First Look - Maxim Leela
20 December 2013 | By fyldesmurf | 1 CommentWe were absolutely amazed by the performance of Maxim's downhill bike, the Maya, so we couldn't wait to get our hands on their Enduro frame, the Leela.
Maxim's ethos is to design bikes perfectly suited for UK riding conditions, with an affordable price tag. They decided to keep their frames simple, efficient and most of all, effective. This is a refreshing attitude, with value for money among the big brands diminishing year on year.
Maxim only sell direct, The Leela is currently retailing at £799.99 for the frame only, and as little as £2499.99 for a full build including: Sektor RL forks, a Monarch RT3 shock and a mix of SLX and XT components. This makes it just cheaper than lower end models from the likes of the Commencal Meta and the Nukeproof Mega.
Out of the box the bike looks great, the colour scheme is a classic red and black and the curved tubes look well made and strongly put together.
The Leela is definitely aimed at the downhill side of the Enduro spectrum, the suspension system is modelled on the Maya, so we've got a good feeling that it will cope when it's pointed at the rough stuff. Due to its strong build, the frame was not the lightest in its price point, but not heavy enough to stop you going out and enjoying an all day epic.
The Leela benefits from a long wheelbase (just 30mm less than their dh bike), which should allow it remain composed over rough ground, whilst the relatively steep head angle (67 degrees) should stop it feeling too sluggish when you put the power down. The bike is only offered with 26" wheels, hopefully producing a more sprightly ride than its 650b and 29er competitors
You really feel the length when sitting on the bike, our model came with a very wide set of Truvativ Boobars, which perhaps pulled us forward a little too much, but it did feel like a solid riding position, with plenty of room to manoeuvre.
Keep your eyes peeled for our full review of the Maxim Leela next year.
Check out the Maixim website here
