Most frames (my understanding anyway) is that they are built for a ride weight of 220 pounds as is most normal (not racing) wheels. Touring frames are generally built for about 300 and Tandems around 500. But wheels are the biggest concern, and if your a big guy then look into nothing less then 36 spoke rims or 48 if your really large. If you look at a Tandem wheel you'll see that they have at least 42 spokes.

I'm not sure if those weight numbers are accurate, but remember figures similar to those when a friend of mine that weighed 280 (6' 4" all muscle) guy said that some LBS told him; so I'm relating this to you at least 3rd hand; but I have read similar numbers in this and other forums. I do know he broke a Vitus AL frame after only 8 months then bought a Klein AL and broke 3 of those in a 7 year period, then bought a Cannondale AL and broke 2 of those in 3 years. Now he uses nothing but steel and has a 6 year old Gios he rides mostly and a 2 year old Rivendell that he tours on (with an additional 60 pounds of camping stuff) and these frames have not broken...yet!

Good day,

I read in a cycling book when I was young (around 1980) that a ten speed wheel could support just over 1000lb before starting to collapse. I have spent time in the Philippines and there are some people who load their bicycle/trucks with somewhere around 700lbs or more over the two back wheels. It took a couple of people to push them up an incline. The wheels were old chrome style touring wheels with whatever tire they could find. They worked. The weight/hub is essentially hung from the top of the rim. The tensile strength of a single spoke must be at least 300lb (I am just guessing). They can take amazing loads and shock loads without collapsing. I am around 200lb and have been riding an old school 12 speed with old aluminum rims since about 1988 and it has seen a few good shocks over the years. Other than a couple of broken spokes and an occasional truing, it has done well. They are amazing little marvels of engineering.

This looks like a rather old topic.
I think Columbus and Reynolds used to rate their tubing for rider weights with their high performance tubes for lighter riders.

Here is a list of wheels and weight limits.

As far as utility bikes... they can support a lot of well built. But they also aren't made using paper thin carbon fiber tubes, and wheels are built for the job at hand.

I have no doubt the rear tire on my cargo bike would carry as much weight as I could support the bike upright with. However, I'm not sure about the axle, or perhaps other components on the bike.

the Way Cargo Bikes are built are different than road Bikes .. want to haul stuff? get the right tool.

When I was 390 plus pounds, I rode a Huffy 7 speed cruiser. As I got comfortable and started hopping curbs like when I was a kid, I started popping spokes. I went to the swap meet and brought a set of 36 spoke aluminum wheels. They served me well until I got down to about 240. Then I brought a steel hybrid (old Cannondale H400). Now I'm back to 260 and ride a Fuji Absolute 3.0. It has 32 spoke wheels off a Fuji road bike (bike fell off the car).

When I rode the Huffy, everything was replaced except the frame, handlebars, and saddle. The bike seems to fall apart. I do not know if it was because it was a Huffy or because of my weight. I never had a problem with the Cannondale but it was too big for me. So far none of the components on the Fuji have failed (about 3000 plus miles).
If I were at 390 again, I would not hesitate to ride the steel hybrid. I feel the components were sound and will hold up. At 240, I would ride anything with 32 or more spokes.

My aluminum frame bike and 35 spokes wheels (removed one spoke for my monster security chain) have handled over 500lbs (weighed a few times on a scale) for 5 years monthly (each time i go to the grocery) just fine even on bumpy roads and is still going strong.

As long as you stay away from the very light frames and low spoke count wheels, catastrophic failures of brand name bikes due to weight are uncommon. I've seen guys way north of 300# on all sorts of bikes. I'm personally a fan of steel frames and at least 32 spokes, for reasons beyond just strength, but there are riders much heavier than I riding aluminum, titanium and CF with no problems.

Modern, mid-range to high end steel frames are surprisingly light, not CF light, but far lighter than a 20 year old, hi-ten, straight gauge frame.

I have heard of low-end off brand cranks being broken by heavy riders, but I've had a Shimano Acera crankset on one of my early bikes with no problem whatsoever and I weighed 280# at the time.