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Lapierre DH 920(Image credit: Jonny Gawler)
Clean lines give this bike a certain je ne sais quoi(Image credit: Jonny Gawler)
A low slung shock means a low centre of gravity(Image credit: Jonny Gawler)
There’s a full complement of top drawer kit, including Formula The One brakes(Image credit: Jonny Gawler)
To develop their downhill race machine, Lapierre called upon 10-time world champion Nico Vouilloz, who’s regarded as ‘the man’ when it comes to refining design and geometry. Nico and Lapierre spent many hours together creating something really quite special.
The DH 920 is an evolution of last season’s DH 230, and has been put to the test by team riders Danny Hart and David Vasquez. It's pricey, but with this geometry and setup, this bike really
Ride & handling: Perfectly balanced, with amazing control
The DH 920 sits into the mid-stroke of its travel perfectly,
This bike comes into its own on steep cambers, loose turns and over
The Lapierre pedals well and accelerates better than most.
It will hammer through rough terrain in eerie
Frame: Clean lines give a certain 'je ne sais quoi'
Clean lines and beautifully curved hydroformed tubes create one of the best looking downhill rigs we've seen in some time. The attention to detail is sublime, the cables slyly disappear into the frame to keep it clutter-free and the integrated fork bumpers add to the impressive finish.
The 150mm rear end, big sealed bearings and close pivot points give a great stiffness out the back. The FPS2 frame design creates a good pedal platform, yet keeps everything moving in a supple and efficient manner.
The bottom bracket is slung nice and low, at 14.3in, keeping the all-important centre of gravity where it should be, and boosting cornering capability. The 65-degree head angle is ideal for UK riding.
The only quibble we had was the sizing. Our ‘small’ test bike really is small – the wheelbase measures in at 44.9in, giving it a super-compact feel.
Equipment: Full complement of top-drawer kit
From the ground up, the DH 920 is flush with race-winning kit. The new Mavic Deemax wheels are lighter than previously and continue to utilise the UST system. The Fox 40 fork and DHX 5.0 rear shock give great control and can be tuned to your heart's content.
Formula’s The One brakes work spot-on in all conditions and the Shimano Saint kit takes form and function to another level. All this is topped off with bling gold pivot caps.
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