For an overview of the test fleet head to the main article: What’s the best road bike for Mallorca?
On the road, the € 4,999 Xelius SL is easily the most comfortable bike on test, and not just because of the more upright, relaxed riding position that offers supreme comfort for long hours in the saddle. The rear end possesses well considered flex, with the carbon seatstays running straight into the toptube and bypassing the seat tube. Technically a masterpiece, this contentious design comes at some cost to the bike’s style, with the disproportionately large seat clamp being a key culprit. The matte grey colourway does a grand job of looking sharp, but we fear it’s already too late. But enough of the sartorial woes, can this bike cut as fine a figure on Mallorca as the high mountains of France?
Built around a technically top-end frame, the Xelius SL 700 Ultimate’s performance suffers at the hands of the stock Zipp componentry, including the 420 mm wide, overly flexible Zipp SLC2 V2 carbon bars that dramatically reduce steering precision. The issue could easily be alleviated with stiffer, and more affordable aluminium bars, such as the Zipp Service Course SL-70 as found on the Standert.
The braking is similarly maladroit, with the Shimano Ultegra rim brakes proving incapable of efficiently bringing the 45 mm-deep Zipp 303 Firecrest Carbon clinchers to a stop. At high speeds, the braking feels pulsating and somewhat uncontrolled, making you ever-aware of potential crashes. Going uphill the 7.4 kg Lapierre unleashes efficient power transfer which combined with the class leading comfort, reveals the endurance character of this bike.
The Lapierre Xelius SL 700 Ultimate in detail
Drivetrain Shimano Ultegra Di2
Wheelset Zipp 303 Firecrest Carbon Clincher, 45 mm
Brakes Shimano Ultegra
Tires Continental GP4000SII, 700x25C
Weight 7.40 kg
Price € 4,999
More Info bikes-lapierre.de
Lapierre Xelius SL
Conclusion
Looking at this decent, comfortable road bike, we feel an opportunity has been missed in its unconsidered spec, resulting in a performance that’s compromised by ill-chosen parts. A few select upgrades (or even downgrades in the case of the bars) will transform the Lapierre Xelius SL 700 Ultimate into a more effective package. Some might love its distinctive silhouette, but honestly, we don’t.
Strength
+ comfort
Weaknesses
– Too much flex in the bars
– Braking performance
– The design
For an overview of the test fleet head to the main article: What’s the best road bike for Mallorca?
All bikes in test: BMC Teammachine SLR01 | Cannondale SuperSix Evo HiMod Ultegra Di2 Disc | Canyon Ultimate CF SLX Disc 8.0 Di2 | Cervélo S3 Disc Ultegra Di2 | Festka Spectre Space Odyssey Edition | Giant TCR Advanced Pro Disc | Heroïn H1 Limited Edition | Rose X-Lite CDX 8800 | Standert. Kreissäge | Stelbel Antenore | Trek Madone 9.5 Ultegra Di2
This article belongs to the GRAN FONDO Issue #004. For the full interactive experience we recommend reading it in our magazine app for iPhone & iPad – it’s awesome – and free!
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Words: Robin Schmitt, Manuel Buck, Benjamin Topf Photos: Julian Mittelstädt, Valentin Rühl
