Lapierre is again within the XC struggle with an all-new XR. This can be a ground-up redesign aimed straight at the place World Cup cross-country is now: sooner, rougher, steeper, and extra technical. The brand new design retains a well-known look however updates the suspension placement, really feel, and climbing efficiency. Plus, it’s a sharp-looking chassis and stands out from the present XC copy/paste designs.
The brand new XR is a full-suspension 29er (sorry, 32″ wheelers) with 120mm entrance and rear journey, up to date kinematics, a decrease shock place, revised carbon layups, and geometry that tries to maintain the bike sharp uphill with out getting nervous when the course factors down.
All-New Lapierre XR
Lapierre says the brand new XR was developed with enter from its PXR Racing program, and the temporary was clear: maintain the bike environment friendly, however make it extra agile on climbs and extra managed at race velocity. The earlier XR/XRM was able to technical descents, however Lapierre admits it was not the sharpest climber.
So the brand new XR will get a extra centralized rider place, a extra aggressive climbing posture, a steeper seat tube angle, a shorter high tube, a better head tube, and adjustable dealing with by way of a flip chip. The thought is to make the bike really feel extra engaged below energy with out giving up high-speed stability.
Replace Journey: 120mm Entrance and Rear
The brand new XR is constructed round a contemporary 120mm of journey entrance and rear. The earlier model had 120mm entrance journey and 110mm rear. Nonetheless, 120mm journey entrance and rear could be very a lot the trendy XC candy spot now. Sufficient journey to remain composed on ugly programs, however not a lot that the bike begins feeling like a path bike in a race package.
Lapierre pairs that with a flip chip that adjusts the underside bracket drop between 40mm and 45mm.
The great bit? Lapierre says the flip chip modifications BB top with out affecting the kinematics. So riders can tune the bike to the course’s really feel. Use the upper setting for extra pedal clearance and sharper dealing with, and the decrease setting for extra stability, all with out messing up the suspension’s habits.
Geometry sits proper in fashionable XC territory. Within the 40mm BB setting, the XR has a 67-degree head angle and 76.5-degree digital seat angle. In case you drop the flip chip to 45mm, it slackens barely to about 66.6 levels up entrance with a 76.1-degree seat angle. The attain runs from 420mm in small to 495mm in XL within the greater BB setting.
New Kinematics: Extra Help, Higher Pedaling
The center of the XR replace is the suspension structure.
Lapierre launched a brand new kinematic idea designed to stability pedaling effectivity and energetic suspension. The model says anti-squat sits nearer to 100% at sag, which ought to assist the bike keep agency and environment friendly below energy whereas nonetheless letting the rear wheel observe when issues get tough.
That’s the trick with XC suspension. Too agency and it skips round. Too energetic, and it feels such as you’re towing a moist mattress up the climb. Lapierre is making an attempt to maintain the rear finish planted with out letting it waste valuable watts.
The brand new vertical shock place additionally provides Lapierre extra room to fine-tune the kinematics and lowers the shock within the body. That lowers the middle of gravity and may assist the bike really feel calmer as speeds rise. It additionally supplies simpler entry for shock setup and cleansing, which isn’t flashy however completely issues when the bike lives in actual mud and wishes actual upkeep.
Lapierre additionally labored to maintain anti-rise near the earlier XR/XRM, aiming to protect downhill braking composure. The bike ought to keep extra predictable when you find yourself onerous on the brakes coming into the spicy bits.
Uneven Body and Decrease Shock Placement
One of many extra attention-grabbing body particulars is the XR’s uneven development across the backside bracket space. The body is open across the BB, which helps Lapierre decrease the shock as a lot as potential, save weight, and make the shock simpler to achieve, however nonetheless solely permits for one water bottle
There’s additionally a Fidlock cowl for the shock cowl opening, and Lapierre says the bike could be ridden with out it to avoid wasting 44g.
New Carbon Naming: UD Racing and UD Efficiency
Lapierre can also be introducing new carbon naming for the XR: UD Racing and UD Efficiency.
The highest-end XR 10.9 will get the UD Racing layup, constructed round a T800 carbon fiber base with high-modulus fibers to enhance the stiffness-to-weight ratio.
Body weight lands at a claimed 1,730g, which Lapierre says is 50g lighter than the earlier XR. That’s not a large drop, however paired with the brand new suspension structure, geometry, and 120/120mm journey, the load story is extra about effectivity than simply chasing uncooked weight discount.
The remainder of the vary makes use of UD Efficiency layups, maintaining the identical body platform, geometry, and kinematics throughout all fashions.
That final half is vital. You aren’t shopping for a very totally different bike if you happen to don’t spring for the XR 10.9. The decrease fashions nonetheless get the identical core chassis and trip character, simply with totally different builds and carbon development.
XR 10.9: The Full Fuel One
The flagship XR 10.9 is the cleanest expression of the brand new platform.
It makes use of the UD Racing layup and is available in at a claimed 10.4kg. Suspension is dealt with by a RockShox SID Final fork and RockShox SIDLuxe Final shock, each with 3-position distant management. It doesn’t get the RockShox Flight Attendant just like the workforce builds, however I count on we’d see some finally.
The drivetrain is SRAM XX SL AXS, brakes are SRAM Motive Final, wheels are FSA KFX i30 Staff Version, and the cockpit is an FSA NS SIC built-in one-piece setup.
Value is €10,000.
The Remainder of the XR Line
Lapierre shouldn’t be making the brand new XR a one-model halo venture. The vary contains 5 builds: XR 10.9, 8.9, 7.9, 6.9, and 5.9, with sizes from S to XL.
The XR 8.9 will get the UD Efficiency layup and is available in at 11kg with Shimano XT Di2, Shimano XT 4-piston brakes, DT Swiss XRC1500 wheels, a SRAM Descendant flat carbon bar with XLC stem, and Fox 34 SL Manufacturing unit / Float Manufacturing unit suspension with 2-position management. Value is €6,999.
The XR 7.9 drops in at 11.8kg with SRAM GX AXS, SRAM Motive Bronze brakes, DT Swiss XR1700 wheels, XLC alloy cockpit, and RockShox SID Choose+ / SIDLuxe Choose+ suspension with 3-position management. Value is €5,799.
The XR 6.9 weighs 12.2kg and runs Shimano Deore Di2, Shimano Deore 4-piston brakes, DT Swiss M1900 wheels, XLC alloy cockpit, and RockShox SID Choose / SIDLuxe Choose+ suspension. Value is €4,799.
The entry level is the XR 5.9, listed at 12.8kg with a brand new mechanical Shimano Deore group, Shimano M4100 4-piston brakes, XLC alloy wheels and cockpit, and the identical RockShox SID Choose / SIDLuxe Choose+ suspension package deal. Value is €3,799.
That may be a fairly large unfold. The ten.9 is the race weapon. The 8.9 appears to be like just like the good high-end rider construct. The 7.9 might be the candy spot for a lot of racers who need wi-fi shifting and correct wheels with out hitting 5 figures. The 6.9 and 5.9 open the platform to riders who need the identical body idea while not having team-issued cash.
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