In this comprehensive review, we dive deep into the 2024 Lapierre Xelius SL, featuring professional FDJ-Suez rider Grace Brown. Join us as we explore the ins and outs of this top-of-the-line road bike, discussing its performance, design, and overall ride quality. If you’re in the market for a high-performance road bike, this video is a must-watch! Stay tuned for insider insights from Grace Brown herself on how the Lapierre Xelius SL performs on the road.
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Contents:
0:00 – Intro
0:18 – Basic Information
0:30 – Variations, Price & Components
1:35 – The Frame
3:11 – Aerodynamics
3:26 – Geometry
4:12 – The Ride and Who It’s For
5:30 – Bike Giveaway
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Hello and welcome, everyone. Grace Brown here from FDJ-SUEZ, and today we’re going to look at the Lapierre Xelius and find out if it’s a bike for you. Uh, that was my line, but you heard it. And if you’re not yet subscribed to the channel, make sure to do so for more content like this. Let’s dive in. So, before we dive into how this bike actually rides and who it is for, let’s quickly go over some of the basics. You’ve got this bit. Ah man, okay anyways. So for starters, the Xelius is available in seven different variations that primarily differ in components and therefore price, starting at €2,999 equipped with Shimano 105 12-speed and going all the way up to €10,000 for the flagship SL10 model, which is identical to the team bike we have here. Kitted with a Shimano Dura-Ace groupset and Dura-Ace C36 wheelset, which I find is decent when comparing to other brands with similar specs. Otherwise, most of the components from the handlebar, stem, seat posts, and in some cases the wheelset, are developed in-house by Lapierre. So on this bike we have here, you get a conventional 27.2 mm carbon light seat post, which is great if you want to improve comfort, you can easily swap that out, and Lapierre’s one-piece combo UD carbon handlebar, which provides improved aerodynamics and fully integrated cable routing, unlike on the lower-tier models where the cable runs under the stem of the two-piece setup. Which in some cases I actually prefer. All models come spec’d with 28 mm tires; however, you do have the possibility to run up to a 32 mm tire. Turning to the frame, the Xelius is marketed as Lapierre’s all-round race bike, making it great in various riding situations and has features that complement that. The first thing that always stands out and that Lapierre has kept from the outgoing models but improved aerodynamically is their 3D tubular design. Which are the seat stays that pass straight by the seat tube and attach to the underside of the top tube. This, on the one side, provides lower weight but, according to Lapierre, also significantly improves comfort and pedal power when seated. The extended length of the seat stays allows for greater vibration absorption, and the seat post can flex more freely without being supported by the seat stays from behind. The frame itself is made with a mix of light and strong Torayca carbon fibers together with Lapierre’s UD Super Light Innovation carbon technology. With this tech, they are able to improve stability during the layup phase and also decrease the weight by expelling more resin during the compression phase. The result is a bike that weighs around 6.9 kg fully built for the top-tier model, and together with the larger down tube with sharp edges, head tube with 1.5-inch bearings, large bottom bracket, and wide asymmetrical chainstays, provides a stiff frame for maximum power transmission. It is also important to note that Lapierre also offers just the frameset, which actually differs in terms of stiffness and weight depending on the size. So sizes XS, S, and M get the "Light" level, which is 120 g lighter than the frame of the complete bikes, coming in at 725 g, and sizes L and XL get the "Stiff" level, which weighs 745 g. In terms of aerodynamics, the bike went through extensive wind tunnel testing and features NACA and Kamm-tail tube shapes, a deep head tube, full integration of cables, and a more compact frame thanks to the more sloping top tube. Lastly, geometry-wise, the Xelius SL is more on the aggressive end for faster handling and that racy feeling. It mirrors that of Lapierre’s aero bike, the Aircode DRS, which is favored by their sprinters. With a stack-to-reach ratio of 1.38, you are going to be in a considerably more stretched out and low position. This, paired with the short 405 mm chainstays and zero offset saddle, puts you in a more forward position over the bottom bracket. The 50 mm fork offset and 73° head tube angle also produce a significantly short trail figure, which mainly contributes to the bike’s fast handling. So, now you’re probably wondering, okay, so how does this bike ride and who is it for? Well, who better to tell you than someone who rides it almost every day: Grace Brown. So Grace, I have not had the chance to ride this bike yet, but you have. Tell me, how does it ride, what do you love the most about it, and who would you recommend this bike to? Yeah, so what I love most about this bike, I guess, is that it carried me to victory in Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Nice, congrats! So yeah, I would say it’s a pretty good bike. It’s really versatile. I race it almost every race. It’s done the gravel at Strade Bianche, we’ve ridden it on the rough cobbles of Paris-Roubaix, up mountains in the Tour de France. I think it’s super versatile. Originally, it was designed as the climbing bike for Lapierre, but now it’s merged into more of an all-rounder bike. It has aerodynamic features, it’s stiff to handle in the corners and sprints, but at the same time, it’s still really comfortable. I can take it on rides over 200 km and still be comfortable at the end. Nice. I would recommend this bike for anyone that’s looking for an all-round versatile bike that’s good at climbing, something that descends nicely, good on any terrain. I think this is the bike for you. Awesome, well there you have it, everyone. Thank you very much for watching. We hope you enjoyed this video and found it helpful. If so, don’t forget to like and subscribe. And if you are interested in this bike, make sure you check out buycycyle’s Instagram page, as we will be giving away this exact bike. Exciting stuff! Thank you, until next time. Peace!