How to lighten up my 34 lb FS MTB
 

Just purchased a new '07 Cannondale Prophet 6. I called Cannondale today and asked about the specifics of the bike. I was told the frame weighs 5.3lbs and the whole bike weighs 34lbs. The frame is made out of 6061 T6 aluminum. I paid $1,300 including shipping, tax, and assembly. How do I go about making this bike lighter? I'm looking at a 17-22lb bike, is my best bet to sell it since it's new or replace parts on this one? I have a $1000 budget, and will have $2300 total if I sell the bike. I'm looking for a full suspension set up, not for hard core mountain biking but I love the full suspension set up. Thanks in advance for your help.

If you are looking for a lightweight fs bike from cannondale you should have looked at the rush. For about $2500 you can get the Rush 3 or 3z which is under 30lbs.

You would need to at least double your budget to get a FS bike in the weight range you want.

ok, so where can I look to drop some weight? Where does the excess 29lbs come in?

To get a 17-22lb full suspension, you should be ready to spend A LOT of money...and that'll be just to get it close to 22lbs...not even into your range.

Does your new bike even feel heavy or are you just worried about numbers?

Wheels and a superlight fork.
Tires perhaps, crankset especially, and deciding whether or not to add carbon fiber components.

No, it doesn't feel heavy but 34lbs, it seems like alot, I know not all aluminum is the same grade and Cannondales are a bit overpriced but a a bike 10 times less expensive weighs the same.

Pedaling that thing around will easily help you drop the 10 lbs. OH, you mean the bike. I think a bike that lite is about double what you have allocated ($5k?).

Dude, 17-22 lb FS bike? And you're trying to do it for less than $2500 total?

Not unless you steal something.

But there's no reason you couldn't upgrade wheels, change out everything possible for carbon fiber (i.e. bars, seatpost, saddle, etc), fork, etc. for the remainder of your $1000 budget (although the fork/wheels will take care of that pretty quickly if you want lightness), and shave 2-6lbs depending on what kind of deals you got.

And where can you find a $130 FS bike that weighs 34 lbs? If you're thinking Wal-Mart, try 44-54lbs for one of those iron turds. The HTs weigh in around 35-40, and they are all small-medium framed.

A FS bike at 34lbs isn't anything to worry about. My HT is 32 lbs, loaded, and I can climb just fine with it. You just need a bigger motor :P

Wheels, tires, seat, seatpost, casette, stem, handlebars. Start there.

lighter bike
 

I recommend helium in the tires and possibly the frame.

Thanks guys (and possibly gals) for your help and advice, I didn't know the "Kmart" specials weighed that much and FS MTN bikes were in my bikes weight range. I'll start looking into the "Wheels, tires, seat, seatpost, casette, stem, handlebar" any advice on where to start looking, online?
Thanks

You could go single speed.

I would be happy to get that thing around 26-28 pounds...that would be respectable...I wouldnt worry too much about it unless you plan on doing some hardcore racing.
feel your bike out...ride it and you will see what you want to change.

cranks and forks are probably the best place to start...changing my cranks dropped alot of weight...the one side of my stock crankset with the chainring on it weighed more than my entire new one with the pedals on it. and my stock manipoo steel slush pump of a fork weighed almost double what my reba weighs.

pls log in to weightweenies@starbike.com,im sure your queeries will be answered.

you could just take off the wheels, i bet those weigh quite a bit...oh and the fork also, that's going to be quite a few pounds

How about building a XC full suspension bike? My understanding is that theses aren't meant for serious off roading, which I won't be doing, I'll be doing street riding but want something with a full suspension.

you could try drilling "speed holes" in everything...

??? You want F/S for the street, and you're being a weight-weenie?

Hopeless. Get a cyclocross bike with the little rubbery/bouncy widgets in the forks and seatstays. Pretty sure they're really light.

drddoom, they make bikes for street riding, they are called road bikes and most of them come in the 18-22 pound range.

You really need to spend some time examining your priorities.

I hate to tell you this, but it's probably going to be cheaper to buy a whole new lighter bike that is already at your desired weight than to replace everything on your bike with very light parts to meet your weight goals.

As far as riding on the street, leave it as is and change your tires out for some 2.0 slicks. You'll feel more of a benefit and it'll be a lot cheaper than replacing everything else on the bike.

Again, I hate to say it but you really should have done more research before you spent $1,300 on a bike that doesn't suit your needs.

I would suggest that you cancel your C'dale order & figure out exactly what it is you want before ordering anything else.

Silly.

Ride the bike, and enjoy it.

If you were racing, you'd probably wouldn't have to ask.

What do you expect to gain for even 5 lbs difference?

Ride. Enjoy the bike. Your body will adjust.

"Ride the bike, and enjoy it.

If you were racing, you'd probably wouldn't have to ask.

What do you expect to gain for even 5 lbs difference?

Ride. Enjoy the bike. Your body will adjust"

Best advice so far, thanks.