Help me identify this litespeed framset.

[merlinxlm]

Could any members help me to recognise this litespeed frameset. Thinking of buying it this weekend, any help appreciated.

[bikeboy1tr]

Looks like a Vortex to me. Probably near the end days of Litespeed when the Lynskis owned it.

[ebsilon]

Nope - it is a 2005 Vortex or one af the 2005 LE with a bigger down tube (it is hard to see due to the small size).

I think it is a 2005 since the seat stays looks a little smaller than the ones one a 2004......


/Moller

[merlinxlm]

Are they any good, reliable and a good build?

[bikeboy1tr]

https://lynskeyperformance.com/about-ly ... rformance/
The LITESPEED Company grew for the following 13 years and in 1999 after much deliberation the family decided to sell. Mr. Bill Lynskey (Dad) had passed in 1997 which was a tremendous loss to the family and the Company.
I know when they sold the Litespeed name they were legally supposed to wait 5 years before releasing a new frame to the market if I remember correctly.
I had a Vortex and cannot remember the year but I did get bored of it and sold it for a good chunk of change.

These are very nice high end frames and you will be bored of it before it wears out. Long as its in good shape it should be good for life.

[merlinxlm]

I’m having a look at it this weekend, if everything goes to planI should be a Litespeed owner by next week? Anything obvious I should check over? Any user reviews available of this frame? Thanks.

[bikeboy1tr]

Have you tried to Google it yet?

[merlinxlm]

Yes a lot!!

[bikeboy1tr]

I guess you should check the welds for any signs of cracks and check the fork for any cracks around the drop outs and the steerer tube as well. Check the hangers are not bent but they can always be straightened if they are not cracked. Scratches can be polished up on these frames as well. Check the BB threads are not damaged as well.

Check my previous post as I edited it.

[none]

The frame has no rear wheel cut-out on the seattube, therefore it is not a Litespeed Ultimate model.
It does have curved seatstays, Litespeet strated doing curved seatstays around 2001.
I know Vortex have curved and aero seatstays.. which this frame doesn't seem to have.
I have had my 2001 Ultimate since 2004, over 64k miles on it, still rides the same as the first day I got it.

[AJS914]

Wasn't the Tuscany a lower end frame with round tubes and a coarse finish?

I had a Classic from the late 1990s. It was bulletproof and very durable. It was also pretty stiff and didn't have as many shaped tubes as the Ultimate. The Vortex, I think came later.

That Vortex, in a small size, looks like it might be pretty stiff.

I've also verify what size tires rims you can fit. Older bikes sometimes have trouble with modern wide rims and wider, taller tires.

[bikeboy1tr]

I know the Vortex was one of two models sporting the 6/4 ti compared to all other models running 3/2.5 ti. The Vortex was entirely 6/4 which makes it one of the stiffer frames for titanium of that era. I ran tubulars on mine just to give it a more compliant ride.
Their is another forum, that has some info and opinions on the whole Ti thing mostly Litespeed.
https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycling ... eed-2.html

[RussellS]

Wasn't the Tuscany a lower end frame with round tubes and a coarse finish?

Tuscany was one of Litespeed's medium/mid level bikes. Vortex and Ultimate and Ghisallo were above it. Couple others were below it. Maybe the Classic is comparable for price/rank except the Classic was all round skinny tubes. Tuscany was all 3/2.5 titanium with various shaping of the tubes. Curved seattubes, curved and flared chainstays. Triangle/grooved toptube, teardrop downtube. Flared headtube for the bearings. Only round tube on the bike is the seattube. Tuscany had a matte finish. Not shiny, not dull or scratchy. Gray. A 2006 Tuscany carried me successfully through the 2007 Paris Brest Paris.

[AJS914]

It also depends on the year. My Classic was a mid 90s frame and at the time it was one of their higher end frames. The tubes weren't skinny. They were oversized, tapered, and butted but the look wasn't as dramatic as the Ultimate or later frames.

Litespeed catalogs can be downloaded here:

http://mombatbicycles.com/MOMBAT/BikeHi ... speed.html

[ebsilon]

......any way it is still a 2005 Vortex. Like I wrote as the first answer.

This Is my 2004 Vortex that came in the line late 2003.

As you can se the seat stays is not that beefy on the OT frame so 2005 it is.