{"id":41910,"date":"2022-09-28T13:00:18","date_gmt":"2022-09-28T11:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/?p=698550"},"modified":"2022-09-28T13:17:18","modified_gmt":"2022-09-28T11:17:18","slug":"litespeeds-ultimate-g2-titanium-gravel-bike-sees-a-ground-up-redesign","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/rss_feed\/litespeeds-ultimate-g2-titanium-gravel-bike-sees-a-ground-up-redesign\/","title":{"rendered":"Litespeed\u2019s Ultimate G2 titanium gravel bike sees a \u201cground-up redesign\u201d\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Oscar Huckle\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 28 September 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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Litespeed has announced the release of the Ultimate G2 gravel bike<\/a>, which sees a \u201cground-up redesign\u201d from the previous Ultimate.<\/p>\n

Litespeed says it has designed the new bike to accommodate what gravel riders are demanding: \u201cmore gears, more tyre, more comfort, more acceleration [and] more speed\u201d.<\/p>\n

As a result, Litespeed has introduced new geometry and upped tyre clearance from 700 x 45mm to 700 x 48mm.<\/p>\n

The brand says it tested prototypes of the Ultimate G2 on courses including Unbound<\/a> in Kansas and the Belgian Waffle Ride in San Diego.<\/p>\n

Litespeed says the result is \u201cperformance titanium gravel riding\u201d for racing and everyday use.<\/p>\n

The brand is also using the Ultimate G2 as a platform to launch several new cosmetic options, including a \u2018Ceramic Color Coating\u2019.<\/p>\n

Pricing starts from $4,950 with Shimano GRX 600<\/a> components and there will be a frame-only option for $3,095. UK and international pricing is to be confirmed.<\/p>\n

You can configure your own build on Litespeed\u2019s website.<\/p>\n

An updated titanium frame<\/h2>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The Ultimate G2 cuts a distinctive silhouette.<\/span><\/figcaption> Litespeed<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Litespeed has updated the Ultimate\u2019s frame to create a \u201cgravel bike with the chops for surgical handling during high-paced riding, and a new degree of handling deftness and steering balance\u201d.<\/p>\n

The frame uses 3AL \/ 2.5V cold-worked titanium<\/a>, which means there\u2019s 3 per cent aluminium and 2.5 per cent vanadium in proportion to the titanium \u2013 the standard mix for a bike frame.<\/p>\n

Litespeed uses a custom-formed tubeset for the new bike. The brand says it designed, crafted and tested the tubeset in-house, to deliver stiffness in the drivetrain<\/a> and front end, improve comfort and even introduce some aerodynamic profiling.<\/p>\n

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The new design is said to boost both compliance and tyre clearance.<\/span><\/figcaption> Litespeed<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The most notable visual update to the Ultimate G2 is the \u2018Interlocked Dropped Seatstays\u2019.<\/p>\n

The triple-triangle-esque aesthetic sees the brand adopt a wide seatstay stance and extends them upwards beyond the seat tube. The seatstays meet the top tube a few centimetres in front of the seat tube junction.<\/p>\n

Litespeed says this design allows it to achieve \u201cexceptional tyre clearance\u201d without the need for a seatstay bridge.<\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Litespeed has sweated the details on the driveside chainstay.<\/span><\/figcaption> Litespeed<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The chainstays have also seen some revisions, and the driveside chainstay uses a new CNC-machined titanium yoke. This is said to improve both tyre and necessary chainring clearance.<\/p>\n

The head tube and bottom bracket are butted for additional weight savings, according to Litespeed.<\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
You can have pretty much any drivetrain you like.<\/span><\/figcaption> Litespeed<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The frame can be run with either a 1x drivetrain<\/a> or 2x drivetrain, but Litespeed says if you\u2019re running 2x, the front derailleur outer cable will need to be routed externally.<\/p>\n

The Ultimate G2 will be available in sizes XS to XL. Litespeed claims the frame weighs 1,430g in a size medium.<\/p>\n

Litespeed Ultimate G2 geometry<\/h2>\n
<\/colgroup>
\ufeffFrame<\/th>XS<\/th>S<\/th>M<\/th>M\/L<\/th>L<\/th>XL<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Head tube angle <\/b>(degrees)<\/td>71<\/td>71<\/td>71.5<\/td>71.5<\/td>72<\/td>72<\/td> <\/tr>
Seat tube angle <\/b>(degrees)<\/td>74.5<\/td>74<\/td>73.5<\/td>73.5<\/td>73<\/td>73<\/td> <\/tr>
Top tube length <\/b>(mm)<\/td>51.7<\/td>53.2<\/td>55.5<\/td>56.8<\/td>59<\/td>61<\/td> <\/tr>
Head tube length <\/b> (mm)<\/td>88<\/td>88<\/td>116<\/td>143<\/td>168<\/td>205<\/td> <\/tr>
Seat tube length <\/b> (mm)<\/td>430<\/td>445<\/td>470<\/td>495<\/td>520<\/td>550<\/td> <\/tr>
Chainstay length <\/b>(mm)<\/td>425<\/td>425<\/td>425<\/td>425<\/td>425<\/td>425<\/td> <\/tr>
Wheelbase <\/b> (mm)<\/td>999<\/td>1,009<\/td>1,024<\/td>1,037<\/td>1,051<\/td>1,073<\/td> <\/tr>
Reach <\/b>(mm)<\/td>370<\/td>380<\/td>390<\/td>395<\/td>405<\/td>415<\/td> <\/tr>
Stack <\/b>(mm)<\/td>370<\/td>380<\/td>390<\/td>395<\/td>405<\/td>415<\/td> <\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>