Help me lose weight

Discuss light weight issues concerning mountain bikes & parts.

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d36
Posts: 68
Joined: Wed Feb 22, 2017 3:56 am

by d36

My 29er hardtail is currently approx 9.8kg
In a few months time I have long race with some pretty hefty climbs

I think I have reached the point where weight savings start to cost $$$$

Anyone got any pointers for reasonable priced weight savings?

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by Weenie


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Klaster_1
Posts: 1390
Joined: Mon Aug 15, 2016 10:25 am
Location: Paphos, Cyprus

by Klaster_1

Main questions is your budget, since weight can be dropped from almost all items. Some things I'd consider first, because these are relatively cheap or save over 100g:
1. You seem to use very heavy stock expander plug, possibly about 50g. A regular star nut weights about 5g. Other options are knockoff Ultrastars by J&L.
2. For under 1000USD you can easily build a ~1300g wheelset.
3. X0 crankset weights about 460g. Maybe look for a used one? It will also require a direct mount chainring.
4. Ti pedals. For example, Xpedo M-Force 8 Ti are about 218g.
Last edited by Klaster_1 on Wed Feb 22, 2017 8:17 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Lelandjt
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by Lelandjt

I was also gonna say a used carbon crank and Xpedo M8-Ti pedals. You can get a chinese carbon wheelset around 1400g for sub $600. Those 3 parts will get you under 20lbs and at that point you have a really light bike that's not gonna give up anything to your competition on climbs. At that point choosing the fastest rolling tire that has appropriate durability and grip for the course becomes the main concern.

d36
Posts: 68
Joined: Wed Feb 22, 2017 3:56 am

by d36

Lelandjt wrote:I was also gonna say a used carbon crank and Xpedo M8-Ti pedals. You can get a chinese carbon wheelset around 1400g for sub $600. Those 3 parts will get you under 20lbs and at that point you have a really light bike that's not gonna give up anything to your competition on climbs. At that point choosing the fastest rolling tire that has appropriate durability and grip for the course becomes the main concern.


For 1400g I would probably have to build up my own wheels?
I have had a look at the wheels with novatech hubs and I think they come in around 1600-1700.
Carbon rims would probably be a nice performance upgrade.

I'm onto getting a new headset now.
Nice and cheap upgrade per grams.

I've been keeping an eye out for cheap pedals too :D

Budget wise I dont really want to spend more than $500 (I could sell existing wheels to cover a new set)

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Lelandjt
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Joined: Tue Jan 19, 2016 7:10 am

by Lelandjt

Hmm, at a $500 budget wheels might be out of reach. You won't get much for your used pair. To get a light set from Nextie, LB, etc you have to upgrade to the hubs above Novatec. They usually have some no name Asian hub that's nearly as light as DT 240s. Here's a more affordable option: Look for the weight of your hubs. If they're decent consider buying some Light-Bicycle, Nextie, or Farsports rims and lacing them to your hubs. You may even get lucky and be able to re-use your current spokes (if they're double butted). The value here is only if you can build wheels or have a friend to do it for free. I think wheel builders charge like $150-200 per pair which on top of the $350 rims would blow your budget.

Used carbon crank, Ti pedals, and two different sets of tires are sounding pretty good.

d36
Posts: 68
Joined: Wed Feb 22, 2017 3:56 am

by d36

I think the hubs are on par with DT Swiss 350
Cant find the exact weight on the 2016 wheels but the 2017 version is slightly lighter and i doubt much changed

bikewithnoname
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Joined: Tue Sep 22, 2009 1:29 pm
Location: Paris

by bikewithnoname

You can also get thru axles for under half your current weights quite reasonably from Someone like Mt Zoom, or even lighter from Extralite
"We live in an age when unnecessary things are our only necessities." Oscar Wilde

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Klaster_1
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Joined: Mon Aug 15, 2016 10:25 am
Location: Paphos, Cyprus

by Klaster_1

Some more stuff. Thru axle, as noted by bikewithnoname, are among cheapest options. d36, I think you can also cut the seatpost for 10-20g saving, it looks like 30cm out of 35-40cm out of frame.

Code: Select all

Model                            saving  price     eur/g
EXTRALITE Black Lock Fox         55g     79EUR     1.43
EXTRALITE Black Lock e-thru      51.5g   79EUR     1.53
MT ZOOM Ultralight FOX axle      44g     38EUR     0.86
MT ZOOM Ultralight e-thru axle   41g     42EUR     1.02
Darimo T1 350mm 27.2mm           116g    279EUR    2.4
Hylix 400mm 27.2mm               48g     62.7EUR   1.3
Gelu g.2 saddle                  91g     270EUR    2.96
SRAM XG-1199 10-42               139g    257.5EUR  1.84
Magura MT-8                      168g    394EUR    2.34
MT ZOOM Ultralight clamp 31.8mm  15g     21.3EUR   1.42
RD-M9000                         95g     167EUR    1.75

Prices are from r2-bike, ebay and manufacturers, with VAT.

TheRookie
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Joined: Wed Jan 18, 2012 4:23 pm
Location: Midlands, United Kingdom

by TheRookie

Realistically you need to set your budget and work out the best weight savings you can get for that budget.

As noted above there are a fair few options and I'll add in Bars (circa 120-130g is fairly easy) and tyres (depending on surface).
Impoverished weight weenie wanna-be!
Budget 26" HT build viewtopic.php?f=10&t=110956

UpFromOne
Posts: 1181
Joined: Wed Apr 08, 2009 5:23 am
Location: Olympic Nat'l Park, WA

by UpFromOne

You mention Mt Zoom, don't overlook their flat bars either, you can save 70g there.

EPICBYTES
Posts: 9
Joined: Mon Feb 18, 2013 5:06 pm

by EPICBYTES

I would upgrade crankset and pedals. Since they are rotational weight and you will feel more difference in performance especially uphill.
RaceFace Next SL (445g) can be found for $250
M9000 XTR race pedals 310g can be found new at $80. (I got mine for $74 new at backcountry)
Splurge rest of your budget on Mt.Zoom bars, and maybe new headset.

d36
Posts: 68
Joined: Wed Feb 22, 2017 3:56 am

by d36

Including build costs I can get dt swiss 350 hubs, rims and spokes for approx $700 (looking at around 28mm internal and mid range spokes)

Theres also prebuilt wheels like these for a bit cheaper but i haven't found much on powerway hubs
https://www.aliexpress.com/store/produc ... 0.0.pvhrCW

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Lelandjt
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Joined: Tue Jan 19, 2016 7:10 am

by Lelandjt

d36 wrote:Including build costs I can get dt swiss 350 hubs, rims and spokes for approx $700 (looking at around 28mm internal and mid range spokes)

Theres also prebuilt wheels like these for a bit cheaper but i haven't found much on powerway hubs
https://www.aliexpress.com/store/produc ... 0.0.pvhrCW

At first that wheelset looked like a good deal but that weight isn't great. 28mm is wider than you need. Try to find a narrower, lighter rim. I wouldn't be shy about using those (or other generic Asian) hubs. Everything I've seen for the last 5 years has been solid but find the weight on them so you know you're not buying boat anchor hubs. BTW, Pillar 1420 spokes are good. They're copies of CX-Ray/Aerolites and nearly as light.

02GF74
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Joined: Thu Jan 13, 2011 4:04 pm
Location: Sunny UK

by 02GF74

pedals for sure.

Front q/r maxle - get one that is done up using allen key.

Chain: kmc x11sl

SRAM 42-10 cassette about 100g less but needs to have XD driver; your wheels may not be compatible


SRAM X01 derailleur and shifter are lighter than Shimano.

d36
Posts: 68
Joined: Wed Feb 22, 2017 3:56 am

by d36

Well my budget is blown!
The xpedo pedals were on sale so I splurged

I ended up going for 25mm internal on 350 hubs ($575 inc postage)
On paper should be about 1500 depending on rim weight
I feel a bit better knowing that the hubs will be easy to service

Replaced bits of my headset as suggested
Cut my steerer and seatpost

Bike should be just below 9.3 kg now

by Weenie


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Great Prices ✓    Broad Selection ✓    Worldwide Delivery ✓

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