The latest version of the Lapierre Spicy CF has already taken Lapierre Zipp Collective rider, Isabeau Courdurier, to the top step of the podium but the long-awaited update to the bike has one serious trick up its sleeve – it has a moveable pivot point. This will give riders the option of all-out downhill performance for rowdier and more technical venues or a better-equipped pedalling platform. Here are all the details.

• How to bleed SRAM, Hayes and Magura brakes
• Team ORCC '23 | EP.02 pt 1 - Suspension setup for enduro
• The best money-no-object gravel and adventure bikes we've tested

'High-pivot' is a phrase on everyone's lips at the moment and rightfully so as the concept brings interesting benefits to a bike's ride. Now, it's Lapierre's turn to adopt the kooky arrangement but rather than pin a rider to a single suspension layout, the Spicy CF provides riders with the choice of a high-pivot or a more conventional low-pivot setup. That's complete with claims this bike will revolutionise the enduro bike market.

2024 lapierre spicy ht.jpg, by Liam Mercer

Lapierre has also noticed how enduro can be split into two kinds of riding, one of those being competition where riders want an all-rounder that can be fast up and downhill, and comfortable when the trail gets steep. There's also the bike park rider who wants the qualities of a downhill bike but without committing to dual-crown forks and seven-speed cassettes. The new Spicy CF claims to do both.

To do this, there's a completely new shock position and swingarm pivot point while offering the rider two swingarm positions, high- or low-pivot through changing only one part of the bike. Not only do these changes allow the rider to pick from high- and low-pivot positions as they wish but the bike can run either coil or air shocks. Lapierre has designed a new leverage curve that's said to be more progressive in the midstroke while being more responsive than the old bike.

2024 lapierre spicy hi close.jpg, by Liam Mercer

With two pivot fixing positions, the Spicy CF provides two travel options, 174mm and 170mm. Both setups provide the pros and cons expected of the two, so the high-pivot setting is promised to result in a more rearward axle path for improved rollover. The idler pulley is then added to reduce pedal kickback. The low-pivot position is offered for better pedalling efficiency and dynamism.

2024 lapierre spicy lo close 2.jpg, by Liam Mercer

On top of that, the Spicy CF comes with a flip-chip that gives the bike three options for pivot location. This plays a role in that change between pivot placement but also allows the rider to choose from 29-inch and 650b rear wheels. However, this does not effect the geometry, rather, it's designed to keep the geometry the same regardless of the setup the rider chooses.

Lapierre is well aware that modern enduro has gotten more radical since the release of the previous generation Spicy and, with that, the newest model has welcomed an overhauled geometry as well as a boost in fork travel.

First off, the seat tube gets steeper, now at 78-degrees for improved climbing performance. The reach has been stretched to compensate for the shorter cockpit that comes as a result of a steeper seat tube, to balance weight distribution and create more stability. As there's 10mm more travel with a 180mm fork, the head tube has slackened to 63.5-degrees and, in an interesting move, the BB has been raised by 3mm to compensate for the boost in travel. However, Lapierre says that at 30 per cent sag, the height is identical to the old bike.

2024 lapierre spicy lo close.jpg, by Liam Mercer

There's now an XS frame, rounding the range up to five sizes which has come as a result of the new longer reach and to suit Isabeau Courdurier's needs.

Impressively, the new stuff continues as the bike receives a new carbon construction that employs more than 600 plies of 100 per cent UD SLI carbon. We're told that the rear triangle is now stiffer and that the new frame offers a 'feeling of lightness'. By that, Lapierre refers to the lower shock position which is said to give the bike a neutral feeling when in the air. 

There's an integrated toolbox at the bottom of the downtube.

All bikes will be shipped in the high-pivot configuration with a low-pivot kit available and they will come with a mullet wheel setup as standard. 

The range is built up of four builds and one frame-only with prices starting at £4,700 and going up to £8,500.

• www.lapierrebikes.com

You might also like:

• Ten top tips for Alpine riding trips
• Cyclo-cross biking - everything you need to know
• How 26" wheels are still turning out the fun