Review: Liteville 301 MK15 Enduro

So, where do we go from here? If history repeats, then the next chapter will be more about fine-tuning and improvement, less about dazzling innovation. After 20 years of processed sugar, however, it’s not going to be easy for the sport to transition to a stable diet. The persistent evolution of Liteville’s 301 provides a roadmap. It demonstrates that a compilation of improvements can shine as brightly as flashy rocket science, and suggests that smaller, more deliberate steps can take us to a higher place. Let’s have a look at their latest version, the Mark 15 Enduro.

Construction and Features

What's new? We reviewed Liteville's 301 MK 14 two years ago and our review bike, the MK 15, looks like an identical twin at a glance. So, what's new? For starters, its aluminum frame uses a new, stronger alloy that Liteville is reluctant to divulge. The only hint may be in the welding, which has transitioned from merely excellent to outstanding - some of the best I've seen in my life. Liteville says the size medium frame weighs only 2760 grams without a shock, which meets or beats the claims of many carbon rivals in the 160-millimeter-travel arena.

The swingarm has been reconfigured to provide more chain clearance, and there are two positions for the rear swingarm pivot that allow owners to run either a 29 or a 27.5-inch wheel without significantly affecting the bottom bracket height or frame angles. That means you can configure the 301 with mixed wheel sizes or, using a Syntace "Level Link" headset spacer, switch to 27.5-inch on both ends (More about that later).

Geometry has changed as well, with a longer reach, a longer wheelbase, a slacker head tube angle and a steeper seat tube angle. The chainstay length has been lengthened slightly too, about six millimeters, depending upon the frame size. (Liteville alters the chainstays to correspond to each of the 301's five size offerings.)

Great news, skip to the riding impressions


Which features carry over? Liteville's list of stand-out features is long. Some have been available as aftermarket upgrades, like needle bearings for the shock bushings and adjustable-angle headset cups. The 301 also shares its offset rear triangle and dishless rear wheel concept with Cannondale, and it's rare, but a handful of bike makers also alter the frame geometry and chainstay lengths for each frame size to ensure consistent handling and climbing performance.



Liteville's engineers also account for a number of firsts. They were the first bike maker to adapt their frame design for an integrated dropper post, with the award winning Eightpins design. Its X-12 axle uses tapered collets to cinch the axle in tension and torsion, and the 301's Type-3 derailleur hanger, with its breakaway bolt, offers a much stiffer, better shifting alternative that also protects the derailleur more effectively.

The deeper you look, the more you'll discover: the spare hanger bolt in the swingarm yoke; the Allen/Torx wrench that stowes into the rear axle fits almost every screw on the bike; the oil port on the seat collar which lubricates the dropper post; its virtually invisible cable and hose routing; the cable access/storage door under the downtube; and perhaps you'll notice that every piece of its titanium, aluminum and stainless steel hardware is designed specifically for its application, and accompanied by a torque specification. The list goes on, but the message is that, by themselves, few of these enhancements would generate much fanfare. Together, however, they make the 301 an impressive machine.

Geometry & Sizing

Both 29 and 2.75-inch wheel sizes are offered for size medium, large and X-large builds. Size smalls are configured for 27.5 inch only, while XXL builds are only offered with 29 inch wheels. As mentioned, frame geometry is corrected between size offerings and wheel diameters.

For example: chainstay length begins at 422 millimeters for size small and grows to 435 millimeters for 27.5" bikes, while the size medium 29" wheel option (there is no size-small 29") begins at 438 and grows to 450 millimeters for XX-large frames. Depending upon wheel choice, reach begins at 425 and grows steadily to 508 millimeters. Liteville increased the trail for both wheel sizes with shortened offsets: 37 millimeters for 27.5 and either 42 or 44 millimeters for 29 inch wheels, depending upon Fox or RockShox options.


Liteville doesn’t take sides, choosing instead to lower the 301’s stand-over height and stack as far as possible. This allows individuals with different body types to choose the reach they need across two, sometimes three size offerings to achieve the right fit. Liteville's no-fuss sizing is further enhanced by the integrated dropper post which affords the lowest possible drop and the maximum allowable stroke for any rider's leg length.

We've illustrated the differences between the size medium bike in this review. Follow this link for a complete breakdown of all sizes and options.

The 301's Horst-Link four-bar rear suspension may have fallen out of favor ten years ago, but it never stopped working well. The fact that we're seeing a number of bike makers return to this simple system is proof of that. Liteville's "Four Pivot" linkage is configured to feed suspension loads into the frame, and to oppose the natural direction of forces the top tube and seat tube are subjected to. The link puts compression forces into the top tube, while the shock's trunnion mount is located to oppose bending forces where the rider's weight on the seat post is trying to rotate upper end of the seat tube.

there is a substantial lag between the moment the wheel sees an impact and when the shock begins to move in response. Needle bearings shorten that response time by reducing start-up friction common to bushings - and I can attest that after one or two years of abuse, the suspension response will feel just as smooth.

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Test conditions ran the gamut of a rare wet fall and winter in Southern California, to the treacherously dry, rutted and slippery terrain that we are more used to riding year round.

Climbing

Those who have ridden any number of well designed Horst-Link suspended bikes will recognize the 301's feel at the pedals. Unlike the sharp, instant acceleration you expect riding a trail bikes like the Pivot Switchblade or an Ibis Ripmo, the 301 responds with a slightly softer push of acceleration that at first, and feels a bit sluggish by comparison. Don't be fooled, however, because more often than not, you'll be motoring uphill a gear higher than you imagined. The Liteville gets at it when you need to hammer up a pitch out of the saddle too. Pedaling efficiency is there in spades, but it never feels sharp nor inspiring.

You'll learn to appreciated that touch of softness when things get rough. The rear suspension tracks very well and it's not all in the bike's kinematics. Those shock-pivot needle bearings help maintain grip and keep the 301's tail end rolling up and over roots, rocks and other trail chatter that might impede the progress of lesser suspensions. Up front, the new steering geometry keeps the wheel from hunting, which also saves a little energy. Check your Strava times after attacking technical climbs, or simply enduring long sections of choppy, no-flow terrain and you might be surprised.

I'm a fan of the 75-degree seat angle too. It's steep enough to eliminate the saggy butt feel old-school bikes have while climbing and, unlike the steeper angled bikes I have ridden, I felt a little lower and better balanced aboard the 301 while cornering through sections that didn't warrant dropping the saddle.

Descending

Liteville bills this version of the 301 as an enduro bike, and on pedally courses with predominantly natural terrain this machine could be competitive. True enduro racing designs, however, have crossed the line of demarcation between a versatile trail bike and a downhill-specific racing platform. To keep a Santa Cruz Megatower fed requires large helpings of steepness, spiced with technical features. Remove that terrain from the equation and it can be a boring ride. The new 301 has the numbers and suspension travel to handle the amplitude of difficult descents, but it stops at the line.


Skilled bike handlers could smash out double black bike park laps aboard the new 301 Enduro, while above average skills would suffice to replicate similar feats aboard the Megatower. That assessment came from pictured test rider Harold Preston, a familiar face in previous PB reviews, who stepped off of his Mega' to ride the 301 MK15. I agree. In exchange for its lightweight feel, more efficient pedaling and wider versatility, the MK15 requires more attention and skill to play in the enduro sandbox.



Instead, I would categorize Liteville's 301 MK15 Enduro as an exceptional long-travel trail bike. It's super stable ride height and firm pedaling kinematics mask its 160 millimeters of suspension travel until it's called upon - which makes a defendable argument against the "downcountry" trend. I mean, once you add wide tires, a decent shock and powerful brakes to a short-travel bike, it will probably weigh and pedal the same as the Liteville, so why not have the extra travel and capability in the bank when you need it? I was convinced after launching a step-down on a familiar trail only to discover diggers had built a transition where there once was none. I attribute my nose case survival to the 160mm Lyrik fork.

On paper, these two superbikes seem like an even comparison. They're both billed as enduro racers, Both have similar angles and travel, with 160-millimeters in the back. Each design comes in a myriad of size options and sprouts a busload of micro-engineered features.
Liteville customizes each frame size with suitable chainstay lengths, kinematics and angles and allows customers to buy up or down to match their body types. If you understand kinematics and like to fiddle with your bike, Santa Cruz's strategy may be best. But, I like Liteville's sizing option. All you need to do is get your reach right and their proportional geometry assures that you will be balanced over the bike and it will perform correctly.

In the speed department, the Megatower steamrolls the 301 Enduro. Pinkbike's reviewers agree that the Santa Cruz has no upper limit beyond the rider's courage. The Liteville can't make that claim, but it wins when the question turns to: "Which bike would you choose as an every-day rider?" The Megatower is happiest when it's going fast... really fast. And the only places where you'll never run out of downhill are drug addiction and hell. That limits the fun factor to lift-assist or the rare places where climbing trails are merciful and steep gravity trails are plentiful. The 301 MK15, however, can show you a good time on just about any trail and still hit the big stuff when the opportunity arises.

The takeaway from this matchup is: as wonderful as each of these machines are, both leave us hungry for just a little more. Wouldn't it be great if the Megatower was a couple of pounds lighter and pedaled well enough to enjoy natural trails that were "just" technically challenging? Wouldn't it be great if the 301 MK15 Enduro was more trustworthy at mach speeds? There are people working at both marquees who could make that happen.

Technical Report

Integrated seatpost: I wish every bike in my stable had one of these. The Eightpins mechanism is ultra reliable, rigid and friction free. If you want the most drop (up to 223mm) for the least hassle, this is the one. It's action is unmatched when it's desirable to drop the saddle part way for pedally descents.

Syntace chainguide: Not a fan of this one. Before there were derailleur clutches and narrow-wide chainrings, Syntace's integrated guide was a great solution, but now it's rarely called upon and mostly makes noise. The one benefit I discovered was that if I shortened the chain to adapt to 27.5-inch wheels with the guide on the chain length was perfect for 29-inch wheels with the guide removed.



Syntace C33i Evo6 wheels: I destroyed two rear tires in the rocks, mounted to Syntace's 33mm inner-width carbon wheels without denting or cracking them. Still running straight too. I am also sold on the Evo6 concept - offsetting the rear axle six millimeters to center both the chain line and rear spoke flanges.

Mullet option: Liteville sent a 27.5" rear wheel for me to try. The difference was measurable - consistently, two seconds faster on a descent I often use for reviews. The advantage depends upon how many turns there are and how tightly they are spaced. When I factored in the entire ride, however, times were almost always shorter with the 29-inch wheel in the back, especially so in technical terrain. If your diet is heavy on flow trail, I'd suggest the mixed option. Otherwise, it corners nicely enough as a 29er and the ride is a little smoother.

Internal cable routing: This is the third Liteville I've reviewed and the only one to exhibit this. Landing to flat or smacking boulders at speed made an awful sound that gave the impression that something was falling apart. The source was eventually traced to internally routed cables flapping inside the thin-walled downtube. Foam rubber stuffed through the downtube hatch solved the issue.

Rear axle wrench: Syntace's Allen/Torx wrench snaps into the axle - much better is that it fits every piece of hardware on the frame, even the stem and water bottle bolts, and all of the bike's SRAM components.

Pinkbike's Take

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Reviews and Tech Reviews Enduro Bikes Liteville Liteville 301