The tyres!
Was my first thought, 3kg on already heavy rims, it’ll be a beast to get up to speed & change direction

Privateer and Hunt got the heavy end of the shitty stick !!!

SirHC
Full Member

Privateer and Hunt got the heavy end of the shitty stick !!!

The wheels didn’t really, they used a set of wheels that nobody would ever expect to the light (ebike and enduro specific). Their frames are also well known for being chunky too, just like Brian Park’s RAAW that was getting a bit of a laugh in the comments

Someone made an interesting (to me) point, that as regular bikes are getting heavier for a given application, at significant cost, why wouldn’t you just add a motor and battery? There a a number of trail ebikes that are a good chunk less than 45lbs now, so the ‘less manoeuvreable on the downs’ argument disappears, and the weight is better distributed than it might be on a regular bike, in the DT and BB area, rather than the wheels etc

I say this as someone about to sell his ebike as he prefers his lighter regular bikes.

What’s the Heaviest Trail Bike We Could Build for $10k?

It’s not a trail bike though, is it? Fitting downhill tyres and Ebike wheels is the give away. You could make a heavy expensive “road” bike by fitting 29er downhill wheels and a huge all steel Ebike cassette.

No, and I don’t believe trail was mentioned in the article.

Believe what you want.

We at Pinkbike are committed to fitness, and we are putting those beliefs into action by giving you an imaginary trail bike that weighs more than 45 pounds, or 20 kilograms for those across the pond or literally anywhere else.

They go on to call it a “trail bike” a few more times in the article.

Since this is the age of trail bikes with dual crown forks, we could use a Manitou Dorado pro, which adds almost exactly a pound (at 3093g) and can be lowered to 150mm, which would totally work on this bike.

While not traditional on a trail bike, this is no ordinary trail bike, so Saint cranks seem appropriate.

kelvin
Full Member
Believe what you want.

I retract my comment, but keep “It’s just a bit of fun”

That’s over double my trail full sus

That’s a VERY light trail bike, what is it?

let alone 10k

Came to 6700 ish USD, so less than £5k.

There a a number of trail ebikes that are a good chunk less than 45lbs now, so the ‘less manoeuvreable on the downs’ argument disappears

That argument is bobbins though. A similar build with a motor would still be +15lb. You could have a 45lb e-bike, but it would have to be built like a 30lb bike.

Latest slash frame is 0.5kg heavier than its predecessor, new spesh enduro is similar weight gain.

Is it a fair comparison though? The Enduro now has more in common with the original big-hit than the original enduro.

Even going back not quite so far, it’s closest to the Demo7, 2 travel rungs above the then Enduro.

That argument is bobbins though. A similar build with a motor would still be +15lb. You could have a 45lb e-bike, but it would have to be built like a 30lb bike.

My point was more ‘if you are going to have a 40+ lb, total, trail bike (some people say they don’t mind that) why wouldn’t you get one with lighter parts and an engine?’. As if it’s a trail bike, it’s not going to be taking massive hits or anything so durability shouldn’t be that big an issue. If people are using them as mini enduro bikes, fair enough, but for that weight, why not get a bigger travel option?.

The above build is around £5k, a levo SL comp is £5,500 and 41lbs, so if you are used to a 30lb trail bike, it might not appeal, but if you’ve been lugging something like the above about, the appeal of a motor must be compelling.

Then, if heavier bikes are becoming the norm, what’s the incentive to get a non assisted one?

“ Pretty sure a Rocketmax would have been heavier.”

I doubt it.

From MBUK / Bike Radar about a week ago:

“the overall weight of the RocketMAX at just 15.12kg, which was actually the lightest of all the bikes in the Enduro Bike of the Year test.”

The Privateer frames are hefty. They have long wheelbases and are stiff and strong enough for gnarly riding but are made of aluminium alloy and use very little custom forged/machined parts to keep the cost down.

Isn’t it fascinating that hunting out premium “strong” components ends up being so much cheaper than light premium counterparts. It isn’t so much about “strong, light, cheap: pick two”. Apparently light is inversely correlated with cheap, just as it is inversely correlated to strong. Choose “light” and they take your money and sell you flimsy tat.

The Privateer frames are hefty. They have long wheelbases and are stiff and strong enough for gnarly riding but are made of aluminium alloy and use very little custom forged/machined parts to keep the cost down.

The back end on mine was pretty flimsy! Coming off a carbon enduro, G1 I have now is somewhere in between.