Liteville H3 MK4 Review

The brand name Liteville has become synonymous with level-headed expertise in the bike scene. Yet the new Liteville H3 MK4 Aluminum Hardtail has managed to touch us on an emotional level. It’s an ode to mechanics and minimalism.

Let’s cut to the chase: If you’re willing to spend 4999 € on a mountain bike, you’ve got the option for some sweet full-suspensions. Or, you could snag a super lightweight carbon hardtail that’ll send you into a climbing frenzy with a total weight of around 9 kilos.

With these two tantalizing choices on the table, one question inevitably presents itself: Why would you drop 4999 € on an 11 kilogram aluminum hardtail? The Liteville H3 isn’t a lightweight marvel nor a comfort cruiser. Yet, there are numerous reasons why this hardtail could captivate both the hearts and minds of riders.

The world has become a fast-paced place. The average attention span of a Central European has plummeted to eight seconds. The product lifecycle of a smartphone is less than two years, and every day, this oh-so-smart companion annoys us with some sort of update.

No one likes this trend, and yet everyone seems to accept it. Well, almost everyone. Because with the Liteville H3 Mk4, bike mastermind and former Liteville owner Jo Klieber makes a statement against modern consumption frenzy.

Instead of chasing quick thrills, the Liteville H3 is all about sustainable, purely mechanical, and straightforward riding joy. In a way, this bike is the antithesis to an increasingly complex world. The simple, yet high-quality and above all, well-thought-out technology acts like a door in the hamster wheel of the bike industry.

You don’t buy this bike for its level of innovation or its weight. Rather, opting for a Liteville H3 is about making a statement. Can the bike from Tacherting live up to these high expectations with trail-riding fun, or is it merely a theoretical projection of a dream world?

Concept Bike or Hypothetical Design Space—either way, the Liteville H3 must comply with the laws of physics in the real world. Weight remains a crucial metric, and we’ve dedicated an entire weight report to this seriously important component.

At 11 kilograms, the Liteville H3 isn’t featherlight in absolute terms, but it’s still on the lighter side. When eyeing the carbon options on the market that offer 120mm of travel, Liteville doesn’t show any weakness. The Rose PDQ Hardtail is race-tuned and hits the scales at 10 kilograms for a price of €6499.

Canyon’s Lux Trail CF 8 is a carbon full-suspension rig with 120mm of travel and weighs in at a neat 12 kilograms for €4499. From this perspective, the Liteville H3 is competing well. Those who want a sturdy aluminum frame, decent tires, and a dropper post won’t find anything lighter than 11 kilograms.

We even stripped the complete bike down and weighed the frame separately. At 1800 grams, it contributes the bulk of the additional weight compared to the Rose PDQ. However, the ride quality is more influenced by the rotational mass of the wheels. At 4470 grams including tires, cassette, and brake rotors, they are on par with thoroughbred race bikes, giving a sense of a lively acceleration.

In the realm of high-end mountain bikes, electronics are now almost inescapable. Whether it’s the new RockShox Flight Attendant suspension system, the electronic Reverb AXS dropper post, or the SRAM AXS shifters, electronics are omnipresent in the high-end sector.

With its mechanical SRAM shifting system and the 8-Pins dropper post, the Liteville H3 MK4 Limited Edition is a godsend for all those who are annoyed by red blinking LEDs on their bike. A Bowden cable may technically no longer be “state of the art,” but: It’s simple, it’s affordable, and you can replace it without an electrical engineering degree and a soldering iron.

With the completely mechanical setup, Liteville hits the nail on the head for riders who consider electronics an unnecessary complication of mountain biking. And on the trails, neither the function of the dropper post nor the shifting leaves anything to be desired. Both components perform very well.

The integrated 8 Pins seatpost is not only mechanically actuated via a Bowden cable, but also locks mechanically. The 34.9 mm thick post is confidence-inspiring in terms of stability and exhibits absolutely no flex. Although it’s worth mentioning that with a bike equipped with 2.4-inch wide tires, the comfort derived from the flex of the seatpost is negligible.

Moreover, it allows for tool-free height adjustment and complete retraction into the frame. Therefore, the drop is not limited by the post itself, but by the rider’s seat height. Plus, the grease nipple, which makes it possible to re-lubricate the wiper seal beneath the dust cover, is a downright blessing for a long-term commitment.

Regarding lateral play, we were hoping for an advantage over traditional telescopic seatposts due to the mechanical locking mechanism. Unfortunately, this aspect did not live up to our expectations. In the extended position, the seatpost can be wiggled approximately 1-1.5 mm from side to side.

Despite its aesthetic appeal and style, the engineers did encounter some flaws. The cables, which all run inside the frame, cannot be secured via the clamping at the frame’s entry or exit ports. The result: they rattle noticeably on the trail.

It’s a no-go for a bike in this price range, which, fortunately, can be temporarily fixed with foam sleeves. A nicer solution would be cable securing systems, like those Cannondale recently introduced on the new Scalpel. Liteville really needs to step up their game here.

The lack of a second bottle cage on the bike is not as easily remedied. This is because where it would normally be installed, no mounts can be placed on the H3. The interior of the seat tube must remain unobstructed to accommodate the 8Pins dropper post. As a makeshift solution, one could consider a second position on the underside of the top tube. There is space there.

The actual field test with the Liteville H3 starts in the garage. Because with the H3, tedious battery checking and suspension tuning are a thing of the past. Just check the tire pressure, and you’re good to go.

The short reach and short top tube make for a very upright seating position. As we’ve seen with the Focus Raven, it’s clear: The H3 isn’t meant to be a race hardtail. Instead, the comfortable seating position is designed to appeal to tour and trail riders. Thanks to its favorable weight and light wheels, the H3 climbs significantly better than full-suspensions in this price category.

On the downhill, this bike impresses with its slack head angle and fully droppable seatpost, maintaining a secure ride feel despite its moderate suspension travel. The low bottom bracket and beefy tires further enhance this feeling of stability.

On the trail, the bike is more fun than one might expect from a hardtail. However, when things get rowdy, it becomes apparent: The H3 is still just a hardtail.

At excessively high speeds, on extreme trails, or when hitting big jumps, a strong spine is essential. Even with top-notch riding skills, the lack of a rear shock that would otherwise keep the tail composed can’t be compensated for indefinitely. If one aims to shred Enduro trails and occasionally hit the bike parks, then the H3 won’t satisfy. However, for those who focus on long rides with a high proportion of trails, the H3 will be a beloved choice.

The Liteville H3 is available in 3 equipment options ranging from 3999 to 4999 euros. We’ve taken a look at all the options. With the arrow icon , you can also drag and compare each model with any other bike from our extensive market overview.