The Lapierre Spicy CF boasts an aggressive, muscular look that screams full throttle even when stationary. The shock sits low in the frame and floats between the linkages. But the real highlight is the bike’s adaptive concept: you can convert the chassis from a high-pivot design to a traditional four-bar Horst-link system with a low pivot. We don’t know of any other bike capable of this trick. The mullet setup provides 180/174 mm of travel, which sounds like plenty of leeway for rough lines, big hits and rowdy bike park sessions. In short, an enduro bike for riders who like to push their limits and still want a setup that can adapt to different tracks and riding styles.
For an overview of the test field head to the comparison test: The best enduro bike of 2026
Lapierre Spicy CF Team: Specs and Details.
At € 10,000, the Team spec variant of the Spicy CF is one of the most expensive bikes in the test field. Alongside the GHOST, it’s also one of the few bikes that comes equipped with a RockShox suspension: up front is a ZEB Ultimate with Charger 3.1 damper – the top-tier model with countless, user-friendly adjustment options. At the rear is a Vivid Ultimate shock with hydraulic bottom-out control, which is also straightforward to set up and delivers flawless performance on the trail. Less impressive is the old-generation RockShox Reverb AXS dropper post with just 170 mm of travel. It’s the shortest dropper in the entire test field and can’t be fully inserted into the frame – a clear design flaw that proves frustrating on descents.
SRAM MAVEN Silver four-piston brakes do stopping duties, and while they’re not the top-tier model, the main difference is the lack of titanium bolts. On the trail, performance is virtually identical to the Ultimate version, and the 200 mm HS2 rotors front and rear deliver reliable braking power.Shifting is taken care of by a SRAM X0 AXS Transmission drivetrain, which relies on a direct-mount rear derailleur and delivers the expected solid performance. The frame features generous seat and chainstay protection, and in the high-pivot setup there’s an additional chain guide at the idler pulley.
Renthal supply the cockpit consisting of an APEX stem and 800 mm FatBar Alloy handlebars. It’s a cool setup, though all cables are routed internally via the Acros headset, making maintenance a real pain. There are also side ports available, offering an alternative routing option. The wheels are built on DT Swiss EXC 1501 carbon rims. They’re good, but not really necessary the best match for such a burly enduro rig – especially since the tires come with a very thin casing.
One frame, two characters: By converting the Spicy CF from high-pivot to low-pivot, you can significantly broaden its range of applications.
Without an upgrade, these pricey rims are likely to suffer serious damage sooner rather than later. The Schwalbe Magic Mary up front in Ultra Soft compound and the Big Betty in Soft compound at the rear are good in terms of tread, but the thin Super Trail casing is entirely out of place here. Our advice: swap them out immediately before the expensive carbon rims take a hit. A practical detail: a “mini” mini-tool hidden in the rear axle with a 5 mm Allen key and T25 Torx – handy for quick trailside fixes.
Specifications
Fork RockShox ZEB Ultimate Charger 3.1 180 mm
Rear Shock RockShox Vivid Ultimate 174 mm
Seatpost RockShox Reverb AXS *Alt 170 mm
Brakes SRAM MAVEN Silver 200/200 mm
Drivetrain SRAM X0 Eagle AXS Transmission 10-52; 32
Stem Renthal APEX 35 40 mm
Handlebar Renthal FatBar Alloy 800 mm
Wheelset DT Swiss EXC 1501 MX
Tires Schwalbe Magic Mary, Ultra Soft, Super Trail/Schwalbe Big Betty, Soft, Super Trail 2.4/2.4
Technical Data
Size XS, S, M, L, XL
Specific Features
high- and low-pivot
Tuning tip: Upgrade the tires to a more robust casing
Geometry of the Lapierre Spicy CF Team
The Spicy CF is available in five sizes, XS to XL. While the seat tubes are consistently short across the range, the insertion depth is very limited. Even the short RockShox Reverb AXS dropper with only 170 mm of travel can’t be fully inserted into the frame. Longer droppers are hardly feasible – a real downside and no longer state of the art. The seat tube angle is 78°, while the head angle is a slack 63.5°. The chainstays grow with the frame size. Starting in size M, they increase in 5 mm steps from 440 to 450 mm to ensure consistent handling across the board. A flip chip on the lower shock mount allows you to convert the bike to a 29” rear wheel. However, the standout feature is the ability to switch from a high-pivot to a traditional low-pivot Horst-link system. No other bike in this test can do that – a unique selling point of the Spicy CF. The parts are included in the box, but the conversion is fairly tricky. Not something for the parking lot – this is a job for the workshop. Experienced mechanics should be able to complete the conversion in around 45 minutes.
| Size | XS | S | M | L | XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top tube | 543.5 mm | 570.4 mm | 596.4 mm | 617.3 mm | 644.2 mm |
| Seat tube | 370 mm | 370 mm | 400 mm | 430 mm | 460 mm |
| Head tube | 100 mm | 110 mm | 115 mm | 120 mm | 130 mm |
| Head angle | 63.5° | 63.5° | 63.5° | 63.5° | 63.5° |
| Seat angle | 78° | 78° | 78° | 78° | 78° |
| Chainstay | 440 mm | 440 mm | 440 mm | 445 mm | 450 mm |
| BB Height | 335 mm | 335 mm | 335 mm | 335 mm | 335 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1,200 mm | 1,229 mm | 1,256 mm | 1,283 mm | 1,318 mm |
| Reach | 410 mm | 435 mm | 460 mm | 480 mm | 505 mm |
| Stack | 627 mm | 636 mm | 641 mm | 645 mm | 654 mm |
The Lapierre Spicy CF Team on the trail
For this comparison test, we primarily rode the Spicy CF in the high-pivot setting, where it proved to be one of the weakest climbers in this test. The short-travel dropper post adds to the frustration, and the rear suspension bobs noticeably – without the climb switch, a significant amount of energy is lost even on fireroad uphills. In the regular setup, climbing performance improves slightly, but it still ranks only mid-pack when pedalling to the trailhead.
The Spicy CF’s suspension generates huge amounts of traction and inspires confidence on fast, rough lines – but demands active pressure on the front wheel.
Riding downhill, the bike’s low ride height is immediately noticeable, delivering tons of confidence – but it also demands that you keep weight over the front to maintain balanced handling. An active riding style is mandatory and requires more attention and effort than other bikes in this test. The suspension is soft and generates tons of traction, which instills confidence in steep, loose terrain. However, in hard compressions, the balance shifts slightly rearward, forcing you to work the front end even harder to avoid understeering. The steeper it gets, the more the bike pulls you into the rear travel, increasing the need for active input up front. In short, the Spicy is a charging machine that feels safe at high speeds, but lacks agility in tight and slow terrain. The soft rear end and low ride height make it physically demanding to maneuver through tight turns. It’s not an all-rounder, but if you ride actively and on fast, rough trails, this bike can be a real blast.
Who should take a closer look at the Lapierre Spicy CF Team?
The Spicy CF is for riders who want a chameleon – but are also willing to accept clear compromises. The frame and spec have their weak points: the seat tube and insertion depth are very limited, and the tires are too thin for charging hard. But the Spicy offers tons of options: high-pivot or low-pivot, mullet or full 29er, and even cable routing can be customised. On the trail, it feels most at home on bike park tracks – fast, steep, and rough. It’s not made for tight, slow, or flowy trails. Nor is it suited for long climbs. But if you’re all about descending fast, ride actively, and use the conversion options to your advantage, the Lapierre is a cool choice.
Conclusions about the Lapierre Spicy CF Team
A whole lot of bike with little room for compromise — despite being the most adaptable model in this test, thanks to its adjustable pivot position, mullet or 29” setup, and customizable cable routing. In practice, it shines when the going gets fast, steep, and rough: low ride height, tons of traction, and huge amounts of confidence. Weak points? A pricey Team spec, a dropper post that’s too short and suffers from limited insertion depth, thin tires, and sluggish climbing. Not an all-rounder – but an absolute weapon when things get rowdy.
Tops
- Suspension generates plenty of traction
- Many conversion options
Flops
- Severely limited insertion depth
- Poor climber
- Lacks agility
For more information, visit the Lapierre Bikes.
The Testfield
For an overview of the test field head to the comparison test: The best enduro bike of 2026
All bikes on test: GHOST POACHA FULL PARTY (Click for review) | Instinctiv Kodiak MX 150 (Click for review) | Lapierre Spicy CF Team | LAST COAL V4 (Click for review) | MERIDA ONE-SIXTY 10K (Click for review) | Orbea Rallon E-LTD (Click for review) | Pivot Firebird Team XX Eagle Transmission (Click for review) | Propain Spindrift (Click for review) | RADON JAB 10.0 (Click for review) | Rossignol Heretic GX T-Type (Click for review) | Santa Cruz Bullit X0 AXS RSV (Click for review) | Starling Mega MurMur (Click for review) | Trek Fuel LX 9.8 XT Di2 Gen 7 (Click for review) | Yeti LTE T4 (Click for review)
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Words & Photos: Peter Walker