Originally Posted by
martianone
IMO, 30 lb is not really that heavy.
My Trek 520 tips the scale at 29 lb.
Without a lot of crazy part shuffling-
get a lighter fork- a steel fork.
Try some Schwalbe Supreme tires- in 50x559 size they are light
and will give you the shock absorbency for commuting.
OR
with the $900 in your projections build up a new bike-
like a CrossCheck.
Just to stir the waters a little, 30 lb for any bike is heavy! Even my dual suspension mountain bike doesn't weigh 30 lb! My touring bike, with racks, only goes 27 lb about the same as the dually.
However, taking a tank and turning it into a gazelle is a fool's errand. Better to start fresh.