Lapierre drops weight and pivots on the updated XR & XRM cross country line

March 26, 2022

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Lapierre XRm 8.9 2022 XC race mountain bike13

Lapierre is again in the cross country sport, and it’s able to journey for the podium with completely updated XR and XRM fashions. The updates focus on weight, geometry, and kinematics, taking the third technology of XR to new heights.

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Credit: Jeremy-bernard

The Lapierre XR first launched in 2013 as a cross-country race-ready various to the Lapierre X-Control. The Lapierre XRM is a extra succesful model of the XR, with a bit extra weight however extra journey; the XRM is designed to deal with path options and take on gnarly obstacles or function the excellent marathon race bike.

Whats New — Lapierre XR & XRM

The final replace to the Lapierre XR line was in 2017, and rather a lot has modified in the cross-country world since then. Lapierre should have been watching carefully at the tendencies as the updated XR and XRM seem able to take on the huge canine of cross country.

The XR is the lighter, extra race-focused of the two new body choices, with 100mm of entrance and rear journey, obtainable in a normal carbon, and an optimized carbon layup for added weight discount. The XRM bumps the journey as much as 120mm entrance and 110mm rear, not targeted on weight discount however extra so on versatility.

Trimming the fats

Lapierre made it no secret that weight discount was a essential design focus for the XR line. While pushing for lighter frames, Lapierre refined its carbon manufacturing course of. Moving from normal pre-impregnated unidirectional carbon fiber to a brand new carbon building technique, it calls UD SLI (Unidirectional Superlight Innovation). Utilizing unidirectional Torayca carbon fibers, praised for distinctive lightness, power, and stiffness. Lapierre can maintain the power of the body excessive and the weight comparatively low, for the cross country specialists.

Lapierre developed a brand new polypropylene inflexible mandrel to optimize these new UD SLI fibers. This mandrel offers better precision in the layup course of, and higher compression of the fibers in the mildew. The objective was to eliminate extra resin whereas sustaining a body that may put up with the rigors of mountain bike driving.

Wouldn’t a lighter, thinner body crack simpler? Lapierre says the new layup course of is stronger than the earlier and is optimized to maintain power in high-impact areas. Lapierre states there are over 300 sheets of carbon fiber per body, and due to the power, it has been attainable to scale back the thickness of the tubes wherever attainable.

Credit: Jeremy-bernard

Lapierre shaved a variety of weight from simplifying the rear triangle, eradicating pivots, and scaling down the seat stays, leading to a claimed 90g saving. Thanks to the new UD SLI layup, the chainstays are good and stiff, considerably cumbersome however have thinner partitions.

Lapierre claims a naked body (excluding the shock, bearings, and bolt {hardware}) of the XR / XRM Team is available in at 1,772g. The normal model of the naked body is available in at 1,970g.

Lapierre XR and XRM updated suspension

Another focus on the updated XR and XRM was suspension kinematics. Lapierre modified the rear shock placement and, with the new pivotless and thinned-out rear triangle, developed a novel suspension they dubbed Optimised Sensitivity System.

Lapierre suspension engineers moved the shock beneath the prime tube to compress extra instantly. They additionally positioned the pivot above the backside bracket and barely larger than the earlier years to counteract pedal kickback when the suspension compresses. The change decreased stress on the seat tube, and a molded carbon “shield” helps defend the stanchions from bits of path particles.

Lapierre says the kinematics of the new flex seat stays permits a relentless sag as they preserve a impartial place when the sag is ready at 26 %, unbiased of the rider’s weight.

New Geomtery Lapierre XR and XRM

The Lapierre XR and XRM be part of different mountain bike producers, shifting in direction of an extended attain, steeper seat tube angle, and slacker head angle. The XR encompasses a moderately relaxed (for XC) 67-degree head tube angle, and the XRM will get a full diploma drop to 66-degrees. The seat tube angle is steepened by one diploma from the outgoing mannequin to 75.5 levels on the XR however stays 74.5 levels on the XRM.

The updated frames function inner cable routing, guided by a Kevlar-lined mildew by means of the entrance triangle, exiting close to the central pivot and coming into once more at the rear triangle. Both fashions used a PF 92 press-fit backside bracket.

Lapierre XR Geometry

Lapierre XRM Geometry

Models and pricing

The new XR is on the market in three completely different builds starting from entry-level race to SRAM Eagle XX1. No costs have been launched for the Lapierre XR / XRM line builds.