Long Termer Review: Jamie’s Liteville 301 MK12

The Liteville ‘301’ MK12 Factory Machine arrived just in time for a favourable spell of Autumnal weather in late September in and around the surrounding hills of Team Singletrack. This almost dusty period of enthusiastic pedalling has now been totally and utterly washed away by the UK’s fog, grime and rain festival.

Time then, to embrace the slop ahead and focus on words…

The ‘301’ is now in its twelfth incarnation. We first turned pedals in anger on the 26″ wheeled 301 (MK 10) version back in 2012. While the model has been totally revised, the current 301 is still very much at the heart of this boutique German brand’s growing production run, along with the 601. This year, Liteville are also launching the H-3 hardtail and the 101 short travel full susser too.

Liteville and sister component company, Syntace, make a great job of providing loads of detail for customers looking to explore every angle of Liteville’s bike design methodologies, from their new ‘Scaled Sizing’ approach (bike fit), to their high-tech CNC machine production. If you like engineering detail, these guys have info in spades.

Aimed at everything around trail/enduro/all-mountain bike duties, the 301 frame kit has capabilities both above and beyond its 140mm suspension front and rear travel. It’s fair to say this tester was somewhat spoiled by the All Mountain ‘Werksmaschine‘ that arrived fully built and ready to go. In terms of spec ‘wish list’ the full build was all top end stuff and there was little to do but set up the bounce and hit the trails.

‘Scaled Sizing’

It wouldn’t be right to start without a short explanation of Liteville’s ‘Scaled Sizing‘ bike fit/wheel size philosophy, which essentially uses different wheel size combinations in direct relation to respective frame size. So standover is kept low regardless of frame size, and while top tube, chainstay lengths and wheel sizes grow in proportion with the frame size.

For most frame sizes that means a bigger wheel up front and smaller at the back for stability and lower rolling resistance. It’s pretty straighforward, if somewhat unconventional. Suggested wheelsize/frame sizing combinations are as follows:

Frame size XS:  Rear Wheel 26/Front Wheel 26
Frame size S:  RW 26 / FW 27.5
Frame size M:  RW 27.5 / FW 29
Frame size L:  RW 27.5 / FW 29
Frame size XL:  RW 27.5 / FW 29
Frame size XXL:  RW 29 / FW 29

Our test model is an XL sized, 27.5/29″ mixed wheeler to fit a 6ft 3″ rangy/svelte hunk of a man (*ahem*) and hence the mismatched larger front wheel and smaller real wheel combo had me immediately thinking of the hardtail, 26/29″ mixed wheelers the mag had on test a few years back, by the likes of Trek (the 69er), Carver (96er) and Singular (Hummingbird).

The principle of varying the chainstay length with the front centre keeps weight distribution balanced, whatever wheel combination is used, and this is a great idea if you buy into the ‘Scaled Sizing’ approach. If you don’t, the two bolt position ‘DuoLink’ chainstay allows you to alter your wheel sizes should you want to play around. This one lets you adjust between 26in and 27.5in rear wheels.

Geometry

Stacked side by side against the current ‘Forward Geometry’ offerings from Mondraker or with Kona’s ‘Process’ big wheelers, the 301 is certainly not a long bike at the front end by any stretch of the (effective top tube) imagination. The 301 however manages to marry its very slack front end (64.9°) with a high bottom bracket height (35cm) and a stable wheelbase (122cm – actually a smidge longer than the Kona Process 111) very well.

Here are all the key numbers calculated by Liteville’s online geomerty interactive guide for the 27.5/29″ XL build:

Frame Size	XL: Weight 12.3 KG approx 27 pounds
Effective Top Tube	637,0 mm 25″ ETT
Steering Tube	137,0 mm
Seat Tube	490,0 mm
Length Rear Frame	443,7 mm
Wheelbase	1222,1 mm
Length Damper	200,0 mm
Travel	140,0 mm
Bottom Bracket Height	347,7 mm 13,68″
Seat Tube Angle	72,8°
Steering Tube Angle	64,9°

 

Design

To look at, the 301 hosts an abundance of fine frame details. Many of these intricate features are disguised by its simple, welded aluminium design. The profile is essentially unique. On the eye and from a distance, it closely resembles a hardtail. The two large main-frame triangles are accompanied by a top tube/seat tube brace (on larger frame sized models), and the suspension linkage rocker plates sit bolted to the top tube, with the shock directly underneath. This results in a very clean design. I like the hardtail appeal.

The linkage plates do align very closely with the top tube and ‘sit up’ at the rear end under compression. Thankfully no amount of waggling or bouncing make the faces of the rocker plates rub against the top tube.

The finishing touches are superb throughout. The articulated, quality seat clamp sits on top of a substantially girthed 34.9mm seat tube, which flares out the bottom (to increase stiffness at this junction). A by-product of this is that it will only take a direct mount front mech. These are more elegant, anyway. Similarly, the bolt-through Syntace X12 rear end and rear triangle are clearly designed for stiffness.

The Ride

The 301 is designed around a four-bar Horst Link suspension system which I like for its efficient feeling ride characteristics.

There is a tendency when investigating a ‘new’ suspension platform to look down and see what’s happening underneath you out on the trail – and this is perhaps even more likely when the suspension is working away so high up on the mainframe between your thighs!

However, as much as you might be aware of the back end working, little of that seems to translate into actual energy-sapping bob. The 301 remains a smooth ride though, and it’s a very efficient pedaller. Liteville told us the neat sag indicator built into the 301’s top tube and rocker link (on the non-drive side) is only a guide; by using this to line up the shock’s air spring and fiddling about, I found that the Liteville climbs and corners best sagged at 30%.

Unique design appearances aside, there are no odd sensations at all out on the trail. The layout makes it easy to direct the bike, find grip and balance points. Handling is intuitive; the suspension is progressive and the bike is easy to get on with. The Syntace-made chainguide, coupled with a clutch rear mech, results in a complete lack of chain noise or slap and the bike rides very quietly as a complete package.

It’s a well proportioned bike too, winning affection from everyone who’s pedalled it. You can get the front wheel up easily but with elbows down, it’ll climb effortlessly on the steep stuff.

MK12 ‘All Mountain’ Factory Machine: Spec Sheet

The supplied wheelset is Syntace’s own ‘MX Series W35’ hoop-set; it matches the bike’s character perfectly. The wheels measure out at 35mm on the outer rim which, as we have found in our separate review allows us to run lower air pressures and still experience complete confidence with tyre sidewall support.

The supplied (and optional extra) Syntace NumberNine Titan pedals are somewhat costly, but they are machined from one piece of 7075 T6 aluminium, with Ti pins. That machining and metal ain’t cheap. Sadly I broke one of the Ti pins early on and being a top mounted, external hex screw fitting, it looks like its staying in. It would be nice to be able to remove the pins (ideally) with an underside or internal allen key fitting, but without this, the only fix would to be to make an appointment with Mr Drill.

Otherwise, in terms of the remaining kit selection, there has been very little to swap out from the get-go and in terms of performance, very little to criticise. And the Shimano’s XTR groupset has been faultless – long may this continue.

Frame: Liteville 301 MK12, 140 mm travel
Frame size: XL
Custom finish: ‘WorksFinish’ raw, uncoated aluminium
Headset: Syntace VarioSpin 0°
Fork: RockShox Revelation RCT3 SoloAir 140 mm
Rear shock: RockShox Monarch RT3 DebonAir
Drivetrain: Shimano XTR (175mm crankset, 36×26 teeth)
Brakes: Shimano Deore XTR Trail
Brake rotors: Shimano 203 mm/180 mm
Wheelset: front wheel/rear wheel Syntace MX-Series W35
Tires: Schwalbe Nobby Nic 2.35 PSC / TSC
Chainguide: Syntace SCS II
Rear mech protection: Syntace RockGuard SL, black
Stem: Syntace Megaforce2 40mm
Handlebar: Syntace Vector Carbon High10, 760mm
Grips: Syntace Screw-On Gripz Moto
Saddle: SQ-Lab Liteville Edition (14cm)
Seatpost: Syntace P6 Carbon HiFlex
Rear axle tool: Syntace X-FIX, X-12 Allen Key
Pedals: Syntace NumberNine Titan – Medium (option +EUR 178.00)

Warranty

If you consider that Liteville’s pricing of EURO 2,288 for the frame and shock (roughly £1,600 UK), comes with a limited, ten-year transferable warranty on all material and manufacturing defects, you know you’re in good company for the long haul. Within the first 5 years it’s a new frame or component exchange, then between the 5-10th years, a 50% discount on the current retail price is offered – other brands take note.

Main Observations

Those who might at first pass, see the 301 as a trail bike that’s ‘done a bit in the gym’ are missing the point. It will reassure even the burliest of riders – this bike is far more capable than it’s travel suggests and certainly it’s limit is beyond this tester’s capability. The 301’s character is very much on the fun side, with a confidence inspiring ride. The blend of smooth suspension and the wide-rimmed 27.5/29″ wheelset allows you to push harder and come out the other end grinning. After all, that’s why we do what we do.

On a personal note, there is no doubt the winds of change are in full effect in ‘Geometry World’ and last year, having spent quite a bit of time on a new breed of longer top-tubed bikes, I can’t deny that my head has been turned. With Mondraker, Kona, Transition and Whyte all ‘going long’, offering more reach than the 301 does in similar frame sizes. To get the same sort of reach I’d need to try on an XXL for size.

I’m now going to be experimenting with cockpit combos to try alter the feel of the cockpit without adversely affecting steering and balance – let’s see what happens.

What’s Next?

I’ve already made the obvious point that the bike seriously needs a dropper post just because at this bike’s price point and intended use, why wouldn’t you?

At the moment, I’m very much looking forward to giving the frame a mid winter season strip down and adding that dropper post. There are still plenty of adventures ahead, and as the nights draw out I’m looking forward to properly getting stuck into Spring ’16.

And as for the 301 and me? We’re still in the honeymoon period, I think. I don’t think we’re fully committed just yet but certainly enjoying dirty play times.

In the UK and want to test one for yourselves? Michael at Liteville Test Bikes UK will see you right.

Full Gallery

Review Info

Brand:	Liteville
Product:	MK12 All Mountain 'Factory Machine'
From:	http://www.liteville.de
Price:	Euros 5,775
Tested:	by Jamie for Three Months

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