MTB (or indeed road) bike weights, factors and thoughts ?

[MingtheMerciless]

I have been out for 3.5 hours - have you bought anything yet?

He probably has and already sent it back…….

[weeksy]

ho ho ho.

[PitaNaanRoti]

@weeksy
Would the 1.5 kg difference make a real impact on your racing results? If you are doing Enduro isn't it most downhill?

It's more than 1.5kg.... but it's 50-50 in terms of weight and geometry that i'm having the current thoughts. Dropping some weight off the bike certainly can't hurt in it's own right. But i could get that from swapping from the Coil fork to a Fox DPX2 or similar, admittedly not 1.5kg... but i still think 500gr isn't an insubstantial figure to drop.

Partly weight yes, but partly a completely (ish) type of bike...

The clear answer is NO... neither change will massively give me a huge difference in race results... weight arguably won't make them worse though, but admittedly a change of geometry may make them better or indeed worse lol.

500grs doesn't sound a lot but when its a percentage of the overall weight then it suddenly becomes a large figure.
500grs on something weighing 13000 is still close to 4% overall
When you start looking at road bikes its massive.

[rusty]

@weeksy
Would the 1.5 kg difference make a real impact on your racing results? If you are doing Enduro isn't it most downhill?

It's more than 1.5kg.... but it's 50-50 in terms of weight and geometry that i'm having the current thoughts. Dropping some weight off the bike certainly can't hurt in it's own right. But i could get that from swapping from the Coil fork to a Fox DPX2 or similar, admittedly not 1.5kg... but i still think 500gr isn't an insubstantial figure to drop.

Partly weight yes, but partly a completely (ish) type of bike...

The clear answer is NO... neither change will massively give me a huge difference in race results... weight arguably won't make them worse though, but admittedly a change of geometry may make them better or indeed worse lol.

500grs doesn't sound a lot but when its a percentage of the overall weight then it suddenly becomes a large figure.
500grs on something weighing 13000 is still close to 4% overall
When you start looking at road bikes its massive.

That's true but once you look at the weight of the overall package, in other words a 75kg rider, bike and kit it's closer to 0.5% so probably not even noticeable.

[weeksy]

Yeah it was more an interesting observation than an absolute "this much weight off will benefit XYZ".

I will be doing an air-shock change as a test but that's for several other reasons rather than just for any weight change.

[irie]

It's more than 1.5kg.... but it's 50-50 in terms of weight and geometry that i'm having the current thoughts. Dropping some weight off the bike certainly can't hurt in it's own right. But i could get that from swapping from the Coil fork to a Fox DPX2 or similar, admittedly not 1.5kg... but i still think 500gr isn't an insubstantial figure to drop.

Partly weight yes, but partly a completely (ish) type of bike...

The clear answer is NO... neither change will massively give me a huge difference in race results... weight arguably won't make them worse though, but admittedly a change of geometry may make them better or indeed worse lol.

500grs doesn't sound a lot but when its a percentage of the overall weight then it suddenly becomes a large figure.
500grs on something weighing 13000 is still close to 4% overall
When you start looking at road bikes its massive.

That's true but once you look at the weight of the overall package, in other words a 75kg rider, bike and kit it's closer to 0.5% so probably not even noticeable.

Depends whether its a reduction in sprung or unsprung weight - big difference.

[weeksy]

With the on-going 'maybe' thoughts of lighter faster 29er....

I've got this two on my hit-list.
https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Nukeproof-Mega ... 231465.htm
Nukeproof Mega 290 Comp Alloy 29

and

https://www.balfesbikes.co.uk/bikes/mou ... een__31811
EX DEMO Trek Fuel EX 9.8 Mens Full Suspension Mountain Bike Large 2020

Now the ex-demo bike may well be used... well, it IS used... but hey, so would the Nukeproof be after 24 hours. But the Trek is crazy light in MTB terms (within my budget anyway) and nicely specc'd.

However, the Reactor is pretty little for it's price, reviews exceptionally well and has all the correct bits hanging off it.

My current thoughts are "Do i really need 170mm of 27.5 for the stuff i ride" and "would a fast 29er be worth a whirl"

The answer to both is... well, maybe.

But overall i'm still struggling/concerned about throwing £3000-4000 at a bike i may or may not like. Sure the G-170 may not be the most sprightly, it may not be the quickest rolling or even the lightest thing out there... but i do know it, it rides exceptionally well and we're in a very happy place together... That's worth something at the very least

[irie]

By pure chance Mrs irie and me have just got Trek Rail 5 eBikes.

So her 2021 Trek Fuel EX 7 (size ML) is for sale. In excellent stock condition. New price £2,845, selling price £2,100

And my 2021 Trek Fuel EX 5 (size ML) is also for sale. In excellent stock condition but with upgraded Shimano brakes and Fox shock. Also has new wheels and tyres taken off the eBike. New price £2,345, selling price £1,700

Can deliver up to 50 miles from Chichester (West Sussex), but don't want to be mucked around. These are quality bikes, always garaged, cleaned, and maintained.

@weeksy - you're welcome to come here and test ride them.

[weeksy]

By pure chance Mrs irie and me have just got Trek Rail 5 eBikes.

So her 2021 Trek Fuel EX 7 (size ML) is for sale. In excellent stock condition. New price £2,845, selling price £1,900

And my 2021 Trek Fuel EX 5 (size ML) is also for sale. In excellent condition but with upgraded Shimano brakes and Fox shock. Also has new wheels and tyres takes off the eBike. New price £2,345, selling price £1,700

Can deliver up to 50 miles from Chichester (West Sussex), but don't want to be mucked around. These are quality bikes, always garaged, cleaned, and maintained.

@weeksy - you're welcome to come here and test ride them.

Too small for me thanks fella. I'd need a Large in both/either.

[irie]

By pure chance Mrs irie and me have just got Trek Rail 5 eBikes.

So her 2021 Trek Fuel EX 7 (size ML) is for sale. In excellent stock condition. New price £2,845, selling price £1,900

And my 2021 Trek Fuel EX 5 (size ML) is also for sale. In excellent condition but with upgraded Shimano brakes and Fox shock. Also has new wheels and tyres takes off the eBike. New price £2,345, selling price £1,700

Can deliver up to 50 miles from Chichester (West Sussex), but don't want to be mucked around. These are quality bikes, always garaged, cleaned, and maintained.

@weeksy - you're welcome to come here and test ride them.

Too small for me thanks fella. I'd need a Large in both/either.

Mrs irie is 5'7" and at the bottom end of the Trek Fuel EX 2021 ML size range, and I'm 5'10" and the ML fits me just nicely. I'm Large on the Rail btw, bike sizing is inconsistent even in different models from the same manufacturer