As a beginner, nobody knows how much does a mountain bike weight and not really pays attention to knowing it unless they hear pro bikers bragging about their bike’s weight.
But does bike weight matter? And what can be a good mountain bike weight?
“Weight of the bike matters, but there is no pre-determined good weight for it. It varies rider-wise.”
There is no such thing as an ideal weight for a mountain bike because it varies, depending on various variables and the choice of the biker.
You can use a weighing scale to confirm the weight of your MTB if the manufacturer did not mention it and later compare it with the following information on how much does a mountain bike weight.
Ideal lightweight mountain bike weighs between 24 and 28 pounds, but it varies rider-wise.
So how would you know the correct weight of your bike for yourself? And if it comes heavier, how to make your mountain bike lighter?
Like always, I am here to deal with everything; for a better understanding of MTB weight, examples and pictorial illustrations are added. My website MTBknowledge.com is for all mountain bike lovers.
So, let’s start the informative ride: Vroom Vroom!!! 🚲 🚲 🚲
How much does a mountain bike weight?
If you buy a two-wheeler from major mountain bike manufacturer, you will see that no information about the weight is mentioned.
Contrarily, a typical trekking bike from a local store will give you hints on the weight. Why is that so?
MTB frames will vary by a quarter pound or more, even within the same group, due to paint, weld beads, and other things.
This is the reason not to cater to any claims; MTB manufacturers don’t mention the weight of their bikes on the label.
However, it doesn’t mean that bike weight will not matter. You should know about the accurate mountain bike weight for smoother rides.
Here is how you learn about the weight of a mountain bike.
“You should know about Bike component weights, the average weight of a mountain bike, full suspension bike weight, and heavy and lightest MTBs weight to know about the good weight of a trekking bike.”
Now details:
Bike component weights
Let me explain everything in detail here, one by one, and for a series of frequent questions, I have added a section at the end. You can also feel free to write me your queries.
MTBs weight depends on its sprung and unsprung components:
“The larger the ratio of sprung to unsprung mass is, the more stable a ride will be.”
Unsprung
Components not affected by the suspension are unsprung, like fork lowers, wheels, tires, rotors.” So, the weight of wheels and everything directly attached to them will be unsprung component weight.
Sprung
Sprung is based on all those components not affected by the suspension like those attached to the chassis. The rider’s weight is also calculated as the weight of the sprung components.
“You can use a weighing scale to confirm the weight of your MTB if the manufacturer did not mention it and later compare it with the following information on how much does a mountain bike weight.”
Here I am adding more information on how much a mountain bike weighs:
Average mountain bike weight
As per mine and my fellow experts’ expertise,
“All-Mountain Bikes weigh around 30 pounds on average. If the extra suspension is added, weight can be expected to increase. This could be a reason for MTBs to be heavier than the average XC bike.
Full suspension mountain bike weight
Full Suspension bikes come with a suspension fork up front and a rear shock that makes bike maneuvering smoother and more comfortable.
How much does a mountain bike weight? Due to added components, the full suspension MTB weighs more than average bikes, between 30 and 34 pounds (13.5 to 15 Kg).
Hardtail bikes have no rear suspension, making them challenging to handle for beginners. Extra added features make Trail Bi-Wheelers versatile.
Heavy mountain bike weight
Different Mountain Bikes are used for altered purposes like trailing, trekking, or downhill riding on steep, rough terrain with jumps, drops, rock gardens, and major obstacles. The bike’s weight varies accordingly.
“Downhill bikes (DH) weigh the heaviest around 35 to 40 pounds (16 Kg – 18 Kg).”
Professional riders exclusively use these for fast and hard riding. However, experts suggest that a person can learn better skills on heavy mountain bikes.
Lightest mountain bike weight
A 22-pound bike with a maximum 10 kg weight is considered the lightest among bikers. Racers, to win the race, usually use lightweight bikes.
However, such cycles are not suitable for trekking on all terrain because it can be challenging to maneuver a lightweight MTB on terrain with jumps, drops, rock gardens, and major obstacles.
Good mountain bike weight
How much does a mountain bike weight? Apart from the heavier, lightest, or average weight of terrain cycle, the excellent weight for an MTB to consider is neither too up nor too low.
“Ideal mountain bike weight is between 24 and 28 pounds. However, it varies between the riders.”
Like, as a professional biker, I like to maintain the weight of their ride by adding or removing components. Nonetheless, average weight shouldn’t be too bulky or trivial to make maneuvering hard.
Besides, more weight is suitable for beginners to learn skillful biking.
Bicycle weight chart
While learning about the weight of a terrain cycle, a question that might be occurring in your mind is how the weight of bicycles varies, does it depend on price or the brand, right?
Although price can be a factor, but chiefly weightiness of a bike depends on the material it is made from.
“As per the bicycle weight chart: an MTB made of steel will weigh more than an MTB made of carbon fiber and will also cost more.”
Check the bike weight chart image below discussing material, price, and heaviness according to MTB Type:
How much does a mountain bike weigh? Bicycle Weight Chart | |||
| MTB Bikes | Weight (LB) | Maneuverability | Price ($) |
| Hardtail | 26 – 28 | Excellent | 500 – 1000 |
| Full suspension | 30 – 34 | Good | $5,000+ |
| XC Bikes | 26 – 28 | Moderate | 3000 – 5000 |
| All-Mountain Bikes | 28 – 33 | Poor on smooth roads | 3000 – 5000 |
| Downhill Bikes | 35 | Poor on smooth roads | 2000 – 3000 |
The following image is giving you a good idea regarding the weight of a bike according to its material.
The image clearly depicts that steel-made MTBs are cheaper but weighty however they are strong and sturdy.
Compared to this, Carbon fiber makes the most expensive mountain bikes yet they are strong and lighter in weight.
How much does bike weight matter?
The comprehensive discussion on how much does a mountain bike weight doesn’t end here.
To become a pro biker, you must have an idea regarding how much the weight of the bike matters for smooth riding. Also, does the rider’s weight matter too?
Let’s find out:
Bike weight matters in mountain biking for performance, especially in suspension. Heavy bikes come with double breaks, while hardtail is missing on the rear suspension; though, these are cheaper too.
Does rider weight matter as much as the bike weight?
It does. The heavier a rider weighs, the more energy they can use for riding. Understand it with mass effect on potential energy: “The greater the mass, the greater the change in potential energy.”
However, with heaviness, I don’t mean an obese person. So then, how do riders and ride weight differ? I am explaining this in the following lines:
Bike weight vs. rider weight
Riders’ weight, height VS bike’s weight, and suspension features matter when determining an ideal MTB for a mountain bike lover.
Here is an example for you to understand:
- Males are heavier than females but heightened.
When you are trying to go up the hill, your weight matters. The lighter it will be, the faster you can reach the top. So, women will have an advantage over here.
The same goes for bike weight; the lighter bikes are easy to pull up the hill. However, maneuvering can be tricky.
- Heavier bikes require heavy bikers.
On the other hand, if a bike is too heavy, women will need more strength to paddle and might lose to men due to implementing lower potential energy. So this time, the ball goes into the men’s court.
How to make your mountain bike lighter?
Do you know you can change the weight of your bike to lighter or heavier while trekking on different terrains?
Once you know how much does a mountain bike weight, based on different tracks and trails, you can make your mountain bike lighter/heavier by adding or removing unsprung components.
First of all, you need to know about Mountain bike specs and their weights to manage the overall load of your scrambler.
So, to make it lighter, you will play with Sprung and unsprung components using my following instructions:
1. Go tubeless (wheels make 33.60% of a bike weight)
Change the wheels of your bike with tubeless tires. Removing the tube will lessen the weight, while the chances of getting the tire punctured will also diminish.
2. Don’t put a dropper: (Dropper weighs 600 grams)
Most bikers don’t need a dropper post, and although it doesn’t carry so much weight, still putting them off can help light the bicycle wait.
3. Transform to lighter grips: (it weighs 50 grams per pair)
You might still have to spend some bucks if you switch to lighter handlebars that will be easy to raise, you can lighten the weight of your MTB, yet these grips will do wonders for your hands.
The following lines are my tested and implemented, and I am sure reading them won’t need you to ask how much does a mountain bike weight anymore. 😉
4. Upgrade to carbon material: (These can be as light as 15 pounds)
Eliminate steel and add carbon-enriched forks, wheels, bars, and stems. This is going to be a lot of help when you want to upgrade your bike to a lighter version.
Why am I calling it an upgrade? Because the performance will improve a lot by doing so.
5. Titanium upgrades: (2.5 lbs. the lightest weight)
This is just the weight of the frame, the rest depends on the gear and kit material as well as their quantity. The more gears you add, the more weight a bike will induce.
I know titanium can be a bit expensive, but not when it comes to replacing smaller items in your bike, for instance, titanium bolts, saddle, and pedals.
How much weight can a mountain bike hold?
You know how much does a mountain bike weight. But, you should also know how much weight can a mountain bike hold.
So, “the answer is that more than road bikes and lesser than hybrid bikes.”
A mountain bike can hold a weight between 275 and 300 lbs.
Well, this is a lot of weight.
With such a considerable weight, you can burn calories with this fun activity. Do you wonder how many calories does mountain biking burn?
Bottom Line
I am ending my discussion on how much does a mountain bike weight with a conclusion that it varies depending upon the rider’s expertise, choice, trekking type, and terrain.
However, on a general note, a racing bike will weigh less than a mountain bike as it requires more speed than maneuvering.
For more complete information on mountain bikes, keep visiting MTB Knowledge. 🚲 🚲
