I'm interested in picking up an older litespeed bike and modernizing it (groupset, bars, etc.). Does anyone here have experience with this and would this bike be a suitable candidate? Any big downsides that I should be aware of?
by Weird-Ad-6394
I'm interested in picking up an older litespeed bike and modernizing it (groupset, bars, etc.). Does anyone here have experience with this and would this bike be a suitable candidate? Any big downsides that I should be aware of?
by Weird-Ad-6394
1 Comment
I just did this over the spring. I have a ’97 Litespeed Classic that I stripped of it’s group and built up with R8000 Ultegra and new finishing kit.
The bikes are quality ant worth it, but some things to consider:
Does this bike fit you? If not, then nothing you do will help.
This one in the phoot has a 1″ steerer tube so either you get an adapter like an innicycle, or other quill adapter to use more modern stems, or you stick with a quill. Quills work fine, but some folks don;t like em. I went with the innicycle adapter.
That suspension fork is odd on a road bike. You may want to swap that for a new for, and being 1″ steerer, that makes options a little less available. They are definitely out there, but not as common as a 1 1/8″ tube would be.
Lastly, this plan is the most expensive way to get a bike. It’s doable but you gonna pay for it. I did new group, new bars, new seat, new wheelset, new cables and housing, and I am WAY more into it than just buying a new bike or especially compared to a used bike that was already done how I liked. I’ve probably spent 30% more by doing it the rebuild way. And I still have an old bike with old geometry and old wheels that were affordable etc.
Not to deter, just to level with you. I love my bike and will never get rid of it, and I can afford the stupidness so it’s all good here.
How much do they want for this bike?
https://preview.redd.it/k0usjzoezocf1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e0e7b4e2b3e7ac0a47c8510dedafea0760364f67