How important is weight on a gravity bike?
.blitz
Posts: 6,197
Morning all. My Voltage FR20 is a FR/mini-DH bike and although I've not weighed it it's probably not far short of 40lbs. This weight makes it a steamroller through rubble, roots, craters etc it simply blasts through completely unfazed but it doesn't fly too well, lands heavily, is a handful in tighter stuff and hard work on pedally sections.
The dc Domain forks weigh about 7.5lbs and there's probably 9lbs of wheels and tyres so there's savings to be made in these areas.
My question is, would the bike be faster downhill if I made it lighter or would it be slower because it would be less stable?
The steamroller feel gives me a lot of confidence but by the same token if I have to back off for any reason it's hard work to get it back up to speed again.
The dc Domain forks weigh about 7.5lbs and there's probably 9lbs of wheels and tyres so there's savings to be made in these areas.
My question is, would the bike be faster downhill if I made it lighter or would it be slower because it would be less stable?
The steamroller feel gives me a lot of confidence but by the same token if I have to back off for any reason it's hard work to get it back up to speed again.
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Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
Weight does make a difference. An old Giant Glory is hard work to ride because it weighs close to 50lb, compared to that my scalp easy easy to throw around.
The geometry of your Voltage would be what is making it feel like hard work through the twisty stuff.
You could save some weight by fitting Boxxers & lighter wheels, something like Mavic EX721.
I guess the amount of effort that goes into weight saving in the world cup circuit suggests that lighter is definitely important.