LTK266-D-SL, race frame, 680g, <800g w/paint & metal parts (M), fits 35mm+ tires

[koki1176]

Hi, a newbie on the topic here
from what I can understand about LTK266-D-SL, the frame is very nice and also quite responsive and for me it really ticks a lot of boxes. But the thing I am slightly concerned about is the size of the frame for 183 cm because my legs are probably on the longer side, running 79cm seat height. I noticed a few of you riding the bike at approx. 180cm, do you feel the frame is on the smaller side for you?
Also where would you place the quality of the frame or its ride feel compared to other OEM frames? For instance, the Spcycle r088 seems quite nice but from what I understand, LTK266-D-SL should be better in terms of quality and ride feel. About LCR017d, I have mixed opinion. It is heavier, looks more aero, but some people say it is quite squishy in some parts, so I am not so sure about its stiffness. Maybe with slammed stem it would look nice, maybe a little bit similiar to the Cannondale supersix evo.
I am asking this because next season I am a retired U23 pro cyclist and to be honest I want the frame to be nice to ride, responsive. Not the type of frame that is fast on paper, but then it is sluggish to ride like if you got some bad replica of an SL8...yeah it looks nice, is good in the wind tunnel because it is same geometry, but isn't joy to ride.
Thanks for your thoughts!

[klrdd]

Hi, a newbie on the topic here
from what I can understand about LTK266-D-SL, the frame is very nice and also quite responsive and for me it really ticks a lot of boxes. But the thing I am slightly concerned about is the size of the frame for 183 cm because my legs are probably on the longer side, running 79cm seat height. I noticed a few of you riding the bike at approx. 180cm, do you feel the frame is on the smaller side for you?
Also where would you place the quality of the frame or its ride feel compared to other OEM frames? For instance, the Spcycle r088 seems quite nice but from what I understand, LTK266-D-SL should be better in terms of quality and ride feel. About LCR017d, I have mixed opinion. It is heavier, looks more aero, but some people say it is quite squishy in some parts, so I am not so sure about its stiffness. Maybe with slammed stem it would look nice, maybe a little bit similiar to the Cannondale supersix evo.
I am asking this because next season I am a retired U23 pro cyclist and to be honest I want the frame to be nice to ride, responsive. Not the type of frame that is fast on paper, but then it is sluggish to ride like if you got some bad replica of an SL8...yeah it looks nice, is good in the wind tunnel because it is same geometry, but isn't joy to ride.
Thanks for your thoughts!

I'm just a hair under 183 and I am fine on the L. However, I run my seat height at 76cm. Presumably my legs are slightly shorter than yours, and also I do like to run a bit lower of a seat because of mid-foot cleat position, etc. I do not think the frame is too small for someone at 6ft/183cm but it's personal preference. I prefer a 56 with a long stem. And given that I'm running the 130mm/-10degree stem nearly slammed, I don't think I'd get along with the higher stack height of a 58/XL if one existed anyways. But that's all preference. Have you ridden a 58 previously as a racer? If you were a pro u23 i'd think you would want a smaller frame, tbh, given the trend toward running frames even two sizes 'too small' in the pro peloton.

I can't compare to other OEM frames, sorry. Looks-wise (and aero-wise) you need to be OK with the lack of aero shaping. The bike feels stiff and responsive but not harsh. So yeah the BB area is stiff enough but so much depends on touch points and wheels/tires as I'm sure you know as a pro. Definitely not feeling squishy or noodley. But I don't have the experience with modern (say post 2020) Western bikes to make good comparisons here--need someone else to chime in. Hope this helps.

[koki1176]

I'm just a hair under 183 and I am fine on the L. However, I run my seat height at 76cm. Presumably my legs are slightly shorter than yours, and also I do like to run a bit lower of a seat because of mid-foot cleat position, etc. I do not think the frame is too small for someone at 6ft/183cm but it's personal preference. I prefer a 56 with a long stem. And given that I'm running the 130mm/-10degree stem nearly slammed, I don't think I'd get along with the higher stack height of a 58/XL if one existed anyways. But that's all preference. Have you ridden a 58 previously as a racer? If you were a pro u23 i'd think you would want a smaller frame, tbh, given the trend toward running frames even two sizes 'too small' in the pro peloton.

I can't compare to other OEM frames, sorry. Looks-wise (and aero-wise) you need to be OK with the lack of aero shaping. The bike feels stiff and responsive but not harsh. So yeah the BB area is stiff enough but so much depends on touch points and wheels/tires as I'm sure you know as a pro. Definitely not feeling squishy or noodley. But I don't have the experience with modern (say post 2020) Western bikes to make good comparisons here--need someone else to chime in. Hope this helps.

I ran a bit longer frame in terms of reach, I was on the 56, but for the reach I think I can compensate with stem length. Head tube length is similar to my old bike, so I think I could ride it slammed without issues so I really think size L should be OK.
It is interesting because as a junior I raced Giant TCR and that bike went really well uphill. But in a pro team, you don't get to chose your bike - you ride what you get and on the team bike, which had more aerodynamic frame, I missed some responsiveness of the TCR. So now that I am going to retire, I want the bike to feel responsive, but I am okay with lack of aerodynamic - when you aren't competing, the ride feel will be more important ...of course a lot of the bike's handling characteristics come from wheels and tyres, but also handlebars.

So from what I understand the frame it super nice, if you don't mind lack of aerodynamics... as a U23 racer I trained a lot and when you spend that much time on the bike, you start to look at the bike differently and the thing I notice now...you start to appreciate the bike that feels nice to ride, not just the bike that looks great or performs the best.
Thanks for reply!

[klrdd]

So from what I understand the frame it super nice, if you don't mind lack of aerodynamics... as a U23 racer I trained a lot and when you spend that much time on the bike, you start to look at the bike differently and the thing I notice now...you start to appreciate the bike that feels nice to ride, not just the bike that looks great or performs the best.
Thanks for reply!

Just want to temper your expectations a bit, because you are probably really discerning about ride feel as a high level racer with so much time in the saddle competing. This bike is a great deal, but I dont know if it's going to feel special in that way some of the high end frames with a lot of r&d do. Truthfully I just dont know. But practically, for the price its going to be hard to beat. 500km in and I am more than satisfied with my.investment..But dont expect fireworks.

[koki1176]

This bike is a great deal, but I dont know if it's going to feel special in that way some of the high end frames with a lot of r&d do. Truthfully I just dont know. But practically, for the price its going to be hard to beat. 500km in and I am more than satisfied with my.investment..But dont expect fireworks.

I agree. It is fair to say that with limited R&D it is cruel to expect it will ride like a high end frame for almost 10 times higher price. But from what I've read, I think the area where the frame really excels, is what you get for the cost  (Because as a student, you don't have unlimited amount of money and also you are a bit to old to expect that your parents will buy you a bike), and compared to riders' reviews of other similiar priced OEM frames, this one should be high on the list.

[Sakizashi]

Curious to hear if there is more feedback on this frame.

I stand by my initial take that this bike is delightfully boring. It lacks the "alive" feeling that makes you want to go fast and be a little reckless, but it always feels surefooted, even when pushing it through high-speed corners. I also still have no complaints regarding how it handles broken pavement or gravel roads even running an unpadded saddle. It's a strange thing, this bike doesn't feel any less than higher-end bikes, but it also lacks a standout quality (other than its very modern tire clearance and weight as low as the best frames from 2024).

It just seems too good to be true. Part of me is hoping for a reality check. And yes, I sound like Serge and hate every second of it.

[benquick]

I am thinking of getting this frame in size L. I am actually worried a little bit about the wide tire clearance, since I will be running 25 or 28mm tires. Can somebody running a narrower set of wheels provide pictures or comment on the extra space around the wheels? This part of my concern is mainly aesthetic, since I don't want my bike to look weird with slim tires.

The other thing that I am worried about and is related to this topic, however, is also in regards to any mechanical drawbacks that wider clearance has. I imagine it causes slightly more drag? Is the amount of additional drag even significant in any way? Anything else?

[klrdd]

It lacks the "alive" feeling that makes you want to go fast and be a little reckless, but it always feels surefooted, even when pushing it through high-speed corners.

I know what you mean. A bad puncture put me back on my old BMC for a few days and that bike has the compelling liveliness that the 266 lacks. Funny thing is the 266 is faster. I had chalked it up to running bigger tires at lower pressure (so not feeling the road as much, heavier rotational weight) but if you're feeling the same, could be more related to the frame than i thought. "delightfully boring" is great. Works for me. Hoping for more opinions from others too

[demeaux]

I might have missed this, but has anyone in the UK ordered one of these (on here, that they can talk about)?
I'm planning to replace my current rim brake bike (Vitus Vitesse Evo - because I hate press fit bb) and I'm looking at :
LTK 266-D-SL
LCR017-D - edit i meant  17D
Elves Vanyar disc (skinny tube one)

what else is like that?

[Freddy__HH]

I know what you mean. A bad puncture put me back on my old BMC for a few days and that bike has the compelling liveliness that the 266 lacks. Funny thing is the 266 is faster. I had chalked it up to running bigger tires at lower pressure (so not feeling the road as much, heavier rotational weight) but if you're feeling the same, could be more related to the frame than i thought. "delightfully boring" is great. Works for me. Hoping for more opinions from others too

Any suggestions for OEM frames that feel more alive? Kinda a bit worried the bike might feel a little too boring for me...eventhough I have not found a OEM frame that ticks more boxes for me than the LTK266-D-SL...

[klrdd]

Any suggestions for OEM frames that feel more alive? Kinda a bit worried the bike might feel a little too boring for me...eventhough I have not found a OEM frame that ticks more boxes for me than the LTK266-D-SL...

Want @Sakizashi to weigh in... however: I don't have any OEM frames to compare it with, nor do I have an extra, lighter wheelset and thinner/lighter tires to A/B test whether my impressions are frame-related or not. Sorry!

@patliean1 just posted a Youtube video comparing the x68 with premium components to a genuine sl8 and said it got about 75-80% there...for 1/5th of the price of the frame. Same here, I think. "Delightfully boring" and my "dont expect fireworks" is about moderating expectations. I'm going to happily put 10k km on this bike over the next 9 months unless fate intervenes.

edit: i misspelled username

[Sakizashi]

I watched @ patliean1's video on the X68 and the Scott Foil one, and my perception of what I find boring is a bit different than the not stiff enough/too stiff issues and how that affects ride quality over less than ideal roads. The 266SL offers immediacy and feels great when climbing. This bike is way better than 75%, it is closer to 90-95% of a 2025 bike. I think it is very comparable to a second-tier branded frameset. Of course, it has some drawbacks, such as needing to source your own headset, lower finishing quality, that awful rubber seat tube bolt cover, and the lack of aero shaping. To me, this bike also feels old school, like the Pinarellos and Colnagos before they sharpened their handling for the current generation.

This might be my problem: I think the bike's geometry is too slack for my aggressive body position on the bike. I would like a shorter trail figure, either through a steeper HTA or a higher offset fork. Some of this might have to do with the front-end configuration I am using, but to me, this bike is more Pinarello F8 than Tarmac SL8 or Addict RC, if that makes sense. We have a couple of older Pinarellos in our house, but since they're my wife's bikes, they are a bit small for me. That said, the older rim brake bike honestly feels the closest of any bike I have ridden back to back with the 266SL. I just find it pretty vanilla given today's bikes.

I would love to compare the 266SL vs. the following bikes: Seka Spear RDC (MR), Enve Melee (52), Giant TCR (M).

I don't have many OEM comps for the latest generation of frames either. Bikes like the 1st Gen Ventum NS1 or the Vitus ZX1Evo, I found too stiff, while the Carbonda 696 and Guerciotti Brera (FM616 variant) were way too compliant on the road. This bike doesn't have either issue at my weight (sub 60kg) or power (sub 1000w is the best I have managed so far). I've also taken this bike to 85kph, and I had no issues with speed wobbles or strange handling, etc.

If you're in the DC / NoVa / Baltimore area and have a medium M/S Tavelo Speeder SCR-55D, or any bike on the comp list, and you're looking for a mellow ride, DM me. Would love to compare notes.

Edit: Oh, I should add that Ive ridden this frameset with 3 wheelsets. The 50/60 DFS road wheels that are very light (Aero111 29mm/ GP5K S TR), the heavy but pretty aero Polaris 69mm (28mm GP5k), and the custom LB/Berd wheels (32mm GP5kTL, Challenge 36mm Strade Bianche Pro, Conti Terra Speed 35mm). So, pretty sure I am commenting on frame differences.

Edit #2: I'm going to leave this post after this, but the comparison aspect makes me nervous and feels rather meaningless. To me, the reason to buy this bike is that it is the only OEM offering that I know of that clears 35mm tires with 6mm+ of clearance with a racing-style geometry. If you want that kind of versatility, your branded frame options are pretty limited, too. I think the Enve Melee, Incolor Intropy, and the Trek Domane RSL are the only bikes with similar clearance and geometry. The fact that this bike is lighter than all of those and has pretty good ride characteristics is a huge plus.

[klrdd]

Finally slammed the stem today. This bike is a weapon!

[jo1673]

I'm all aboard the wider tire hype train, but currently a bit frustrated with the current lack of understanding of the influence of frame aero drag to total system drag for rider + bike ... In other words, I have fomo over potential watts lost if I buy this frame. To me it seems as if e.g. Tour magazine and their test protocol magnifies the difference between frames, and eyeball aero really doesn't work. I'll gladly leave four watts on the table for a cheap, nice riding and versatile frame, but would I leave ten? Fifteen? Not sure.

[klrdd]

I'm all aboard the wider tire hype train, but currently a bit frustrated with the current lack of understanding of the influence of frame aero drag to total system drag for rider + bike ... In other words, I have fomo over potential watts lost if I buy this frame. To me it seems as if e.g. Tour magazine and their test protocol magnifies the difference between frames, and eyeball aero really doesn't work. I'll gladly leave four watts on the table for a cheap, nice riding and versatile frame, but would I leave ten? Fifteen? Not sure.

If you're worried about that, dont buy this frame. You wont stop worrying about it, and the data that is available now and will be generated in the future (oriented primarily around marketing aero bikes) will not assuage your concerns. Get this bike despite its chunky head tube, for all the other reasons. I can get in a flat back aero position -- but i could do the same thing on an S5 or a Y1RS that tests like -25W in the tunnel. I just dont care, though. I'm not holding 40+kph in a breakaway; and I'm ok with having to push a little harder or get a little lower when I'm rolling turns in the group ride, for those minutes when i am in the wind at 40+kph. If the marginal gains in aero are an important factor whether for racing or just as an enthusiast, i would probably look elsewhere.