First Look - The All-New Fezzari La Sal Peak 1

Vital first tested the La Sal Peak back in 2018 and we were immediate fans. Fezzari had an instant winner in our eyes. The La Sal Peak was all-day capable but a riot in the bike park. When it came to long-travel 29ers, it was as well-rounded and capable as any bike we had tested. Fezzari is back with an all-new La Sal Peak and is promising that it is even better. It's a challenge that we are eager to put to the test.

Highlights

• Full carbon fiber frame (including the rocker)
• 29-inch wheels (mixed-wheel capable)
• 170mm (6.7-inches) of rear-wheel travel // 170mm (6.7-inches) fork travel
• Tetra Link suspension design
• Tapered headtube
• Guided, internal cable routing
• 180mm and dual crown fork compatible
• Lifetime frame warranty
• 30-day "Love It or Return It" guarantee
• Size-specific seat tube angles
• Threaded bottom bracket with ISCG05 mounts
• Boost 148 rear spacing with 12mm through axle
• MSRP $3,399 to $8,499 USD for standard builds

When Fezzari launched the La Sal Peak, it was the brand's first real go at this aggressive market. For a first attempt, Vital (along with other publications) praised the bike for being remarkably capable in nearly any riding situation. Not only did the La Sal Peak have a decent of travel on hand, it rode on a progressive suspension platform that enabled it to not get bogged down in deeper holes whilst not being overly harsh. At the time, the La Sal Peak also had one of the steepest seat tubes we had ever ridden on a bike.

Where does a brand go from there? You do a little more of this and a little less of that. Fezzari bumped the travel from 150mm/160mm, rear/front to 170mm at both ends, with the option to put a 180mm fork on there. Why stop there, though? The new La Sal Peak is dual-crown compatible. Fezzari did alter the suspension curve a bit to be a tad more supple and lower the leverage ratio. Steep seat angles are awesome but all too often they can be misleading depending on the size of the frame. Fezzari has adjusted each frame's actual seat angle to have an effective seat angle that measures 77.5-degrees within a specified seat height range.

There are a great number of commentators that harsh on the top tube bulge of certain brands. Not many people come to the rescue of this aesthetic though. Interneter's keyboards can stay a tad cooler with the new La Sal Peak. Fezzari has fully redesigned the frame. A straight top tube and complete overhaul results in a standover that is two inches lower than the prior model. The head angle gets a bit more slack at 64-degrees (170mm fork) and the chainstay grows ever so slightly to 437mm. Being able to take a dual-crown fork means the La Sal Peak has been tested to downhill bike standards and Fezzari is standing behind it with a lifetime warranty.

Geometry

Fezzari's revisions to the La Sal Peak are as predictable as any rom-com but just the same, we all tent to eat them up. Reach has grown, head angles are more slack, seat tubes on larger sizes are lower and overall, the bike is longer. That does not mean the La Sal Peak is without its meaningful details though.

All frame sizes can now accommodate a 200mm dropper post. The internal cable routing is now fully guided, which will ease the routing process. A SRAM UDH is present, furthering the "Universal" in this meaningful part. Perhaps the most meaningful element is the adjusted seat angle for a given size. In examining Fezzari's geometry chart, they reference a given seat height from which the effective seat angle is derived to better convey how they arrived at said number. They aren't the first brand to do this but we're happy to see more companies, especially consumer direct, take this approach.

The Lineup

Bike prices are on the rise. In further news, the sun came up today. On the other hand, Fezzari, as a consumer-direct mountain bike brand is getting relatively aggressive with its pricing when compared to shop brands. The La Sal Peak pro comes with RockShox ultimate suspension and a GX AXS Eagle drivetrain. As of late, we are used to seeing just GX at this price point. Don't want robots? No problem. For $5,999 the Elite Race will get you the same suspension with GX Eagle along with a set of Enve AM30 carbon wheels.

Our Test Bike

Fezzari set us up with the La Sal Peak Team build, the top level offering. Our bike was complete with all the bells and whistles. A FOX Factory 38 is mated to a Factory DHX2 and the SRAM X01 AXS Eagle drivetrain completes the baller bits. Wheels are Enve's AM30 and via Fezzari's customization program, our tester opted for Double Down casing on his Maxxis Assegai and DHRII tires. Additionally, our tester opted for Shimano Saint brakes.

On The Trail

Fezzari was on a road trip and decided it prudent to deliver the bike personally to our tester in Reno, NV. Given the La Sal Peak is made for more aggressive terrain, the crew met up at the local shuttle spot to pull laps. Overall, the terrain is incredibly steep and rough. If you aren't riding on rocks, it is loose gravely terrain. Below are our tester's initial thoughts.

My first thought upon seeing the new Fezzari La Sal Peak went something like this: “Wow, I guess even long-travel monsters have an understated look nowadays.” On paper this 170mm-travel 29er evokes maniacal intentions. In person it looks just as ready for a mellow trail ride as it does for the gravity-fed odysseys it’s truly meant for. But the observation was fleeting, because we had a gravity-fed odyssey to get to.

Something about its demeanor convinced me immediately that this bike would offer no surprises in the air, and trusting this feeling quickly became addictive.

Any suspicion that the La Sal Peak might be a kinder, gentler enduro race bike evaporated as I dropped in at the top of the first shuttle. (Yes, I will pedal this bike extensively for the long-term review. No, its pedaling traits weren’t the first thing I wanted to know about it. It’s a 170mm-travel enduro race bike, after all.) The La Sal Peak’s grip on our loose DH route left no doubt there was a full 170mm of suspension at work, even with its fresh, not-yet-broken-in dampers.

I can safely say I’ve never felt more comfortable pulling the trigger on large jumps than I did on the first run with the La Sal Peak. Something about its demeanor convinced me immediately that this bike would offer no surprises in the air, and trusting this feeling quickly became addictive.

The only hang-up on the first ride was maybe unsurprising for a guy who’s spent most of the last few years on 27.5” wheels: I needed to provide a little more cornering input to avoid standing up the bike in a few steep awkward turns. But that feeling was dissipating by the third lap. Time will tell how maneuverable the La Sal Peak will be when the gradient turns shallower.

But overall the La Sal Peak delivered exactly what you want from a bike in a first ride: A sky-high level of anticipation for the next ride. Naturally, it snowed here shortly after. Anyone up for a road trip?

Vital has a La Sal Peak slated for a long-term review. We're very happy to get this consumer-direct brawler in our mitts for the long haul and will be reporting back on how it held up.

Long Term Durability

Fezzari's fit and finish has never been an area of concern for Vital. We've done a number of tests on their bikes over the years and have never had much of a concern. The La Sal Peak does carry a lifetime warranty on the frame and Fezzari is really pushing the durability of this new bike.

What's The Bottom Line?

The La Sal Peak made quite an impression on any editor and rider that threw a leg over it in 2018. It would seem that Fezzari is back again with a ton of meaningful updates to make a promising bike even more aggressive. Yeah, some people may like to make fun of the name Fezzari. When it comes to the on-trail performance of the La Sal Peak, the only person laughing will be the rider.

Head to Fezzari.com to learn more and to explore ordering options.

View key specs, compare bikes, and rate the new Fezzari La Sal Peak in the Vital MTB Product Guide.