Ollie Y Posted June 9, 2008 Report Share Posted June 9, 2008 (edited) At the moment, more than ever i keep hearing about people losing parts of there bikes to save on weight. I was looking at all the different posts on the forum about cutting the round holes in your rim to square ones. Cutting massive holes in your head tube and drilling all sorts of holes all over the bike. Is it me or are those pieces not there for a reason. Surely by cutting holes and drilling everywhere you are considerably weakening your bike. For me if i am about to do something i would like to think i have a whole bike underneath me that is not likely to snap in 17 different places. This then lead to me thinking what is the lightest bike you could build? (Without the dieting and hole drilling!) Am i one of the only people who likes riding my obese bike, it gives me that little extra confidence. Admittedly I'm not doing massive stuff but My bike still manages to break! How do these people who do massive things not need a new bike every week? How much of a difference does an extra light bike make? Cheers Ollie Edited June 9, 2008 by oliyoungman14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forteh Posted June 9, 2008 Report Share Posted June 9, 2008 Where there is minimal stress (front of the head tube is a good example) its safe to take some material out, the same can be applied to alot of areas of the frame. However to be able to do it properly you need to know the ins and outs of stress analysis and ideally have an fea plot to work with. Im guessing the lighest full build bikes would be the koxx boxx and the monty kamels for stock, dont know about mods. Dobs can also be built up to very light spec but theyre not particularly strong The people who go big and dont break their bikes are smooth, thats the main thing. For TGS riding a lighter bike doesnt make a huge difference, for comps though a lighter bike will reduce fatigue levels, particularly on longer sections. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oli Smith Posted June 9, 2008 Report Share Posted June 9, 2008 ask muel about lkght bikes, and just go to gym mate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex-Mitchinson Posted June 9, 2008 Report Share Posted June 9, 2008 My bike weighs 8.6kg's, which is pretty light. I have noticed a massive difference in how long I can ride for with out getting tired, and how much easier it becomes to do certain things. After riding for a while you will learn what things on your bike you can 'sacrifice'. For example, even if you are a heavy rider you will get away with a really light front wheel. I would stay away from drilling and filing though, it doesn't take off much weight but weakens things conderably. Get parts of your spec up on tarty and check the weight, look for the lightest (or lighter) replacement, then decide if you think you will 'get away' with using this part. So if you are a heavy rider I wouldn't recommend getting a rear Dob rim. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skoze Posted June 9, 2008 Report Share Posted June 9, 2008 My bike's pretty damn heavy (12.5 kgs), but on the plus side, all the parts i have on it, i know that they won't implode if they take a bashing, whereas some of my weight-weenie counterparts have to give the bike a bit of a check over after a ride, and quite often, replace things every month because they keep breaking! I did ride joe's dob before he left us for some sand, sun and camels, and i have to say, riding that was soooo easy! i can see why people go to the trouble of making it light! It's not for me though, you just need to bulk up a bit Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mista-neos Posted June 9, 2008 Report Share Posted June 9, 2008 I want to do some drilling but i brake my bike every week as a whole so if i did drill i might snap shit lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Fisher Posted June 9, 2008 Report Share Posted June 9, 2008 i have (over time) started to get more worried about the weight of my bike. it feals sluggish and slow but i dont think its a good idea to drill holes when the manufacturer already hasnt done it. also i think if you do it to much it will destroy the look of a nice bike ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben John-Hynes Posted June 9, 2008 Report Share Posted June 9, 2008 Using lighter parts will shed so much more weight than drilling and grinding everything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spartan Posted June 9, 2008 Report Share Posted June 9, 2008 Yeah i was never on the weight weenie bandwagon. I built my Czar up burly which was great for when i was starting but i kinda regret it now. Now that i can do dropgaps without tacoing rims and ups to rear not downtube i feel as though the weight is holding me back a little bit. Not in size but in endurance. You really notice the weight when your doing natural stuff like wedges on 2 wheels. Though that said my fingers tire before my legs do so its not huge issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muel Posted June 10, 2008 Report Share Posted June 10, 2008 ask muel about lkght bikes, and just go to gym mate My bikes actually 8.7/8.8kgs, so it's not especially light these days. I also do weights at home. I reckon that if you used all the lightest possible bits you could get it to under 8kgs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bikeperson45 Posted June 10, 2008 Report Share Posted June 10, 2008 Muel, your signature says it all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex-Mitchinson Posted June 10, 2008 Report Share Posted June 10, 2008 I reckon that if you used all the lightest possible bits you could get it to under 8kgs. Someone made a thread a few months ago containing the lightest trials spec possible. Think the weight was 7.4kg's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muel Posted June 12, 2008 Report Share Posted June 12, 2008 Muel, your signature says it all The fact that I put in my sig kind of tells you that I see it as a joke, as it is miles from the truth. I drilled my front rim, I'm not a proper weight whore as you can see by looking at my bike, it has a bash plate for a start. Someone made a thread a few months ago containing the lightest trials spec possible. Think the weight was 7.4kg's. 6.4 I think from memory? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uldis Posted June 12, 2008 Report Share Posted June 12, 2008 THIS Echo Lite is now 8.390 kg, but he snapped his forks doing hook-ups Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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