Lapierre Spicy CF’s unique suspension design offers high and low pivots on one bike

French brand shakes up the enduro category with two suspension layouts on the same frame

By Luke Marshall

Published: Wednesday, 10 July 2024 at 10:00 AM

The new 174mm-travel Lapierre Spicy CF offers you the choice between a high-pivot or low-pivot setup on the same frame.

This unique design is intended to increase the Spicy’s versatility for hardcore enduro enthusiasts, racers and bike-park shredders.

Heading to the bike park for uplifted laps? Set the frame in the high-pivot position for downhill-focused performance. Pedalling your favourite enduro trails? Opt for the low-pivot position for maximum versatility.

Lapierre claims this design will revolutionise the enduro category, delivering a best-of-both-worlds bike for riders who desire a high-pivot descending experience, while still having a traditional enduro bike for day-to-day riding.

There are four models and a frameset available, with prices ranging from €5,499 to €10,000 – and €3,699 for the frame.

Pivot possibilities

The same frame can run its main pivot in a high position with a chain idler or a low position with a standard drivetrain setup. – JB Liautard

The new Spicy CF features a fully redesigned frame using a four-bar Horst-link suspension platform. The shock position and pivot locations are engineered to provide a progressive leverage curve, which remains consistent regardless of whether the bike is in the high-pivot or low-pivot position.

This means you won’t need to change shock tunes when switching between the two pivot positions. Plus, the bike is compatible with both coil and air shocks.

Lapierre Spicy CF leverage rates graph
This graph gives an idea of how the leverage rates change depending on pivot-point setting and rear-wheel size. – Lapierre

The high-pivot position provides a more rearward axle path, helping the rear wheel move over bumps more easily. To prevent excess pedal kickback, it features a 15t chain idler. Lapierre claims this system offers improved stability with downhill-oriented suspension optimised for enduro races with the steepest profiles.

In the low-pivot position, the axle path is more forward, providing a dynamic ride feel. It forgoes the chain idler for maximum pedal efficiency and is optimised for enduro races with rolling profiles.

Lapierre Spicy CF axle paths graph
This graph depicts the Spicy CF’s axle paths in the high- and low-pivot settings. – Lapierre

The high-pivot position delivers 174mm of travel, while the low-pivot position produces 170mm.

All models are sold in the high-pivot setup. However, the necessary hardware to change between the two positions is included, so you won’t need to purchase any extras.

Lapierre will be releasing a demo video on how to change between the two settings, which home mechanics should be able to follow.

Mixed-wheel compatibility

A flip chip in the lower shock mount maintains the Spicy CF’s geometry and similar leverage curves, while changing wheel sizes and pivot positions. – JB Liautard

If selecting your pivot position isn’t enough, you can also choose between a 29in and 27.5in rear wheel.

A three-position flip chip in the lower shock mount maintains the bike’s geometry and suspension leverage curves in any of the Spicy CF’s four settings: high-pivot 29in rear wheel, high-pivot 27.5in rear wheel, low-pivot 29in rear wheel and low-pivot 27.5in rear wheel.

The bikes are sold with mixed wheels. However, the flip chips needed to set the Spicy CF up with full 29in wheels come with the bikes. All you’ll need to do is supply the wheel.

Carbon construction

Lapierre UD SLI (Unidirectional Superlight Innovation) carbon construction
Lapierre uses its UD SLI (Unidirectional Superlight Innovation) carbon construction to produce the Spicy CF. – Lapierre

The Spicy CF is intended to uphold Lapierre’s high-performance heritage. It uses the brand’s UD SLI (Unidirectional Superlight Innovation) carbon construction, the brand’s top-tier carbon fibre that provides the best strength-to-weight ratio.

This approach debuted on the brand’s XR and XRM full-suspension cross-country mountain bikes, launched in March 2022.

The frame uses more than 600 pieces of carbon per frame to deliver Lapierre’s GPL (Gravity Logic Project) concept. This follows the brand’s ebike range and is designed to keep the weight as central and low as possible to enhance the feeling of neutrality and balance.

Lapierre has reinforced stiffness in the bottom bracket and chainstays to improve responsiveness under power.

The Spicy CF seat stay bridge
A bridge connects the seatstays on the Spicy CF to add lateral and torsional rigidity. – Lapierre

The seatstay bridge is said to boost lateral and torsional stiffness to maintain uniform rigidity from the head tube to the rear stays, delivering precise and accurate handling.

However, Lapierre hasn’t set out to make the Spicy CF the stiffest bike possible. Several iterations of carbon layup tested with its pro enduro racers found excessive stiffness was detrimental to handling.

Lapierre claims it found an ideal balance, boosting the frame’s precision in fast sections, while maintaining enough tolerance for slower, more technical trail sections.

Lapierre Spicy CF frame details

Lapierre Spicy CF internal frame storage
An opening in the down tube gives access to the frame’s internal storage. – JB Liautard

Lapierre’s UD SLI carbon frame boasts a smooth internal finish, ensuring hassle-free cable and hose routing, threading through the headset.

The brand’s Block Lock is used in the headset to help protect the cables and a semi-soft rubber shield is employed on the side of the head tube for protection from the fork crown.

There’s integrated frame storage in the down tube for stashing tools, spares or a jacket.

Lapierre’s specifically designed thick rubber chain protection is intended to significantly reduce noise on rough trails and fits the chainstay perfectly.

There are bottle mounts inside the front triangle.

Lapierre Spicy CF geometry

Lapierre Spicy CF shock layout
The Spicy CF’s suspension layout causes a short seatpost insertion depth. – JB Liautard

Lapierre has introduced a new XS size for the Spicy CF, meaning there are now five frame sizes, ranging from extra-small to extra-large.

Overall, the geometry looks spot-on for a modern enduro bike. Sensibly long reach numbers grow from 410mm to 435mm, 460mm, 485mm and 505mm for the XS to XL bikes.

The Spicy’s stack numbers highlight its descending intentions, with tall figures of 627mm, 636mm, 641mm, 645mm and 654mm for XS to XL frames.

There’s a slack 63.5-degree head tube angle and steep 78-degree effective seat tube angle.

Chainstays grow with sizes. The XS, S and M frame sizes use a 440mm rear-centre length, which rises to 445mm on the L frame and 450mm on the XL.

The only initial concern we have is over the short seatpost insertion depth. With the short seat tubes and shock tunnel, long dropper posts might be tough to fit in.

Lapierre Spicy CF geometry – high-pivot mixed wheels
SizeExtra-smallSmallMediumLargeExtra-large
Reach (mm)410435460480505
Stack (mm)627636641645654
Head angle (degrees)63.563.563.563.563.5
Seat tube (mm)370370400430460
Seat tube angle (degrees)7878787878
Top tube (mm)543.5570.4596.4617.3644.2
Chainstay (mm)440440440445450
Front centre (mm)760789816838868
Wheelbase – mm12001229125612831318
FC:RC ratio1.731.791.851.881.93
Bottom bracket drop – mm-16-15-15-15-15
Edit Table

Lapierre Spicy CF range 

Lapierre is releasing four bikes and a frameset. Prices range from €5,499 to €10,000. 

Lapierre Spicy CF 6.9

Lapierre

Lapierre Spicy CF 7.9

Lapierre Spicy CF 7.9
Lapierre

Lapierre Spicy CF 8.9

Lapierre Spicy CF 8.9
Lapierre

Lapierre Spicy CF Team

Lapierre Spicy CF Team
Lapierre

Lapierre Spicy CF frameset

Lapierre Spicy CF frameset
Lapierre