Lapierre Spicy CF's unique suspension design offers high and low pivots on one bike

The new 174mm-travel Lapierre Spicy CF offers you the choice between a high-pivot or low-pivot setup on the same frame.

This unique design is intended to increase the Spicy's versatility for hardcore enduro enthusiasts, racers and bike-park shredders.

Heading to the bike park for uplifted laps? Set the frame in the high-pivot position for downhill-focused performance. Pedalling your favourite enduro trails? Opt for the low-pivot position for maximum versatility.

Lapierre claims this design will revolutionise the enduro category, delivering a best-of-both-worlds bike for riders who desire a high-pivot descending experience, while still having a traditional enduro bike for day-to-day riding.

There are four models and a frameset available, with prices ranging from €5,499 to €10,000 – and €3,699 for the frame.

Pivot possibilities

The new Spicy CF features a fully redesigned frame using a four-bar Horst-link suspension platform. The shock position and pivot locations are engineered to provide a progressive leverage curve, which remains consistent regardless of whether the bike is in the high-pivot or low-pivot position.

This means you won't need to change shock tunes when switching between the two pivot positions. Plus, the bike is compatible with both coil and air shocks.

The high-pivot position provides a more rearward axle path, helping the rear wheel move over bumps more easily. To prevent excess pedal kickback, it features a 15t chain idler. Lapierre claims this system offers improved stability with downhill-oriented suspension optimised for enduro races with the steepest profiles.

In the low-pivot position, the axle path is more forward, providing a dynamic ride feel. It forgoes the chain idler for maximum pedal efficiency and is optimised for enduro races with rolling profiles.

The high-pivot position delivers 174mm of travel, while the low-pivot position produces 170mm.

All models are sold in the high-pivot setup. However, the necessary hardware to change between the two positions is included, so you won’t need to purchase any extras.

Lapierre will be releasing a demo video on how to change between the two settings, which home mechanics should be able to follow.

Mixed-wheel compatibility

If selecting your pivot position isn’t enough, you can also choose between a 29in and 27.5in rear wheel.

A three-position flip chip in the lower shock mount maintains the bike's geometry and suspension leverage curves in any of the Spicy CF’s four settings: high-pivot 29in rear wheel, high-pivot 27.5in rear wheel, low-pivot 29in rear wheel and low-pivot 27.5in rear wheel.

The bikes are sold with mixed wheels. However, the flip chips needed to set the Spicy CF up with full 29in wheels come with the bikes. All you’ll need to do is supply the wheel.

Carbon construction

The Spicy CF is intended to uphold Lapierre's high-performance heritage. It uses the brand's UD SLI (Unidirectional Superlight Innovation) carbon construction, the brand's top-tier carbon fibre that provides the best strength-to-weight ratio.

This approach debuted on the brand’s XR and XRM full-suspension cross-country mountain bikes, launched in March 2022.

The frame uses more than 600 pieces of carbon per frame to deliver Lapierre’s GPL (Gravity Logic Project) concept. This follows the brand’s ebike range and is designed to keep the weight as central and low as possible to enhance the feeling of neutrality and balance.

Lapierre has reinforced stiffness in the bottom bracket and chainstays to improve responsiveness under power.

The seatstay bridge is said to boost lateral and torsional stiffness to maintain uniform rigidity from the head tube to the rear stays, delivering precise and accurate handling.

However, Lapierre hasn’t set out to make the Spicy CF the stiffest bike possible. Several iterations of carbon layup tested with its pro enduro racers found excessive stiffness was detrimental to handling.

Lapierre claims it found an ideal balance, boosting the frame's precision in fast sections, while maintaining enough tolerance for slower, more technical trail sections.

Lapierre Spicy CF frame details

Lapierre's UD SLI carbon frame boasts a smooth internal finish, ensuring hassle-free cable and hose routing, threading through the headset.

The brand's Block Lock is used in the headset to help protect the cables and a semi-soft rubber shield is employed on the side of the head tube for protection from the fork crown.

There’s integrated frame storage in the down tube for stashing tools, spares or a jacket.

Lapierre's specifically designed thick rubber chain protection is intended to significantly reduce noise on rough trails and fits the chainstay perfectly.

There are bottle mounts inside the front triangle.

Lapierre Spicy CF geometry

Lapierre has introduced a new XS size for the Spicy CF, meaning there are now five frame sizes, ranging from extra-small to extra-large.

Overall, the geometry looks spot-on for a modern enduro bike. Sensibly long reach numbers grow from 410mm to 435mm, 460mm, 485mm and 505mm for the XS to XL bikes.

The Spicy's stack numbers highlight its descending intentions, with tall figures of 627mm, 636mm, 641mm, 645mm and 654mm for XS to XL frames.

There’s a slack 63.5-degree head tube angle and steep 78-degree effective seat tube angle.

Chainstays grow with sizes. The XS, S and M frame sizes use a 440mm rear-centre length, which rises to 445mm on the L frame and 450mm on the XL.

The only initial concern we have is over the short seatpost insertion depth. With the short seat tubes and shock tunnel, long dropper posts might be tough to fit in.

Lapierre Spicy CF range 

Lapierre is releasing four bikes and a frameset. Prices range from €5,499 to €10,000. 

Lapierre Spicy CF 6.9

• Frame: Spicy Carbon UD SLI, 174mm travel
• Fork: RockShox ZEB Select Charger RC, 180mm travel
• Shock: RockShox Vivid Air 2 Base 
• Wheelset: Rodi Tryp30 EVO rims, Shimano TC500 hubs
• Tyres: Schwalbe Magic Mary Super Trail Addix Ultra Soft (f), Schwalbe Big Betty Super Trail Addix Soft (r)
• Drivetrain: Shimano Deore M6100, Shimano SLX M7100 derailleur
• Brakes: Shimano BR-M4100, 203mm
• Weight: 16.5kg (claimed) 
• Price: €5,499

Lapierre Spicy CF 7.9

• Frame: Spicy Carbon UD SLI, 174mm travel
• Fork: Fox 38 Performance Elite GRIP2, 180mm travel
• Shock: Fox Float X2 Performance 
• Wheelset: DT Swiss E1900 Spline
• Tyres: Schwalbe Magic Mary Super Trail Addix Ultra Soft (f), Schwalbe Big Betty Super Trail Addix Soft (r)
• Drivetrain: Shimano Deore M6100 cassette, chain/SLX M7100 cranks, shifter/Deore XT derailleur
• Brakes: Shimano SLX M7100, 203mm
• Weight: 16.1kg (claimed) 
• Price: €6,499

Lapierre Spicy CF 8.9

• Frame: Spicy Carbon UD SLI, 174mm travel
• Fork: Fox 38 Factory GRIP2, 180mm travel
• Shock: Fox Float X2 Factory
• Wheelset: DT Swiss EX1700 Spline
• Tyres: Schwalbe Magic Mary Super Trail Addix Ultra Soft (f), Schwalbe Big Betty Super Trail Addix Soft (r)
• Drivetrain: Shimano Deore M6100 chain/SLX M7100 cassette/Deore XT derailleur, shifter, cranks
• Brakes: Shimano Deore XT M8100, 203mm rotors
• Weight: 16kg (claimed) 
• Price: €6,999

Lapierre Spicy CF Team

• Frame: Spicy Carbon UD SLI, 174mm travel
• Fork: RockShox ZEB Ultimate Charger 3, 180mm travel
• Shock: RockShox Vivid Air 2 Ultimate
• Wheelset: DT Swiss EXC1501 Spline
• Tyres: Schwalbe Magic Mary Super Trail Addix Ultra Soft (f), Schwalbe Big Betty Super Trail Addix Soft (r)
• Drivetrain: SRAM X01 Eagle
• Brakes: SRAM Code Silver Stealth, 220/200mm rotors
• Weight: 15.8kg (claimed) 
• Price: €10,000

Lapierre Spicy CF frameset

• Frame: Spicy Carbon UD SLI, 174mm travel
• Shock: RockShox Vivid Air 2 Ultimate
• Price: €3,699

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