Comeback with expectations
Liteville 303 Review

The iconic brand Liteville has faced some tough challenges recently. Amidst supply shortages during the pandemic, bike mastermind Jo Klieber had to sell Liteville and Syntace to Pierer Mobility Group. Now, with fresh capital and revamped structures, the Bavarian company is making a comeback. We’re about to find out just how much Liteville DNA remains in the all-new 303 Enduro rig.

Aluminum mountain bikes perfected to the extreme—that’s been the hallmark of Liteville Bikes for decades. This small Bavarian workshop with its knack for innovation and engineering prowess has outclassed some of the industry’s biggest players on more than one occasion.

With 5-fold butted tube sets, top-tier stiffness-to-weight ratios, hidden spare derailleur hanger bolts, and continuously adaptable rear suspension evolutions, the brand has made its mark and secured a place in the hearts of the tech-savvy riders. However, the chaotic market disruptions caused by the pandemic have left bike guru Jo Klieber gasping for air.

As a small company, Liteville was particularly affected by the industry’s supply chain shortages. The Pierer Mobility Group acquired the Liteville and Syntace brands to avert financial collapse. The question on the minds of brand aficionados ever since: Can the infusion of major investor capital preserve the passion and unique spirit that have always set Liteville bikes apart?

As the bike market expands with an ever-increasing array of models, choosing the right ride becomes increasingly complex. While brands like Scott, Cube, and Canyon have significantly inflated their lines with finely-tiered models, Liteville takes a different track.

The Bavarian brand is merging its legendary 301 and 601 models into the new 303. This means, following the MK 15 version, there will be no more aluminum 301 models. The carbon successor to the 301, teased at Eurobike, has not yet hit the market.

Currently, the 303 stands as the sole full-suspension bike in Liteville’s lineup. With 160 millimeters of rear travel and an option of 170 or 160 mm up front, the newcomer 303 aims to be recognized as a genuine enduro beast in the MK1 version. Nevertheless, it doesn’t blindly follow the trend towards longer and slacker geometries, which are all the rage in the segment right now.

The trend in the MTB Enduro segment is unmistakable: More speed, more suspension travel, longer bikes, and added weight. The influence of the Enduro World Series has turned Enduro bikes into uncompromising downhill powerhouses in recent years. The material-imposed speed limit on the trails has shifted so drastically that it’s now only accessible to those with guts and top-notch skills. However, this downhill trend for the entire market does not come without cost.

Even at their priciest builds, which are in the five-figure range, rigs like the Specialized Enduro or the Santa Cruz Nomad tip the scales at well over 15 kilos. If you’re not willing to shell out €10,000 or more for a new bike, you’ll have to come to terms with complete bike weights around 16 kilos for a new Enduro. Needless to say, the trek to the trailhead just got a lot tougher.

Liteville isn’t following the trend of equipping bikes regardless of weight, nor are they stretching their geometries excessively. One thing is certain: Even under its new corporate roof, Liteville retains its confidence and boldly chooses to be different from the rest of the market.

The Liteville 303 in its limited configuration might hang at 8000 € on the scale, but it takes you back to the good old days. With a complete bike weight of 13.99 kilos (size L without pedals), it harkens back to a time when enduro bikes were referred to as the jack-of-all-trades.

Tipping the scales at just over 3300 grams (without the shock), the aluminum frame gives even some carbon frames a run for their money. To put it in perspective: A current Santa Cruz Nomad frame in the CC Carbon version weighs in at 3080 grams. The achievement of the Liteville engineers is remarkable, even if the frame has gained about 300 grams compared to the last iteration of the 301 in aluminum.

The Limited Edition’s Syntace carbon wheels, SRAM AXS drivetrain, and Magura brakes not only shave off weight compared to alternative components but also do so without a noticeable sacrifice in trail performance.

While the 170mm versions of the 303 thunder over the trails with a beefy RockShox Zeb fork or a 38mm stanchioned fork, the Limited’s lighter 36mm fork with 160mm of travel also cuts down on the heft.

The final trick in shaving weight comes down to the wheelset combo. Because the smaller 27.5-inch rear wheel inherently weighs less than a 29er wheel due to its size. The mix of all these elements results in the sensational weight savings, endowing the bike with a distinct advantage on climbs.

The reduced weight takes the dread out of long climbs or tours through alpine terrain. Compared to a rig like the Canyon Spectral, which tips the scales at over 1.5 kilos heavier, the Liteville ascends with noticeably less effort. This is despite both bikes having the same fork travel and similar tire profiles.

For those who judge the quality of a bike ride by more than just the adrenaline rush on the trails, but like to earn their vertical meters, will appreciate the design philosophy behind the Liteville 303 Limited. It’s one of the few enduro bikes that exhibits no weakness on the climbs. And when it comes to descending, its low weight is a clear advantage in its corner.

This advantage is further magnified by the lightweight wheelset, tipping the scales at 4770 grams (including tires, brake rotors, and cassette), which not only accelerates effortlessly. Thanks to the low weight and the smaller rear wheel, the handling of the bike feels incredibly direct and responsive.

With heavier bikes, the wheels can often feel glued to the ground. Executing a spontaneous bunny hop or a quick direction change usually requires a certain baseline speed to feel effortless. During more moderate rides, heavier bikes often feel sluggish to handle. With the 303, it’s quite the opposite.

Here, even the slightest input from the rider immediately translates into a maneuver on the trail. It’s almost playful how easily you can pop the front wheel up or rail a tight corner. 

When playful moves demand as little effort as they do on the 303, you’re tempted at every turn to get creative with the terrain. The not-too-slack head angle of around 65 degrees fully supports the bike’s playful nature. The tendency towards a softly-tuned rear suspension gives it a forgiving and good-natured character on the trails.

Praise for the bike’s low weight and nimble handling inevitably comes with trade-offs. The geometry and comfort-focused suspension system tend to reach their limits more quickly at race pace compared to, for instance, the Canyon Spectral. Enduro racers might crave more support from the suspension and a tad more stability at high speeds.

The latter can surely be influenced by fitting a 29er rear wheel – the frame accommodates such an upgrade. However, it must be stated unequivocally: for those on the hunt for a full-throttle, 160mm-travel rig, the market offers more than just one choice. Bikes from Commencal or Crossworx could satisfy that craving.

But finding a climb-happy all-rounder with delightful handling and sleek details is a rarity indeed.

The integrated dropper post from 8Pins is truly flawless and provides the bike with maximum travel. However, the 303 isn’t without its minor scrapes.

The chain slap can be quite noisy against the chainstay, and has visibly marked it after just a few miles of trail riding. A better protective tape job could remedy this, but at this price point, it should really be a factory-standard service.

The bottle cage mounts on the downtube serve more as a token feature. Even in size L, the aggressively sloped top tube leaves no room in the frame for a standard bottle to be mounted.

And the bulky plastic steering stop limiter snapped off the first time the bike tipped over. Overall, these are criticisms that can be fixed relatively quickly. However, they shouldn’t occur in a bike of this price range.

As always, we’re delivering not just in-depth insights into the specifics of a bike, but also info on the entire model range. So, you can check out all three factory-available builds here and compare them against any other bike on the market. For those feeling bummed that this bike doesn’t sport the new K.I.S. system, we’ve got a consolation for you with a review of the Canyon Spectral featuring the K.I.S. system.