Calling all Lapierre Zesty owners....

Gobs

I'm looking to get a 514 if I can get my hands on one. Question is, a) Does the bike suffer from not having pro-pedal or lockout on the shock?

And b) I've read that frame size is not the easiest to determine. Looks like I'll be getting one mail order so trying on one is going to be nie on impossible. I'm 5'6, I test rode a Stumpy Elite and that was a perfect fit at 17.5 inches, yet I'm advised to take a small on the Zesty, any thoughts?

:shock:

jam1e

Good choice mate!

I've got a 714 which I bought after trying a 514 and 314 - tbh the only reasons I went for the 714 over the 514 were the colour and the finishing kit (I'd have just gone and bought thompson kit etc the minute the 514 had turned up so I just bit the bullet). I def wanted the bolt-through forks so the 314 was out...

The only time I really use the lockout is when I'm on road climbs, if you get the settings on the shock right you don't really notice the difference 95% of the time!

They are quite a big bike so the small does sound plausible - def get a sit on one if you can.

Any other questions give me a shout

cammer

rode a 2008 514 yesterday, never missed the pro-pedal which I have on my commencal (and use quite a lot)

Gobs

What height are you Jam1e and what frame size have you got?

And dare I say it, for the equipment they do strike me as expensive compared to other manufacturers, however it's the consistent exciting reviews, and if I'm honest, the look of the bike that's having more sway than it should....

nferrar

I have a 314 and don't miss pro-pedal, it only bobs slightly under load when sitting down (standing up it bounces a fair amount though).
I'm 5'11" and went for a medium, the top tubes are long and it fits me fine - I'd say small is probably right for you at 5'6" but obviously trying one first would be best!

514 is worth having over the 314 if you want the forks/wheels (I already have Roval Traversee's and intend to get 2010 Rev's for it so stuck with the 314, prefer the colour to). Mind you if I could only have 1 bike it would be a 914

Eskimo427

I have a Spicy 316 which is a medium and I'm about 5'9". For this bike to be comfortable I've changed the seat and moved it as far forward as possible and rolled the handle bars back a little.

I bought mine mail order so I wasn't able to test the size, if I had I may have gone for the small instead.

I hope this helps.

jam1e

I'm 6'3 and ride a large so not a great deal of help I'm afraid!

TBH I think they compare fairly well on price with spesh and trek etc - the bigger brands might be ever so slightly cheaper for a given level of equipment but the Lapierres have much, much better finishes and detailing.

At one point I had 6 or 7 bikers gathered round the 714 in Sherwood Pines last week all saying it looked gorgeous - which was nice

robertpb

I have a Commencal Meta 5.5.2 small frame, the top tube is 547mm, I have a 40mm stem and find it spot on.

I had a look a few months ago at the Zesty 514 again in the small frame, the top tube was 575mm, that would make it too long for me.

I'm 5'5" so only and inch shorter than you.

gypsy3006

Im 6 foot 1 " and ride a medium zesty , felt the large was way too big for me so if your 5'6 then you need to get a small IMHO

As for the pro pedal , I have it but I hardly use it , just pump it up the way you like it and keep it there , go for the 514 if you can afford it , far better equipped and it looks superb in white , you wont regret it !!

Gobs

After seeing a £510 reduction on the £1860 Commencal Meta 5.5.2 I was tempted to switch decisions earlier as an £1100 difference between that and the Zesty 514 made it hard to justify. However I'm seeing quite a few poor paint finish/cracked frame posts on various websites so the Commie isn't filling me with confidence :shock:

neeeeeeeeeek

I have a 514 and love it. My felt had a lockout which I used to use but I don't miss it on the Zesty. I am 5'10 & 10.5 stone and bought a medium. I have found the geometry quite different from my old Virtue 2 which was weird at first but the size is good. I am not very heavy so don't know if a more substantial person would benefit from the lockout or not. The Bike is so quick and so easy to pedal, I would have bought the 314 but the insurance company could not get any more of them so paid the extra. It is probably way above my needs but I love it. I looked at other bikes and none of them seemed to have that WOW factor for me and I think if your spending that much money on a bike it should get you excited!

Gobs

Nail on the head! I want this bike to excite me with both it's ride and it's presence. The Spicy 516 looks even better, and seems to be beating many other bikes in bike mag reviews. I'm not sure though if that one would really be overkill though...

Any thoughts :twisted:

neeeeeeeeeek

My Felt was stolen and I only had a grand cover. I was originally going to get something around the 1300 mark but then looked at the Trek EX8, Giant Trance and Zesty 314. When the Zesty sold out I was left looking at the trace and the Giant, both got great reviews and are probably overkill for me but they just did not excite me in any way. I had a similar problem when I bought an Alfa GT, I used to like going out for a drive but never ever wanted to in the Alfa and did not want the same thing to happen with my new bike! Once I had convinced myself it was worth spending the extra I got all giddy and still am! I don't think I would have got that Buzz from the others.

As for the Spicy... I have not had time to use my 514 as much as I would have liked and the second time I took it out I wondered if I should have gone for the slightly chunkier Spicy... The last 2 times I have ridden it that thought has not even crossed my mind! I am not very heavy and wanted a light bike, the 514 is light, amazingly easy to pedal, very quick and very sure footed . I am also sure it's plenty strong enough for a 10.5 stone weed like me! I live in Sheffield so have the Peak district on the doorstep, lots of rocky trails, tracks and lots of cross country. I did see the reviews of the Spicy and it is without doubt an amazing bike but it’s another £500 on top. I was struggling to justify the extra £500 for the 514 over the 314 so adding another £500 was getting a bit silly! I had the money though but for my type of riding I did not think it was necessary. I love hurtling down hills and the spicy seems to do it better than most but for me the Zesty is more than good enough. I can't see me getting to the Alps or dropping off cliffs every weekend so it would have been overkill, most of my time will be spent in the peaks. It's also quite a bit heavier and for me light is good! It's nice to be able to go up hills and not just down them. If I was 6ft and 15 stone then I guess the Spicy would have had the extra beef but I'm not. Sorry for rambling on, I don't know what sort of riding your planning on so thought I should give as much detail as possible!

Gobs

TBH whatever I buy is likely to spend most of its time at UK trail centres, and normally I wouldn't even consider a 6" bike like the Spicy, but after seeing so many good reviews and climbing ability that belies its dna due to the OST platform, it seems a distinct possibility, although like you say, it's a hell of a lot of money and perhaps the 514 is all the bike I'll ever need...

Damn bike porn confusing me

jam1e

For roughly the price of a 516 you can get a 714...

Having ridden some spicys they are def better going xc than you would think and I know a couple of people who use them as xc/trail bikes. Personally I prefer the more nimble feel of the zestys though...

Eskimo427

I use my Spicy 316 for my 34 mile round commute to work, 10 Under the Ben and Mountain Mayhem. Next week I'll be doing 10 at Kirroughtree and in October Relentless 24. This bike is more than good enough for XC as long as you don't expect to break any records.

I did considered a zesty 314 and 514 but wanted more travel and I'm more than convinced I made the right decision.

pjd79

Had the bike about 3 weeks and have to say i love it.

So easy to ride and downhill goes like a rocket

Could'nt recommed it enough

The Dobbo

lugsey2k5

The 514 has pro pedal it just doesnt have 3 settings for pro pedal like the rp23 which is un-necessary anyway.

The bike is superb. My only advice is the bearings in the headset are not that well sealed so require service once every 6 months ish and the BB isnt great but once replaced the BB90 system defiantly works out cheaper since all i need to do now to replace mine is buy 2 new bearings at a cost of £8 or £22 for ceramic.

im 6.5 and have a 54cm frame.

For trail centres and xc the zesty is more than capable and mine has been down fort bill's off beat track and Hamsterly forest DH runs and coped fine.

Steve_b77

The 314 with a Float R also has a certain amount of pro-pedal built into the compression tune of the shock.

The RP2 on the 514 is more than enough shock for the bike, IMHO.

Size wise if you're 5'6" I'd be going for a small as the top tubes are quite long on the Zestys, I tried out a medium and I'm 5'10.5"

Just a shame the 514 is a gopping colour and it's £2.8k for a bike kitted out with SLX :shock:

rhialto

I have a 2008 Zesty 514. I am 5'9" and I was sized at my LBS for a 46 cm frame. I was in the Alps in the summer and my Zesty felt a bit lightweight for the steep and rocky singletrack that we were doing every day but the rest of the time it's more than enough for the trails I ride around here. I have to agree with a previous comment though. The headset and bottom bracket are not well sealed and mine needed replacing after a year and a half.

However, I would love to get a Spicy 516 frame and build a bike from the ground up! Sweet.

lawman

holy thread resurection batman!!! :shock:

lugsey2k5

haha didnt check the date

popstar

To be honest Float R rear shock is the right turd. Hate it passionately. Other components are good.