Mountain Biking - Lightweight?

What would be considered "lightweight" for a mountain bike?

Also, what do you guys think about Reynolds 631?

What would be considered "lightweight" for a mountain bike?

Also, what do you guys think about Reynolds 631?

Are you talking about frame materials? Or other components? Or general weight?

I'm talking about overall weight. I'm looking at one that weighs in at around 24-25 pounds (my current bike weighs closer to 32). Most hardtails are pretty light...I think, so I assume most of the weight comes from the other parts.

What would be considered "lightweight" for a mountain bike?



For a cross country hardtail? Maybe 22 pounds.

What is considered "lightweight" also depends on the category of mountain bike -- XC, All-mountain, Trail, Freeride, Downhill, Trials....etc.

My own personal MTB skills are rather lightweight. Does that help?

22-24 is fairly light for an XC hardtail. Sub 22 is starting to get light and expensive. Sub 20 is starting to get exotic.

Full suspension . . . I am not sure. I think a 25 full suspension XC bike is fairly light.

google "weight weenies" if you want to know light.

Anything without lbd's is lightweight in my book.

If we're talking xc, lightweight is under 22lbs or so. My race bike comes in a little under 20.

22-24 is fairly light for an XC hardtail. Sub 22 is starting to get light and expensive. Sub 20 is starting to get exotic.

Full suspension . . . I am not sure. I think a 25 full suspension XC bike is fairly light.

Agreed. You can certainly do better than 25 for FS but it'll cost you too.

24 pounds is fairly light for one with a 631 frame...

My new Fly Ti hard tail is 21 lbs complete with cages, heavier tires (Conti Explorer 2.1"), computer and pedals. Lightest hard tail I've ever had.

My new Fly Ti hard tail is 21 lbs complete with cages, heavier tires (Conti Explorer 2.1"), computer and pedals. Lightest hard tail I've ever had.

For future reference, we weigh our bikes with pedals(crazy.. I know), but most of us don't use cages or computers.

For future reference, we weigh our bikes with pedals(crazy.. I know), but most of us don't use cages or computers.

I use one cage, since I hate carrying Camelbacks and avoid it as often as possible. 5 pounds of water wreaks havoc on my little old back.

I use one cage, since I hate carrying Camelbacks and avoid it as often as possible. 5 pounds of water wreaks havoc on my little old back.

...at the ripe old age of 14 :p

I use one cage, since I hate carrying Camelbacks and avoid it as often as possible. 5 pounds of water wreaks havoc on my little old back.

haha i carry like 12 pounds of water in and use almost all of it for a 15 mile ride.

i might just strap a 5 gal industrial bucket to my back with a hose leading out of it, then slap some camelbak decals onto the side.

This might help with the 5 gals:

http://media.rei.com/media/a/1531528.jpg

haha i carry like 12 pounds of water in and use almost all of it for a 15 mile ride.

where do you find room for five and a half litres?

I hate carrying Camelbacks

Me too, thats why I use a hydrapak.

haha i carry like 12 pounds of water in and use almost all of it for a 15 mile ride.

i might just strap a 5 gal industrial bucket to my back with a hose leading out of it, then slap some camelbak decals onto the side.

If you are drinking over a gallon of water for a 15 mile ride you are mostly certainly overhydrating. Which can be very bad. Well, this is assuming 15 miles is less than 2 hours in length.

...at the ripe old age of 14 :p

:p

I have back and joint pain. I may have the mind of a fourteen year-old, but I might as well join 66.



:D I'm jay-playin'.

My new Fly Ti hard tail is 21 lbs complete with cages, heavier tires (Conti Explorer 2.1"), computer and pedals. Lightest hard tail I've ever had.

Coming from a 32lb dually, I feel like my 26lbs hardtail is a featherweight.

Mine doesn't have any of that schmancy computer crap or cages. (mine has balls though, hahahaha)

haha i carry like 12 pounds of water in and use almost all of it for a 15 mile ride.

i might just strap a 5 gal industrial bucket to my back with a hose leading out of it, then slap some camelbak decals onto the side.

Still waiting for that pick elfy boy.

By the way, when is Elf going to show us that eight foto drop?

For future reference, we weigh our bikes with pedals(crazy.. I know), but most of us don't use cages or computers.

For future reference, bicycle industry weight figures are routinely quoted by manufacturers without pedals. MTB or road bicycles.

For future reference, bicycle industry weight figures are routinely quoted by manufacturers without pedals. MTB or road bicycles.

First, please post some examples.

Second, when I said we, I meant mountain bikers, not manufacturers.

First, please post some examples.

Second, when I said we, I meant mountain bikers, not manufacturers.

You MTB dudes do smoke a lot of weed. Find your own examples knobby boy. Pcad has better BFers to snipe with than you.

You make an awful lot of bad assumptions.

You make an awful lot of bad assumptions.

I'll be the judge of that.

I'll be the judge of that.

You have to earn your clout here, PCad. :p

I'll be the judge of that.

Another bad assumption.

Pcad has better BFers to snipe with than you.

Another 3rd person reference...I AM gonna start calling you "Jimmy".

(and quit being such a dork)
I mean that in the best way possible;)

Typically higher end bikes do not come with pedals, so the maker is not going to quote weights with pedals.

I looked at Specialized's website - they quote weights for their pedals but not for complete bikes.

What gives?

Almost every maker is out of the weight reporting game. It is a no win situation for them so they all stopped.
#1 some were less than accurate. As in they lied.
#2 many were less than fully accurate . . . as in they use a smaller sized bike or maybe a slight tweak in parts
#3 there always will be variances. If they report it, they might get litigation if they do not meet it

I looked at Specialized's website - they quote weights for their pedals but not for complete bikes.

What gives?

Thats the weight you have to add to the "higher end bikes" weight that was measured without pedals.

Where to find these manufacturer claimed weights for complete mountain bikes without pedals is still a mystery though.

My Razorback was 26lbs, and it was very light at the time (2000). Of course the frame broke :).

Thats the weight you have to add to the "higher end bikes" weight that was measured without pedals.

Where to find these manufacturer claimed weights for complete mountain bikes without pedals is still a mystery though.

I guess I am not following your post. He was saying specialized does not give weights for bikes. With or without pedals. Most makers are this way these days.

As part of this thread and looking around, I am surprised that many decent MTB come with pedals. Why is this? Road bikes do not as I recall. This is so that you can put the pedals you want on it. Is it that so many MTB'ers ride and SPD variant that they come with them?

I think it's a safety issue. Bikes intended for road use are supposed to have reflectors on the pedals.
Selling with no pedals might be a way around this for the manufactorers.

I strongly believe a bike over $1500 should NOT include pedals. At that point most buyers are going to ride clipless and they have their own preference. There are many options, so you cannot please everyone. As such, I do not want to pay for pedals that I will not use.

Where to find these manufacturer claimed weights for complete mountain bikes without pedals is still a mystery though.

I've seen weights for complete bikes both with and without pedals. For an example of bikes without pedals, you can check out the Santa Cruz bike builder. It has the weight of each bike with the various options and none of the build kits are supplied with pedals (even though they are pictured).

If you are drinking over a gallon of water for a 15 mile ride you are mostly certainly overhydrating. Which can be very bad. Well, this is assuming 15 miles is less than 2 hours in length.

Im just messin, but i do drink down a 3 liter/ 100 oz pack on a 15-18 mile ride and its always under 2 hours, my friends on their 20lb carbons make sure of that :(. I drink a sip here and there, whenever i feel my mouth getting dry, im a runner so i know my drinking limit fairly well.