The new 120mm-travel Lapierre X-Flow replaces the X-Control. Pictured here is the top-of-the-range full-carbon 912 model. Six other complete bikes are available, including the alloy 312John Whitney/BikeRadar
The X-Flow uses Pendbox technology – the floating bottom bracket system first used on Lapierre’s downhill bike last year. All models have custom-tuned Fox suspension, tapered head tubes and internal cable routingJohn Whitney/BikeRadar
The Lapierre Spicy (and Zesty) get changes to their OST suspension design. It’s hoped the new OST+ platform, developed with input from downhilling legend Nicolas Vouilloz, will produce a more desirable leverage ratio curve, making the initial part of the stroke more supple, offering better support in the middle and increasing in progressivity towards the end of the stroke. The model shown here is the Spicy 916, which is new for 2012 and weighs a claimed 400g less than the alloy versionJohn Whitney/BikeRadar
The Spicy and Zesty platforms feature full internal cable routing, giving them a much cleaner look. The head angle on the Spicy has also been relaxed by one degree (now 66 degrees on the Spicy; 67 on the Zesty)John Whitney/BikeRadar
The chainstays on both the Zesty and Spicy have been shortened by 1cmJohn Whitney/BikeRadar
There’ll be three versions of the Spicy for 2012 – two alloy versions and the full-carbon 916. There’ll be six Zesty model – three alloy and three carbon. Shown here is the full-carbon 514, with Fox Float RP2 shock and RockShox Revelation RL forkJohn Whitney/BikeRadar
The Zesty also comes in a women’s-specific version, with a shorter top tube and lower centre of gravityJohn Whitney/BikeRadar
Three Pro Race 29er models are available from Lapierre for 2012, including this full-carbon 929 versionJohn Whitney/BikeRadar
An alloy version of the Pro Race 29er is available in the shape of this 229John Whitney/BikeRadar
The Lapierre X2 Team Tandem, inspired by their Froggy range, is unchanged for 2012John Whitney/BikeRadar
The Lapierre Xelius is unchanged for 2012, apart from modifications to the chainstays to distinguish each of the four frames in the rangeJohn Whitney/BikeRadar
The Xelius 700 gets red chainstays…John Whitney/BikeRadar
… And the Xelius 200 goes blueJohn Whitney/BikeRadar
The new X-Flow cross-country rig was the highlight of Lapierre’s 2012 booth at last week’s Eurobike show in Freidrichshafen, Germany. The 120mm-travel bike uses Pendbox technology – the floating bottom bracket system first used on their downhill bike last year – to isolate pedalling from suspension forces, giving a more efficient ride.
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We also took a look at the French company’s Pro Race 29ers and the updates to their all-rounder Zesty and Spicy models. On the road side, the Xelius hasn’t had the major revamp that was hinted at earlier this year, instead getting rather modest tinkering to its aesthetics. Check out our image gallery for the full rundown.
Cycling Plus deputy editor and tireless domestique John has been putting in a shift for the magazine for seven years. Despite having been a ‘proper’ road cyclist for the last decade, he still can’t work out what his main motivation for punishing all-day rides is. A freewheeling attitude towards cake is the popular theory, however.
