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Light Weight HT - Suggestions??

Old 05-24-06, 05:29 PM
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Light Weight HT - Suggestions?? - No Front Suspension

I just sold my Marin Wildcat Trail, which is heavey at 30 lbs, but a nice bike. Enjoyed it a lot.

Now I want as light a weight HT as I can afford and don't know if I even want a front suspension, when a fork might do me just as well. A cross country rider with little single track and very, very little DH.

So, what do you guys suggest?

Last edited by fthomas; 05-25-06 at 05:16 PM.
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Old 05-24-06, 05:38 PM
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I'd get a Yeti ARC . A medium sized frame weighs 3.45 pounds , and it's as durable as you would want a cross-country racing frame to be .
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Old 05-24-06, 07:00 PM
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What is your budget?
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Old 05-25-06, 04:47 PM
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Originally Posted by LowCel
What is your budget?
Right now the budget is quite limited. I am considering building a bike up without a front suspension.
Alloy frame + Fork - Various Material - Steel or Alloy availiable from $ 50 to 160.00

I really want something lite, but can not afford the TREK 8000/8500 or a Carbon bike already built. The Specialized M5 HT a buddy of mine has is just beautiful, but way out of my price range.

Again, mainly trail riding with very little DH or Single Track. Canti's are fine with me.

Now that I'm thinking about it an older Cannondale M??? would be great. Maybe just upgrade wheels and some components.

Thoughts?
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Old 05-25-06, 05:25 PM
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I hate to say it but I sincerely doubt you are going to get anything "light" in that price range. Most lightweight frames start around $800 - $1,000. You might find a decent used one around $400 or so though. I think you will be better off not looking for a light bike. Light and dh don't mix real well anyway. If you do find something light in your price range I would be afraid to ride it.

Light - Cheap - Dependable ...... Pick any two.
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Old 05-25-06, 05:26 PM
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You might be able to find a cardboard cut out for that price.
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Old 05-25-06, 05:45 PM
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i ride a kinesis maxlight

retail around £225 ($400?) its a superb frame, for that money, its an amazing frame! i love it to bits, mine currently weighs in at about 25lbs built light, but strong enough for agressive trail riding.

only downside is that you may have problems getting your hands on one in the states...
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Old 05-25-06, 06:16 PM
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Originally Posted by KonaRider24
You might be able to find a cardboard cut out for that price.
Come on guys! I am seriously looking for some input and discussion. Ned Overend and many others were riding bikes with no front suspension and doing it quite well. An inexpensive alloy frame can be had from Peformance for $ 169 and even less on Ebay. Do a search for steel and alloy forks with or without disk mounts (Surly anybody) between $50 to 160.00 ($250 and up for carbon).

I wouldn't mind having a Cannondale M400 or building up something like it. Not cheap or dangerous!

SO - I'll avoid the cardboard. I'm not good with a sharp object.

I'll again ask for serious input and discussion. Please!
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Old 05-25-06, 11:49 PM
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No suggestions from a group of world class MTB rider?
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Old 05-25-06, 11:50 PM
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No suggestions from a group of world class MTB riders?
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Old 05-26-06, 12:05 AM
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Don't know what you consider light weight but I got an Access XCL that I built up as a full rigid and with a weight under 20lbs. My frame (small) weighed in at 3.4 lbs

https://www.performancebike.com/shop/...tegory_ID=3020
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Old 05-26-06, 12:08 AM
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I thought my steelhead was light at 34lbs .
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Old 05-26-06, 02:42 AM
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30lbs is light to me ^^ I shall never enter into the weight weenie world as they call it.

I think the first light bike jumping up the tiers of specialized would be the stumpjumper, since its a highly sold bike if you save now you can probably grab an 06 come here soon on sale when the 07's come out thats my best advice.


ha! was trying to find the stock weight of the stumpjumper for you and I came across this:
https://weightweenies.starbike.com/articles.php?ID=7

its definitly not stock but this guy has his stumpy under 19lbs!

when I curl more than 30lbs with one hand in the gym, I dont mind my bike weight that much

Last edited by 古強者死神; 05-26-06 at 02:52 AM.
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Old 05-26-06, 03:22 AM
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Originally Posted by 古強者死神
https://weightweenies.starbike.com/articles.php?ID=7

its definitly not stock but this guy has his stumpy under 19lbs!
Actually that unit conversion is not correct. 9520 grams is 21 pounds (not 18.686). Still very light though
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Old 05-26-06, 03:29 AM
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if you want to shed some weight and save some $$$ you can always go SS... cut out that cassette, 2 chainrings, 2 derailers, cables, housing, shifters

but it's not for everyone...
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Old 05-26-06, 03:30 AM
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I almost think I should hold out till the 07's come in and grab a Tass instead of the Piranha, or maybe even a Cobia, but I am getting to impatiant and there is no guarentee what bikes they will have or how big the discount will be.

Anybody know what a Piranha weighs probably about 35lbs?
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Old 05-26-06, 04:47 AM
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One of my friend has Felt and the bike is dam light.
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Old 05-26-06, 04:49 AM
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Originally Posted by 古強者死神
Anybody know what a Piranha weighs probably about 35lbs?
Most bike shops that I have been in have a scale that you can hang your bike from , if you ask the employees . Berkley makes an fairly accurate scale that is available in most Wal-Marts in the fishing tackle dept .
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Old 05-26-06, 04:57 AM
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Originally Posted by wearyourtruth
if you want to shed some weight and save some $$$ you can always go SS... cut out that cassette, 2 chainrings, 2 derailers, cables, housing, shifters

but it's not for everyone...
I love when somebody mentions this as an option . A singlespeed bike is somewhat like trying to put the genie back into the bottle . JMO . That being said , I still want to build one out of that pile of spare parts I have .
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Old 05-26-06, 10:30 AM
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Thank you guys for your input and the discussion. I'm not a weight weenie per say, but got to thinking / wondering what a bike with no suspension at all would be like for trail riding. I also have a touring bike with racks for touring and commuting and it is not light by any standard, but comfortable and functional.

Thanks again for the input!!!!!!!
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Old 05-26-06, 12:56 PM
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Originally Posted by BoSoxYacht
I love when somebody mentions this as an option . A singlespeed bike is somewhat like trying to put the genie back into the bottle . JMO . That being said , I still want to build one out of that pile of spare parts I have .
how many stories have been told where the guy who let the genie out of the bottle got screwed somehow because of his own greed? i don't need no stinkin genie!
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Old 05-26-06, 01:01 PM
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i rode a fully dressed Felt hardtail, felt very nice and also was very light, probably above your price range though
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Old 05-26-06, 01:04 PM
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of course there's always


mind you it IS full suspension, but that sucker is light. It's actually relatively cheap, just a thought
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Old 05-26-06, 01:05 PM
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So what exactly is your idea of "a lightweight hardtail"? Your definintion and mine may be completely different.
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Old 05-26-06, 01:11 PM
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Originally Posted by fthomas
Thank you guys for your input and the discussion. I'm not a weight weenie per say, but got to thinking / wondering what a bike with no suspension at all would be like for trail riding.
A rigid bike is fine on the trails....just depends on what your trails are like. You just have to pick your lines better and you can't carry as much speed over rough stuff as you can on a bike with travel.

You still haven't said what you are looking to spend. Building a bike is generally more expensive unless you have spare stuff lying around, really want to wait for deals on eBay/local classifieds, or put lower end components on it.
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