Seatpost, Ritchey Pro saddle and
Mavic Ksyrium Elite wheels. The Le
Champion Team Titanium tips the
scale at 16.7-pounds. The Shimano
Di2 Electric group is the pinnacle
of shifting technology. Shifting
was fast and flawless throughout
the test. All the other parts worked
without issue. Our 56-centimeter Le
Champion Team came equipped with
46-cenitmeter handlebars. Shorty after
starting the test we switched them out
for 42-centimeter FSA Energy New
Ergo bars to better fit the testers.
Climbing is where the Le Champion
Team really shined. Turning a
high cadence up climbs was the Le
Champion Team preferred method of
climbing and allows the rider to take
advantage of titanium’s responsive
feel and quick acceleration. Out of the
saddle efforts were also best handled
with a high cadence. Mashing a big
gear muted the Titanium frame’s
ride qualities and stripped the Le
Champion Team of its responsiveness
and quick acceleration. Climbing was
enhanced by the Le Champion Team’s
smooth ride and frame’s vibration
dampening qualities. The bike seemed
unfazed by broken or chip-sealed
pavement, allowing the rider to
maintain their speed.
Descending on the Le Champion
Team Titanium was also pleasurable.
The Le Champion Team is not an
aggressive descender. Not delivering
the stiffness of the top carbon bikes on
the market, a more refined approach
to going downhill is needed. The
Le Champion Team prefers lots of
counter steer and wide arcing corners.
Hard braking or diving hard into
corners takes the Le Champion Team
out of its comfort zone. On open
roads, the Le Champion Team’s
predicable handing and vibration
dampening qualities allow the rider to
increase their speed with confidence.
for sitting back and churning out the
miles. The frame’s smooth ride really
comes to the forefront as the miles
pile up. Road vibration is absorbed at
a level that few carbon or even steel
frames can rival, leaving the rider
more relaxed and fresh after many
hours in the saddle.
The Rider
The Le Champion Team rider prefers
centuries, Gran Fondos and all day
club rides. They favor ride quality and
technology above all else, but require
performance that allows them to keep
pace. The Motobecane Le Champion
Team delivers great performance and
ride quality bolstered by Shimano Di2
electronic shifting technology.
the Le Champion Team sits the Le
Champion Titanium Inferno with
SRAM Red components. The Le
Champion SL Titanium that comes
with a Shimano Ultrega group follows
the Inferno. Fourth in the line is the
Le Champion Titanium that uses an
Ultegra/FSA built kit. Finally there is
the Le Champion Titanium Heat with
SRAM Rival components. ]p[
On level roads, the Le Champion
Team rolls effortlessly and quick.
The titanium frame and stretched
out riding compartment are ideal
Builds
The Le Champion Team sits at
the top of Motobecane’s full line of
titanium bicycles. The entire line uses
the same frame and fork, with only
the components changing. Below
The
Bottom Line.
bikesdirect.com
PRICE: $9,999 (As shown)
SIZE TESTED: 56cm
GROUP: Shimano Di2
WHEELSET: Mavic Ksyrium Elite
DETAILS: FSA K-Force Light
brakes, Ritchey WCS seat
post, Ritchey WCS Bar, WCS
stem, Ritchey Pro saddle
WEIGHT:
16. 7 lbs. (w/o pedals)
