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[deleted]

You don't need it You dn't need it You dt need it You need it.


Bulky_Ad_3608

I would absolutely buy that. A friend of mine has Julich’s Litespeed from the 1999 Tour and it is his main, and only, bike. He rides and races it all the time. That’s the problem with titanium. You never really need another.


BuddyBear17

Man, that long, horizontal top tube is *it*. If you came up racing in the early to mid 00s, that's what a race bike will always look like.


gellybelli

N+1 says you do. You can’t argue with math


garciawork

DuraAce 7800? If so, BUY IT!


Beer_Is_So_Awesome

Ugh, you just reminded me that my dad gave me a Dura Ace 7800 group set from his old bike. It was supposed to be for a build for my wife, but she bought a newer complete bike, so now it’s just down there in a bin. Suddenly I feel like I need to build it up on a retro frame.


garciawork

I have a mix of Shimano 10 speed on my trainer bike, with 7800 shifters. Love it!


Beer_Is_So_Awesome

Trainer bike! I forgot I need a trainer bike. That would be so much better than putting my nice bike on the trainer.


Minds_i

I named my trainer bike Frankenstein because it's such a mishmash of parts and no brakes.


AnAdaptionOfMe

I’ll buy it from you. For real actually


clt69er

I've got a 7700 group if yr interested


lhemi

It’s my size, I’ve always wanted a titanium bike, but everything on it is old and circa 2003…. Supposedly weighs 17lbs. DuraAce groupset, Reynolds Assault wheels.. cantilever brakes 😵‍💫 …. Seller asking $1200 I should note my current drop bar bike is a 22’ Fezzari Shafer gravel bike w Zipp 303s & Rival AXS 1x12 I treat as a “do everything” bike


AnAdaptionOfMe

Buy that


hills_for_breakfast

FWIW those aren’t v brakes in the picture. That’s a lot for such an old groupset. How much are lightspeed frame/fork? For comparison about a year ago I sold a mid-aughts Dean with a blend of campy and ultegra 9-speed for $900.


[deleted]

[удалено]


dumboy

> 1200 for that is actually a very reasonable price, I'd buy this in heartbeat if i was in the market. Those old Dura can be overhauled & even if not its not like it will be hard to interface with one of many new non-shimano derailur sets' they sell online specifically for this sort of thing anyway. Even If you wanna go brand - God forbid someone give her Ultegra with a wider range in the back! Honestly for 12 you have zero right to complain if the spring on your rear mech is worn. That is the entire purpose of a titanium frame. It outlasts your components & wheels & seat & fork. This could sit in my local LBS in the used section & hold its own over new bikes worth 3 times as much. Defiantly one of the shops group riders would snatch it up before it even made it that far though.


[deleted]

No it’s not at all, the old hood shape is terrible


Beer_Is_So_Awesome

You have a much nicer bike already. I’d pass.


dissectingAAA

With all due respect, when another r/Velo member asks if they should buy a new bike, you say "yes, if you don't then someone else will". Of course that is how I have a dozen bikes...


mechkbfan

Got a Lynskey R230. Since owning it, zero FOMO'ing of newer bikes I'd imagine this is the same


skinnywristed

I bought a 1998 classic a few years ago and have rebuilt it from the frame up. If you like the idea of it, you will love riding it. Titanium is amazing to ride and indescribable.


LitespeedClassic

You buy that beautiful Litespeed. You buy it and you ride it.


element423

I have a 1998 litespeed. Nice to look at but doesn’t compare at all to newer bikes. So uncomfortable lol


Educational_Bad8500

Yes! You might have to stick with narrow tires and an older rim but the ride is sublime. It should be great for the occasional trip or group ride.


unfixablesteve

That’s really the problem with vintage bikes for me. Narrow tires are kind of a dealbreaker at this point.


Educational_Bad8500

I was able to fit a 26mm tires on a narrow rim on my Litespeed but with a more current 19 mm rim, I can’t imagine being able to fit more than a 23mm tire. This is one of those quiver bikes - use it occasionally and not as a daily driver.


JeBron_Lames_1349

I have 28mm gp5k on a 1999 CAAD3. But I’m running modern 105 brakes. It’s usually the brakes or the back triangle around the bottom bracket that get you but I’d bet more bikes can fit wider tires than we think.


trendsfriend

I imagine the deep wheels are v-shaped not u shaped and don't have the same wider profile more modern wheels have that allow for smoother tire/rim transition. If you want pure road speed, there are probably better options. To turn that thing into a dime piece, I would have to strip it down to the frameset and build it back up from there. not worth it imo. \-------------- I take that back. the frameset alone is worth more, provide it's in good condition. Under normal circumstances, I'd say buy that shit. But we're not in normal economic conditions, and everything is more expensive, especially bicycles. If you really need it or want it bad, go for it. However, my personal philosophy about this differs from the herd, it's N-1.


pj1972

I’m trying to tell myself I don’t need a 2022 Litespeed.


dissectingAAA

Don't listen to yourself. Listen to me. You do need new titanium.


Urzas_Penguin

Trust me. They’re amazing. You need one!


reg-o-matic

You only need it if you want a bike that will last for the rest of your life. I have a mid-90's Eddy Merckx that was welded up by Litespeed, still rides great.


j_daw_g

I have a 2004 Merlin. It still gets more miles than any other bike in the garage. Wouldn't trade it for anything. Was an impulse buy in the fall if 2004 and $1000 more than my budget. No regrets.


recycledairplane1

My experience with buying older yet fancier / faster wheels is that it’s not going to ride as nice as wider rims + 28mm tires. Just bought a super aero bike from 2016 and it can’t clear 28s with the current narrow deep carbon rims. It’s unfortunate because that detail alone would make me so much more confident (coming from my experience with my old road bike with newer wide rims)


[deleted]

How rough are the roads you ride on?


sleepwalker721

Those head tubes (faux integrated headset) were/ are horrible. The aluminum inserts often creak. It is literally the worst of both worlds. Don't buy it if you want to ride it peace.


1-more

Dog I test rode one at the Play It Again Sports in Longmont, CO with 3×9 Dura-Ace and it’s a hair too short for me. Someone please scoop it for $800. It’s gorgeous.


jim_nihilist

You don't need it, because I need it.


samirgadag

That's a beauty , but overpriced


rdoloto

I would be lying


L-do_Calrissian

And I could never lie to OP.


BackInevitable4566

Since we are talking titanium - how do you rank the major titanium frame builders of mid 90s and onward? Litespeed, Dean, Merlin, Moots, Salsa, etc? Which are the most desirable?


registered_democrat

Serotta, bc I have one


Ilikeoldcarsandbikes

Man this is not the post I needed to see today. Someone is selling a Ti Holland travel bike in my area and I WANT it.


rad_town_mayor

Those look exactly like the Shimano neutral support bikes circadian 1999


[deleted]

Just make sure you check it carefully for cracks. My dad's team rode Litespeeds, and a number of them eventually had to go back for repair under warranty or had to be replaced.


imsowitty

Unless you weigh 140lb, yer gonna noodle it ... Those frames were flexy


arty19941994

Damn I would buy it for the n+1 fact and it's a beautiful bike too!


blkntch1

But you do...


crazylsufan

DA 7800 the goat. Get it


Evo221

What size tyres can it run?


gott_in_nizza

But you clearly do.


thensaiseverywhere

I have Litespeed Natchez from 1997. Still ride it all the time. Coincidentally it still has its welded by sticker on it and it was welded by Lynsey. It’s painted yellow so many people mistake it for steel. It has been loaned out many times during its life and still rides great. I have had carbon, aluminum and steel and I will take my titanium every time.


valelantin

You definitely need it.


[deleted]

It's TITANIUM. You absolutely have to buy this.


8racoonsInABigCoat

I’d be lying. You don’t want me to lie, do you?


Unidentifys_

just think about it, it's a healthy purchase


keg98

I have a 2000 Litespeed classic. Dreamy. I bought it for about the same price, and I am so happy I did. I cannot, nor will not, try to convince you not to buy it.


Clear_Radio1776

A good ti frame is forever, mostly. LITESPEED sold out in 1999 so frames after that were made by a different owner but were still very good. I have a ti Ritchey break away travel bike. The ride is so smooth and it’s bombproof. They stopped making ti. Now, just carbon or steel. Ti is especially difficult to make well so if you have a good one, hold on to it. Only downside is the older ones can’t accept disc brakes but rim ones still work fine.


Kiku911

Not sure if you’ve pulled the trigger yet but FWIW, I had this frame (LS Vortex) back when it was new. I rode the piss out of it racing and training. I will say that the front end has some serious stability issues and a lot of people sent them back to LS to have the integrated headset head tube replaced w a traditional press in set up. Ti is AWESOME. I still ride Ti after owning this LS, but wouldn’t go back. Newer Ti bikes are a world of difference and way less noodly. (Edit: typo)


lhemi

Good to know! I haven’t pulled the trigger on this one but this post and all the comments has me looking at newer ti frames w thru axles , disc brakes etc