With the new Liteville 301CE Mk1 Werksmaschine, the high-end German brand is breaking new ground in several respects: It is their first eMTB and their first carbon fibre frame. Can their debut in these segments deliver?
There’s a lot to discover – the features of the Liteville 301CE Mk1
We already presented all the details of the new Liteville 301CE Mk1 in a EUROBIKE news-article. Liteville’s first eMTB relies on the same frame shape as the traditional 301. It is the first bike in the company’s history to feature a carbon fibre frame and is assisted by a Shimano STEPS E8000 motor. The motor is powered by a 630 Wh battery, which is nicely integrated into the down tube and can be removed without tools.
Liteville have designed their own cover with cooling fins to keep the motor running at the optimum temperature, as well as a solid skid plate to protect it from rocks and stumps. They’ve also developed their own mount for the battery while trying to keep the centre of gravity as low as possible. To remove the battery, all you have to do is turn the knob on the top of the down tube, and the battery drops out.
The integration of the motor and battery aren’t the bike’s only features. The 301 CE is bursting with clever details. It features a long-travel EightPins dropper post integrated into the 40 mm seat tube, and a special chain guide to protect the chain from the dirt the rear wheel would otherwise bombard it with, which should increase longevity. A large inlet at the head tube allows you to easily install a powerful headlight and the stem comes with the Syntace Smart Gripper as standard, to which you can attach a smartphone and a headlight.
The geometry of the Liteville 301CE in detail
Liteville were one of the pioneers of mixed wheel sizes on the front and rear and so it’s not surprising that they’re relying on this concept for the 301CE. It comes with a 29″ wheel up front, and a 27.5″ model at the rear. Thanks to the DuoLink, which is integrated into the aluminium chainstays, the geometry can be adjusted, giving you the option of fitting a 29″ wheel on the rear if you wish. Liteville are currently offering the 301CE in two sizes only (M and L), but they say there will be an XL version of the bike in the future.
The geometry at a glance:
| Size | M | L |
|---|---|---|
| Seat tube | 441 mm | 465 mm |
| Top tube | 624 mm | 651 mm |
| Head tube | 105 mm | 115 mm |
| Head angle | 64.5° | 64.5° |
| Seat angle | 74.5° | 74.5° |
| Chainstay | 445 mm | 445 mm |
| BB height | 342 mm | 342 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1,226 mm | 1,254 mm |
| Reach | 447 mm | 470 mm |
| Stack | 644 mm | 653 mm |
The componentry of the Liteville 301CE Mk1 Werksmaschine
At first, Liteville will only be offering one model of the 301CE. They’re calling it the ‘Werksmaschine’ what means Factory Machine and will be available for approx. € 8,200. As a customer, however, you typically have the option of choosing the componentry in the configurator to suit your preferences. Among other options, you can choose between a coil or air shock and order the bike with a headlight and other extras.
A capable climber and very predictable on the descents – the Liteville 301CE on the trail
We had the exclusive opportunity to test the brand new Liteville 301CE Mk1 for a week on the varied trails around the Kronplatz in the Dolomites and the breathtaking Fanes-Sennes-Braies nature reserve. We were on a size medium and at 180 cm tall, the riding position is upright but very comfortable. Due to the offset of the EightPins dropper post and the stepped design of the SQlab saddle, we had to push it far forward so as not to sit too far over the rear wheel. With it set up that way, you’ll get up forest service road climbs very comfortably and you always have enough weight on the front wheel when going up technical, steep climbs, keeping it on the ground. The Shimano motor performs as expected and is very easy to control in Trail mode. Thanks to the compact E7000 remote, Liteville are able to use a thumb lever under the handlebar for the dropper post, which feels nice and ergonomic. If you tend to leave your knee-pads on when you’re climbing, you might occasionally knock your knees on the relatively wide rocker link of the rear triangle – depending on your foot position and riding style, this can happen on the descents as well.
On the descents, the 301CE Mk1 turns out to be a true Liteville – and we mean that in a positive way. The bike feels very agile and changes direction with immediacy and precision. The weight distribution is balanced, keeping enough grip on the front wheel in the corners. For our test riders, the L frame would certainly have been the better choice, although we didn’t feel uncomfortable on the M. Even at higher speeds and on jumps, the 301CE felt composed and stable. This is thanks in part to the very plush suspension, which offers a lot of traction. However, active riders will want a little more mid-stroke support – in this case, Liteville recommend opting for an air shock.
On slow, technical descents on steep terrain, the bike remains easy to control and offers plenty of room to move about thanks to the large adjustment range of the EightPins dropper post. The RockShox Lyrik up front in combination with the high-volume Schwalbe Magic Mary tire smooths out even the slightest irregularities, offering a lot of grip and comfort. Despite running a tube inside the robust Schwalbe Eddy Current tire on the rear, we suffered no punctures. The rest of the componentry has been carefully selected and is appropriate for the intended use.
Note: The bike we tested was a prototype and some of the components were 3D-printed and not yet production-ready. The chain guide had no rubber coating and the battery mount was made of plastic instead of aluminium.
Our first conclusion on the Liteville 301CE Mk1
It’s too early to make a conclusion at this stage. On the one hand, some components on our test bike were still in the prototype phase, and on the other hand, the frame size L would have been more suitable. However, as it was, the bike already made a very positive impression and we can’t wait to have it in our big E-MOUNTAINBIKE group test this month.
For more information head to liteville.com
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