VintageLOTUSbicycles.com 

1987 Lotus Leger 

"High performance at the right price!"
~~Catalog text~~


"All new for 1987", the Lotus Leger shared a 7000 series aluminum frame with the 1987 Lotus Esprit , The Esprit and Leger were the only two aluminum bicycles ever offered by Lotus. The Leger used a Tange Mangaloy 2001 fork while the Esprit used a Tange Chrome-Moly fork. The Leger was less expensive than the Esprit as it utilized less expensive components. Lotus had this to say:

"With it's advanced frame technology the ESPRIT is not an inexpensive bicycle.  We were proud of what we had designed, yet we felt it would be a shame if the cost put this beautiful frame out of the reach of most cyclists. The problem was to find a component groupo worthy of such a frame yet significantly lower in cost.  We feel we have succeeded with the LEGER."

The 1987 Lotus Leger could also be described as an aluminum Lotus Unique as it shares the same components and Araya SS-45 700c bronze color alloy rims as the 1987 Unique. The 1987 Lotus Esprit shared components with the 1987 Lotus Elite 600.

The Leger, Esprit, Elite 600 and Unique were all part of the Super Sport Triathlon Series for 1987 along with the Legend and Classique.

The Leger was only available in two colors, White and Emerald Green.

We do not know if Leger and Esprit production continued into the 1988 model year. 

Leger is a French word for "light" as in lightweight and it's pronounced in French as LAY-zjhay.

This is possibly a pre-production photo, notice how the rear brake cable is misrouted outside the first top tube cable guide.
1987 Lotus Leger


Please use the page bar below the photos to browse the thumbnails, by clicking on any photo you will be taken to the photo viewer with larger images.  To return to this page close the photo viewer by clicking the X on the control bar at the bottom of the photo viewer.

We would like to thank R. Pugh for these photos of his beautiful 1987 Leger.

"Just did a full overhaul and the bike is almost all original.  New cables, housing, tires and bar wrap. Super nice bike. Thought you might want some pics of it. Love your website. Keep up the good work. 
Thanks a bunch,"   ~~ R. Pugh ~~

1987 Lotus Leger
Super Sport Triathlon Series

Frame Details TIG welded, oversize aluminum alloy in the three main tubes, oversize aluminum chainstays and seatstays, cable guides under bottom bracket, water bottle mounts on seat and down tube, chain hanger peg, head tube pump peg, top tube cable guides, shifter bosses on down tube.
Frame Tubing 7000 Series Aluminum Headset Tange, LOTUS inscribed 
Fork Tange Mangaloy Handlebar LOTUS Engraved Kusuki Aero-Indented Alloy
Colors White, Emerald Green Stem Kusuki S-Win Alloy
Frame Sizes 18, 20, 22, 24 inches Brakes Dia Compe Alpha 5000
Dia Compe AC-260 Aero Levers
Crank Sugino GP-130, Cycloid Rings 42-52  Seatpost SR CT-P5 Alloy
Pedals MKS AR-3 Quill Alloy
MKS Stainless Clips w/ LOTUS Straps
Saddle Vetta Anatomic 
Shift Levers Suntour Alpha 5000-CH Accu-Shift Rims Araya SS-45 700c 
Front Derailleur Suntour Alpha 5000-GX Hubs Sanshin 5000, Alloy QR 36 Holes
Rear Derailleur Suntour Alpha 5000-GX Accu-Shift  Spokes 14 Guage Stainless Steel
Freewheel Suntour Winner 6 Cogs, Silver Tires Panaracer Vertex 700 x 23c Skin 125psi
Chain DID, Silver/Black  Weight 22.5 lbs. for 20 inch
Notes Bicycle included LOTUS water bottle and alloy cage.
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