Most modern mountain bikes weigh around 25-30 lbs. Frame and suspension design play a big role when it comes to what a bike weighs. The material the frame and components are made of will also make a big difference.
One of the most common things people do when trying to differentiate a good mountain bike from a bad one is to pick it up. This is rather humorous in a way because I don’t know about you, but my hands and arms aren’t calibrated to give precise weight measurements. And yet we’ve all seen people do it in our local bike shops – they pick the bike up, bounce it in their arms a couple of times, and usually exclaim “Wow, it’s pretty light!” after putting it down.
Even expert weight lifters will have a hard time telling the difference in weight without a scale. You can pick up every bike in a lineup at the bike store and chances are, they’ll feel pretty much the same to you. You can also add in the placebo effect that bright decals or an interesting frame design might have on your assessment.
Mountain bikers have been obsessed with the weight of their bikes for decades. For many, it’s the best way to measure a bike’s performance. Unfortunately, the weight of a mountain bike has become a bit of a status symbol as well. The reason – in order to decrease the weight of a mountain bike, higher-end materials like carbon fiber and titanium need to be used.
Different types of mountain bikes have different weights
There are a few different types of mountain bikes out there, and they’re all built a little differently. A bike’s weight really comes down to its suspension design, intended use, and overall price. Here are a few different types of mountain bikes:
Suspension Design
Completely Rigid (no suspension)
These bikes have no suspension on the front or rear. While they might offer a bone-jarring ride, they also feature the simplest design. Many times, less moving parts means less weight. Some common rigid bikes are single speeds, fatbikes, and very cheap bikes.
Hardtail (front suspension only)
The term “hardtail” is a nickname for a bike with only front suspension. This was the most popular mountain bike design for many years before full-suspension bikes became more cost-effective. Many cross country racers still prefer to ride a hardtail mountain bike because they feel it’s the perfect combination of comfort and reliability while remaining very lightweight.
Full-suspension
Full-suspension mountain bikes have come a long way in recent years. They used to be known for being heavier while offering a comfortable ride. These bikes also were accused of robbing power by soaking up energy and bouncing with every crank of the pedals. Things have changed now though. Many manufacturers are finding ways to shed weight on their full suspension bikes, and coming up with clever pivot designs to make them pedal nearly as efficient as a hardtail.
Intended Use
Cross Country bikes
Cross country mountain bikes are typically pretty light and basic. Many of them are hardtails, but short-travel full-suspension bikes are common now too. Speed is a priority over comfort on these. They also aren’t exactly built to take the abuse of large jumps and reckless riding. Cross country bikes require a certain level of finesse and can be very fast when ridden properly. In most cases, cross-country bikes are the lightest of the bunch.
Cross country bikes usually weigh in the 20-25 lbs range, sometimes less for high-end bikes
Trail bikes
This is a segment that was created a few years ago. Manufacturers realized that the majority of their customers aren’t racing professionally, so they sacrificed a little added weight in order to make them a bit stronger and more fun to ride. The biggest difference between a trail bike and a cross-country bike (aside from the slightly heavier weight) is usually the amount of suspension travel. These will glide over rough trails a bit smoother and be more comfortable for long adventure rides.
Trail bikes usually weigh in the 25-30 lbs range
Enduro/freeride bikes
Enduro racing has become really popular in the mountain biking world, and just like anything else, consumers want what the pros are riding. Enduro racing is very similar to downhill racing with one major difference – rather than taking a chair lift or shuttle to the top of the trail, riders have to climb hills to get to different stages. Think of these as downhill bikes with less weight and lower gearing. They also tend to have a bit less suspension travel than a downhill bike does. Because of their added beef, Enduro bikes weigh more than trail bikes.
Enduro bikes usually weigh in the 30-35 lbs range
Downhill
Beastly frames, chain guides, big brakes, and taller gearing – downhill bikes are the big boys. Geometry wise, these bikes are literally designed to be ridden downhill. In most cases, climbing hills with these is barely manageable, if not impossible. They have one specific purpose – to get you to the bottom of the hill as fast as possible. Downhill bikes are the toughest of the group and accordingly, the heaviest. What’s considered lightweight for a downhill bike would be pretty heavy for a cross-country or trail bike.
Downhill bikes usually weigh at least 35 lbs or more
What are the heaviest parts on a mountain bike?
In most cases, the frame (and rear suspension) is the heaviest part of a mountain bike. Wheels and front suspension forks will also play a large role in the bike’s weight as well. All of the other components like brakes, gearing, and cockpit parts (seat, handlebar, etc) aren’t very heavy on their own. Once these parts are all added together, they’ll make more of a noticeable difference.
How to find out how much your mountain bike weighs
If your mountain bike is a new, popular model, chances are it’s been tested by magazines and websites. Doing a quick search online is worth a try and you might just find your answer.
If your bike has been custom built or modified from its original parts spec, relying on the internet won’t help you. You’ll need to weigh your bike yourself. There are a few ways you can do that.
Some companies sell bike-specific scales. They usually hang from the ceiling and have a hook to hang the bike from. They’ll give you a digital readout of exactly what your bike weighs.
If you don’t want to spend the money on a scale just to weight your mountain bike, you have other options. Most local bike shops use these scales and as long as they aren’t busy at the time, they’ll weigh yours quickly for you. It’s a good idea to go to a shop that you’ve already been a loyal customer of, and remember – coffee and donuts go a long way!
The last way you can weigh your mountain bike is to use a regular bathroom scale. It can be difficult to wrestle one of the wheels onto it (and that might not give a very accurate reading). Instead, hop on the scale yourself, note your body weight reading, then stand on the scale again while holding your bike. Subtract one from the other, and that will give you a pretty good idea of what your bike weighs.
Ideal weight for a mountain bike
So how much should your mountain bike weigh? It’s really a matter of personal preference. The only thing you should be concerned with is finding the lightest bike that will be strong enough for your style of riding and fits into your price range.
Bikes break. And the lighter they are, the more likely it is to happen. Having a bike that’s safe enough to stay in one piece for your type of riding is far more important than bragging about your bike’s weight in the parking lot. Another benefit of heavier bikes aside from their strength and lower price is that they’ll often give you a better workout. If fitness is your main reason for mountain biking in the first place, that’s something to consider.
A lightweight mountain bike is a lot more important to racers where every little bit counts. But the truth is, it’s not a big deal for the average rider. A rider being 20 or 30 lbs overweight will make a much bigger difference in performance, so it might be best to focus on getting in shape before you drop $7,000 on an ultralight race bike!
In the end, does it really matter how much your mountain bike weighs? I’m not convinced that it does. What’s important is that you get out there and enjoy yourself on the trails as often as you can.
Tim is the founder of SimpleMTB and has been mountain biking for decades. He raced in the Ontario Cup series during his teenage years and riding continues to be one of his favorite hobbies now as an adult.
