Never owned a tri bike, always used a road bike. Never been 100% happy/comfortable, always feel a little stretched or on the tip of the saddle.
Looking around, the 2004 Saber looks a good bet. Other options could be Cervelo P2k but the top tube seems a little long. Blade / Tiphoon are too pricey…
Would welcome feedback from Saber owners, or any other options / opinions.
Thanks
I had a 2003 Saber until it was crushed in an accident with a truck. It is a really stable, comfortable bike, well suited for longer events. You are correct in that the top tube tends to be a bit shorter for the listed size. It fit my short torso/long leg body very well. The head tube is a bit long if you are trying for a super low 40k TT rocket ship position. I had Carbon X bars mounted right on top of the headset. I could have dropped a couple of more centimeters if I’d used a different bar like the Heds I now have mounted on my new Talon SL. For the majority of triathletes out there it would be a great choice, if it fits. The only reason I didn’t go with the Saber as a replacement is that I wanted to go back to 700 wheels on my TT bike to match my road bike so I didn’t have to have two stables of race wheels. The 700 Saber in my size has way too long of a head tube to allow me to get as low as I want. I ride in a 75 deg position on the Talon. I rode 77 on the Saber. In practical use I probably ride just about the same on both since I ride slightly forward on the Talon seat and well back on the Saber. As for climbing, I’d say the Saber is well suited to Slowman’s preferred spinning technique. The Saber is too long in the back end to jump up the hills in a big gear. But if you spin, it really works well. I spent a couple of days training in the eastern mountains last spring, using a seated, spinning technique while down on the aero bars, and found it to work well with my position on the Saber. Out of the saddle climbing was a bit sluggish for my taste, at least for longer efforts.
Thanks - any other views on the Saber?
What about the new QR Santo - looks less aero but is lighter and looks smart…
I spent considerable tme writing a review of the Saber that positively gushed about the bike. It is, in my opinion, an excellent, excellent bike. If it fits you correctly, it is one of the best. I like titanium as a material for its durability and I raved about the Saber’s relatively simple, strightforward design, mechanical elegance and simplicity and tank-like durability as well as good ride comfort when built up correctly. I love the Saber. I never ran the review on our website (bikesportmichigan.com) because of business reasons with the bike’s distributor. I wasn’t willing to help the distributor sell a bunch of additional bikes from an endorsement on our website when I felt they had dealt with us unfairly on a related matter. I mentioned the matter to them and they were initially reluctant to address my concerns. I dedicated the space on our website to other reviews of products from companies whom I thought I could rely on to a greater degree for better service to our customers. Since then, and in fairness to Litespeed’s distributor/parent company, and through the efforts of their excellent outside sales rep in our territory, they have made some very positive changes in the way they interact on a business level with their dealers. This means it is easier for dealers to give their customers at retail good service with the product. I admire that about Litespeed’s distributor, outside sales rep for our area and Litepseed’s parent company. I think the Saber is an excellent bike. I’m also pleased it is easier to do business with the company that distributes the bike this year. The bike has been good for the last four model years (after it evolved from the old “Tachyon”), now the company that sells them to us is good too. I like the Litespeed Saber. If it dimensions match yours and your riding style and goals, it is a solid choice from a good company in my opinion.
Tom–
What “riding style” and “goals” do you think the Saber is best suited for? Thanks.
Tom, great way to sum up the likes of the Saber. I wish that would have been on your site. I have been leery of titanium products because of the frame costand also because I like the stiffness of aluminum. But elegantly simple and fast are key points for me.
FIRELUV
I’m also thinking of a Saber, but I’ve been told that ti is “mushy.” I’m 6’3" and weigh 190 or so. Do you think this bike would work for me…assuming it fits…
Thanks.
Wow, lots of interest in the Saber… I better update that review when I get back from Thailand and get it up.
What “riding style” and “goals” do I think the Saber is appropriate for? Excellent questions:
I think the saber favors slightly light to medium build riders on frame sizes from small to medium plus. Above 58cm I may suggest other alternatives. The bike, based on my opinion, is best suited for a rider whose style relies heavily on foot speed and cadence and less on big gears. It is a good bike for people who like to climb and it climbs nicely. It is also more comfortable than many, depending on the wheel set-up, on bad pavement. It feels long and stable so is good for inexperienced bike handlers. It is a very good “first” tri bike. It is a perfect bike (if it fits) for someone who’s goals include a lot of travelling since the bike is very, very durable and mechanically simple. It is easy to get into the flight case, survives the trip well and goes together well at the destination due to strong tubing and strightforward, simple cable routing. It is a great bike for Ironman since it travels well and is comfortable.
Making a generalization that ti is “mushy” is not accurate for the most part. With Litespeed’s exclusive G.E.T. (Geometrically Enhanced Tubing) and cold-worked tubesets the ride quality is comfortable but has good stiffness at the bottom bracket. Also, the titanium mesh reinforced carbon fiber seat stay assembly shores up the rear end so it feels strong and tight. It is not as stiff as a Blade or Tiphoon, but it is different material and for different riders. Price wise I think the Saber is an exceptional value: The least expensive in its class and certainly the best in terms of most advanced tubing technology, best size range, nicest workmanship, etc. For a rider 6’3 at 190lb.s I may suggest a more robust frame such as a Guru Aero ti, Litespeed Blade (new '04 version- AWESOME!) or QR Tiphoon each depending on the relationship of your torso length to your leg length.
Those are my thoughts in a nutshell. In short, the Saber is a homerun for a lot of people.
As I said above, and Tom put into better words than I did, the Saber is a great bike. I would never have termed it “mushy”. I am 5’9" and 165. What you put in the pedals gets to the drivetrain. When I said “sluggish” above, with respect to out-of-the saddle climbing, I was referring to the longish rear end. Bikes that have their rear wheels more underneath you tend to feel like they jump up climbs to me. This bike has longish chain-stays, though, and feels closer to a touring bike than a climbing bike, WHEN OUT OF THE SADDLE. But it definitely climbs well, ESPECIALLY SEATED, and is ultra stable at all speeds. Check out the wheel base specs vs other options that approach your size. You’ll find the Saber is longer than many. I had an Ouzo Pro Aero fork, just for comparison’s sake. I have to say that it was the most comfortable tri-bike I’ve ever been on as well. Its too early in my Talon SL experiment to compare, but the Saber surpasses all others I’ve been on prior to it. I’m still thinking of sending the frame back to Litespeed to have them replace the carbon seat stays that were broken in my wreck (Nothing else appears broken, though I’ll certainly have the welds checked too). After that, I have no idea how to convince my wife that I need TWO TT/Tri bikes! If you are anywhere near having the $$, and it fits you, the Saber is my best recommendation. Unless, like Tom notes, you are upwards of Clydesdale status, and then you might want to shore up stiffness with some 6/4 tubing like a Blade or Tiphoon.
I have a Saber and love it. When I got it I was 6’0" and 187# or so. I didn’t notice any problem in terms of stiffness. I’m now down to 175#, and i climbs better, but I suspect that’s not the bike…
One thing I would say is that Litespeed does some funky things with the measurements of this bike. They tend to fit a size smaller than normal (true for me, and from bike shops I talk with, in general true for most). I fit a 55cm sabre perfectly (I ride a 57 or 58cm in most road bikes, including my current Litespeed ). If when I was trying out bikes, I would of needed a 57 in the Saber, I probably wouldn’t of gone with it. Litespeed in general tends to have pretty tall head tubes on their bikes. The 55/700 is a notable exception. The head tube is 13.2cm tall, still mid range, but much shorter than the 16+cm that all the other sizes between 53 and 61 have (except the 55 of course). I ride with a 1cm spacer and a HED bar. On a 57cm Sabre, I couldn’t get this low.
So, as is always the case, the fit is important. The special caveat in this case is there are some pretty big jumps in important measurements as you change sizes in the Sabre.
If you can get one that fits you though, the ride is great. It’s plenty stiff, it’s very comfortable, and like another poster mentioned above, the simple, clean lines are very attractive.
Scott
Tom,
You mentioned the GURU Aero Ti as an alternative bike for larger riders. Have you had a chance to ride this bike and if so could you comment on it. Specifically, I am interested in how it would compare to a Blade or TiPhoon in regards to handling, ride quality, and climbing ability.
Thanks…
I have not ridden this bike, only seen it at Interbike 2003 in Las Vegas. I am very impresed so far though. The tubing and workmanship (welds, design, mechanical features of the frame such as cable routing, dropouts, headset integration, etc.) are very advanced. This is an incredibly sophisticated frame with absolutely no “rough edges” or design compromises. As far as fit goes, well, fitting Gurus is tricky. The names of the sizes can be very, very misleading. In general we are seeing people positioned on bikes that have size names that are substantially smaller than what they are used to hearing. For comparison sake, here are my frame sizes for Guru and then for other bike brands that also fit me and I have owned and used. Note the difference in the NAMES of the frame sizes (which frequently does not correlate at all with the frame’s actual dimensions):
Frame sizes and bikes that fit Tom Demerly:
Cervelo P3 51cm 650c.
Litespeed Saber 53cm 650c (2003 geometry).
Cannondale IM2000 52cm 650c (2003 geometry).
Cervelo Soloist Team 51cm 700c (road bike configuration).
Guru Tri Lite 49cm 650c.
Colnago Dream B Stay 52cm (road bike).
I can acheive an acceptable position on each of these frames but the Guru, Cannondale and Cervelo fit and handle the best for my dimension/weight/riding style. It is worth noting that there is a 4 size difference from the 49cm Guru and the 53cm Saber but the end result of the fit is reasonably similar and the ending body position is identical.
I would like to try the new Aero Ti and may buy one in the future from Guru. I am very, very impressed with their other bikes. The Tri Lite in particular (which I just received from Guru) is particularly impressive with its Dedaccai Black Box carbon fiber rear end. I love this bike.
Thanks Tom (& all) for the input. I think the Saber it is for me. I require a 57cm, but am only 145 lbs, and tend to spin @ 100+ rpm and climb well. Sort of characteristics you described - so I’ll go for it… First ‘tri’ bike here we come!
I’d add that unless you happen have an unplanned meeting with a truck, this may also be the LAST tri-bike you’ll ever buy. At least the frame, anyway. . . ;->