Help me identify this litespeed framset.

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merlinxlm
Posts: 129
Joined: Wed Feb 26, 2014 9:44 pm

by merlinxlm

Well, received the information regarding my frame from Litespeed. Apparently it’s a 2006 Compact Vortex built in 2005, is this good or bad? Any tips on building it up?

by Weenie


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ebsilon
Posts: 190
Joined: Fri Aug 12, 2005 12:36 pm
Location: Denmark

by ebsilon

Hello MXLM

It is a very fine frame!!!

And Litespeed are WRONG. They apparently do not now theirs own history and products.

The frame is as I wrote a 2005 Vortex Compact size small. It is build in 2005 AND is a 2005 model.

The 2006 Vortex Compact is an entire other model. It is with out internal head set and it is the one with a flat seat tube near the BB.

Please see the Litespeed 2006 catalog page 10-13. There you can see the traditional and Compact Vortex (2006).

Moller 1 - Litespeed 0

Moller
Last edited by ebsilon on Thu Mar 14, 2019 11:55 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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ebsilon
Posts: 190
Joined: Fri Aug 12, 2005 12:36 pm
Location: Denmark

by ebsilon

Hello MerlinXLM Image

I just want to follow up on the frame and identification.

If you search this forum you will find this thread started by Dougan back in 2005.

Here you can see a frame just like yours inclusive how the decals should look Image

Image

You can find the thread here:

viewtopic.php?p=103981#p103981

Dougan did also start a thread in the beginning of 2006 including some upgrades of his build.

Image

You can read the thread here:

viewtopic.php?p=132163#p132163


If you want to have your frame to look like a new one you can use this to refurbish it - Scotch-Brite PN07447AVFN.

This Scotch product is the same Litespeed and Seven uses for theirs raw frames.

Then you need some decals.

Image

You can find the decals here:

https://litespeed.shptron.com/c/decals_ ... ex-compact

Please note that Litespeed says that the frame IS a 2005 - NOT a 2006 Image

The 2006 model Vortex Compact was presented in autumn 2005 at Interbike.

Please see this thread:

viewtopic.php?p=68945#p68945

Image

Good luck with the frame - please show us some pictures of the build as it goes on.

All the best

Moller
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merlinxlm
Posts: 129
Joined: Wed Feb 26, 2014 9:44 pm

by merlinxlm

I will be posting pictures as soon as I buy and start building the frame. I quite like the newer black decals, would they look ok on a 2005 frame? Also the above frame is a limited year end 2005, what is the difference between his frame and the one that I’m looking to buy? I’m still trying to find out the frame weight, any body happen to have this information? Any suggestion on the frame building spec?

Thank you all for being so helpful.

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ebsilon
Posts: 190
Joined: Fri Aug 12, 2005 12:36 pm
Location: Denmark

by ebsilon

Hello MerlinXLM Image

You are welcome Image

Do not use the 2006 decals on that frame. It looks shit!!!! ImageImage

I have seen it a couples of times.

You can use the 2003, 2004 and 2005 decals.

The only difference between the Compact decals and the traditional decals are that the decal for the top tube includes the word Compact for the Compact model.

By going by the 2003-2005 Vortex decals you can choose between yellow, white and some kind of clear.

The yellow decals are quite nice ImageImageImage

Ciaoooo

Moller

Image

Image

Image

But I would still go with the original 2005 Compact decals ImageImageImage

Image
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merlinxlm
Posts: 129
Joined: Wed Feb 26, 2014 9:44 pm

by merlinxlm

Agree with you, the original set looks better. 👍

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ebsilon
Posts: 190
Joined: Fri Aug 12, 2005 12:36 pm
Location: Denmark

by ebsilon

merlinxlm wrote:.......Also the above frame is a limited year end 2005, what is the difference between his frame and the one that I’m looking to buy?

Hello MerlinXLM Image

Again Litespeed is WRONG or they are explaining it the wrong way.

The Compact you have was as they say out late summer 2005 but it was not a LE frame. If you wanted the frame you could buy it.

Litespeed have only made one (1) LE Vortex and that was the one that was celebrating the Tour de France 100 year anniversary back in 2004. This frame had a different down tube compared to the traditional Vortex frame for that year. It also had white decals but the “i” in Litespeed was yellow. This Vortex LE was limited to 100 pieces.

The LE looked very nice.

I still have/use the screensaver Litespeed released along with the LE frame on my computer ImageImage

Ciaooo

Moller
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merlinxlm
Posts: 129
Joined: Wed Feb 26, 2014 9:44 pm

by merlinxlm

J don’t think that they said it was an LE version. But a 2006, built in 2005v

maxxevv
Posts: 2012
Joined: Wed Feb 09, 2005 4:51 am

by maxxevv

ebsilon wrote:
Fri Mar 15, 2019 9:13 pm


Litespeed have only made one (1) LE Vortex and that was the one that was celebrating the Tour de France 100 year anniversary back in 2004. This frame had a different down tube compared to the traditional Vortex frame for that year. It also had white decals but the “i” in Litespeed was yellow. This Vortex LE was limited to 100 pieces.

The TdF Centenary Year was 2003. I was there catching the last 5 stages of the race.

merlinxlm
Posts: 129
Joined: Wed Feb 26, 2014 9:44 pm

by merlinxlm

Would this frameset make a good base for a weigh weenie project, apparently they are quite lite?

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ebsilon
Posts: 190
Joined: Fri Aug 12, 2005 12:36 pm
Location: Denmark

by ebsilon

maxxevv wrote: The TdF Centenary Year was 2003. I was there catching the last 5 stages of the race.
#METOO Image

.....just not only the last five Image


I know that the 100 anniversary was in 2003 but the Litespeed Vortex Limited Edition was first released in 2004 and it was based on the 2004 Vortex frame BUT with an oversized down tube. Just as I wrote in answers earlier.

I just did some Wayback searches and here you can see it and the year Image

Image

Image

Image



Ciaooo

Moller

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ebsilon
Posts: 190
Joined: Fri Aug 12, 2005 12:36 pm
Location: Denmark

by ebsilon

merlinxlm wrote:Would this frameset make a good base for a weigh weenie project, apparently they are quite lite?

Hello MerlinXLM

OHHHHH yessssss


The one I have is a custom Vortex due to the size is between sizes (57.5cm).

All in all the weight is 6.7 kg.

I think it is OK for a bike that size AND in race setup. I have only used parts that I know can last hard riding and I do not have to think of durability.

Your Compact frame in size Small ought to match my bike even that your frame has a oversized down tube.

Ciaooooo

Moller
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merlinxlm
Posts: 129
Joined: Wed Feb 26, 2014 9:44 pm

by merlinxlm

Well, good news. I went to have a look at the bike, checked it over. All looked good, size was also fine. Bought it there and then, disassembled it as soon as I returned home. Cleaned up ok, for the first going over. I’ll be giving it another going over, then fitting the correct decals. Any recommendations on how to clean it up to a matt brushed finish? Let the rebuild begin
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ebsilon
Posts: 190
Joined: Fri Aug 12, 2005 12:36 pm
Location: Denmark

by ebsilon

merlinxlm wrote:Any recommendations on how to clean it up to a matt brushed finish?
Hello MerlinXLM Image

Good news ImageImageImage

Like I wrote in answer 33.

If you want to have your frame to look like a new one you can use this to refurbish it - Scotch-Brite PN07447AVFN.

This Scotch product is the same Litespeed and Seven uses for theirs raw frames

Ciaooooo

Moller
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merlinxlm
Posts: 129
Joined: Wed Feb 26, 2014 9:44 pm

by merlinxlm

Hi Moller, having problems locating that specific one. Any recommendations as to where I can buy some, from the UK?

by Weenie


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Great Prices ✓    Broad Selection ✓    Worldwide Delivery ✓

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