Track (L96 / R96 / T20)
Origin
LOOK, founded in 1951, began in ski bindings before revolutionising cycling with the first clipless pedal that carried Bernard Hinault to the 1985 Tour de France. Its carbon expertise dates to the KG 86, the frame Greg LeMond rode to victory in 1986. From there LOOK built a dynasty of track machines — the KG 496 and 596, then the L96, all hand-laid in the company's own factory in Nevers, France. The L96 carried sprinters through the Beijing-and-London Olympic cycles; for Rio 2016 LOOK refined it into the R96, shaving roughly 150g with higher-grade carbon and a redesigned seatmast. The R96 became the single most-used track bike at the Rio velodrome, with close to 100 units on the boards. For Tokyo 2020 LOOK started clean with the T20 — four years of R&D, very-high-modulus Mitsubishi carbon, a 27% jump in power transfer and an 11% CdA reduction, all built and tested in Nevers. Across every generation the constant is LOOK's signature one-piece ZED carbon crankset, a fixture on international velodromes.
Specifications
- Frame
- 100% high-modulus carbon monocoque, made in Nevers, France (T20 uses Mitsubishi very-high-modulus carbon)
- Weight
- kg
- Drivetrain
- Fixed-gear / single-speed, sold as frameset — no gearing supplied; runs LOOK ZED one-piece carbon crankset (right- or left-side drive)
- Brakes
- None — velodrome track bike (brakeless fixed gear, UCI track rules)
- Wheels
- Frameset only; optimised for CORIMA / Mavic track disc + spoke wheels (tubular)
The verdict
- Genuine Olympic-pedigree race hardware — R96/T20 were built for and used by national track teams
- Exceptional stiffness and power transfer (ZED one-piece carbon crankset, stiff BB/head tube)
- Highly adjustable fit (stem length/angle, seatpost angle, crank length) — French hand-built quality
- Extremely expensive and niche — €7,000+ frameset, velodrome-only, no brakes or gears
- Frameset-only purchase: wheels, cranket options, cog and chainring add a lot on top
- Zero everyday utility — not a road, commuter or trainer bike; needs a track and licence to use
Generations
L96 (2008-2015 era)
- Beijing 2008 & London 2012 cycle; based on the 496/596 lineage
- Frame
- HM carbon
R96 (2016-2019)
- Rio 2016 — most-used track bike at the Games; later R96 Speed EVO refresh
- Frame
- 100% HM carbon, ~150g lighter, redesigned seatmast
T20 (2020-present)
- Tokyo 2020 onward; a bike length quicker over 200m vs R96
- Frame
- Mitsubishi very-high-modulus carbon, ~800g lighter than R96, +27% power transfer, -11% CdA
Versions & builds
Every official build side by side — differences highlighted.
| Spec | L96 | R96 Speed (Rio) | R96 Speed EVO | CurrentT20 Speed | CurrentT20 TT (time trial) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | 2010 | 2016 | 2020 | 2020 | 2020 |
| Frame | HM carbon, Nevers | 100% HM carbon, ~150g lighter than L96 | HM carbon EVO update | Mitsubishi very-high-modulus carbon, ~800g lighter than R96 | Mitsubishi VHM carbon, AeroFlat TT bar |
| MSRP | — | — | €7,500 | €6,999 | €7,499 |
| Purpose | Value | Balanced | Balanced | Flagship | Flagship |
Tags
Where to buy LOOK Track (L96 / R96 / T20) in Lithuania
Local shops and marketplaces in your country.
These are searches on third-party sites — URBALT is not affiliated with them and does not sell directly.
Want one?
Find this bike on the marketplace, or compare notes with riders already on one.