For a beginning rider, why is bike weight SO important? If we are all honest with ourselves (well, maybe most of us), even some of the more experienced of us, our search for the light weight super bikes and hopes of any perfromance advantage based upon that alone is a pipe dream and a stupid waste of money. As for being "competetive," the OP never said anything about competition. I was answering the post based upon his concerns, not on everyone's perceptions.