[Closed] Lapierre Zesty - Why Shouldn't I?

I thought about buying one but the cracking frame issue and poor warranty service pute off. Have a look on lappiere owners club forum and search for cracked frame, there are an unbelievable amount.

How about the Whyte 146? If, in fact, they actually exist.

Edit: Actually, I may know of somewhere that has a 146-S in.

Zesty is amazing bike. Go for the one that rides the best, don't be swayed by the hype or forum views. Zesty 714 here and it's been thrashed. Spain Atlas mountains. I would buy aother tomorrow no hesitation. Must be a reason why they have become so popular.

I went from an E-120 to a Zesty, and it was a massive improvement. The climbing ability is very nice on the Zesty, and it descends brilliantly.

If I were going to buy another I'd go to welovelapierre.co.uk, they're really nice chaps and hugely helpful. I believe when one of their customers had wheel issues, they gave him a set of wheels to use while his were in the process of a warranty replacement.

2010 514 here, love it, makes me smile everytime. I've read bearings can go but mine have lasted well over 12 months so far. All bikes can crack, I've snapped 3 Trek frames.

I've had a Zesty 514 2009 for 18 months and have just had to replace the shock bushings for the 1st time (a couple of quid + £10 for the tool to do it). No issues with the frame pivots.

I wouldn't worry too much about the reports of cracking. There were some issues due to manufacturing problems rather than the design of the frame and reports seem to have dropped off almost totally over the last few months. Of course, as noted above, anything can crack and the warranty will sort you out.

Worst thing about Zesty's is probably the irritating press-fit bottom bracket. The Shimano one they come with tends not too last too long and finding and then fitting a replacement require special tools or high-level bodging.

Worst thing about Zesty's is probably the irritating press-fit bottom bracket.

Yes that's the only downside.

Frame not the lightest in class but on par with many.

Ride is brilliant, but needs the RP2 or RP23 shock, not the Float R.

Nope, 2011 bikes still cracking, do a search.

All bikes can crack, Lapierre's crack more often than not.

Also I have read people waiting absolutely ages for warranty replacements.

Lapierre's crack more often than not

So you're saying more than half the Lapierres sold have cracked?

I doubt even Commencals are that bad.

It is a pain they don't do frame only options, i'm not sure why all manufacturers can't.

I have an '11 bike, I think the only thing that remains from the original full build is the frame & chain. It's not too much bother to shift everything else on.

Cracking issues I think have been a little exaggerated compared to the sheer volume sold, not to say they didn't happen, but they also seem to be more prevalant on the earlier bikes.

The press fit BB is a gash idea. I wish there was an option to run a insert to convert to a normal BB, but no such luck. Apparently FSA do a decent sealed replacement unit however for not too much money.

Float R rear shock is truely awful on it too. I have a DHX Air on mine & it's made a huge improvement.

Nope, 2011 bikes still cracking, do a search.

I find nuffin?

The first one I came to, wasn't hard!

http://lapierreownersclub.com/forum/showthread.php?t=564&highlight=crack

Large thread on breakages

http://lapierreownersclub.com/forum/showthread.php?t=304&highlight=crack

There are a lot more.

They are'nt built solid enough! Heard of quite a few cracking, strictly an xc bike!

http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/fs-orange-5-frame-120-cracked

http://www.mbr.co.uk/forums/showthreaded.php/Number/58517

http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/cyclescheme-question

As the man correctly said, all manufacturers have problems.

The first one I came to, wasn't hard!

http://lapierreownersclub.com/forum/showthread.php?t=564&highlight=crack

Large thread on breakages

http://lapierreownersclub.com/forum/showthread.php?t=304&highlight=crack

There are a lot more.

Somewhat exaggerated really, there isn't even a full page of results searching for the word 'crack', and pretty much the same on every owners specific forum.

Seems no worse or better than pretty much all manufacturers.

They are'nt built solid enough! Heard of quite a few cracking, strictly an xc bike!

... for winning the Megavalanche on 🙄

There are a lot more.

More links then please

just fork out the extra cash and get the carbon one 916

😆

Backhander, the first frame is prehistoric, one of the first, the second doesn't even give a date, and the third sounds suspiciously like he didn't have enough seatpost in his frame.

Lapierres however break from pretty much new.

he wants a zesty though

flow; you're full of excuses aren't you?

Timmy, who said anything about doing a mega avalanche!!? The bike is supposed to be a trail bike but in my opinion i would'nt use it for anything more than light xc, the frames are crap and crack! End of! 🙄

i would'nt use it for anything more than light xc

Hi,

Owned one for two years, 514, and it is a great bike. never noticed anything particularly bad about the float R shock. I have replaced the BB once and the headset bearings twice. Two weeks ago was the first time that the shock bushing had to be replaced and I managed to get one of the fancy needle bearing kits for a good price.

The only problems that I have with it are the fact it fills with water around the BB which seems to speed up its rate of wear, but this is combated by taking the seat out and storing it upside down after wet rides. I have a problem with heal rub on the chain stays but thats more to do with me than the bike. The headset is really badly sealed hence having to change the bearing regularly next time they go I'm fitting a hope one to solve this.

Its ridden twice a week in the lakes all year round and gets a fair bit of hammering..........................and has not broken yet, plenty of dints in the frame and the fork looks like its been chewed

GREAT BIKE IF YOU LIKE IT BUY IT

Timmy, who said anything about doing a mega avalanche!!? The bike is supposed to be a trail bike but in my opinion i would'nt use it for anything more than light xc, the frames are crap and crack! End of!

My point was that in the past the Megavalance has been won by Nico Vouilloz on a Zesty and I think that counts as slightly more than "light XC".

Timmys - don't be rediculous, if you use one for anything more than simply pottering along canal tow paths it will fracture into a thousand pieces. 'End of'.

I hit a rather large stepdown on mine at the weekend (surrogate DH bike at the moment), quite frankly, i'm amazed i'm still here to tell the tale. And not a crack in sight.

Owned one for two years, 514, and it is a great bike. never noticed anything particularly bad about the float R shock.

Wouldn't the 514 have had an RP2 or 23 shock anyway?

I found the shock fine for normal "round the woods" riding and trail centres but it was precisely places like the Lakes where I was unhappy with it.

It felt "wooden" when riding fast over rocky stuff, bike skittered about too much.

Swapped it for an rp23 and the difference was amazing, was able to ride flat out down the "ice cream run" at Rivington - which is rather rocky (and not "light XC" either). Never used the propedal again while I had the bike.

If I hadn't found a cheap RP23 I would have got the Float R Push tuned at service time, which I'm sure would have been as good or better.

Backhander, you must have had to search for god knows how long to find them Orange links 😆 How sweet of you

Lapierres are brittle as furck, everyone knows it.

Backhander, you had to search for god knows how long to find them Orange links How sweet of you.

Lapierres are brittle as furck, everyone knows it.

Seriously, stop spouting crap. Type cracked Orange, cracked whatever into the searchbar & open up the form data & there is just as many topics, all with cracked frame. They all break.

And along your lines of "I once heard off a mates mate he had to wait ages for a warranty repair Lapierre" I also (more than once heard) Orange are tighter than a duck a*se when it comes to warranty & will squirm & wriggle out of it in any way possible, same with Trek & the Remedy's cracking, etc etc.

Really quite tedious and boring.

Ok ok, I will stop spouting crap, just to keep the owners happy 🙄

Lapierre's are wonderful bikes, they've never has any issues with frames cracking and their warranty service is second to none, I would buy one without question.

There you go, is that better?

@ flow - you're looking a bit silly

Backhander, you must have had to search for god knows how long to find them Orange link

Dude the thread says [b]Lapierre Zesty - Why Shouldn't I?[/b]

I'm not slagging off anyones bikes, I'm telling him why I wouldn't, just like he asked.

If you don't like what I wrote, don't ****ing read it or keep your mouth shut?

Didn't suggest that, however your Daily Mailesque sensationalism just makes you look like a bit of a plum 🙂

Yes there have been failures, just like most other bikes. The warranty service seems to be, on the face of it about as good as anyone else. Unless you have your own personal experience otherwise? No? Thought not.

I'm sure there is some upset cases, just like one of the guys I ride with who twisted his swingarm on his 5, and is still waiting 8 weeks later for a replacement Maxle back end, or one of my collegues who snapped a chainstay on his 2 month old Stumpy FSR & Spec UK have dragged their heels on sorting & just like some vocal Lapierre owners too have no doubt had some issues.

As for defending my purchase, if it was crap, i'm happy to say so, it's only a bike for gods sake.

Lapierres are brittle as furck, everyone knows it.

Like I said I seriously thought about buying one, did some research and the frame cracking issue put me off.

The OP asked why he shouldn't, so I told him what put me off buying one....you see what I did there, amazing!

All manufactures frames crack, but whether you like it or not, Lapierre a lot more than others (except maybe Commencal, although now that's sorted apparently)

Deny it all you like, it doesn't make it fiction.

Im pretty sure you'll be impressed with the 575. I'm on my second having just swapped out my 2008 version for the 2011 model. One of the main benefits of the 575 is just how well it climbs for a 'big' bike. It's also fair to say Yeti's are not exactly immune from cracking issues either! Although that comment applies more to the full carbon rear end version which is no more.

Rewski- yes the travel is 140mm!! And that is a good amount of travel for a trail bike, but your missing the point! Im slaggin the frame off NOT the forks! I would'nt put 140mm travel forks on a weak gimmicky frame!! End of!! 🙄

Blimey - didn't mean to start a fight...although I guess that's enevitable here these days 😉

Thanks for all the comments (good and bad). I am a little concerned re cracks as that's the reason I'm moving away from Whyte (snapped several) - I really fancied the 146 but feel I can't really trust them any more. Having said that, ATB-Sales have been truly awesome when it came to replacements! I do get the feeling anything will crack given enough abuse so the quality of warranty is important.

As for only being suitable for light XC use, I do doubt that! As mentioned above, they have been used for the Mega in the past and at Elite level for Gravity Enduros here.

Ho hum. lots to think about.

Edit: Flow - out of interest, if you were put off Lapierres because of cracks, what did you go for?

If you don't like what I wrote, don't **** read it or keep your mouth shut?

mondraker foxy?

You having a go at the french now?

Mondraker Foxy

Hmmm - hadn't really considered them, although they look quite DH orientated for a 140mm bike.

i bought a 714 recently. its great but the stock setup really didnt suit me. i was coming off a spicy so it was always going to feel a little steep i suppose. that was easily rectified with a set of offset bushings but then you have to be more precise with the shock pressure to avoid pedal strikes as it lowers the bb a bit.

coming off fox 36's to 32 qr15s was a bit disappointing too, quite flexy really. so much so that ive ordered some float 36's and ill drop them to 140mm. that means changing the wheels too, which are a bit skinny for my liking, anything over 2.1 was way too pinched.

the bar and stem are too narrow and long and the stock tyres are xc race weight. the brake levers dont dial in far enough so ive had to bend them in a vice.

despite all these practical hassles i cant speak highly enough of the potential of the bike. loads of stock bikes have exactly the same spec issues so its not really a negative, just something to bear in mind. the frame is clearly a wolf in sheeps clothing, just takes a bit of fettling. a frame only option would be ace.

coming off fox 36's to 32 qr15s was a bit disappointing too, quite flexy really. so much so that ive ordered some float 36's and ill drop them to 140mm. that means changing the wheels too

Should have got a Rev RLT Ti with 20mm maxle lite.

When I sold mine I think the only original parts were the front mech and seized BB.

Fbk- they probly beefed the frames up for the elite riders! 💡 😆

flow - Member
I thought about buying one but the cracking frame issue and [b]poor warranty service[/b] pute off. Have a look on lappiere owners club forum and search for cracked frame, there are an unbelievable amount.

Talking of which, here's a story I just read telling of the opposite.

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=12775399

Get a Trek instead. 😉

chakaping, considered those actually but dont know anyone with any to try out so played it safe and went for ones i know i like. ive saved a bit of weight elsewhere to offset the forks so its all good

Didn't mean to sound bossy, I'm sure it'll be ace with the 36 on such a light frame - especially slackened off a bit.

Put some pics up when finished.

Yep Trek have lifetime warranty on most frames, they replaced and are currently replacing a snapped frame, third time.

A friend of mine had a 2009 514 that cracked around the bottom bracket shell, the aluminum looked very thin in that area to me. I'd go for the Spicy over the Zesty as it has a conventional screw-in bottom bracket and the Fox 36 Floats are fantastic forks, plus it's not that much heavier.

I think they're the nicest looking full suspension bike I've seen and the ride is meant to be amazing too. I wouldn't get one though because of the issue with breakage. They don't look that strong either which is probably why they look so nice and elegant like.

Interesting that those that have a Zesty and have ridden them think they are brilliant bike but those that haven't ridden them are very negative. Go with those that actually have the bikes opinion would be my advice. Rest is just uninformed comment. No basis other than second hand forum posts.

I've got a 2010 314 Zesty and it's ace does everything.

I post a lot on LOC too and yes there have been issues but then that is really a minor amount to the number of owners out there, usual thing of if you get a bad bike you tell a thousand people, get a good one and no one believes you.

The 2011 Zesty looks amazing tapered head tube, fatter down tubes really nice.

Backhander

Zip it

FBK I bought an Orange Five. I doubt you would like them though, very over rated. They ride awful, single pivot suspension is absolutely useless, being handmade in Britain is another obvious weakness....

Crawl back under your hole you little gobshite.
[img] http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQZ1TS0FWpqMcTRH5yfanFvDCSUZnE6LJYHZUPNbOkLTRj9CrvB [/img]

😆 little, ok.

I hope we meet one day you opinionated little fraggle, you will wish you had a rock to crawl under.

EDIT, I'm not getting into this shit with a child. Those with big mouths are rarely very able. Internet toughguy.

😯 🙄

Think I'll leave you guys to it.

Lapierre's are like arseholes, everyone's got one 😀

Even though, I've got one 314 and it's great. Rear shock Float R is shit though as well as would like to have Bombers instead of fox's upfront. The rest is top notch.

I've seen more broken Fives than Zestys (or Meta 5s). Still would rather trust a Five tbh.

It's this internet fundamentalism thing though... Truth's always somewhere in the middle. Yes more Lapierres seem to crack than most brands. No it doesn't mean they all crack or they're only good for XC. Most are still out there doing their thing, no bother. But not many people start internet threads "My Zesty still hasn't snapped".

Likewise, just about anything can break. Fives certainly do, saw one snapped clean in half at Innerleithen a few weeks back. Alpines do. My mate's 224's cracked 3 times now, it's more weld than frame. All bikes that people think are impervious to harm.

My own bike snapped in half. Might do it again. I forgave it last time though and it's still better than a Zesty or a Five 😉

Rule one of internet advice. The owner's view is the only valid view 😕

I had a Zesty 514...it broke...twice...i sold it!

will try the Bontrager's after that if no joy.

I hope you don't feel too special backhander, you're not the only one flow has tried to start a fight with today! 😉

Anyway... On topic... Bicycles break... Sometimes... And sometimes they don't! Some companies had a pretty poor reputation in the past, but have sorted it out for the most part (Cannondale, Commencal to name but 2). But on the whole this is why we have decent (note, not 2 years!) warranties on most bikes. Personally, the only 2 things that put me off Lapierre's are that they're pricey compared to much of the competition (though not the Orange 5), and you can't buy the frame only. Other than those 2 things, I'd love one myself!

I've seen more broken Fives than Zestys (or Meta 5s).

Likewise... Though means naff all though to be fair, the number of broken 5's I've seen may be totally disproportionate given the number that have been sold over the years... Or not... 😉

Ahhhh, can't edit now... My post was meant to read...

EDIT, I'm not getting into this shit with a child. Those with big mouths are rarely very able. Internet toughguy.

I hope you don't feel too special etc...

Silly me, highlighting but then not CTRL+C'ing!

Stumpjumper FSR's are quite nice and might provoke a bit less, erm, debate......!! 😉

The 2011 Elite looks the bee's knees (cue picture of a non-broken Spesh)...

[img] [/img]

Yup I had stumpy. Great bike but not in same league ad Zesty. Strange cos it lead me to the Zesty. A lot of the angles are very similar. I liked the stumpy ride but wanted more. Stumpy just isnt as capable. But would still be on one if Zesty hadn't come along. For the recordy Mark 1 ETSX70 broke after many years of use. Surprised really as RM had a rep for being north shore bomb proof.

Chakaping, you didn't it was good advice. Pics will follow...

Pawsy_Bear - Member
Yup I had stumpy. Great bike but not in same league ad Zesty. Strange cos it lead me to the Zesty. A lot of the angles are very similar. I liked the stumpy ride but wanted more.

Interesting....I got a new Stumpjumper fsr last year - first year they upped it to 140mm. I wanted to demo the Zesty as well, but they were rarer than rocking horse poo poo.
Rutland cycling said I could ride their one round the car park, but that was all & the only other one I could find to demo was in Edinburgh (6hr drive or so).....!

To be honest, I don't come near to the limits of the Stumpy, so probably best I didn't go for a Zesty....!

Dont know where you from stumpy but try Nirvana cycles in Westcott, Dorking they usually have a Zesty demo bike and are only a few miles from Leith/Holmsbury which is a good area to try one out.

I've had a Zesty since November and think it's just about the best bike I've ever owned

..not snapped yet either

One of our riding group has a 09 Zesty 514. Havent seen him for a while, the last time I saw him he had put a coil shock on it, remember it was from TF Tuned. I rode it before the coil shock and was impressed, but I was on a 06 S-works enduro so no comparison (That was more Spicy) For those ? wanting more than the normal Stumpie, go evo. best of both worlds.

Mines been fine since I bought it middle of 09 and I'm around 100Kg kitted up and ride with absolutely no finesse and mine's not cracked. Only thing I've had to replace through wear and tear is the BB, grips, chain and cassette, although I've also upgraded the shock, fork, wheels, headset, chainset, seatpost, saddle, bars and stem through choice :p

Why get a Zesty when you can buy a perfectly capable and superb Trek Fuel EX 8?

Fuel Ex are astonishingly good bikes.

''because it's French''.

Fuel ex's are steeper and have less travel for the same weight.
Better spec though. The zesty seems more comparable with the remedy IMO.
I'm contemplating a Zesty and have looked at all and test ridden quite a few (including a 5!!!!!)
It seems that what I want doesn't exist yet but the zesty is closest.
[b]5 year[/b] warranty settles my mind about any failures.

I've got one and its ace, like above 5 year warranty shows confidence. Its much like the orange 5 in that everyone seems to love or hate it. Mines ridden fairly hard and I've had no issues except after 8 months riding its getting ready for a new BB. If you're buying one to upgrade/change nearly all the parts get the base model 214, its £1600 at Evans. Can't understand people who buy the 314 or 514 (spending 600-1000 more) and then do exactly the same thing!

I'm really liking the stumpy evo and quite tempted. What does piss me off is we get this;
[img] [/img]
And the americans get this;
[img] [/img]
I know which one I'd rather have.
Trouble is, I'm such a tart that it may well put me off buying the bike.

Which model zesty are you looking at? On looks that spesh is nicer than the 514!