Look are best known for their road bikes but at this week's Fisher Expo, organised by UK distributors Fisher Outdoor Leisure, we had a chance to check out some of their off-road models, notably the full-suspension 920, 986 hardtail and X85 carbon cyclo-cross rig.
Look 920
It's the 920's integrated alloy stem (A-Stem) that immediately grabs your attention – technology originally seen on their flagship 695 road bike. Unusual aesthetics aside, Look claim the stem improves steering accuracy, presumably because it gives a lower stack height which makes it easier to get weight over the front end on climbs. If you prefer a higher front end, the stem can be flipped; no spacers are required.
The frame is full-carbon, including the rocker and rear triangle, and has a moulded metallic covering on the down tube that's said to improve impact resistance by more than 60 percent. It offers 120mm of suspension travel.
Two frameset builds are available: a £3,000 version with a RockShox Ario shock and a £3,500 upgraded model with the DT Swiss carbon shock pictured here. Both are finished here with SRAM XX, a RockShox SID XX fork, DT Swiss XR400 rims and Schwalbe Racing Ralph tyres.
Look 986
The A-Stem is used on the carbon 986 hardtail too, which also shares the 920's down tube guard. Other features include a BB30 bottom bracket and an optional integrated, reversible ( /- 5mm) E-Post seatpost, which uses elastomers to dampen trail buzz.
Components include a SRAM X0 groupset, RockShox SID XX fork, DT Swiss XR400 rims and Schwalbe Racing Ralph tyres. Again, two models are available; the integrated post version at £2,250 and the standard post version at £2,000.
Look X85
This new carbon framed, disc-brake equipped bike marks the French firm's return to the 'cross market. Weighing in at a claimed 1,150g, the frame has a 1-1/8in headset, self-explanatory 'Mud Evac' seatstays and 135mm rear hub spacing, which makes it compatible with 29in mountain bike wheels.
It takes a 27.2mm seatpost diameters and comes complete with a SRAM Rival group, Fulcrum Red Metal 29XL rims and Hutchinson Bulldog CX tyres for £2,499.99. For more details about any of these bikes, visit www.lookcycle.com or www.fisheroutdoor.co.uk.
