Submitted by
Navid
a Cross Country Rider
from Saopaulo Brazil
Date Reviewed: November 21, 2009
Strengths: light weight, set-up and forget bike for fast and flowing trails.
Weaknesses: may be a tad too light.
Bottom Line:
You would think in this day and age of sub 21lb/ 5in travel duals there is no place for a titanium softail with V-brakes!!! So did I. But now I get most of my daily pleasure on board this decade old machine and love every minute of it. Just make sure you get some light v-break wheels before they become instinct and set the pads abit farther from the rim than usual, then they won't rub if you are a pedal cruncher.
Sizing is strange, small is perefct for me but usually I ride medium/large...
Submitted by
Greg
a Cross Country Rider
from Tokyo, Japan
Date Reviewed: October 18, 2005
Strengths: light, responsive, takes anything you throw at it
Weaknesses: none with the frame, only issues w/components
Bottom Line:
i've had this bike for six years riding throught northern ca and now in japan. handles like a dream, just enough travel in the rear for a large guy like me. only replacements have been the usual chain/cables. swapped out xt brakes for xtr (yes, still v-brakes), next on agenda is new crank (current xt) and drivetrain. recommendations on the these would be most appreciated, do prefer grip shift tho. great bike for any xc/fr rider even solid on the downhill, just not jumping boulders in colorado.
Similar Products Used: bridgestone mb-1, voodoo wanga, santa cruz heckler
Bike Setup: mavic ceramic, xtr brakes, sram esp 9.0sl grip shift easton post, kore stem
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Siddo
a Cross Country Rider
from England
Date Reviewed: April 20, 2004
Strengths: Mega quality build, perfect balance between flex and rigidity- absolutely the very best there is! Looks awesome too.
Weaknesses: Cost, cost and cost
Bottom Line:
If you want to go fast, this is it. I only wished I'd had one of these when I used to race. Makes all those Aluminium hardtails seem so primitive. Really is the perfect balance, accelerates like a hardtail, but never punishes you when you get it wrong (my back never felt so good). Got my '03 model in the sales for £1000 (frame and headset), still expensive but RRP £1850?- although it's fabulous, it still seems awful pricey. Five flaming chillis for performance (would give ten if I could). If you can get one for sensible cash - DO IT!!!!!
Similar Products Used: Nothing similar, but Klein Adroit, Sunn Exact, Manitou HT, various Cannondale, Specialized and Trek rubbish
Bike Setup: Pace pro class, XTR, Crossmax, Thomson
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Dragula
a Cross Country Rider
from N.S.
Date Reviewed: March 13, 2003
Strengths: Strong & Beautiful,Lite weight. Impecable materials/welding Clean traditional look no psuedotechnocrap Superior warranty.Comparatively affordable without a compromise You truely DO GET what you pay for!
Weaknesses: This bike has idiosyncrasies but they only add to the mystery that is "UNICOI".
Bottom Line:
Some people want sharks with frickin laser beams on the tops of their heads, I wanted the ULTIMATE XC machine ever. That is what this bike delivers every ride. It doesn't make me a better rider but it does make my rides better. "Unlimited" is the adjective one should use to descride the experience.
Unicoi is an acronim for Unlimited Necro-Intelectual-Corporeal Off-road Intimacy. If you think you own or have ridden a better bike you are DREAMING. Pinch yourself and buy one.
Similar Products Used: Similar Products Tried: Been riding MTB's since before the debate began about what to call them. 23 years on mtb,
Bike Setup: Bike Setup: Syncros, Mavic Ceramic with XTR, Avid arch5.0 & Avid Ti. Levers,Flite (custom), SID xc 80mm, XTR with Carmichael Ti. Jockey wheels & more...(does it matter? cause it don't make it faster.)
Strengths: Smooth Ti ride. Great build quality. Lifetime warranty. Adjustable rear shock. Good customer service.
Weaknesses: Instructions on setting up the rear shock would have been good. Rockshox has the users guide on their website but it seems to be more gears towards longer travel.
Bottom Line:
Bike didn't come with any docs but a quick call to LS and they gave me some tips on setting up the rear shock (guy I talked to weighed about the same as me and had a Unicoi too!).
MUCH smoother then my AL hardtail. Ti + softtail really is a great weight/comfort compromise.
Overall, I think this is the best XC bike money can buy...at least for the rooty trails around Raleigh.
Submitted by
duh huh
a Cross Country Rider
from Georgia
Date Reviewed: October 29, 2001
Strengths: Great choice for X country riding, works well on road too. Frame finish and welds are absolutely stunning, makes all those other Ti frames look like crap. Stiff enough with a little give for roots and rocks. Raw Ti frame is easy to clean, permits repair of minor scratches and blemishes.
Weaknesses: Awfully expensive. Bide your time and get a deal. 2001 model has complicated air shock, no instructions supplied by litespeed, maybe spring/elastomer is the better idea (no pump or mechanical engineering degree required)
Bottom Line:
I love it. Maybe a LS Ti road bike in my future (soon as I pull that bank job).
Similar Products Used: Cannondale CAD3 rigid frame with Al fork!!! - must be why I like my Unicoi so much.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Jonathan
a Cross Country Rider
from Georgia
Date Reviewed: April 4, 2001
Strengths: This bike is incredibly light and stiff. It provides just enough travel in rear to take the edge off.
Weaknesses: It's not cheap. I bought mine as a complete bike on closeout and got a wonderful deal.
Bottom Line:
This is a wonderful bike. It's incredibly light, and stiff in all the right ways. I'm 190 and haven't had any problems with flex in the seat stay area. If you're thinking about buying this bike, wait and look for a sale. I can't imagine spending $3,000 plus for the complete bike. It's a great bike, but not that great. I gave it five for value because of the deal I got on it.
Similar Products Used: Owned or tested bikes from Schwinn, Trek, Cannondale, Specialized, and Klein.
Bike Setup: XT/LX drivetrain, XT brakes, Easton handlebars, Control Tech stem and seatpost, Sid XC, nuke proof hubs, mavic rims, hutchinson python gold tires
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
George
a Cross Country Rider
from Carbondale, Colorado
Date Reviewed: April 15, 2000
Strengths: Best price for Ti soft-tail. Lifetime warranty, free SID, great welds and nice forgiving ride. Superb climbing on technical sections (Crested Butte, Moab & Aspen). Recommend for racers, day trippers and XC riders in rocky areas.
Weaknesses: Not as chi-chi as a Moots, but I saved $700 and my Rockshox SID XC was free.
Bottom Line:
The Unicoi is a great light soft-tail. My previous hardtail prevented me from keeping up with the FS bikers on the big downhills, but now I can hang with most FS bikers on the downhills and smoke them on the uphills. I highly recommend this bike, but expect to get "craap" from the Moots and Merlin crowd...be fit enough to smoke em on the uphill!
Favorite Trail: Hunter Creek to 4 Corners to Enchanted Forest
Duration Product Used: 1 Year
Similar Products Used: Moots YBB (loved the ride, but not the price)
Bike Setup: SID XC, Mavic Ceramic Rims, XTR brakes, mix of XT/LX, Ti BB
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Dragula
a Cross Country Rider
from Halifax N.S.
Date Reviewed: March 18, 2000
Strengths: Lite weight. Impecable materials/welding Clean traditional look no psuedotechnocrap Superior warranty and not a moots Y Buy ME Comparatively affordable without a compromise You truely DO GET what you pay for!
Weaknesses: A little pricy for the average Johnny Punchclock. Bottom bracket flex may be objectionable to some.(little) Linsky knows his stuff BUT the signature decal is over the top.(Acetone and it evaporates)If you're listening David get over it.
Bottom Line:
Listen to me now believe me later. Unicoi is an acronim for Ultimate Neo Industrial Canadian Off-road Insanity. If you think you own or have ridden a better bike your should SERIOUSLY consider psychotherapy. Unless, you are already aware that genital compensation and uterous envy are a bad combination. I have owned all materials and hit the high points of the manufacturers and this is simply the best. Better than all the rest. Better than any bike I've even met. Ultra smooth on small to medium hits. Zero drive induced lash or Biopacing.(any bike that you want to lock out has this) Very lite. Finish bombproof. (paint is used to hide imperfection. or for Fashionphyles) Pivots are great if you need more travel but any pivot wears and this bike doesn't. (And that creaking one gets from worn pivots never begins at the end of an epic day. squeak creak) Truely the bottom line is this: Litespeed has poineered the adequate travel, ultra naughty, svelte, cross country bike. People who write poor reviews of this bike are A:Expecting the bike to make them fitter or B:Wishing they owned one. P.S. Lightweight in cycling shall now and forever be spelled LITEspeed.
Similar Products Used: Been riding MTB's since before the debate began about what to call them. 19 years on mtb, first bike MX Leader dual suspension 20" wheels. 11.5 years in the bizz.
Bike Setup: Syncros,Mavic Ceramic, Avid arch5.0 adapted to xt servowave (ouch),Flite (custom), SID xc 80mm, more...(does it matter? cause it don't make it faster.)
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike McDonald
a Cross-Country Rider
from Aliso Viejo, CA
Date Reviewed: January 7, 2000
Strengths: Light Weight Price
Weaknesses: WAY WAY WAY too much flex in rear end
Bottom Line:
I was so happy when I first got this frame and built it up. Then I rode it. It handled well, and felt pretty plush, but the rear stays were flexing so hard that the tire (a skinny 1.9 XC tire) was rubbing hard on one chainstay to the other. It also felt really weird. This was happening on slow rooty single track. I weigh 185 pounds, and maybe it just wasn't meant for guys my weight. The price is nice, but now I own a Moots YBBeat, and belive me when i say that the extra couple of bucks is worth it. The Moots gets 5.75 chilis, and the Litespeed gets 2.
Submitted by
Jody F
a Cross-Country Rider
from Gatlinhell, TN
Date Reviewed: October 13, 1999
Strengths: Ride, Ride, Ride, craftsmanship weight titanium, my dream bike
Weaknesses: Are you kidding?
Bottom Line:
Holy Cow! Flat out amazing bike. I got it used, took it home and stripped it, Scotch Brited the thing and voila, a brand new XT Unicoi for $1475. I have only ridden it once and that was with the stock build kit- can't wait to ride it w/ my Bomber. It easily outclimbed my old duallie and felt just as good on the downhills. I can't imagine ever wanting another bike. I am 5'8 and went with the 16.5 and am glad I did. It steers much quicker (but not too quick) than my Med Heckler did, love that shorter wheelbase and lower BB. I will update after I have had more time on the thing.
Similar Products Used: cromo hardtails Litespeed Ultimate road
Bike Setup: Judy SL XT CrossMax
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ryan Lovin
a Cross-Country Rider
from Raleigh
Date Reviewed: July 24, 1999
Strengths: Plush ride, great handling, light weight,
Weaknesses: flexy
Bottom Line:
The bike handles like a dream, I've got it set up with a longer stem. I'm pretty light so the flex dosen't affect me, but if you were a heavyweight you would definately notice it. The seat stays flex alot and do diminish braking power, but a brake booster will stifen it back up.
