Update 25 June 2018: The company has been unavailable to us for months after several internet reports that it has now ceased business operations
The idea of this bike sounded all too tempting: a high-quality, aerodynamic carbon frame with a lifetime guarantee, an integrated bike computer that records training data (GPS, speed, altitude, distance, cadence), plus high-profile wheels; a Shimano 105 groupset in the basic "Leopard" version and Ultegra Di2 equipment in the "Leopard Pro". The first pictures of the bike were impressive, and the earlier customers joined the crowdfunding campaign, the cheaper they could get the bike - starting at an unbeatable €1,128 or €1,786, depending on the model. Delivery was promised between July and September 2016. In April 2016, the project collected orders worth €2.17 million on the Kickstarter crowdfunding platform, with a further €2.95 million raised on indigogo.The project is backed by the Chinese start-up Beast Technology Co. Ltd, which was founded in 2014 and which risk-taking investors have provided with around €14 million in capital. In 2015, Beast Technology developed a training app for cyclists. The app is already used by 500,000 cyclists in Asia and the company now has 120 employees. Motivated by this success, SpeedX set about delivering the right racing bike for the app: it had to be cool, robust and connected. The low purchase price was to open the doors to international markets - SpeedX's
SpeedX's declared aim is to attack brands such as Trek, Giant, Cannondale and Specialized. The project caused a stir worldwide, with most of the bikes being ordered in the USA, England, Germany, China and Canada.
In December 2016, the euphoria among buyers was muted. The main reason: most customers have not yet received their bikes. Although the company claims to have already delivered "60 per cent of the bikes", there has been virtually no confirmation of receipt from Europe and North America. But the bike is not just late. Following complaints from the first recipients, several errors have already had to be corrected: Synchronisation problems with the speedometer have been rectified, the seat post clamp has been improved, the paintwork has been changed and a second cadence sensor has been installed.
Customs? What kind of customs?
In an interview with the Australian website "Cyclingtips", Beast founder Li Gang admits that they had to learn how complex bike production is - as well as distribution. Buyers all over the world have already been confronted with additional charges from parcel carriers. In addition to the import sales tax of 19 per cent, a complete bike from China is subject to an anti-dumping duty of 48.5 per cent in Germany. For the bike we ordered, 320 euros in import duties were due - and the sum was only so low because the bike was declared as a low-value sample in the customs document. "We didn't realise it was so complicated. Every country has different taxes, duties and shipping methods. That was our mistake and we're sorry about it," admits Li Gang and offers customers in Europe a refund of around 95 (for the cheap model) or 250 euros of the purchase price.
There is a 1,700-strong "SpeedX Riders" group on Facebook. The posts show that the first bikes have been delivered to Asia. Cyclists from Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore posted ride reports and pointed out problems: one user from Malaysia reported that the cockpit failed after a ride in the rain. Another rider noticed the gap between the seat post and clamp where water was seeping in and made a rubber seal himself. This seal is now available as standard.
Patient customers
Despite these problems, the majority are waiting patiently. It seems as if most of them have made a conscious decision to buy an adventure with risk.
Our test bike is from the first production series. We ordered the entry-level model and received the more expensive bike. The usual measurements on the frame proved to be impracticable due to the cabling. Under the chic carbon façade, TOUR lab manager Christoph Allwang not only discovered cheap cables and plug connections but also came across a few other stumbling blocks (see test). The bike is not fully developed. Nevertheless, the Beijing-based company now also offers an aero aluminium racer and a mountain bike. However, Beast Technology is currently no longer accepting orders - the previous ones are to be processed first. The low price from the crowdfunding phase has also been significantly increased in the meantime. The Leopard now costs €1,910 and the Leopard Pro €3,055 including import fees. The company is currently unable to say when exactly the bike will be available again in 2017 and how much it will cost. However, the investors still seem to believe in the project: the company reported in December 2016 that it had received USD 22 million in fresh money. Do customers still believe in SpeedX?
Info Speedx Leopard Pro
There is no denying the Leopard Pro's desire for an independent design. Similar to the aero models from Trek and Specialized, the brake cables run invisibly through the handlebars, stem, fork and frame; the down tube is elaborately profiled and the computer integrated into the stem is a detail that characterises the overall impression. In view of the high proportion of carbon - apart from the frameset, the rims, handlebars and seat post are made of the fibre - the weight of 8.7 kilos is surprising. Otherwise, aero racers costing around 3,000 euros are around one kilo lighter. Part of the excess weight is presumably due to various electronic components and cables hidden inside the frame; this could not be verified as tearing out the cabling would have made the bike unrideable. SpeedX puts the frame weight at 1.2 kilos. Stiffness values could also not be determined due to the cables. However, the ride test shows that a lack of stiffness is certainly not a problem with the bike. Rather, the Leopard Pro stands out due to the very sporty stiffness of the saddle. In addition to the unyielding aero seatpost, this is due to the nominally
23 millimetre wide tyres, which are in fact barely 21 millimetres wide. They ride unseasonably hard, especially on rough tarmac. Other problems include a three millimetre gap between the seat post and the top tube, through which water runs unhindered into the frame, which can damage the electronics; the manufacturer supposedly now supplies a seal. The screws on the derailleur hanger protrude and touch the end ring of the cassette. The loud cracking noises of the rims when inflating the tyres are also irritating.
PLUS Visually appealing integration solutions, modern switching system
MINUS No large frame sizes, poor suspension comfort, heavy, handlebar height adjustment almost impossible, carbon rims crack when inflated, fragile rear wheel
Technical data
Test bike price 3,199 US dollars
Weight 8.7 kilos
Reference/Info en.speedx.com
Frame sizes* 42/45/48/51/54/57
Seat/top tube/head tube 540/565/155 mm
Stack/Reach/STR** 555/395 mm/1.41
Equipment
Drive/gear shift Shimano Ultegra Di2 (52/36 t, BB86)
Brakes TRP
Wheels/tyres (weights) Speed X/Vittoria Rubino, 23 mm (1,272/1,667 grams)
*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.
