I've just fitted a new SID World Cup fork to my Whyte and (sadly) was tempted to bring out the scales. At 23lbs I know it's a light bike, mainly XTR, lots of carbon, Ti and other exotic metals. However I am baffled by the folk who claim to have 19/20lb bikes...I can't imagine taking another 3lb off mine.
I reckon the only significant area to go out is wheel sets - lighter than my Crossmax XL??
What set up have you got chaps?
Bike Forum
XC bike weight. How low can you go?
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Posted 11 months ago #
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njee to the forum, please...
Posted 11 months ago # -
Sub 20lb full suss bikes very possible, sub 18lb hard tails very possible.*
You need to be sponsored or have very deep pockets.
*With suspension and gears.
Posted 11 months ago # -
My bike is 19lb.........it has no suspension though,or gears.
It cost about the same as your forks
.
Posted 11 months ago # -
or if you want to get silly here's one in the 13s
Posted 11 months ago # -
My hardtail is 21lb.
frame- BeOne Raw Carbon 21" (1020grams)
Forks- Rock Shox Sid Team
wheels- Hope Pro3 on Crest rims
brakes- Hope X2 Race inc matchmaker clamps
Gears- XT crank, shifters, front and rear mech, Sram 990 cassette and 991 chain
Pedals- Wellgo MG1
Finishing kit- Ritchey Superlogic bars and post wcs stem
Hope headset, QRs and bottom bracket
Charge spoon Ti saddle
ESI chunky gripsNot running tubeless yet and have Continental Mountain Kings which could be changed to go lighter.
Will be changing to 2x10 XT this year XTR is just way too expensive.
Should be able to get to around 20lb without breaking the bank, it's amazing how changing each component to one that's 10% lighter adds up.
Just remember there is a point where lighter means it won't last very long or might not be upto what you're planning on using it for.
Posted 11 months ago # -
I reckon the only significant area to go out is wheel sets - lighter than my Crossmax XL??
Can save 1lb off the wheels, dont know what tyres you're running but bet you can save another 1lb easy. Then the frame, which Whyte is it? Even if it's the carbon one, there are plenty lighter carbon frames. Ditch 2 chainrings and go 1x10 to save another 1/2lb, then what brakes you running? Unless formula R1's with lightweight rotors and full Ti bolts, your brakes are overweight. What saddle you got? Bet you can save 50-100g there, as with seatpost bars and stem, can save a bit more undoubtedly. What pedals? 4Ti eggbeaters will knock some weight off.
This is just scratching the surface of obsession. You could easily save 3/4lb off the weight of your bike, but you'd need very deep pockets. And then of course, if your kit is possibly too light, you risk breaking it all the time! Personally, my hardtail at a smidge under 24lb is about as light as I'd want, much lighter and I'd have to spec some significantly weaker parts on it.
Posted 11 months ago # -
Posted 11 months ago #
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Now think what you need to add to make a xc mtb. I think that gives a decent idea of what is possible
Posted 11 months ago # -
Below is my Merlin which was 21.2lb including pedals etc and that's a spot on accurate weight with the posh digital scales. All usable stuff on it that wouldn't break and I guess if it ran newer stuff like a 2x10 set-up it could be a bit lighter. But it comes at a price as light bikes feel very nervous, especially over rocky stuff and my Yeti 575 which was under 25lb certainly felt like that but I reckon a smoother rider would feel better on it. The main weight area is the wheels and the Merlin ran Tune hubs which were pretty light
Posted 11 months ago # -
It's a Whyte 19 carbon frame.
Here goes for the rest:
SID WC fork, XTR disc brakes, Ashima rotors, Crossmax XL rims
Racing Ralph tubeless tyres, FSA Team Pro carbon cranks, 3Ti Eggbeaters
XTR derailleurs, XTR cassette, Yumeya 9-spd chain
xxx-lite grips, RaceFace Next carbon riser, KCNC scandium Wing stem, Easton carbon seatpost and a Fizik Tundra carbon saddle.I am happy with the bike, it does everything I ask of it and more! As I say, just a but baffled where you could trim more weight from...
Posted 11 months ago # -
loose the riser fit a flat bar, always a lighter option,
The saddle isn't light, look at Tune for example.
The fork isn't the lightest Rockshox have ever made and there are lighter current offerings.
Racing Ralphs are light, but Rons for example are lighter and there are lighter tyres still,
Have you fitted Alu bolts and Ti bolts where appropriate?
What cables are you running.There isn't the chance to save big amounts on any one component, but by saving a few grams on everything then the weight comes off.
Then when you get truely obsessed out comes the drill.
Posted 11 months ago # -
XL's aren't that light wheel wise if I'm right. It's also little bits here and there that add up. For instance I used a Ritchey WCS stem which was mege light, Xpedo Ti/Ti pedals which are as light as they come. My wheel weight was very low but the front hub wasn't as light as my Goldtec Pro which would have saved quite a few grammes. Not sure what your frame weight is or the size but the Merlin was just above 3lb and was a 16.25 inch.
Posted 11 months ago # -
tubeless specific RR's are quite heavy, so you could easily save 1 lb there just going for the standard ones, and still run them tubeless.
Crossmax XL's are over 1800g, which is very very heavy for a xc race wheel. I just built some 1500g wheels for £150. For £250-300 you could have 1400g wheels easily.
So you can save prob over 2 lb just from replacing the wheels and tyres, which you really would notice a hell of a lot.
Posted 11 months ago # -
Just looked up weight of the XL wheels - 1600g apparently.
Will give wheel replacement some thought - light and strong ideas anyone?
A new KCNC Scandium flat bar could be on the way at 115g.Reluctant to lose gears as it's fairly hilly around here.
Posted 11 months ago # -
CP - tell me more about those wheels please?
Posted 11 months ago # -
Goldtec Pro Comp hubs on ZTR Olympic rims are light and strong. Easton EC90 SL low riser bars and Ritchey WCS foam grips is a good ight combo. Keep the gears then and be done.
Posted 11 months ago # -
My race bikes 21lb
Merida carbon frame
Sid wc
Pro 3 on 355s
Ritchey wcs pro carbon pin
Truvativ pro team flat bars
Slr 165
Spesh fast trak pro 2bliss
Ti skewars
Xt brakes and cranks . Rest of drive train is xtr inc pedalsCould go lighter though if i wanted So can see where they get there light bikes from how ever there is a fine line - te above build borders on nae use for all day riding as oppose just racing
Builds into a 17 lb ss though
Posted 11 months ago # -
I've still got a full rigid Ti with old (M952) XTR and original first generation CrossMax wheels, that's 20.5lb. I reckon with new kit it oculd be sub 19lb.
It's VERY nervous on rocky terrain at that weight though. That's slightly offset by the fact that it climbs like a homesick angel.
Posted 11 months ago # -
the ones I built are xt CL hubs and dtrevolution spokes from actionsports.de. rims are stans olympic from CRC. I had a £30 voucher, so in reality they're more like £180. brass nipples. built them my self, so pricing prob not necessarily a fair comparison, but goes to show you certainly don't need to spend a fortune.
spend a little more on some a2z superlight hubs, and use the olympic lightweight rims from CRC, you're looking at 1350g.
Posted 11 months ago # -
oh, rim brake versions of the crossmax xl are about 1650g, the latter disc specific ones are over 1800.
Posted 11 months ago # -
Hello! I'm here, sorry I'm late!
My Top Fuel is 19.89lbs as below:
I'm conceding a pound in the frame to you, which is offset by 1x10.
The wheels are A2Z hubs, Podium rims and Revolutions - 1246g including tape and valves. As above, if you're using UST Racing Ralphs they weigh a ton - another pound saved with normal Rocket Rons (2011 ones are specifically tubeless ready although I just use the old ones).
Mount Zoom do some really nice lightweight finishing kit - I'm using their bars, skewers, jockey wheels, bottle cage and top cap - really impressed with it all!
The devil's in the detail though really, a smattering of alu bolts, I-Link cables etc.
I do ride my bike, unlike some of the really terrifying things floating around on Light Bikes, and actually find it fantastic. It's more confidence inspiring to descend on than the marginally heavier 2010 TF 9.9 it replaced (in fact it's the best handling race bike I've had - beating 3 S-Works Epics and the other Fuel), the front end tracks better - whether because of the tapered fork I don't know. The wheels have surprised me, I thought they'd be flexy and horrible, but they're really not, and frankly I prefer how it rides with them compared to the Hope Hoops with Crests I use when not racing.
As I say, just a but baffled where you could trim more weight from...
If you're running 1600g wheels and 750g tyres I suspect there are some other bits carrying extra weight you've not really though about
Posted 11 months ago # -
However I am baffled by the folk who claim to have 19/20lb bikes..
Remember they have massively optimistic scales, and/or they take several pounds off the actual weight so they can brag about it on forums
Posted 11 months ago # -
My Scale last time weighed was sub 20lbs, and have made it lighter since then. Nothing silly light on it but is is 1x10
08 Scott Scale 10
Fox F100
Hope SPxc3
Hope Mini Pros
Maxxis advantage UST, Rocket Ron, tubeless
XTR Mech + shifter
XT Cranks MRP 1x, MRP 36t
Easton EC70 Bars, Seatpost
Hope Stem
Scott Saddle
Ergon Carbon grips/barendsLovely bike to race on
Posted 11 months ago # -
Not that anyone will say their scales are inaccurate, but I've weighed a lot of bikes on mine - my Fuel is lighter than Scott Forbes full XX equipped Whippet among others.
Posted 11 months ago # -
Remember they have massively optimistic scales, and/or they take several pounds off the actual weight so they can brag about it on forums
I have a set of Ultimate Digital scales which we use in our shop so all our weights are bang on accuate. I got asked when my Yeti came in at under 25lb which isn't bad for nearly a 6inch travel bike so I took a pictures of it hanging on the scales - job done!
Posted 11 months ago # -
I could get my '95 Marin Team Ti to shed a bit of weight, but at 21.75lbs I think it's light enough for me.
There are some silly money weight weenie bikes out there, the lightest I've ridden was a 19lb old school Ritchey P20. It was too light for me as it was too flexy, but damn it flew along once you stuck the power down, quite twitchy too which led to a couple of hairy moments
Posted 11 months ago # -
As mentioned before my Scale 10. Doesn't feel flexy or 'too light', rides very nicely
Posted 11 months ago # -
I've been running a lot of KCNC kit this year on my race bike:
- KCNC XC2 triple: save 170g
- with a double that'll be 200g- KCNC SC Pro ti seatpost: save 45g
- KCNC Cassette: save 64g
- KCNC brakes: save about 260g
Posted 11 months ago # -
I'm a weight weenie and here are some of my bikes
Giant XTC Rigid - 16.6lbs
Litespeed Obed SS - 14.2lbs with different pedals
Merida 96 carbon 1x9 - 19.8lbs (with rocket rons and pedals)
Giant TCR - 15.2lbs no longer have this one
if anyone is interested I can dig out the build lists
Posted 11 months ago # -
Is that no pedals? I'd question the Litespeed and the Merida personally!
Posted 11 months ago # -
Some lovely bikes there. Plenty food for thought thanks!
Posted 11 months ago # -
One for the obed. i'll need to update the one for the Merida.
Litespeed Obed M Frame 1530
Mortop Headset 60
Trigon Forks 493
Ameriacn classic wheels 1392
KCNC Ti Skewers 45
Kenda Klimax tires 660
Maxxis flyweight tubes 160
Wellgo M111 pedals 240
KCNC ISIS Crank/bolts 470
Renthal 32Chain ring 35
KCNC BB/bolts 155
KCNC VB-1 brakes F/R 250
XTR Cables 68
KCNC Seat clamp 10
KMC x9SL Chain 210
Kestrel Bars 110
Syntace F99 Stem 96
143 toupe Saddle 170
KCNC Post 153
Pork rind grips 17
superstar 14t Sprocket 286352 g = 14.0037 lb
Posted 11 months ago # -
My new frame (08 Scale) should drop mine below 20lbs now -
Reba WC,
240s on Olympics,
KCNC stem, bars, seatclamp, post and bar ends,
ESI Chunkys,
Hope Mini Pros,
XTR cranks (40/28), front mech and chain,
X.0 rear mech and Gripshift,
12-27 Dura Ace cassette,
Conti Twister tyres (tubeless),
Fizik Carbon Aliante
and a good smattering of ti and alu bolts.If you are willing to weigh your components and do some bolt tuning it's fairly easy to get under 21/22lbs.
Posted 11 months ago # -
Merida 96 carbon and rear shock + remote 2005g
SID 2009 Race + remote 1480
American classic wheels 1492
KCNC skewers 44
Rocket Ron’s 862
Stans sealant 180
Wellgo M-111 240
Easton EC90 104
Syntace F99 96
stem cap / spacers 22
Formula R1 + AirRotors 276+287
SRAM Rocket shifter with cable 134
Seatpost 166
toupe 143 167
XTR rear mech 177
XTR Cassette 237
seat clamp 11
foam grips 53
KCNC ISIS Crank/bolts 470
Renthal 32Chain ring 35
KCNC BB 151
KMC SL10 chain 2378926 g = 19.6784 lb
Posted 11 months ago #
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