Mountain Biking - Mtb, weight

I've realised that I love mtb! But I don't have money for a good bike. I'm trying to rebuild a old Merrida Dakar which I found in the woods (I've given it to the police but they didn't want it, too crappy) Now I've fixed the gears and fixed a suspension fork but I've started to wonder about how good this frame is.. The gears are altus (which I've understood is quite good?) but the frame is heavy as hell! It's like 20 kilo and now I wonder if that's how it is on a steel-mtb or should I get a new frame?

Could get a pic or more exakt numbers ( just guessed about the weight but it is like twice as heavy as my roadbikes)

Wow. 44 pounds. Really? That's not a bike, it's a boat anchor shaped like a bike (just kidding).
In the U.S. Shimano Altus is considered entry level stuff, not bad but not really good either.
One thing for sure - I wouldn't invest ANY (more) money in that frame. As to whether the parts are worth moving to another frame depends on the cost of the new frame and how many of the components will fit the new frame (it's unlikely that all of them will) - vs trying to find a cheap deal on another complete bike. It depends on what's available to you locally. And then there's ebay of course. Best of luck with it.

From wikipedia, different Shimano component levels -

Recreational mountain bikes component


Alivio (8 speed)
Acera (8 speed)
Altus (8 speed)
Tourney (7 speed) - Includes several different levels of quality, and can be found on department-store bicycles

Altus is one step above department-store. To be fair, some of the really cheap stuff they make doesn't even have names so it isn't listed.

And that's the list of "recreational" components, aka, stuff they put on "Mom and Pop" bikes. Here's the list of higher end stuff (XTR is top end).

Cross country component


XTR (9 speed) - Top of the range for cross-country mountain bikes
Deore XT (9 speed)
SLX (9 speed) New in 2008, replaces Hone and LX
Deore (9 speed) Entry level cross-country mountain bikes

Now certainly I'm not saying you shouldn't ride it or anything, it's up to you. But I would say that unless you find a better frame for free it's probably best to buy a frame with wheels and components already on it - would probably cost the same, but you'd get better stuff.

Humm, probably this bike will be a fixed-mtb instead :)
I've come across a slightly lighter bike, alu and some mid-endcomponents which I'll try to buy. (it's my friend's)

Humm, probably this bike will be a fixed-mtb instead :)
I've come across a slightly lighter bike, alu and some mid-endcomponents which I'll try to buy. (it's my friend's)

Out of curiosity, which components?

I'd definitely go for a lighter frame if it's really like 44 pounds - that's a beast!

The gears of the other was Altus in front and XTR rear... But wait! XTR was highend? Wtf?
Anyway, the Merida (the one I thought was 20 kilo) was 15 _kilo_ ... Well, atleast that means that my racerbike is easier than I thought :D