how to build the lightest hardtail mountain bike...

[village idiot]

just wondering whether with the collective knowledge of the pistonheads cycling fraternity, we can fantasy-spec the lightest hardtail mountain bike...

so post up your suggestions of various spec items including weight (and price if possible, so we can calculate the cost of the build).

ground rules are:-

it must have front suspension forks with at least 80mm travel
it must have disc brakes
it must have a full gear set (triple chainrings and 9/10 speed cassette)
it must have offroad tyres
it must have a frame of 16" or above

[Furberger]

start here:

http://poshbikes.com/i2.php

[Roman]

Or here:

http://weightweenies.starbike.com/articles.php?cat...

[Raven Flyer]

Buy a Boardman Elite Mountain 1.7. 8.6kg.

[OneDs]

why not an Shimano XTR or SRAM XX 2x10 setup for £1,200 at merlin.

Edited by OneDs on Wednesday 9th March 10:20

[Gooby]

Start with the wheels! Best performance gains.
Are you basing the build on that singlespeed you just purchased.

[itsnotarace]

I think this is supposed to be a fantasy spec bike guys, just to see exactly what is possible with current gear. To actually build it yourself would cost upwards of 10k easy

[itsnotarace]

I'll start with these

http://www.ax-lightness.de/xist4c/web/AX---Premium...

995g for the pair

[itsnotarace]

Scott Scale frameset - 899g

http://www.scott-sports.com/us_en/product/10024/55...

[itsnotarace]

I'm not too up with MTB forks but these look pretty light at 1140g

http://www.frmbike.biz/index.php?route=product/pro...

Edited by itsnotarace on Wednesday 9th March 10:37

[OneDs]

Magura Marta SL Magnesium Brake set £600 & 375g

[OneDs]

Schwalbe Fast Fred Lights UST's at 580g each and £60 a pair

A No Tubes setup for the Wheelset nominated by isnotarace. £60 & + 150g for a pair of wheels.

Edited by OneDs on Wednesday 9th March 10:54

[itsnotarace]

OneDs said:

Schwalbe Fast Fred Lights UST's at 580g each and £60 a pair

How about http://www.poshbikes.com/product.php?id=360 @ 310g each. A pair is 620g and £93.98

[OneDs]

itsnotarace said:

How about http://www.poshbikes.com/product.php?id=360 @ 310g each. A pair is 620g and £93.98

Good idea but they look like virtual slicks, they could just about manage hardpack not proper off road, you'd go absolutely nowhere in any gloop.

On the same site The Maxxis Ignitor EXCeption Series: X Country Tyre has better tread pattern than the fast freds, cheaper and lighter at 505gs I suggest a compromise and we go with those and a Stans No Tubes setup.

Edited by OneDs on Wednesday 9th March 11:13

[itsnotarace]

Depends how you interpret the first post? Lightest possible build whilst remaining within the rules specified (offroad tyres - i.e not full on slicks), or retain a fair degree of real world usability

[itsnotarace]

Cranks? The SISL road cranks are up there with the lightest on the market, so assume same for MTB?

http://www.cannondale-parts.de/epages/61764971.sf/...

[rhinochopig]

Brakes...



23grams each.

[OneDs]

rhinochopig said:

Brakes...



23grams each.

I take it your going for cable operated discs then?

[Raven Flyer]

If it's the lightest bike possible, it will have V brakes and cables.

For tyres, Conti RaceKing Supersonic are a true knobbly and only 430g

[rhinochopig]

OneDs said:

I take it your going for cable operated discs then?

missed that requirement. In my defence discs are utterly pointless on a weight weenie bike. You'd pinchflat long before you ran out of v-brake stopping power.