The new Lapierre bike with it’s Pendbox floating bottom bracket and Vouilloz input has been all over the internet in the last few weeks since it’s appearance at the Leogang World Cup.

Dirt Magazine’s Steve Jones has just been out at the Lapierre press camp in Chatel, France and will be doing a full bike test on the DH 920 in the next issue.

In the meantime here’s a quick word from Jones:

With classic French unpredictability and style Lapierre bikes not only out-of-the-blue unveiled their new flagship downhill bike at Leogang World Cup but backed it up a week later by presenting the bike for press appraisal. The Dijon based company were never in any doubt about this one.

Yet it has been in development for two years now. Not even Lapierre know how this bike has totally avoided any previous sightings having been put through its paces by the greatest of all racers, Nicolas Vouilloz just over the border from his southern France home. As Blenkinsop nursed a broken wrist, Nico was caning the shit out of this very unique piece of engineering, one that will surely have many trying to work the theory out.

On the gas-Vouilloz never travels without a cylinder of nitrogen. Back during his World Cup racing days he even carried a damper dyno to each race. Different level.

Don’t bother trying to work the theory out. It’s a winner. Fast and beautifully balanced it is a big improvement on the previous bike in terms of suspension performance and now offers better angles and improved sizing for taller riders. Yes Lapierre could still do with another size in the mix to give it the small/medium/large option but for now lets just wait for the price and the availability because this one is going to move for sure.

Having stepped up frame design and presentation a few years ago they now seem to have upped the suspension too. Hotlines should get these bikes in around November, and with those fine lines, light weight, internal cable routing and sure footed speed across the ground it will most certainly be up there in this years top five off the peg production full builds. Just how far up that list though? Keep an eye on the magazine for a full review.

Full story coming soon in Dirt Magazine.