappier handling. Just my opinion...
Can’t help but to notice how these two are so reluctant to be in this interview like there’s some sort of racism going on 😂😂😂 it’s painful yet entertaining to watch.
Why are you showing reach with no ST angle? Such a useless metric for drop bar bike fit. HTT is much more useful. Exposed cable routing make shifting WAY better! Damn right. Running housing end to end makes for a lot more compressability in the housing, so the precision is lower and there is more friction too.
I’m very much enjoying this series! I appreciate the fact you all are testing a good variety of bikes, with most not being “super” bikes. Having a bike with 105 and HED Ardenne wheels, I’m not surprised by this review. One of these days I need to buy a Ti bike!
I love my Litespeed Titanium bike!
Litespeed and Lynskey really deserve praise for bringing titanium ownership within reach for most consumers. Bonus for US labor and manufacturing.
Just like NASA brought the moon within reach of most Americans!
Love my 2011 Lynskey Cooper. Still my go to bike.
@@galenkehler Haha point taken but a Ti bike on ebay inspires more confidence than a carbon fiber one
@@galenkehler :-)
I have two Lynskey now (road and MTB), really love them both! ❤✌🏾
I've had a lot of bikes over the years, including steel bikes, aluminum, carbon "climbing" bikes, aero road bikes, etc. While I love my top-end aero bike (well, top-end 5 years ago), I've never felt at home on a bike as much as my titanium road bike. Every other one that I get on after riding another bike, I have to "get used to it", but my titanium bike always felt like home as soon as I jumped on it. Granted, it was custom, but still - I've ridden my Pinarello just about every day for months now without touching any other bike, but if my titanium bike was still around, I'd instantly feel more at home on that than my Pinarello.
Externally routed shifting cables? No wonder Dave is smiling in the intro!
Yes and for ever I'd like so !
Shifts better!
Thanks for this review. I was thinking about getting this bike for many reasons, but kept debating about it because as you say, it's not cheap. After seeing this though, it set my mind at ease, and I bought one while they were on sale for labor day. Comfortable, durable, Made in the USA, and also, definitely stands apart from the normal carbon fiber that's out there.
Great video. The bike looks nice. I have a 20 year old Litespeed Siena frame and Ultegra 6800 components. It rides as good as new and, and you said about ti, runs buttery smooth. The Cherohala looks like an interesting bike. Thank you for the insights.
Same here but with a 1993 Litespeed Ocoee hardtail. As you said: rides perfectly like on day one…was a really good decision to go for titanium 30 years ago (god, this sounds horrible….but the folks at Litespeed knew already back then how a perfect hardtail has to look and ride like).
Im looking at getting an upgrade Gravel bike to replace my current more "beginner" gravel adventure bike the 2018 Giant Toughroad SLR2.
I don’t need a $12000 pro bike..
But I do think I want to go Titanium instead of Carbon.
Id definitely like to use a reputable brand like Litespeed. They've been around awhile.
Im going to budget myself for $4000-$5000 and Im between 2 bikes from Lightspeed.
Cherohala & Ultimate G2 with either a 105 & Ultegra 2X set up.
I will be buying a bike that Ill be keeping probably till I die. So.. I think a $4000-5000 investment into a solid bike should get me there.
There is nothing quite like a Titanium bike. I have a 2018 WHY R+:
It's still an amazing, light and capable bike on road or gravel! Made in the USA.
IDK why Lightspeed has spec'd for up to 38c clearance. My R+ is still a "Road-Plus+ or "All-Road" bike and I can fit up to 47mm ! I think 38 will get the job done, but I would have liked to see more tire capacity. 45mm seems to be minimum nowadays and I agree with that notion.
Also this bike sorely needs a carbon 27.2 seatpost - even if you used an adapter.
31.8 is way too unyielding for this frame.
The Watia and Ultimate are their gravel bikes (me and the wife own Watia's with Ekar) and you can probably get a 50mm in there if you wanted to. The Cherohala is definitely more all-road focused and I'd assume sees more road and touring use than the Watia or Ultimate.
Litespeed…well done 👌🏼
I purchased this bike recently with the mechanical Ultegra and upgraded wheelset to replace an older 15+ year Ti road bike (which I still use). It's definitely "buy it for life" kinda bike!
This bike suffers from an identity crisis. A bike with 38 mil tire clearance should not give away too much road capability these days. To me, that mountain bike seat tube diameter and head angle really hurt it.
I agree, needs a 27.2 seatpost. 31.8 is waaay too stiff for this frame.
@@fennec13 30.9
@@fennec13 Right?? I doubt people will be putting dropper posts on these. So I'm not getting the point.
what's wrong with the hta?
@@mellissanash7517 Nothing wrong with it per se. It's slack compared to road bikes which will make it feel sluggish or wallowy on pavement. Since the bike doesn't fit fat tires, it seems they could have designed it with snappier handling. Just my opinion...
If I wasn’t cheap I’d buy it!!!! I prefer 105 mechanical over something with a battery 🪫. I’d pay for the threaded bottom bracket.
Menarik dan keren
"...it feels like a bicycle..." It's a bicycle!
You should review a Waltly custom ti bike
What can be reviewed there, other than the build quality, which has been done on plenty of forums? The geo and tubing and fittings is all custom
How can I win this bike ?
Can’t help but to notice how these two are so reluctant to be in this interview like there’s some sort of racism going on 😂😂😂 it’s painful yet entertaining to watch.
Why are you showing reach with no ST angle? Such a useless metric for drop bar bike fit. HTT is much more useful. Exposed cable routing make shifting WAY better! Damn right. Running housing end to end makes for a lot more compressability in the housing, so the precision is lower and there is more friction too.
$4,800 for over 9kgs.
And 105. You're paying for how hard Ti is to work with