SpeedX Leopard review

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Early adopters of new tech are either seen as pioneers or foolhardy. Sometimes the latest innovation in technology is groundbreaking — think original iPhone, Sony Walkman — but for every success there’s a Nintendo Virtual Boy or Microsoft’s iPod rival the Zune. So is the SpeedX Leopard the bike equivalent of the iPhone or is it the Nokia NGage (Google it)? Let’s see…

This article has been updated from a first-ride to a full review.

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SpeedX Leopard: smart tech

The SpeedX Leopard is described on its Kickstarter page as “the first ever smart aero road bike” and set records for crowdfunding when more than 1,250 backers pledged $2,319,876 to bring the project to life. The campaign set a record for the most funded bike campaign on Kickstarter and made it into the crowdfunding website’s top fifty all-time campaigns.

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Installing the app on iOS is simple, and enabling Bluetooth and connecting the two together the same, but no matter how hard we tried the computer and app simply wouldn’t sync

While there’s clearly a desire for a connected, smart bike and on paper the Leopard has plenty of smart stuff — built-in speed and cadence sensors, a motion activated rear light, integrated computer head unit in the stem — can it deliver the goods out on the road?

Alongside the integrated computer and sensors, the bike also comes with an app for both iOS and Android. The SpeedX app features the ability to see your riding history, connect to the bike, and even set up a club and be party to rankings globally on the usage of the bike.

In this world of Strava obsessions and the consumption of data this all sounds really, really promising but sadly the Leopard has some issues here.

But how does the SpeedX Leopard ride?

The dedicated aero post includes both an integrated motion-activated rear light and a micro-USB port for charging, but when I set the saddle height the USB port’s rubber cover fouled the seat clamp

At the front end it’s solid and there is little in the way of vibrations, but every road scar is met with a thunk rather than a bounce

A stiff, harsh ride

Is there more to come from SpeedX and the Leopard?

SpeedX feedback

SpeedForce app

• Software updates mean customers will be able to link to third party sites such as Strava in December, closely followed by Garmin Connect and TrainingPeaks in 2017.  

Components

• SpeedX will now provide a seal in all Leopard and Leopard Pro packaging for customers to place at the bottom of the seatpost
• The bolt for the seatpost clamp has been upgraded which means it is easier to adjust the seatpost   
• SpeedX will now also provide an additional cadence sensor which will be compatible for all pedals
• SpeedX will provide extra seatpost bolts together with the bikes

Tyre Options

• In addition to these modifications, when choosing the bike online there will soon be options to select a wider tyre

Colour Update

• One final update is that all black frames will now be delivered in a solid matte black finish which gives the bike an even sleeker finish

You can read more at BikeRadar.com

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