rustjunkie

Would be interesting to compare weight of frames: aluminum to steel.
Just weighed a steel frame and trussrod fork, similar to that of the bike shown below, ~12.5lbs.
This bike gets on ~20mile rides fairly often, not just "cruising":
1950s Monark "Special Cruiser" (middle-weight) frame and original Monark spring fork.
Bike weighs 34lbs on the nose as you see it. Doesn't sound light but it's ~1/2 of stock
Rims are 36h Campagnolo Mirox, Sachs 2spd Duomatic, cartridge front, DT 15g, alloy nipples, Continental Top Touring 2000 tires.
Weight savings over stock wheels/tires is nearly 6lbs, with the addition of a second gear

Bikeman48088

AutoBike Voyage, electronic-controlled automatic-shifting NuVinci N360 CVT, fenders, etc., weighs in at 34-35 pounds and has Bluetooth capabilities that let you set cadence, track distance and monitor speed,cadence, calories burned, etc., from your Smartphone.

Lovespicyfood

This is my Walmart Kent Del Rio. $129.99. Weighed in at 34 pounds stock. Of course the rack and basket added weight but needed them as this is my grocery runner.

Pete

FarHorizon

I'd like to convert my Electra Townie to a lighter weight cruiser. The bike is already fairly light (aluminum frame) except for the wheel-set & tires. I see that I can get 1.25" x 26 tires. Would these fit the Townie's stock (wide) clincher rims, or would I need narrower rims? The other part of the bike that really weighs it down is the seat. Who makes an ultra-light cruiser seat?

Thanks - FH

SquidPuppet

Lots of people go beyond these recommendations though.

European Tire and Rim Technical Organization Standards Manual - 2007 [TABLE]
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[TD]Rim width
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[TD="width: 34"][/TD]
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FarHorizon

Thanks for the chart, @SquidPuppet, I can convert to English units for use with 26" rims. Of course, pressure plays into that too (and isn't given on the chart). With lower pressure, you can go to wider tires per rim. My issue, though, won't be having a wide tire on a narrow rim, but vice versa...

The narrowest tires I can find for 26" rims are 1.25" or roughly 32mm

The rim I'm considering is listed as a 26" 42mm. I'm presuming that the 42mm is the outer width of the rim, not the bead-to-bead inner width? The seller mentions that the rim is "about ½" wide" which would be 13mm. Assuming that this measurement makes this a 13c rim (?), then the 32mm tires are two steps beyond the chart values above.

This somehow seems unlikely since the seller recommends up to 2.125" (54mm) for the rim! Either the seller is recommending a dangerous combination, or the low tire pressures anticipated will make the chart above moot.

I suspect the latter, but would welcome input.

OTOH, the rim seller may be an idiot... It seems highly unlikely that a 42mm OD rim would have only 13mm of bead-to-bead width! If 42mm IS actually the outer width of the rim, the inner width should be (I'm guessing) at least 30mm. If that's the case, then the 54mm tire rec makes sense. If that's actually the case, then are my 32mm tires going to work with a 30mm rim?

Thanks - FH

SquidPuppet

Tire pressure and the chart have anything to do with each other. A tire is an appropriate size/fit for a rim, or it isn't. The pressure has nothing to do with it.

Have the seller MEASURE that rim before you buy it. The chart lists inner width. There is usually about 4-5mm difference between inner and outer width. If it is 42mm outer, it's way to big for a 32 mm tire. Think about what that would look like. A 32mm tire on a 37 mm rim. As soon as you lean over you'd be grinding rim on the ground.

FarHorizon

Having read Sheldon Brown's comments on tire sizing, I find the subject clear as mud. I will ask the rim vendor for clarification prior to purchase. The rule on Sheldon's site says tire width should be at least 1.45 x inner rim width.

SquidPuppet

That is a good rule of thumb. I'm building a bike right now with 27mm inner width rims (32 outer) and I am running 45mm tires. 27 x 1.45 = 39.15, so I am a bit chubbier on tire. I think Sheldon recommended a range of 1.45 to 2 times inner width. So I could easily go to a 50mm tire, and even a smidge more.

I wouldn't look to the rim vendor for tire advice, I'd stick to the advice of the tire makers or Sheldon.

FarHorizon

I won't ask the rim vendor for tire sizing advice, I only will ask him for the bead-width measurement on the rims he's selling. Once I know that, I can calculate the tire size myself.

But I must ask before purchase, because if the OD of the rim is truly 45mm, then the rim will NOT work with the 32mm tires I want to use.

HBCruiser1

Wow saddleup, 23.5 lbs. Where do you get these KHS's, they are beautiful!

HBCruiser1

What suggestions on lighter rims and tires? Agreed on the bearings being properly lubed and adjusted, makes a huge difference.

rustjunkie

I like 28 spoke Mavic or Campagnolo rims spoked into a good coaster or Sachs 2spd with a cartridge bearing up front. Continental or Schwalbe for tires suits me.

Saddle Up

Thanks, the KHS is a rare bike. It was built for the Japanese market. I bought this one in Canada when I worked in the industry. The distributor brought 8 of them into the country. They were never inported into the US. Oddly enough the chainstay protector says KHS USA. Only came in one size, good thing I'm the size of an average Japanese man, haha.

This one is a keeper. Latest build.


No Fat Cruiser by SaddleUpBike, on Flickr

HBCruiser1

Yea I saw you post this a few months ago somewhere, promptly started looking it up and it seemed weird most of the sites were Asian so I thought I was doing something wrong. Man I'd love to get a hold of one of these, I'd ride it to the moon and back. Thanks for sharing.

Lastplace29er

3G Newport Deluxe, all alloy except handlebars and seat post which will be swapped out before spring.

mconlonx

For comfort and flat protection's sake, I prefer 1.5" tires on 26 in wheels... Panaracer T-Serv folding bead is fairly light, with decent but not stellar flat protection.

fietsbob

Remember : Nothing weighs less than a Part not installed ..

FarHorizon

So let's make it harder - My neighbor wants me to find him a lightweight cruiser for less than $200 (new OR used). He wants both the aluminum frame AND aluminum rims. He further wants as many components as possible to be aluminum rather than steel (seat post, stem, bars, crank, etc.).

The used bike market here isn't full of such bikes, and the shipping alone on an eBay purchase would exceed the budget.

I'm thinking a Wally-World, coaster-brake special for $150 ($165 after tax) and then use the remaining budget to make selective upgrades?

Open to ideas here...

Thanks - FH

rhenning

I have a Walmart OP (Ocean Pacific) Roller cruiser I just bought for $67 close out which comes with aluminum frame, 3 piece crankset and aluiminum rims. It is 24.5 pounds in basically stock condition. The original seat is off and replaced with a Walmart leather like cruiser seat and fake leather grips. If he can find one that would be a good start. Roger

Lastplace29er

Check this out Priority Bike, belt drive, alloy frame & Nexus 3 speed hub.

https://www.prioritybicycles.com/

rhenning

Farhorizon I forgot to add many times the steel seat posts in bikes like my roller are lighter than a similar aluminum post. I had an aluminum post and thought about changing it but it was a bit shorter and still heaver than the stock steal post on the bike. Roger

plumberroy

I know this is dragging up an old thread . My Electra loft 1 steel framed bike is only 29 lbs with stock parts

DonovanBikes

checkout FG Cruiser - Loco Fixie ? Loco Cycles! they makes these extremely light twenty seven-pound cruiser/fixie hybrids. I mash on mine since they are so lightweight, extremely cool.

banana rat

I have a Wally World Kent La Jolla. Don't know the actual weight but it's pretty lightweight.