Liteville 301 MK11 XC 150mm/140mm 650b 9.68kg 10

Can you please put up the approximate build price? This bike is exotic beyond belief, nice work and deep pockets.

Hello Greg, to supply the bike as it stands through www.eightyonespices.com.au (with current model Formula R1 Racing brakes instead of the older model R1 and current model equivalent Tune rims, the ones on the bike have been replaced by a newer model) the bike would cost AU$12,600.-

Thanks, that price is better than I was expecting it's such a photogenic bike. I understand your reasons for the grips and shifters but that's the only thing that is not perfect about this bike for me and this is only in my opinion and preferences..how do you rate the blackfoot cranks compared to xx1 and next sl?

Thanks for your compliment @Greg!
I actually went for the grips and Grip shift option, because I didn't want to use the standard trigger / foam grip combo that most marathon / weight weenie bikes are known to run, and I wanted to show with this bike that despite running leather grips (which are super nice in the hand when not wearing gloves), the Syntace X-fix, Rockguard, 750mm bars, 180mm rotors, 150mm forks, alloy frame etc etc a sub 10kg bike could be built. And I was a fan of the early grip shift, and the function of the current model SRAM grip shift really is superb and very crisp with no overshifting needed.

As to the cranks, obviously this cranks is a very niche crank and you don't see it very often.
From a pure weight perspective with comparative chainrings fitted (no Bottom bracket):
- Blackfoot spidered: 396g
- Raceface Next SL spiderless 446g
- XX1 spidered 565g
The Black Foot SL (spiderless, with Tune wide/narrow chainring) is approx 6 - 9g lighter still.

Weight aside, the Tune Black Foot is in a different league to the other two mentioned cranks. Let's put the Tune Blackfoot more along side the THM Clavicula, that would be a better comparison, though the Black Foot is both a touch lighter and stiffer and price is a little less. From a manufacturing perspective, Tune's crank is something different. Instead of a carbon hand-layup as with the RF and SRAM cranks, the Tune crank is the first bicycle crank to be made with a new computer stitching process which achieves highly accurate material distribution and placement combined with unmatched reproduceability, both traites where a hand-layup method have a certain tolerance requiring a weight penalty 'safety factor' so to speak. This is where the Black Foot has a clear edge on the other two mentioned cranks.

Hope it helps!

You're welcome, credit were credit is due.Thanks for the in depth reply, I can't believe the blackfoots are so much lighter and from what you're saying stiffer and stronger. If I can find a set it'll be the next thing that ends up on my Sb5. I was drooling over the Tune web page a week ago thinking about cranks, bars, carbon thru axles, a saddle and even those kill hill brakes just to blow the budget completely. I never thought there could be a brand that would compete with Enve and somewhat surpass their component range. This is where I am with my ride atm, seeing your bike has re inspired some boutique upgrades. http://www.vitalmtb.com/community/Greg-J,39074/setup,30966?page=2

Hi Greg,

Tune did set themselves a pretty high goal with the Black Foot cranks and what they have achieved is an amazing product. The weight of the rims used on this bike is about 295g per rim, the front hub is 94g the rear 189g... there really is not much more to be done weight-wise ;-). Mind you this is by no means meant to be an every day rider, I will only use this for XC racing, all my other riding gets done on my every-day bike (which I will have to post on here very soon too!) is almost an identical built to this 301 and a very capable, robust and durable Enduro / all-rounder:

http://www.vitalmtb.com/community/Krischan-Spranz,35985/setup,30683?ptab

Tune make some very noce components though and having the alloy components available in 10 different colours allows for some creativity ;-). I'm glad to hear this bike has inspired you to look past the ever so common Hope, CK, ENVE, Thomson etc and discover another brand 'Made in the Black Forest - built to enjoy nature' ... ;-) BTW do you have a coffee Stampfer yet? We have some coming... that's pretty exciting ;-)

I don't own the tamper no, I want one...I agree Enve wheels are a common sight now but it's my second set and probably not my last. Can't fault these wheels and the build quality isn't equalled I was more saying the list of parts available from tune is impressive compared. I love my Enve's and my choice of Thomson drifts back to my downhill days.

@Greg

I hope you didn't get me wrong, your bike is a great solid build! ;-) And everyone is attached to one or another brands for a reason. If your ENVE's have served you well then there is no need to change, and they are known to be good solid wheels... ;-) Feel free to check in in about a week or two and we should have some of the worlds best tampers available... Cheers!

Didn't take you wrong mate just expressing #wheellove AX lightness and Tune are hard to come by where I live so i'll go with the brands that are easily warrantied. If I lived in Germany/europe my bike would be dripping with tune and all the euro goodness available. I'd love to build a boutique roadie with a budget of $20,000.
Happy Riding Cheers

Hey Greg, I forgot to reply... Tune should neither be difficult to get nor to warranty in Australia, I actually run EightyOneSpices, and we are the distributor for Tune. Maybe not so well known here, granted, but we keep almost the whole range here and I sure hope our warranties are handled appropriately too. Cheers and maybe hear from you at some point ;-) Krischan www.eightyonespices.com.au