Yeah, the air sprung Sektor or RVL are so stinkin light!. I figure if I'm riding a hardtail...it may as well be 24# instead of 29.75, lol. I could hit that with the 456c and a Sektor. The Titus FTMc is on sale right now for 699£. Wish I had the coin.
My PIKE is a 2008. It's still going strong, but it's over 5lbs. Portly for a trail bike. My hardtail frame weighs a shade over 5# too. The 456C would drop 2 lbs. A Sektor would drop between 1.5-2. Thought about keeping ust in the rear and standard 2.35 up front. There's another .75#.
The nice thing about my current build is that it's definitely tough. I'm still totally digging tubeless.
It's kinda funny looking at my bike on paper:
Kinesis frame-5.1#
Pike-5.25
Hope pro 2/EX5.1d-2000g
Excavator 2.35" DTC UST 2000g
Atlas crankset-950g
Azonic AM 720 hi rise bars- 320g
The only weight-conscious crap is my saddle, post, 1x9 setup, and pedals.
Changes R coming.
I've been watching OEM Hecklers and Blur LTs on the Bay. Haven't Been able to bite one yet. I'm beginning to think I'd like the FTM much better though, given the longer ETT.
Well, frame and fork are the obvious measures. US disto shows the frame for $399, but no idea on stock status - keep an eye on their site, and whenever they get stock, pounce on one. Ha ha.
Everything else just depends on the pockets, and personal preferences. Size, as well. I'm a little dude, who tends to ride smoothly. Can get away with much lighter builds than some of the guys i know, who ride like bowling balls.
Wheels - whenever you blow up a rim, replace with something lighter. Some of the new stuff out there is absurdly light and tough. A nice build with good spokes and nips on a lighter rim will work wonders.
Tires - damn, those are heavy. Yep, I'm a huge fan of full UST in back, "tubeless ready" up front. Can save quite a bit, and still be quite durable.
Current fav is Speci Ground Control 2.3 UST in back with a Bontrager XR4 "T-less ready" 2.35 up front. Grippy, fairly light, nice fat profile, not too slow rolling. Big bike is running the same Bonty tire up front, but a 2.25 Ardent UST in back.
Cranks - unless you've found yourself breaking or bending them, something like a basic LX unit will save a big chunk of weight (esp. if using a lighter aftermarket ring), and be super cheap. The weight between that and say, an XT is minimal when yhou account for that most of the difference is steel rings and hardware vs. alu - the arms are within a few grams.
Bars - well, whatever works for your fit and feel. Just swapped to a RF SixC DH bar and dropped 100gms. I've no worries about its durability.