[Closed] Lightweight XC full sussers.

Still unsure how everone gets their FS XC bikes down to 22lbs! Started trimming my Epic yesterday and despite being pretty high spec, it's still 26.5lbs and I'd think it must be almost impossible for me to trim 4.5lbs off it and surely the frame can't weight 4.5lbs more than a Superlight!?

Are my scales a wrong or are most people a little overoptimistic!?

Still unsure how everone gets their FS XC bikes down to 22lbs!

Generally they don't, it's over bullshitism, however there are many that do (and get them even lower) but it takes a lot of wonga and/or sponsorship.

DanW - Member
You can't really go wrong with any of the race bikes from the top manufacturers.

For me though the main companies didn't really represent good value for money. I was set on a Canyon but when they sold out had a rethink.

I went for a Santacruz Superlight in the end on the basis that it was light, reliable and beautifully balanced both up and down. It also feels much more solid than an out and out race bike which suits me much better. Here's a little pic of my SC Superlight at 22lbs with no crazy light or expensive parts:

What do you have on there to get it down to 22lbs? Just curious like...

Still unsure how everone gets their FS XC bikes down to 22lbs! Started trimming my Epic yesterday and despite being pretty high spec, it's still 26.5lbs and I'd think it must be almost impossible for me to trim 4.5lbs off it and surely the frame can't weight 4.5lbs more than a Superlight!?

Are my scales a wrong or are most people a little overoptimistic!?

Mine's 19.7lbs with Rocket Ron/Furious Fred tyres, and a bit more as pictured with Rons. Compared to another 2011 Top Fuel 9.9 which was 24.5lbs with SID World Cups, full XTR etc, so I'm confident in it, also weighed plenty of other bikes on the same scales, including a full XX Whippet with DT XRC100s and DT190/Olympic wheels, and mine was still lighter. Devil's in the detail and both of these:

it takes a lot of wonga and/or sponsorship.

[img] [/img]

I don't know how much they weigh, but I always think that these look like a decent lightweight FS:

http://www.focus-bikes.com/gb/en/bikes/bikes-2011/category/mtb-fullsuspension-6/subcategory/marathonxc/model/fsl-20-1.html

[img] [/img]

I like the design with the shock tucked into the top tube; like a less exposed, non-melted-looking Pronghorn.
Looks like a sensible marathon/XC bike with little to get caked in mud in our inclement UK conditions & the shock is nicely out of the way of the mud too.

Doesn't Matt Page ride one of those? Doesn't seem to hold him back for sure!

Isn't there a risk of catching you knackers in the shock/linkage of the Proghorns or Foci?

That is the first thing I think about when seeing those design. There is something just not "right" about the positioning of the rear shock

don simon - Member
Isn't there a risk of catching you knackers in the shock/linkage of the Proghorns or Focii?

Theoretically - yes.
Practially - probably impossible.

Can't ever remember a time I have whacked my knackers on that part of the top tube. If you ever were to, your weight would be off the saddle & the suspension would likely be in an uncompressed position.

I'll let you try it out though & let us know how you get on. 😉

[i]Isn't there a risk of catching you knackers in the shock/linkage of the Proghorns or Foci?[/i]

mine don't hang low enough...

And you'd have the saddle in the small of your back, whilst it looks like a possibility, I don't think you'd actually manage it without some other serious injuries!

Think the lightest full suspension frame out at the moment is the top of the range Scalpel. If you've got the money that's your answer. Always been a bit puzzled by SC Superlights-- they're not that light. The Blur XC Carbon is a lot lighter.

mine don't hang low enough...

Always been a bit puzzled by SC Superlights-- they're not that light. The Blur XC Carbon is a lot lighter.

The label might be a misnomer, but it was very light when it was first launched 10 years ago. And there aren't many quality FS frames for £900. The Blur is much more expensive.

Think the lightest full suspension frame out at the moment is the top of the range Scalpel. If you've got the money that's your answer.

Only got 70mm of travel though haven't they? And it's not very active at that, closer to a soft tail than a 'proper' FS. May fit the bill, but not sure I'd choose one for anything other than racing.

The label might be a misnomer, but it was very light when it was first launched 10 years ago

10 years? And the rest, closer to 20, although the redesign was about 8 years ago - and that's never been light. Like I said before (possibly not on this thread), 27lbs for the 'off the shelf' £2000 bike, which was more than the similarly priced rivals. Agree that it's a fair price for an alu FS frame, but they're still not light, and most of the other manufacturers don't offer their alu FS frames after market.

Always been a bit puzzled by SC Superlights-- they're not that light.

but it was very light when it was first launched 10 years ago

Wot he said. Although people still comment on how light my bike is, based on a 2001 frame (pre a couple of facelifts) and it has nothing special on there - Rebas, x9 .. wheels are nice DTs though. I think the new ones gained a pound or so, but are probably less flexy - not that I notice it particularly, but I tend to just get used to what I ride rather than think too hard about it.

I've bent the hangar now though so I'm one gear short .. working up the balls to bend it back 🙂

I went for a Santacruz Superlight in the end on the basis that it was light, reliable and beautifully balanced both up and down. It also feels much more solid than an out and out race bike which suits me much better. Here's a little pic of my SC Superlight at 22lbs with no crazy light or expensive parts:

Always been a bit puzzled by SC Superlights-- they're not that light. The Blur XC Carbon is a lot lighter.

Easy answer this one... Superlight is single pivot, alloy and much better than a blur imo.. if they made a superlight carbon it would be far lighter than a blur.. if only they would!

oh and the price compared to a blur carbon!!!

Superlight far better than a blur to ride!

Any riders of said steed like to impart info or comments.

"Waves"

Mine is a Lux MR 9-SL in XL, weighs in at 24lb with XTR pedals. I was in the market for a race/all-day bike, stretched to £3200 for this so as to get the full carbon/XTR/Formula/SLR treatment. Equivalent Giant Anthem SL-0 Advanced was £6700 RRP.

No-one warned me how much FUN riding a short travel full-susser is. Have replaced the risers with flats and bar ends, I just love how direct and precise the handling is. Went bombing round Surrey Hills last weekend (waves to njee20), all round Peaslake, Yoghurt Pots, Telegraph, Summer Lightning etc etc....would be easier on a 120/130mm bike but in the dry and even on skinny Rons its a hoot.

Are you looking for;

Light weight short, mid travel trail bike? (Yeti ASR5C, SC Blur XCc)
Light weight short travel race bike? (Scalpel, Anthem, Spark, Canyon Lux MR)

And on what budget?

The GF & I have a Turner DW Flux & a Santa Cruz Superlight & these are NOT light short travel full suss bikes even with decent components.

my flux is 25lb

Going off this, what do you think I'm lookng for dickie?

As a confirmed lightweight HT XC JeyBoy lite with extra mincing, I find myself being drawn to a full susser. I can only put this down to having to ride through the braking bumps at Llandegla, learn to ride boys.
Issue 67 had the rather sexy Scalpel 3 which seems to tick all the right price, looks and weight boxes.
Anything else, with or without photos but preferrably with, I should be looking at?

My medium Blur XCc with full XTR, SIDs, Pro2/355 wheels and some nice Easton finishing kit comes in at 11.3Kg - [i]on my scales[/i]. That's just shy of 25lbs.

Make of other claims what you will....

That Focus is absolutely gopping!

Have you thought of looking at Merida's? Not a particularly niche or trendy name to have doen your frame. But lightweight XC bikes seem to be what they do best.

No weights listed on the site though for some reason

[url= http://www.merida-bikes.com/en_int/bike/2012/17/MTB+Full+Suspension/Ninety-Six+CF+1200-D ]here[/url]

I won't touch Meridas.

The GF & I have a Turner DW Flux & a Santa Cruz Superlight & these are NOT light short travel full suss bikes even with decent components

Problem is the models change, even the good uns. I think of a Superlight as MY Superlight - 26ish lb which is light compared to 95% of other peoples bikes I meet, and 100mm travel which is a good 20% shy of the same peoples bikes.

On Don's criteria, I'd still consider a new Superlight, alongside the Anthem, Spark and Scalpel - but the Scalpel is too much of a head down racer for my money.

Scalpel is a down and out race bike!

binners - Member
That Focus is absolutely gopping!

Incorrect. It looks great.

Hardtail-esque at first glance, with a second glance of 'oooh, look at that cleverly placed shock, it's actually a full sus', thrown in for good measure. So there.

I think we'll have to agree to disagree on that one stumpy. We're a broad church on here after all 😉

I can see the logic of it. It just looks a bit Fisher Price my-first-full-suspension-bike to me

binners - Member

It just looks a bit Fisher Price my-first-full-suspension-bike to me

Probably why it appeals to me, then! 😀

The Focus FS bikes look the best I think, never ridden one though.

sefton - Member

Scalpel is a down and out race bike!

Sorry I don't have issue 67 - is a scapel 3 high end or low end of the range?

[url= http://www.evanscycles.com/products/cannondale/scalpel-carbon-3-2011-mountain-bike-ec025334 ]Google is your friend[/url]. Says it's now discontinued. Looks good - but I personally think it treads on the toes of the Orbea too much. I'd sooner have a 'proper' 100mm travel FS bike which can still be raced, rather than a virtual soft tail.

Anthems are nice. This one's a couple of years old, and now has KCNC finishing kit which saved a fair bit of weight. Almost as fast as a hardtail but a bit more comfortable.
[img] [/img]

Sorry I don't have issue 67 - is a scapel 3 high end or low end of the range?