Al Slick

A lightweight bike feels much different then a heavy steel bike, even to a noob. However, if a really in-shape and skilled rider makes it to the top of a hill in 25 seconds, and it takes you a minute, it is obvious that a couple thousand dollars worth of bike isn't going to help you compared to a couple thousand miles uphill.

My bike weighs in at 27 pounds and I cannot yet justify spending a crap ton of cash dropping it to 20 pounds. Until my body is a perfect machine and I am riding as fast as possible, I will continue to ride my heavy bike and have fun!

Dannihilator

My 4130 mtb weighs in at 27 pounds.

Al Slick

Well I would say that it is all very relative. I would assume that a large-framed downhill bike would weigh more on average than my xc hardtail. I'm just saying that my bike could weigh a lot less then it does. My cheap fork is way too heavy and my seat post and bars are steel.

mzeffex 

I am speaking of a XC bike. I guess. I don't know. Now that it is heavy I think I should change it to a trail bike, that way it sounds more appropriate

xfimpg

Same here, 17lb road bike, 30lb mountain bike.
I know beyond any shadow of a doubt that the frame on my mtb will never give out on me, or it would have already.

UBUvelo

is that the s-works carbon then?

johnnytheboy

Yes.

DenisMenchov

Yes if you are competing, and would make a big difference up climbs. I would say though that if you have any extra weight, focus on that first rather than the 4k carbon MTB.

born2bahick

Your are right, in your own mind, but again your experience doesn't translate across the broad spectrum of mountain biking. Absolutes are always wrong, What always works for you, don't add up to the answer for everyone.

nachomc

My steel bike is 24 lbs

UBUvelo

is that just the frame and one wheel?

heck, my aluminum with rigid cromoly fork is still 30 pounds...

nachomc

ha, nope, full bike. 29er rigid but SS. 20" frame though . I <3 it.

mzeffex 

29er rigid single speed?

Sixty Fiver

My Reynold's 725 steel hardtail weighs 25 pounds... with both it's wheels and gears.



It climbs better.

jjbod1

Funny you mention that. I have a old school steel frame 96 Fisher HKEK and a 98 Fisher Aquila. Both those bikes are lighter than my built up 07 Fisher Tass and brand new 09 HKEK.

DenisMenchov

No, only if your competing I would say. Other wise you'll have just as much fun on a good 28 pound bike as you would a good 22 pound bike, but to each their own.

Dilberto

I used to NOT think weight meant anything significant...until I rode and BOUGHT this 18-pound XC race rocket:

fiatjeepdriver

mine is 26 lbs though i do have some boat anchors for wheels.

mannnu81

weight makes a difference, even a big one on longer rides. for XC and all mountain even weight plays a big part in the overall feel of the bike. Lighter IS better!

Chris_F

Unsprung weight is more important than sprung weight. This can make a pound shed from a hardtail feel like more weight loss than a pound shed from the rider. This can also make a hardtail feel heavier than a full suspension bike of equal weight (or help hide the weight of a heavier full suspension bike). When I was working on my College's solar car racer we used a general 2:1 rule: one pound of unsprung weight saved was the same as 2 pounds of sprung weight.

rnorris

I'm small, so losing a few pounds on my MTB means the bike responds noticeably better to my mass-challenged body inputs. Really discovering that with my new bike (GF HiFi Pro).

tFUnK

weight makes a difference in the sense that, if all other things equal, i prefer to ride a lighter bike.