How much does that frame weigh?
05-05-26 | 03:43 AM
#26
The Emonda SLR RSL rim frameset weighs 640g. Specs here:
Émonda SLR RSL Frameset - Trek Bikes (CA)
The disc equivalent is 665 g, but the disc fork, because it has to overcome forces at the ends of the blades instead of at the rim brake crown, it has to be considerably bulked up. The relative fork weights are harder to find on the Trek website, for a reason.
Of course, this bulking-up renders the disc brake fork less flexible and less compliant. Perhaps one reason for the irrationally fat tires (>28) being spec'd for road bikes. Because the disc-specific fork absorbs less road buzz, the tires are forced into this role. Plus we all getting fatter.
Émonda SLR RSL Frameset - Trek Bikes (CA)
The disc equivalent is 665 g, but the disc fork, because it has to overcome forces at the ends of the blades instead of at the rim brake crown, it has to be considerably bulked up. The relative fork weights are harder to find on the Trek website, for a reason.
Of course, this bulking-up renders the disc brake fork less flexible and less compliant. Perhaps one reason for the irrationally fat tires (>28) being spec'd for road bikes. Because the disc-specific fork absorbs less road buzz, the tires are forced into this role. Plus we all getting fatter.
Even if the difference between the disc and rim brake versions of the Emonda fork in front-to-back stiffness were as much as two-tenths of an inch (i.e., if the disc fork were perfectly stiff, which is obviously impossible), there is no way that would be perceptible to the rider, because the difference would be swamped by the much greater compliance of the tire.
Which is one of the major points Rinard makes regarding fork stiffness versus comfort in the text at the link.
Of course, confirmation bias can be worth at least two-tenths of an inch of measured deflection. Personally, I've never felt any difference in the "comfort" of any fork on any road bike I've owned or ridden that couldn't be accounted for by the tire's deflection or, at least as significantly, the bike's geometry, but maybe that's confirmation bias, too.
__________________
You are always the same age inside.---Gertrude Stein
My aluminum bikes: Light, strong, cheap, and comfy.
You are always the same age inside.---Gertrude Stein
My aluminum bikes: Light, strong, cheap, and comfy.
Last edited by Trakhak; 05-05-26 at 03:50 AM.
05-05-26 | 08:07 AM
#27
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2009
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Bikes: Colnago, Van Dessel, Factor, Cervelo, Ritchey
The Emonda SLR RSL rim frameset weighs 640g. Specs here:
Émonda SLR RSL Frameset - Trek Bikes (CA)
The disc equivalent is 665 g, but the disc fork, because it has to overcome forces at the ends of the blades instead of at the rim brake crown, it has to be considerably bulked up. The relative fork weights are harder to find on the Trek website, for a reason.
Of course, this bulking-up renders the disc brake fork less flexible and less compliant. Perhaps one reason for the irrationally fat tires (>28) being spec'd for road bikes. Because the disc-specific fork absorbs less road buzz, the tires are forced into this role. Plus we all getting fatter.
Émonda SLR RSL Frameset - Trek Bikes (CA)
The disc equivalent is 665 g, but the disc fork, because it has to overcome forces at the ends of the blades instead of at the rim brake crown, it has to be considerably bulked up. The relative fork weights are harder to find on the Trek website, for a reason.
Of course, this bulking-up renders the disc brake fork less flexible and less compliant. Perhaps one reason for the irrationally fat tires (>28) being spec'd for road bikes. Because the disc-specific fork absorbs less road buzz, the tires are forced into this role. Plus we all getting fatter.
05-05-26 | 09:10 AM
#28
A 56-cm 2021+ Trek Émonda SLR RSL rim brake frame (using 800 Series OCLV Carbon) has a claimed unpainted weight of approximately 698 grams. The previous generation (roughly 2018–2020) SLR rim brake frames typically weighed under 700 grams (often cited around 640–665g, depending on paint/specs), making them some of the lightest produced.
__________________
You are always the same age inside.---Gertrude Stein
My aluminum bikes: Light, strong, cheap, and comfy.
You are always the same age inside.---Gertrude Stein
My aluminum bikes: Light, strong, cheap, and comfy.
05-08-26 | 11:56 AM
#29
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,228
Likes: 1,172
From: Saratoga calif.
Bikes: 2 ezip electric bikes, trek 800 antelope, nishiki international, 1948 schwin new world, phillippe french boutique bike
I weigh the frame and fork whenever I restore a bike. I have weighed all types and quality levels.
In general, high quality steel frames weigh from 4 to 4.5 lbs with larger frames weighing up to 5 lbs. The lightest steel frame I ever weighed was about 4 lb.
Average bike boom non cromo frames weigh about 6 lbs and bikes like the schwinn varsity weigh over 9 lbs (total weight 36.6 lb) .
The frame is only one part of the complete package and it is often possible to lighten the bike significantly by replacing heavy steel components with aluminum.
The above mentioned schwinn ended up at 32.6 pounds and could have lost another pound if I had replaced the ashtabula crank with an aluminum version.
In general, high quality steel frames weigh from 4 to 4.5 lbs with larger frames weighing up to 5 lbs. The lightest steel frame I ever weighed was about 4 lb.
Average bike boom non cromo frames weigh about 6 lbs and bikes like the schwinn varsity weigh over 9 lbs (total weight 36.6 lb) .
The frame is only one part of the complete package and it is often possible to lighten the bike significantly by replacing heavy steel components with aluminum.
The above mentioned schwinn ended up at 32.6 pounds and could have lost another pound if I had replaced the ashtabula crank with an aluminum version.
