Submitted by
mountainbikeryk
a Cross Country Rider
from Yellowknife Canada
Date Reviewed: June 22, 2010
Strengths: Nice welds, nice finish
Weaknesses: Geometery doesn't match specifications
Bottom Line:
Very nice bike, but I am still trying to get the geometry right. It is sold as 100mm-120mm travel. Originally I put some Marzocchi forks with 120mm travel, but it slackened the geometry so much the bike never felt stable, and you couldn't take corners. I put some rigid Nuke proof forks suspension corrected to 100mm, much better, but still does not feel perfect. Cornering at high speeds still feels a little strange. I would recommend going for the Fox F80 shocks and for-going the extra travel for more stability at high speeds. I might even get an old set of Rock Shox or manitous with 63mm travel. I am not a big fan of forks with lots of travel. No matter what is done to compensate in frame geometery, bikes still have to have certain parts in the same place, such as axles, derailleurs etc. I find in almost every case you increase performance and handling by lowering the front end, but maybe thats just me. When I started mountain biking there was no such thing as front suspension, so anything over about 410mm feels wonky to me.
Bike Setup: Some new and older parts. XT 770 crank, Nuke Proof forks, XTR derailleurs with M732 shifters.
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Tom Fajarillo
a Weekend Warrior
from Seattle, Washington
Date Reviewed: July 3, 2009
Strengths: Wow! Imagine after 12 years, I finally was able to write a review for my old OBED bike. I am speechless. This bike is way better than any dual-suspension I have from all this years. I crack two frames of my intense spider dual-suspension. Sold it later but kept my OBED. Then, I spend more money for another Litespeed Niota titanium and I broke the tube in my rear triangle framed. In short, I abuse and beat the OBED and nothing breaks. The best HARDTAIL ever! All frames come and go, this one will stay till the END. I just replaced my fork (fox f32 100mm RL). I will be riding hardtail again and ride my Niota only on summer and for show-off.
Weaknesses: NONE!!!!!
Bottom Line:
As previously said in product strengths: This bike will last a lifetime. Heck, my grandchildren will probably use it someday. The new OBED cost an arm and a leg. Litespeed knows the durability of this framed. So, they are starting to make a model again. Buy one!!!! You won't regret it.
Similar Products Used: Intense spider, Niota Litespeed 2006
Bike Setup: Fox fork, raceface crankset(10yrs old) XTR RD (still original) XT FD. sram twister, Avid brakes.
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
jason green
a Cross Country Rider
from hooksett, nh, usa
Date Reviewed: April 28, 2002
Strengths: very responsive light wieght dual suspension frame.
Weaknesses: none
Bottom Line:
this bike is a very sweet light dual suspension cross country racing bike. the ideal rider for this bike is someone who isnt concerned about cost but with quality. a person who would dislike this bike would be a person who doent ride that hard.
Bike Setup: full xtr, 01 mars elite fork, thomson stem and seatpost, easton carbon monkeylite bar, shimano 858 pedals, risse racing terminator rear shock, selle italia ti flite saddle, nuke proof carbon front and ti rear hubs, mavic 217 rims, chris king headset, carbon stem spacers, salsa seatpost clamp/carbon brake stiffiner/wheel squewers. panaracer fire rc pro 2.1 tires. i got all this for $1800.
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Submitted by
bRAD
a Cross Country Rider
from Toronto, Ontario
Date Reviewed: April 17, 2002
Strengths: Durable, light, just the right flex, accelerates and handles excellently.
Weaknesses: ?
Bottom Line:
I love this bike. I builded it myself. It cost me a couple years allowance but I would have paid twice that. Its not the lightest thing around, but I was going for reliable and somewhat light. I wouldn't change a thing.
Bike Setup: 1997 Obed Frame 2001 Marzocchi Atom race (80mm) 2001 Mavic Crossmax UST Thomson seatpost and stem Easton Ct2 bar Bontrager magnesium bar-ends odi lock on grips specialized elite computer (2002) Selle Italia flite saddle XT brakes, bottom bracket, cranks, deraillers, shifters King headset Time aluminum pedals Michelin comp s tires
Strengths: This bike has taken all the abuse i can give it. i am a Clysdale rider whoa verages 210 most of the time. This bike has been used in th Kentucky Point Series as well as countless other rides. It is stiff but forgiving in all but the worst hardpack rock covered trails. I am a traditionalist when it comes to bikes and I must admit if this were a road bike it would be in the same group as a Eddy Merkx Corsa. (I guess that dates me a little). I would recommend this bike to anyone who loves to ride mountain bikes and wants a reliable, comfortable, stable, and overall great bike!
Weaknesses: Weakness..... what weakness??? I guess the flex in the rear with V-Brakes but a $40 shimano carbon fiber brace took care of that.
Bottom Line:
I know the price has doubled in the past few years buthis bike is a keeper and will be with you for years to come!!!
Similar Products Used: Raleigh Easton E-9 Peak, GT LTS,
Bike Setup: Full XTR, 747 pedals, Titec bar, Vetta Cruel love seat, Shimano Carbon rear brake brace
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Reilly Canan
a Cross Country Rider
from B.C. canada
Date Reviewed: August 30, 2001
Strengths: Litespeed makes the best titanium frames, good on the hills, down and up, love the flex of the frame
Weaknesses: Not recommended for long travel forks. no rear disc calaper mount.
Bottom Line:
the sweetest free ride/xcountry bike in town. put to much mony in to it. It's good for a some one like me who is only 150lbs but the guy i boot it off really made the frame bend. titanium frames rule man!! I'm going to get me a Rocky Mountain reaper frame next year
Favorite Trail: It's waitting for me out there, I no it.
Duration Product Used: 6 months
Price Paid:
$340.00
Purchased At: off a buddy used, it was used for 2 years before me.
Similar Products Used: DEAN Colonel X-Lite TITUS Hard Core Racer other titanium bike out there.
Bike Setup: 1998 Litespeed Obed titanium Frame mavvic f519 front and rear rims, Z5 qr20's with 130mm (5") xtr rear shifter and deraler,(no need for front), TruVativ cranks & bb, Avid mechanical front disc brake and Avid arch rivle v-brakes, Rocky Mountain bars and stem off a rm6.
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Submitted by
Poppy
a Cross Country Rider
from Overland Park, KS, USA
Date Reviewed: February 24, 2000
Strengths: quality build and finish sweet looks lightweight forgiving stiff enough for climbs
Weaknesses: stupid top-tube sticker (very petty, I know)
Bottom Line:
Suspension seatpost aside, this frame takes the harshness out of riding. When going down hills, this frame seems to soak up the bumps, where my alu frame you had to be more aware of the tail. Great handling through the single track and up hills too. I highly recommend the Rock Shox post as well, with my new set up I still dropped the bike's weight, which is sub 22lbs. My only complaint is the top-tube sticker, so I scratched it off and buffed the area w/ steel wool- finish looks better than new.
Similar Products Used: Supergo Access (great frame, but unforgiving)
Bike Setup: '99 16.5" Obed, Amp F3, 9.0sl, nuke proof, Rock Shox post, Flite seat
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Olde Bike Scribe
a Cross-Country Rider
from Staatsburg, NY
Date Reviewed: January 9, 2000
Strengths: This frame set just works. Light weight Stiff enough for me (I weight 200ls). Hard to beieve this is their entry level frame).
Weaknesses: The price
Bottom Line:
Best bike investment I have made thus far. I will be enjoying the bike long after the shock of the price wears off. Great factory tech support.When I bent a derailer hanger the factory tech folks were great in assisting me to staighten it. If you like a hard tail and can come close to affording a LiteSpeed DO IT.
Bike Setup: I set this bike up with a mix of XTR. XT and LX components and an older Girvin shock (hey after buying the frame I did not have the $ to buy a new high quality Shock)
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Craig
a Cross-Country Rider
from Wilsonville, Oregon
Date Reviewed: December 22, 1999
Strengths: Weight Forgiving ride Climbs like a bobcat
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
This is a scary fast, stupid light hardtail. Weighs under 22 pounds and every component, including wheels, is bombproof. Just finished my second full year on the bike and my first year of racing. This thing accelerates like nothing else (except maybe another nice ti frame), soaks up bumps, steers telepathically, and gets lots of nice bike comments, which makes me climb harder. Best part is it motivates me to become a good enough rider to justify it! 100 flaming whatevers!
Similar Products Used: Yeti ARC Fat Chance Yo Eddy Kona Hei Hei
Bike Setup: Obed Manitou SX-Ti Full XTR 9 speed Cane Creek WAM Ti wheels Ibis ti stem Dean ti bars, seatpost, barends
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Spiffyjiff
a Weekend Warrior
from Germantown, MD
Date Reviewed: October 13, 1999
Bottom Line:
this is simply one awesome ride. i came off of a g.fisher HKEK and this obed is LITE years ahead in terms of performance. i have also ridden a couple specialized's and some full susp bikes, but nothing seems to compare to litespeed. it accelerates and climbs like it's got a motor of its own, and the Ti flex is just enough to ease the landings and huge logs. cornering is also incredible. i am definitely a litespeed convert and will (most likely) never switch brands. i can't imagine finding a better ride that even justifies switching brands or a that justifies all the higher prices out there for mostly similiar products. if you have the $, i highly recommend picking up an obed. this is an entry-level litespeed for me and hope to save up enough to get a full susp litespeed in the future.
Similar Products Used: g.fisher HKEK trail-tested specialized and C'dale.
Bike Setup: OBED Manitou SX-Ti XTR rear De., brakes, shifters, hubs XT front De., cassette Mavic 517 rims Syncros cranks RaceFace Ti BB King headset Easton seatpost
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dave G
a Cross-Country Rider
from Gaithersburg, MD
Date Reviewed: July 13, 1999
Strengths: Light, very nice Ti ride
Weaknesses: Short top tube Aluminum inserts in headtube Durability!
Bottom Line:
This is an addition to the review I did last year. I still love the Ti ride of the bike, but I've had numerous problems w/ the bottom bracket coming loose (even after using teflon tape) and various creaks/groans. I just noticed this weekend that the weld connecting the headtube to the downtube has cracked. I'd guess that this is where the creaks/groans have been coming from. This was quite a dissapointment since I got a Ti bike for its durability. It's possible that I'm simply too heavy (~200 lbs) for the bike. I've sent it back to litespeed, and am waiting to find out what the're going to do about it. If I buy another Ti bike in the future it _WONT_ be a Litespeed.
Submitted by
GatorRider
a Weekend Warrior
from gainesville, fl
Date Reviewed: July 9, 1999
Strengths: lightweight forgiving ride sweet finish perfect welds Great customer service, they replied to all my emails within a day and sent me free decals
Weaknesses: short top tube limited frame sizes for the Obed
Bottom Line:
Bought the bike, cranks, and front derailleur from Jenson in August 1997 (Back when UPS was on strike !!!) The high cost of the frame broke my bank account. thats the reason for all the cheap parts on this bike. I had to re-use old parts from two of my old steel framed bikes.Litespeed has great customer service, a woman named Jeannette answered all my emails and sent me free decals. The welds on the bike are perfect.Even though my bike is setup for the road, the Ti frame absorbs most of the bumps in the road. I've never taken this bike offroad, but i'm sure it would have a forgiving ride along the trails. I prefer to use my old steel beater bike on the trails. I wish the Obed had a longer top tube, on occasion i wish it was a bit longer. I also wish that the Obed was available in a 17 or 17.5 size. The Ocoee is available in 17 but it cost $500 more. So i have to give this bike a 4.5 stars rating
Bike Setup: 16.5 Obed Rigid Cro-mo fork (OEM) 1997 XT front derailleur 1997 LX 4arm cranks 1994? UN51 BB Sachs ATB chain Kalloy stem, bar, seatpost Control Tech Non-QR wheel and seatpost bolts Tioga city slicker 1.25 1 inner tubes Oury grips OEM padded seat shimano 7speed cassette Deore DX hubs(front and rear) DT 15 gauge straight gauge spokes, brass nipps Sun CR-17 rims, dark anodized Rox, rimptape Shimano cables Altus brake levers, shifters and rear derailleur OEM plastic pedals
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
GatorRider
a Weekend Warrior
from Miami
Date Reviewed: July 9, 1999
Strengths: lightweight, forgiving ride soaks up the bumps. i don't have to worry about rust or dents. Litespeed has great customer service, they replied to my emails within one day. they sent me free decals too ! Perfect welding job Great chi-chi factor
Weaknesses: short top tube limited frame sizes available for the Obed
Bottom Line:
The cost of the frame broke my bank account. Therefore i could only afford to buy cheap parts. plus i reused some parts from my old steel Specialized rockhopper. The Altus components come exclusively from my other old bike, a Trek 820.I've set up my litespeed for road use basically, it soaks up most of the bumps in the road. My bike sure is fast.The Litespeed Obed is a great value. anyone in the market for a Ti frame in the $1000 range should check it out. I'd have to rate the Obed a 4.5 stars. If the frame had a little bit longer top tube, i'd have to give it 5 stars.Happy Trails !
I got my 98 Obed as an Excell house brand Macalu for 695$ on closeout. I have to say that this frame is everything I had hoped for. The geometry is a touch slacker then what I'm used to, and this makes the bike much more forgiving over technical stuff. Almost like it's on auto pilot. Also having ridden Aluminum frames for the last 8 years, the Ti ride is really noticable. The bike floats over rough stuff , and doesn't have that kick in the ass feel that Aluminum does. I have read a bunch of posts in here about BB flex. I have to say that it is minimal. I am 6 ft 1' and 215 pounds. I am on a 19.5 frame. I would say that I am light on my bike, but even purposelly mashing up a climb in a gear that was WAY bigger then I would normally use there was no flex, no chain rub, nothing. It might be due to the CroMo BB and narrow cranks I run. I also have the newer style XTR front der. which mounts alot closer to the BB shell then the old style. Maybe the BB flex is in the older models?? None on the 98. Nothing bad to say about this frame at all. I highly recomend it.
Bike Setup: Manitou SX Ti , Xtr ders. Grip Shift, Hugi Hubs, Answer Hyperlite Bars, Control Tech stem and bar ends, Grafton cranks, Race Face Taperlock Cro-Mo BB
