The Bottom Line
At just under $2000.00 US, the K2 Lithium 4.0 is a great bike for its price range and you won't be disappointed with the ride.
Pros
- Great Bike and Components for the Price
- Lightweight Long Travel
- Comfortable Geometry
Cons
- Slight Stiffening of Rear End During Hard Braking - Brake Jacking
Description
- Drivetrain: Deore front, XT Rear, Race Face Ride XC Cranks
- Wheels: Sun DS2-XC disc-specific rims, 32 hole Shimano M475 disc hubs, Intense System 4 Plus Tires
- Fork: Manitou Black Super
- Rear Shock: Manitou Swinger Air 3-way - SPV
- Travel: Rear 100-125mm, Front 120mm
- MSRP: $1999.99 US, You should be able to find it advertised as low as about $1850.00 US.
Guide Review - K2 Lithium 4.0 Bike Review
We really put the K2 Lithium 4.0 to the test. We tested the K2 Lithium 4.0 on some long cross country rides, shuttle runs on Porcupine Rim in Moab, as well as some lift accessed technical descents, and finally it made a long trip out to Downieville in northern California.With all the beating it went through, we really expected something to go wrong at some point, but the K2 Lithium took everything in stride and never had a single mechanical.
The components on the K2 Lithium 4.0 are a great mix. The selection is both reliable and lightweight. While the Manitou Black fork isn't my favorite fork in the world, it performed well, and for this price range you can't ask for much more. The Swinger rear shock makes for an efficient ride and the Hayes HFX-9 hydraulic brakes never faltered.
The K2 Lithium 4.0 is really set up as a lightweight, long travel cross country bike. That said, it feels comfortable from the get go and has a great natural feeling ride. The only change we made to the setup was a shorter stem when things got steep and/or technical, a little more rise in the bars might help here as well. As it is, the bike is set up great for epic cross country rides and all mountain cruising.
Overall, this is a great bike. The main chassis has some great cross country inspired geometry and the Lithium 4.0 has a good reliable component set. Upgrading to the Lithium 5.0 is a good option as well, with a better fork and drivetrain among others.