The Liteville 4-One from the cult manufacturer of high-quality aluminium mountain bikes from Chiemgau aims to be a gravel bike, cyclocross bike and all-road bike in one. The brushed aluminium frame is robust enough for this in every respect. The option of retrofitting the company's own retractable Eightpins Vario seatpost, which fits seamlessly into the frame design of the gravel bike, is in line with the trend. We have tested the Liteville 4-One MK1.
The Liteville 4-One gravel bike in the TOUR test
Syntace founder Jo Klieber is regarded as a particularly creative mind in the bicycle industry - but when it comes to complete bikes, he is more interested in mountain bikes. His Liteville brand specialises in high-quality, full-suspension mountain bikes made of aluminium and is an insider tip among bikers - also because the bikes are refreshingly different from the carbon monotony. The Gravelbike 4-One MK1 is Klieber's first bike with racing handlebars. On closer inspection, the Liteville 4-One has many of the genes of modern mountain bikes and therefore promises to be an interesting experience. With the small frame triangle, the wide seat post and the short stem, it initially looks strange from a road cyclist's perspective. However, the seat test confirms that we are sitting on the correct size M. The seat is relatively sporty, the very wide handlebars are irritating at first, but are part of the geometry concept. The technical highlight of the bike is undoubtedly the optional compression spring seatpost, which can be lowered into the seat tube by eleven centimetres at the touch of a button on the handlebars. The voluminous in-house design avoids a major weakness of such systems: The adjustment range, which is otherwise located above the seat tube, is severely stressed and is a source of constant annoyance on mountain bikes. Liteville moves the mechanism into the seat tube, the upper, movable part is only guided on the saddle "clamp". However, Liteville also suspects that some cyclists might find the thing a technical overkill: as an alternative, a conventional, rigid Syntace seatpost is offered for the bike, which also saves the hefty surcharge of 588 euros.
Liteville 4-One: uncomplicated, robust and practical
The second defining mountain bike feature is the geometry. Although the riding position is similar to that of a road bike, the front wheel protrudes unusually far in front of the extra-wide handlebars. In fact, the Liteville 4-One is very unique and unusual for classic racing cyclists, but by no means unpleasant. It responds lively to steering manoeuvres, yet remains very stable when hitting bumps at high speed. Nice side effects: When riding comfortably in the top link, the width offers a full grip position, and the foot clearance to the front wheel is also ample. Apart from the seat post, the Liteville 4-One is uncomplicated, robust and practical. The wheels, like the other Syntace components, make an extremely solid impression.
Technical data and TOUR measured values
- Price 6640 Euro
- Weight of complete bike 8.6 kilos
- Info: www.liteville.com
- Weight frame/fork/headset bearing* 1360/464/91 grams
- Frame sizes** S, M, L, XL, XXL
- Seat/top/head tube 465/560/141 mm
- Stack/Reach/STR*** 556/412 mm / 1.35
- Wheelbase/caster 1065/83 mm
Equipment
- SRAM Red eTap AXS drivetrain (46/33, 10-33 t.)
- Brakes SRAM Red HRD (160/160 mm)
- Shimano 105 gears
- Wheels/tyres (weights)**** Syntace W25i/Schwalbe G-One Allround TLE 40mm (1,532/1,841 grams)
Liteville 4-One MK2: Two variants
The second version of the Liteville gravel bike (hence the addition MK2) is available in two equipment variants. The 4-One MK2 Limited AXS is available in frame sizes M-XXL, comes with SRAM Force eTap AXS gears and Syntace C-25i carbon wheels and costs €6499. The AXS Force variant is available from 4699 euros and is the successor to the Force 1-11 factory bike. Liteville offers frame sizes S-XXL and equips it with the new SRAM Force XPLR AXS groupset. The weight of the gravel bike in size M is said to be 8.5 kilos. The frame set (frame incl. carbon fork) alone is available from 1580 euros.
*Weighed weights.
**Manufacturer's specification, test size bold.
***Stack/reach projected vertical/horizontal measurement from the centre of the bottom bracket to the top of the head tube; STR (stack to reach): 1.36 means a very stretched, 1.60 a very upright riding position.
****Wheel weights including tyres, cassette, quick release/ thru axles and brake discs if applicable.
