Update: Lapierre Overvolt GLP III, the new E-Race Enduro on test - now with SE model

The Lapierre Overvolt GLP III is clearly an eye-catcher. But not one that appeals to everyone at first glance. This is because the battery is not hidden in the down tube, as is now common. Instead, it is enthroned - in the form of a classic external battery - directly above the motor and low down in the main frame. The entire concept, which the French call the Gravitiy Logic Project (GLP for short), is built around this massive 725 watt-hour drive block. The rear triangle is a classic four-bar linkage with Horst link, which offers 173 millimetres of travel. The carbon main frame is supported at the front by a ZEB Ultimate with a stroke of 170 millimetres. The Lapierre Overvolt GLP III 2023 comes as a mullet bike, i.e. with 29" wheels at the front and 27.5" at the rear. The top model weighs in at 23.4 kilos. Not a weight sensation, but it is a little lighter than most of its competitors.

The facts about the Lapierre Overvolt GLP III 2023

• Carbon frame with 173 millimetre stroke
• Mullet 29/27.5 wheels
• Bosch Performance Line CX motor (race version in the Team model)
• Bosch PowerPack 725 Wh, external, removable
• Flip chip for 0.5° geometry adjustment (low/high)
• Weight 23.4 kilos (GLP III Team model, weighed with hand scales at the press camp, size M)
• Three models for 8999 and 11,499 euros (Team and SE)

The new Lapierre Overvolt GLP III in detail

There is a reason why Lapierre is sticking with the external battery. And his name is Nico Vouilloz. The DH racing legend has been working as a developer for the manufacturer for many years and has already helped develop various classic DH bikes and race enduro bikes. The Frenchman was nicknamed E.T. - the extraterrestrial - because he always drove around his rivals like a man from another planet and attached more importance to perfectly optimised material than anyone else. The GLP has therefore been equipped with an external PowerPack battery since generation twoalthough the competition switched to visually more elegant, slim, integrated batteries across the board. However, these have the disadvantage of being very long and shifting the bike's centre of gravity forwards towards the headset. Such e-bikes are relatively heavy on the rear wheel and push over the front tyre when braking. This was not acceptable for Nico Vouilloz.

For Nico, everything revolves around the perfect balance of a bike. "If the balance is right, it makes more of a difference than a few centimetres of suspension travel. Then the bike reacts faster, it is easier to navigate and therefore faster," he explains to us journalists at the press camp for the new E-Enduro at Lac d`Annecy in France. To achieve this, the centre of gravity of the bike and the position of the battery in particular were fine-tuned. The motor was turned a few degrees forwards so that the PowerPack is positioned very close, almost horizontally and exactly in the centre above it. Typical Vouilloz detail: The flip chip in the rocker is not a classic geometry adjustment, but is intended to help with balance: If you like it softer, you should set the bike steeper and increase the SAG. If you like it racier and firmer, adjust the slack angles and reduce the SAG. And all this without changing the geometry. So that's how it works. For the same reason, the Lapierre Overvolt only has 440 millimetre short chainstays and a mullet wheelset. In combination with the neutral anti-squat, the fairly steep head angle and the not too high front end, the designer promises - again thanks to good balance - very good climbing characteristics and at the same time very nimble handling downhill in tight bends. Let's see if that's true.

When testing the new Lapierre e-bike, we also had the opportunity to speak to Nico Vouilloz in detail. You can also read our Exclusive interview: Why DH legend Nico Vouilloz is ending his racing career!

Lapierre Overvolt GLP III Team: The equipment

Removing the battery is very quick. Key in, one grip and the compact 725 watt-hour block is out. Hardly any other bike is as quick and easy to remove these days. Practical and effective in one. With the Rockshox ZEB Ultimate fork and Ultimate Deluxe shock, high-quality and highly adjustable suspension elements are on board. Schwalbe tyres with the Super Trail medium carcass are fitted to the in-house carbon wheels. The front wheel is fitted with the grippy Ultrasoft compound. And the Lapierre has another important detail: The short seat tube is rather an irrelevant numerical value, because the special design means you can't fully lower the telescopic seat post. However, perfectionist Nico has paid attention and given the GLP III an easily adjustable seatpost. The stroke of the JD dropper can be reduced in a few simple steps. This means you can find a suitable seat height even with short legs without having to swap the seat post in the shop. Very good.

Pure race power thanks to "Extended Boost": The Bosch Performance Line CX Race in the Lapierre

In any case, it won't be down to the motor if the GLP III can't get up the hill. Because Nico Vouilloz has of course installed the powerful race model from Bosch in the Overvolt (only in the Team model). In addition to the turbo mode, this unit has a race mode, which delivers 600 watts of peak power even with significantly lower rider input. An ace up the sleeve is the extreme coasting "Extended Boost". While the coasting in classic Turbo mode immediately fades out gently when you stop pedalling, Race mode offers full motor power for a distance of two metres. In theory, this feature helps enormously when climbing uphill: you can stop pedalling before a rock step and the bike will then ride up on its own. At least in theory. In practice, you have to be able to control the mode, otherwise you'll end up in the rails unintentionally. But more on that in a moment.

The geometry of the new Lapierre Overvolt GLP III

A few numbers before the ride test: The chassis of the new Lapierre Overvolt GLP III offers a modern geometry with a very short seat tube in all sizes (size M has only 400 millimetres!). The head angle is not extremely slack (64°), the seat angle is quite steep at 77 degrees. With a reach of 460 millimetres, the bike is quite long in size M, but the 440 mm chainstays and the small rear wheel are intended to keep it manageable, at least according to designer Nico Vouilloz. And he knows what he's talking about.

The practical test: How the new Lapierre Overvolt GLP III Team rides

But enough of the grey theory. Let's get on the bike and see what the master has put together. For three days, we put the new GLP III Team through its paces on the trails around Lac d'Annecy in France. The terrain here offers everything you need to push an E-Enduro up and down to the limit and get a clear impression of its capabilities - and weaknesses.

Uphill performance: Yes, the new E-Enduro from Lapierre can climb!

The GLP III positions the rider in a very balanced and central position on the bike. The Bosch motor is audible but not annoyingly loud and offers more than enough power and torque at all times, even on the steepest sections. A particular highlight is the aforementioned Race mode. In addition to the brute power when pedalling, it offers the "Extended Boost", which delivers what we were promised: once you have understood how it works, the coasting effect opens up undreamt-of possibilities on the climbs. The slower you ride, the more impressive the effect: approach the step at a snail's pace and then let the motor do the work. A quick pull on the handlebars and the extended boost literally pushes you and your bike to the next level. Ingenious! Because the Lapierre is very stable in the stroke and at the same time reacts very smoothly to the ground, the traction on the rear wheel is excellent and no climb is too steep. At the same time, the front of the bike is plush and climbs late. You just have to be careful when you stop to let your mates celebrate after successfully conquering an extreme section: with your foot on the pedal, you can inadvertently activate the 2-metre boost and the bike hurtles off into the bushes with the rider. This happened to us several times. We therefore recommend either switching to turbo mode when stationary or always keeping the rear brake applied.

Downhill, the Lapierre e-bike shows what it's made of: a winner!

Long geo, top-quality suspension elements, 170 millimetres of travel and a balanced geometry and weight distribution optimised by downhill pope Nico Vouilloz. Nothing can really go wrong. And nothing goes wrong. The GLP III is a real race force when the terrain slopes towards the valley. The suspension is extremely plush and sensitive. Top grip and control are the result. But the handling is brilliant: the front is surprisingly light thanks to the weight distribution. The handling is very reminiscent of a light e-bike. The Lapierre is willing on the rear wheel, has good pop and is balanced and jumps like a 1. When braking, the good centre of gravity and the light front end have a positive effect. The bike can be thrown through bends without much effort and reacts dynamically but precisely to steering inputs. The Schwalbe tyres with Supersoft rubber compound offer endless grip. It could theoretically be better, but we can't think of an E-Enduro that can do better. Bull's eye!

Conclusion:

The model update of the GLP design has been an absolute success. Visually, the Lapierre e-bike still polarises, but if you put form behind function, you will hardly find a better e-enduro bike on the market. Thanks to the larger battery, the range is also perfectly adequate for longer tours. The Race mode in the Bosch motor (only in the Team and SE models) opens up new options on the climbs and the handling is a poem on the descents. Unfortunately, there is no affordable entry-level model!

Models and prices of the new Lapierre Overvolt GLP III

The "Elite" model starts at 8999 euros. That's not exactly cheap. The model we tested Top model "Team" costs 11,499 euros. It comes with mechanical Sram XO gears, Code RSC 4 brakes, in-house carbon wheels, carbon cranks and a Renthal carbon cockpit. The Rockshox Ultimate suspension rounds off the very successful chassis.

Lapierre Overvolt GLP III "SE" - 11,499 euros

The equally expensive Overvolt GLP III SE also features very high-quality parts and the Bosch CX Race. The Fox suspension with Kashima coating is eye-catching. Unfortunately, the French company uses the Fox 38 with the Fit4 cartridge. Experience has shown that this drops significantly in performance compared to the Grip2. In our eyes, the chic paintwork of the limited edition cannot compensate for this. The manufacturer has provided iconic Mavic Deemax (aluminium) wheels. Despite the high-quality XTR drivetrain, this is a model that is not quite ideally equipped.

Lapierre Overvolt GLP III "Elite" - 8999 Euro

The entry-level model comes in a chic colour (dark purple). Experience has shown that the Fox Performance suspension elements work well - especially the fork, which is hardly any worse than its counterpart with the Fit4 cartridge in the SE model. We really like the XT drivetrain and brakes and trust them implicitly. As there are no restrictions on the frame and motor, the € 2500 less is almost "cheap". However, the race mode with its ingenious "Extended Boost" falls by the wayside. However, with the normal Bosch Performance CX, the bike still has a top motor. If you don't want to climb any extreme steps uphill, this is a very good choice.