Lapierre Overvolt GLP 3 – In our huge 2024 e-mountainbike test

In our 2024 eMTB comparison test, Lapierre enter the race with the Overvolt GLP 3 Team, taking their Gravity Logic Project into its third generation. Generating 170 mm of travel both front and rear, it epitomises the French manufacturer’s “form-follows-function” approach. The external 725 Wh Bosch battery is the undisputed centrepiece of the unique design. How did Lapierre’s € 12,500 eMTB fare against the competition in our big 2024 group test?

**Lapierre** Overvolt GLP3 | Bosch Performance Line CX Race/725 Wh | 170/170 mm (f/r)
23.4 kg in size L | € 12,499 | Manufacturer’s website

Lapierre have been building bikes in their headquarters near Dijon for 75 years and are heavily represented on the racetracks, whether it’s in the road, MTB or ebike sector. While they’re now part of the Accell Group, the French brand have stayed true to their racing roots – this is the third generation of their GLP race model. With a mullet wheel setup and Bosch Performance Line CX Race motor, it’s aimed specifically for the ebike racing circuit. The silhouette is quite unmistakable – the latest descendant of the Overvolt GLP clearly gives away its identity. In our 2024 eMTB comparison test, it’s the only bike with an external battery, which is meant to facilitate quick battery swaps, along with optimal weight distribution – the eye-catching look is just the icing on the cake! Despite generating a very generous 170 mm of travel front and rear, the Overvolt GLP only weighs 23.4 kg in size L, which is less than average in our 2024 group test. But how did the € 12,499 trail bruiser stack up against the competition in our 2024 eMTB group test?

For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best eMTB of 2024 – 27 of the most exciting models in our comparison test

What sets the 2024 Lapierre Overvolt GLP 3 Team apart from the competition?

“What’s that?” is exactly what a few of our testers asked themselves when they saw the Lapierre Overvolt GLP 3 Team for the first time. One thing’s for sure: the Lapierre looks anything but ordinary, with the external 725 Wh Bosch battery staring right at you from the middle of the frame. It’s partially covered by the frame on the drive side, but completely exposed from the other side. For external charging, it can be removed quickly and easily using a key lock. Like its conventional Performance Line CX counterpart, the shiny Bosch Performance Line CX Race motor delivers 85 Nm torque, but provides up to 400 % assistance rather than 340 %, providing a noticeably more aggressive response behaviour. Since the battery is positioned right in the centre of the frame, there isn’t room for a bottle cage or additional tool mount, meaning that you’ll have to secure your trail essentials in the hole in front of the motor skid plate with a tool strap. However, being able to carry a water bottle on the frame is a must for a modern eMTB, whether you’re using it to race or cruise down your home trails. The Bosch Kiox 300 display is neatly integrated into the top tube and well protected against nasty impacts. Together with the mini remote on the handlebars, it proved the best Bosch display solution in the entire test field.

**One of a kind**
The Lapierre Overvolt GLP 3 Team is the only bike in the entire test field with an external 725 Wh battery, which is only partially integrated into the frame.

The Bosch Kiox 300 display in the top tube and wireless mini-remote on the handlebars enable first-class integration and proved the best combo in the entire test field. The system controller is positioned on the down tube too and doubles both as the brain and power switch of the Bosch Smart System.

**Propulsion**
The Bosch Performance Line CX Race motor generates plenty of torque and packs a powerful punch with virtually no delay.

Lapierre rely on RockShox suspension, combining a beefy, finely tunable 170 mm ZEB Ultimate fork and matching RockShox SuperDeluxe Ultimate shock, offering plenty of adjustment to control the 170 m of rear travel. Moreover, printed sag markers ensure reliable readings and make suspension setup easier. While “standing still is the fastest way of moving backwards” might be a popular quote of our times, this doesn’t apply to steep rock gardens with 100% gradients. That’s why Lapierre provide the Overvolt with powerful SRAM Code RSC brakes, which are paired with a 220 mm rotor at the front and 200 mm disc at the rear.

**Strings attached!**
Unlike most bikes in this price category, the Lapierre relies on a cable-operated drivetrain and dropper post rather than wireless components. The SRAM X01 Eagle rear derailleur shifts as directly as a race car’s sequential gearbox – a gruelling suffer fest for the chain!

**The key is the limit!**
The key lock for the battery doesn’t quite fit in with the otherwise uncompromising image of the Lapierre Overvolt GLP 3. WRC mechanics don’t have to unlock the fuel cap of a rally car during pit stops.

What’s rather unusual for an eBike in the € 10,000+ price segment are the cable operated SRAM drivetrain and the TranzX JD Rad Travel Adjust Vario dropper post. While the latter allows you to easily adjust the travel, at 150 mm, it’s too short for most riders, especially on a modern bike in size L. A 12-speed SRAM X01 Eagle drivetrain ensures reliable, smooth shifting but requires more finger strength than an electronic drivetrain. In addition, the Bowden cable isn’t as maintenance-free as a radio signal 😉 . Moreover, the powerful CX-Race motor puts a lot more stress on a conventional drivetrain than on SRAM’s Transmission drivetrains, which are quickly becoming standard in this group test. The cables and wires are all routed internally, disappearing into the frame directly through the headset – though the frame also features conventional cable ports. For the wheels, Lapierre rely on an in-house mullet carbon wheelset and Schwalbe tires, combining a Magic Mary at the front and Big Betty at the rear, both in the thin Super Trail casing and Ultra Soft Compound at the front. We recommend upgrading to tougher casings, or running tire inserts, especially if you’re on the heavier side.

Lapierre Overvolt GLP3

€ 12,499

Specifications

Motor Bosch Performance Line CX Race 85 Nm
Battery Bosch PowerPack 725 Wh
Display Bosch Kiox 300
Fork RockShox ZEB Ultimate 170 mm
Rear Shock RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate 170 mm
Seatpost TranzX JD Dropper "Rad travel adjust" 150 mm
Brakes SRAM CODE RSC 220/200 mm
Drivetrain SRAM X01 Eagle 1x12
Stem Renthal Apex 33 mm
Handlebar Renthal Fatbar 800 mm
Wheelset Lapierre eAM+ Carbon 29"/27.5"
Tires Schwalbe Magic Mary, Super Trail, Ultra Soft/Big Betty, Super Trail, Soft 2.4/2.5

Technical Data

Size S M L XL
Weight 23.4 kg
Perm. total weight n/a
Max. payload (rider/equipment) n/a
Trailer approval no
Kickstand mount no

Specific Features

Flip-Chip

Tuning tip: More robust rear tire with tougher casing to protect the carbon rims, especially for heavy riders

What’s the 2024 Lapierre Overvolt GLP 3 Team capable on the trail?

Is the Lapierre Overvolt GLP 3 Team a rowdy racer or a tame ebike with off-road aspirations? Neither of the above! But first thing’s first. When you swing your leg over the saddle, the Lapierre feels comfortable and familiar, with the high front end and upright, deeply-integrated pedalling position ensuring a comfortable riding experience on level ground. When riding uphill, however, this requires you to actively weight the front wheel to prevent it from lifting. Of course, the powerful Bosch Performance Line CX Race motor is partly responsible for this, packing a real punch on steep uphills and thus encouraging the front wheel to leave the ground. As a result, the front wheel doesn’t always track reliably when the motor pushes hard. The suspension already reveals its progressive nature on moderate tours, where it quickly reminds you that you’re not sitting on a sofa, but on a hard prison bed.

The design language of the Lapierre Overvolt GLP 3 Team is as unusual as a jam and mustard sandwich! Just like a Formula 1 car, it’s designed exclusively for performance rather than aesthetics or everyday suitability.

The Bosch CX Race motor packs a punch and pushes you uphill without breaking a sweat – provided you shift your weight over the front wheel to prevent it from lifting off the ground!

If you want the Lapierre Overvolt GLP 3 Team to run smoothly, you’ll have to pick your line carefully. If you don’t, you’ll quickly become a passenger! When shredding your way back into the valley in a straight line, it’s a fast, progressive companion!

And it’s the same story when gravity takes over! Not only the suspension, but also the entire bike feels stiff and brutally direct, converting steering input with clinical precision but at the same time passing on bigger hits to the rider almost unfiltered. The Lapierre’s suspension is no sandbag, but it passes on quite a lot of feedback from the ground. The Overvolt seems to be waiting for bigger hits and gnarlier trails to fully tap into its reserves, but it never actually does, no matter how hard you push it, which makes it exhausting to ride and requires a vigilant riding style, especially in technical sections. Overall, it’s incredibly capable but not forgiving at all, which can be overwhelming for beginners. Advanced riders and seasoned racers, on the other hand, can benefit from the Lapierre’s lively nature to play with the trail, and will be rewarded with truck-loads of speed when pumping through rollers and berms. The direct handling perfectly complements the playful character and adds to the Overvolt’s nimbleness, which turns out to be its most distinctive trait – no matter how far you open the tap! This is also due to the optimised weight distribution that Lapierre achieved through the unconventional battery position. However, the Lapierre also requires great physical effort and a vigilant riding style, letting you know clearly when you missed your line. While not lacking traction, with lighter riders it tends to skip over rough trails rather than tracking the ground, which results in a slightly unsteady ride. What you’re left with are strenuous but also very fast laps that put a massive grin on your face, one you’ve got your breath back. After a long day in the saddle, you should call it a day with the Lapierre and refrain from going for that “last lap” – last laps don’t exist anyway!

Quick…ly reaching your limits! With the Lapierre, you can ride as fast as you like, as long as you’re in control! If you miss your line, however, the bike’s unforgiving character can quickly turn you into a cloud of dust!

Size	S	M	L	XL
Seat tube	390 mm	400 mm	430 mm	460 mm
Top tube	580 mm	607 mm	629 mm	656 mm
Head tube	110 mm	120 mm	130 mm	140 mm
Head angle	64°	64°	64°	64°
Seat angle	77°	77°	77°	77°
Chainstay	440 mm	440 mm	440 mm	440 mm
BB Drop	10 mm	10 mm	10 mm	10 mm
Wheelbase	1,225 mm	1,255 mm	1,279 mm	1,308 mm
Reach	435 mm	460 mm	480 mm	505 mm
Stack	629 mm	638 mm	647 mm	656 mm

**Helmet** Oakley DRT5 | **Glasses** DELAYON Line Tracer | **Hip Pack** CAMELBAK Podium Flow 4 | **Jersey** Northwave X-Trail 2 | **Pants** Northwave Bomb Pant | **Shoes** Shimano GE 900

Who should take a closer look at the 2024 Lapierre Overvolt GLP 3 Team and who should look elsewhere?

The Lapierre Overvolt GLP 3 Team is clearly aimed at performance riders and racers who know what they’re doing. In the right hands, the Lapierre blooms and encourages you to ride even faster and gnarlier lines – and if you can handle its character, you’ll be fine tackling steep, rough trails too! It’s also a good option for those who like its extravagant design language and the consistent “form follows function” approach. The Lapierre Overvolt GLP 3 is definitely the wrong bike if you’re looking for a practical, comfortable companion for everyday riding. After all, you don’t drive a racing car to the supermarket.

Riding Characteristics

DESIGN

unbalanced
coherent

USER FRIENDLINESS

cumbersome
clever

VALUE FOR MONEY

flop
top

TREKKING & COMMUTING SUITABILITY

low
high

HANDLING

demanding
intuitive

FUN FACTOR

boring
lively

Intended Use

Gravel roads

Technical climbs

Flowtrail descents

Technical descents

Our conclusion on the Lapierre Overvolt GLP 3 Team

The Lapierre is a niche bike for racers and seasoned gravity addicts. Since it’s not suitable for everyone, the Overvolt GLP 3 Team wasn’t able to assert itself against the best all-rounders in this test. However, if you’re looking for an extravagant and capable companion, the Lapierre might be just what you’re looking for. Despite the hefty price, the spec has some major compromises, significantly affecting the bike’s price performance ratio.

Tops

Form-follows-function concept consistently implemented
Very direct character

Flops

Uncomfortably stiff
No room in the main frame for a bottle cage or tool mount
Riding character can be overwhelming for beginners

For more information visit lapierrebikes.com

The test field