This article is part of the Mtbr's Enduro Compare-O. See all the stories in this special section here--https://reviews.mtbr.com/category/enduro-compare-o-2014

Imagine your bike comes with a monkey. Say a French monkey we'll call Pierre, who rides along inside your front triangle every time you go mountain biking. But instead of eating bananas and flinging poo, Pierre is a helpful little guy with a job to do. He's a one-pound suspension monkey who keeps his eyes on the trail conditions then adjusts your shock accordingly.

Rock garden upcoming? No problem-Pierre reaches back to your rear shock and opens it up. After rattling through, and just as you're settling the bike down, Pierre sees a short steep hill upcoming. With the flip of the switch, he locks-out the rear shock, and instead of inch-worming your way up, the bike climbs like a hardtail. All the while, you concentrate on your line, your shifting, and your effort, secure in the knowledge that Pierre's got your back.

The scenario repeats itself over-and-over-through the crunchy and the smooth, up short, steep pitches, and down wide-open fire roads. On square-edge bumps, washboards, drops and jumps-no matter what you're riding-Pierre makes sure the suspension is in the optimum setting.

And while the suspension monkey is no more real than the Trunk Monkey, Lapierre's brave new electronic:intellegence-or e:i-electronically-controlled shock system sort of acts like one. Co-developed by the French bike-maker and RockShox, e:i uses a series of sensors-one under the stem cap, one on the fork, and a cadence sensor, along with speed data-to divine what forces the bike is experiencing then quickly adjusts shock damping to accommodate.

Despite the fact that similar systems are widely used in motorsports, there's significant resistance to them for bikes as evident in the comments to our First Look article, not to mention our test riders aversion to even ride the bike.

"It looked like a cool bike, but the electronics are a bit much," said one test rider. "It seems like we've seen this before from Cannondale and K2…good in theory, but not great in reality."

And while that's a point-taken, comparing the e:i system to what was on the K2 back-in-the-day is like comparing an iPhone to a Newton. Just because it didn't work very well then, doesn't mean the idea was bad. As we see with nearly every kind of technology-based consumer good, there's a tipping point at which technology catches up becomes truly feasibility. Which brings up the pertinent question-how close is e:i to that tipping point and should you invest in it now?

We'll get to that, but first let's see what our test crew thought of the Spicy's analog aspects.



The Lapierre Spicy 527 uses a Horst-link-style suspension the company calls OST+ to manage the bike's 150mm of rear travel.

The 411 on Spicy

For several years now, Lapierre, along with several other European manufacturers have been building bikes that employ elements of the Horst-link suspension-an efficient four-bar link design pioneered by former Austrian motorcycle racer-turned-designer Horst Leitner of AMP Research. Specialized bought the US patents to the design in the late 1990's to protect their FSR platform around them while effectively blocking others-with the exception of a few licensees-from selling Horst-link bikes in the States. With the patent now expired we're starting to see more such designs enter the US marketplace, and Lapierre brings a very good version to the table. It should be noted that Lapierre calls its OST+ (Optimized Suspension Technology) design a virtual pivot point system, but the placement of chainstay pivots below and in front of the rear axle is one of the primary design attributes of the Horst patent.

As many Specialized riders will tell you, the Horst-link design balances pedaling inputs against suspension movement extremely well, and eliminates brake jack-an Achilles heel for many otherwise good designs that essentially locks-out, or stiffens the rear suspension movement under braking. Characteristically, we found the Spicy's suspension efficient and responsive under all circumstances-from heavy braking events to wide-open runs.



A pair of massive pivot bearings mates the Spicy 527's equally beefy seatstays and chainstays, helping to keep the rear end laterally stiff.

"The Lapierre really had a smooth, plush suspension feel," said one test rider. "I went into a rock garden way too hot and grabbed a fistful of rear brake. Even so, the rear end stayed active and pretty much saved my bacon when I did everything wrong."

A pair of large pivot bearings are responsible for that smooth movement, and work with the bike's massive chainstays and seatstays to virtually eliminate side-to-side flex, which had been a criticism of similar designs in the past.


Heel strikes were not an issue for this rider whose feet naturally toe-in, and who wears relatively slim XC-style shoes. Riders with skate-style shoes and/or a tendency to toe-in clicked one or both stays on every pedal stroke.

"I could really feel the lateral stiffness of the rear end. It was great for cornering, carving, and tracking," said one reviewer. "The beefy stays and big pivots really do a great job keeping the rear wheel centered."

The one downside to the burly stays was heel clearance. Many riders complained of heel strikes and our tape measure revealed that both the chain and seatstays are extremely wide on our pre-production test bike. A call to Lapierre confirmed that other people are experiencing the issue as well, and that the company had already slimmed-down the chainstays on production bikes by 15mm. Seatstays are also being slimmed down and will be a running change, with Lapierre making the revised version available to riders having significant interference issues with the originals.

That said, some riders had no clearance problems whatsoever. This issue illustrates another reason why you should demo or test ride any bike you're considering for purchase.

Spicy Muy Caliente on the Downhills

The long-legged Spicy is aimed squarely at the burlier side of enduro as evidenced by its heavy-duty construction and all-mountain pedigree. This Euro-enduro approach makes for a confident downhiller, that swallows rocks and G-outs with aplomb.

"The Spicy ate up the downhills whether you chose to pick your way through, or just point-and-shoot," claimed one reviewer. "The 27.5-inch wheels made 150mm of travel seem like more, and the Lapierre felt like a mini DH bike and was a scream to let rip."

The Spicy's gravity acumen is perhaps not a surprise given the design input of DH legend Nicolas Vouilloz and Lapierre's Gravity Republic downhill and enduro teams, who influenced the bike's confident stance, big Schwalbe Hans Dampf 2.35-inch tires and slack 66.5-degree head tube angle.



Lapierre leveraged gravity GOAT Nicolas Vouilloz and its Enduro World Series team-the Lapierre Gravity Republic-to develop the Spicy enduro bike line. Photo by Matt Wragg/Enduro World Series.

The Lapierre Spicy likes to be ridden hard, and its low 12.25-inch bottom bracket contributes to its easy-to-toss personality. Whereas some of the bikes in our test-particularly the 29ers-require a little telegraphing, the Spicy can angle in late and still exit a turn first. Whether railing or sliding the rear end, the Lapierre's nimble attitude makes it playful, quick and fun, in and out of the corners.

Continue to Page 2 for more on the Lapierre Spicy 527 and full photo gallery »



Anchored Climber

With that slack head angle and a hefty 30.97-pound curb weight, climbing is clearly not the Spicy's forté. For every extra ounce of courage and confidence the big tires and the stout frame deliver on the way down, they serve as ballast going up. But it's not that the Lapierre's not a bad climber-it's just heavy. Thirty one-pounds is 31-pounds and, short of putting an assist motor on it, it's never gonna climb like our 24-pound Giant. Thankfully, the OST+ suspension does a good job of neutralizing suspension bob, making the Spicy an efficient, if not fast, ascender.



Not fast, perhaps, but efficient on the climbs, the Lapierre Spicy 527 does well enough going up.

Though our riders are all 1x crazy at this point, we appreciated every bit of the Lapierre's lower 2x gearing as it allowed for relatively painless sit-and-spin climbing.

About that Electric Monkey Business

So far, so good, right? If you like it rough, the Lapierre Spicy seems like a good match. Now comes our friend Pierre on top of it all. Does he add to the equation or just monkey things up? It depends who you ask.

"I had this amazing stint where I went down a rocky, rough chute, through a heavy G-out, then up a steepish climb," attested one rider. "I was actually amazed at how the shock adjusted perfectly to match what I was doing. I never could have made the adjustments manually…it was kind of awesome."



The servo's whir on the RockShox Monarch shock becomes a familiar sound when transitioning from uphill to downhill as the electronics adjust up the shock to match.

Though impressed, the same rider noted that shock set-up took a bit of trial-and-error, which seems counterintuitive for an "automatic" system.

"Once I finally got used to the electronics, I really liked the way the rear suspension worked," he noted. "But I had to run the fork pretty firm to get the whole bike to feel balanced, and it seems kinda weird that the front end isn't electronic as well."

Another point of contention for many riders was the proliferation of wires and cables. To connect the fork sensor, computer head unit, battery and other sensors, a series of think wires ride shotgun on control cables. While more visually unpleasant than anything else, it does have us concerned about down-the-road maintenance, and to a lesser extent, durability.



The Lapierre's cables and wires are not a minimalist undertaking.

One other concern-charging the Spicy's battery. We left our bike dormant for a couple weeks and sure enough the battery died during the next test ride, leaving the shock in the locked-out position and our rider a little pissed.

"I was trying to approach the Spicy with an open mind but when the shock stopped working I said 'screw it,'" remarked the rider. "I realize it comes down to pilot error, but between my Camelback and my Garmin and remembering my shoes and everything else, I just don't want another thing to worry about-it's why I never use my GoPro!"

[Editor's note: The shock can be manually adjusted-say to the 'trail' position-even when battery is dead using an allen wrench.]

Who's This Bike For?

With it's brawny build and electronic wizardry, the Lapierre Spicy 527 should appeal to the aggressive all-mountain rider who's also an early adopter when it comes to technology. If you ride abusive, rocky trails with big hits and jumps, the Spicy's muscular attitude and deft maneuverability would serve you well-it's a mini DH hammer. For the electronic aspects to pay-off, you need to be a diligent fiddler and a bit of an e-nerd.

The Last Word

The Lapierre Spicy 527 takes some getting used to, but rewards the rider who does with an empathetic ride quality due to its electronic wizardry. Even without gadgetry, the analog aspects of the Spicy make it a compelling package. Rear travel is luxurious and the bike is efficient thanks to its excellent OST+ suspension. Handling is spirited, and its workman-like mid-level parts spec keeps the price somewhat reasonable and includes some nice flourishes, like an Easton Vice XLT wheelset, a RockShox Reverb Stealth dropper post, and a Race Face Turbine crankset.

Most everyone felt the Fox 34 CTD detracted from the bike's overall performance, and the heel-clearance issues was a deal-breaker for some-though one Lapierre has pledged to correct.

If you like being on the bleeding edge, and don't mind adding the care and feeding of the i:e battery and electronics to your bike regimen, you'll likely find the system appealing. It works best for highly changeable situations where making manual changes to your shock is either too difficult or needed too frequently.

It's worth noting the Spicy 527 is available sans electronics, and with a Fox Float CTD shock instead of the RockShox Monarch for $4,500. Conversely, the high-zoot Spicy Team slots in above our 527 with a carbon frame, RockShox Pike fork, SRAM XX1 drivetrain and an $8,000 MSRP-it also knocks nearly three-pounds off the weight.

The Good

  • Excellent four-bar link OST+ suspension design
  • Great lateral stiffness and snappy handling
  • Excellent all-mountain capability
  • Brave electronic:intelligence suspension system

The Bad

  • Extraordinarily wide rear stays (will be fixed, according to Lapierre)
  • Heavy at 30-plus pounds
  • Sub-par fork performance
  • Long-term maintenance concerns
  • Electronic diligence required
  • Holy cables Batman!



2014 Lapierre Spicy 527 Key Specs

  • MRSP: $5,300 with electronic:intellegence; $4,500 standard with Fox Float CTD
  • Weight: 30.97 pounds (size medium, without pedals)
  • Wheel size: 27.5 inches
  • Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL
  • Color: Grey
  • Frame Material: Aluminum
  • Fork: Fox 34 Float CTD Performance FIT, 160mm travel
  • Rear Travel: 150mm
  • Rear Shock: RockShox Monarch RT3 Relay with e:i electronic:intellegence
  • Headset: FSA Orbit
  • Handlebar: Race Face Atlas Stealth, 740mm
  • Stem: Race Face Turbine, 31.8mm, 60mm
  • Grips: Lapierre Rubber Lock-on
  • Seatpost: RockShoc Reverb Stealth
  • Brakes: Avid Elixer 7 Trail, 200mm front, 180mm rear
  • Brake Levers: Avid Elixer 7 Trail
  • Shifters: Shimano SLX
  • Front Derailleur: SRAM X7
  • Rear Derailleur: Shimano XT Shadow Plus
  • Cassette: SRAM PG1030 11-36, 10-speed
  • Crankset: Race Face Turbine 2x, 36-22T
  • Rims: Easton Vice XLT
  • Hubs: Easton Vice XLT Tubeless
  • Spokes: Sapim
  • Tires: Schwalbe Hans Dampf tubeless ready 2.35-inches front/2.25-inches rear
  • Bottom Bracket Type: Shimano Press Fit
  • ISCG Tabs: Yes
  • Chainguide: No
  • Head Tube Angle: 66.5 degrees
  • Seat Tube Angle: 73.5 degrees
  • Chainstay Length: 16.75 inches
  • Bottom Bracket Height: 13.25 inches
For more information visit www.lapierrebicycles.com.

This story is part of Mtbr's 2014 Enduro Compare-O. Check out our intro story here for all the ground rules and goings ons.