mebigwind

...Why are they seldom published? They used to be. It's one of the most important factors in making a choice. Not the only factor by far, but very useful to know. I'm going to be looking at a Trek 8.4 DS tomorrow and I can't find any weight info, anywhere. Anyone know what one weighs?


Tom

a1penguin

Actually weight isn't the most important factor in bike purchase unless you are a racer. Good components can make a bigger difference in ride quality than weight. Also, really heavy wheel rims would make a bike more difficult to get moving than if the weight were on the frame. Most hybrids will weigh somewhere in the mid 20 lbs. A suspension fork will add more weight.

MickeyMaguire

Trek has this disclaimer on their website:

[h=2]Why don't you list the weights of your bikes? Can you tell me the weight of a particular model?[/h] We know weight is an important factor in many bike buying decisions—and we know many of our competitors list bike weights. We choose not to, because listed weights are never 100% accurate for all sizes and spec options. Keep this in mind when looking on the internet for bike weights: you’re looking at a manufacturer’s best guess.

Many variables affect the weight of an individual bike: frame size, component spec, decals/color options, and acceptable variation within manufacturing tolerances of the hundreds parts that make up a bike. As a result, bike weights will vary, even among identical models, sizes, and spec. That inevitable variation means that any published weight may be heavier or lighter than the model you’re buying. The only accurate way to gauge weight is to weigh the bike at your retailer.

A general note on comparing by weight: anyone can make a bike lighter. Trek only sells bikes that are responsibly light, meaning all the components have passed strict impact and fatigue testing. We build our bikes to be safe and to last a long time, so be sure to compare company warranties when you are comparing weights.

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To me, it is an excuse. They should be able to give a fairly accurate range of weight with each bike size as factory built. If tolerances are close enough to be of consistent quality, then, nominal weights, much like nominal sizes in dimension lumber, should be accurate enough to publish.

giantcfr1

I'd imagine it's more important to ride the bike before worrying about the weight. You are going to the Trek shop so ask them why? Wouldn't they be the experts since they're their bikes? The forums are only going to give opinions not fact.

themishmosh

You can always do a good search. Usually the mag or user reviews will list the weight for a particular size frame.

This one says 30lbs or so for 17.5":
https://www.bikeforums.net/hybrid-bic...a-lengthy.html

DorkDisk

Manufacturing tolerances, different sizes, and competition between manufacturers (creative rounding) led to weights being unmentioned. They were never right anyways, just ballpark figures. Manufacturers were producing shorter seatposts, narrower bars to get lower published weights. Of course a 21" handlebar weighs less than a similar 24" one. Also tires were being marked with larger sizes than real (1.9s sold as 2.1s). Published bike weights were like car manufacturers´ MPG.

The computer industry kinda went through the same thing, but they handled it differently and now hard drive capacity is advertised as base 10 but the OS still measures the proper 1024 - leading to slight confusion.

BaseGuy

+1.

A big manufacturer makes thousands of each frame size. They could absolutely weigh each size. They publish discrete geometries and measures for each frame size, right? They absolutely could include weights.

Sure, I understand manufacturing tolerances (I am an engineer). They can publish that as well, for example, 26.5 lbs., +/- 0.5 pounds. That would be a huge tolerance, by the way. I'm sure TREK can beat that.

mulveyr 

Unless you're a categorized racer, I would bet that in a double-blind test on the road 95% of people would not be able to tell the difference between two bikes whose weight differed by five to ten pounds.

themishmosh

Disagree completely unless you are taking the same bike and strapping on 5-10lb. That excess weight in the real world means lesser components, heavy tires, etc. Anyone would definitely discern a 10lb difference.

I personally have two hybrids. Both are setup similarly. One is 8lbs heavier. It feels heavier. It is definitely slower. It is not as fun to ride. Weight is important, but to me, drivetrain/rims/tires weight is even more important.

mulveyr 

That's precisely my point--it's the geometry and components that make a difference, and not the weight. Case in point; on my Pelican all-rounder, when I have set of cross-style 32mm tires on it, it feels heavy and sluggish. A pair of 42mm slick tires on exactly the same terrain makes it feel fast and light, even though the weight differs by less than 3/4 of a pound.

SLazz

Weight makes a big difference. My bike feels much lighter and faster after a huge bowel movement.

Just kidding. I think a five to six pound weight difference between bikes cannot be felt, at least not by much. Most hybrids are pretty heavy anyway so, rather than worry about a few extra pounds, I place more emphasis on quality components. Trek makes great bikes so you really cannot lose with any of them.

Northwestrider

Weight is not very important to me, as to why it's not listed, there are many variables, pedals, saddles , are added or changed, stock tires change. What is the weight difference between a light or heavy frame ? IMO not all that much, it's what is added or changed that makes the overall difference.

yashinon

Trek's explanation on weight:

"We really don’t keep weights under wrap for any reason other than all bikes will weigh a little different and it would be a pretty big time consumer to weigh each bike. For instance, a 21’’ FX will weigh more than a small or medium frame in the same model. A FX in the US could also weigh more than an FX in the UK because of different part spec. In the end, if we said a 7.1 FX weighed 19 pounds, it wouldn’t be true for all models, in every size, all over the world. Because of that, we don’t really weigh our bikes. "

UMDJesse

Im also going to have to dispute this comment as well. Unless youre a catagorized racer....OR unless you live on the 4th floor with no elevator and have to carry it up on your back at the end of each ride. There are all kinds of reasons why weight might matter to some and not to others. It entirely subjective, and one persons reason for why its all important is just as valid as anothers' for why its irrelevant.

B2mac

It seems like it should be quite easy for the bike shop to weigh the bike immediately after assembly. In the long run this might save time so they don't have to take the bike off the floor and weigh it when the customer comes in and wants to know the weight.

JG1967

Most of the Trek DS models weigh in at around 30lbs. The weight will vary a little depending on the frame size of course.

practical

I really disagree with this. I would love to have weights published - even if it was within a range. I really don't want the bike shop to weigh the bikes as it seems like an inconvenience for them. Of course if I'm making a significant purchase and that's the difference make, then of course I would.

steve_cay

My 2013 Trek 8.4DS, 17.5" (matt white, since the Trek nonsense says colour affects weight) ...
29lbs

JG1967

Sounds about right. My 2012 Trek 8.5 DS 21 inch frame weighed in around 31 lbs if I remember correctly. With the mods I've done I got it to 25 lbs which is a decent amount of weight removed.

quicktrigger

HAHAHAHAHA!!!! Funny how so many tell you that 4-5 pounds don't matter in this thread, but will turn around and tell you that a half a pound to a pound is worth spending mucho money on in another thread.

IMHO, bike weights are not published because there are not large difference between them from one level of bike to the next "upgrade" By not publishing a total bike weight, or at least the weight of the frame, it is much easier for marketing to "muddy the water" to make you believe that $2K for that 3 pound lighter bike is a really good deal.

For the record, I am very cynical about marketing, especially when hard numbers are not produced to back up said claims. That is exactly the case for most of biking. Lots of claims and gimmicks with no real evidence to back those claims up.

QT

dynaryder

So I've noticed.

Here's something I want you to do. I want you to go to a distributor,and weigh every single tire they have of the same make/model/size. Guess what you'll see? That there is a variance in the weights;some will be a few grams higher,some lower. This is also true for many other components used on bikes;saddles,grips,even the frames since it's possible one could have a touch more weld or a bit more paint than another. So if you were to weigh every single 20" Trek FX 7.2,you'd find that some were a bit lighter than others. Combine this with the fact that if you carefully read the manufacturers' websites,you'll see that they note that the specifications are subject to change without notice,and you'll see that it would be impossible for manufacturers to give accurate weights for all their models.

fietsbob

When You get to the shop for the test ride ask to put it on a Scale, then report your findings..


The FX 7 series @ similar price Point, without the suspension Fork will weigh Less Because of the lighter non suspension fork, as a Part of it's design.


Remember lighter stuff in bikes adds to the Price . look up what an Emonda Road bike costs , for example..

manc

The simple fact is that most bike manufacturers don't want you to know how heavy their bikes are. They think it would harm sales figures as a lot of the biggest selling bikes (hybrids/MTB) may be deemed heavy if the buyer saw a published weight before deciding whether to buy or not.
If anyone believes what excuses the bike manufacture's come up with for not publishing approximate weights of complete bikes, then they must be crazy.

B2mac

I haven't seen the setup in a bike shop where bikes are assembled or the type of scale they use but I can't believe that it would be too complicated or that it would take much more than a minute or two for the last step of assembly to be to weigh each individual bike. That would take away all the confusion when a customer asks about a particular bike. I would guess the accuracy of the scale would be within a few ounces. If someone called for the weight of a different sized bike they could use that weight of that sized bike as a base and say a larger frame bike similarly equipped is likely to be slightly more and a smaller framed bike,slightly less. Experience would tell them about how much variance it would be. Perhaps a bike store owner or assembler could "weigh in" on this.
I think it is probably more of an inconvience when the bike is already out on the floor and they have to take it back to the shop and weigh it. A customer certainly has the right to know the weight of the bike that is being purchased.

steve_cay

At the LBS, they usually have something that looks like a fish hook scale. Put the hook under the top bar, lift, and there is the weight in all of three seconds later!