Lightest factory MTB?

[mk one]

Mid 90's a friend had a 16" Zaskar with RS forks that was under 21lb, he was small and light though and never really took it off-road much. He loved that bike, he used to keep a cloth tucked under the seat and stop and clean the bike every now and again

 

[jimo746]

Mid 90's a friend had a 16" Zaskar with RS forks that was under 21lb, he was small and light though and never really took it off-road much. He loved that bike, he used to keep a cloth tucked under the seat and stop and clean the bike every now and again

I remember a guy in my local mtb club with an Orange Vit T that never went out in the wet, how we laughed at the time.... Now folk stick them in a room/on a wall and don't ride them rain or shine

 

[mtbdave]

Would agree with this. Certainly up there with the best for an off the shelf lightweight package. The '95 Trek 9900 Pro Issue I had was a big old 21" gate but came in at 21.5 lbs, helped by Trek's own brand titanium seatpost and White Industry hubs. Far lighter and more responsive than my '91 GT Xizang LE. I always was under the impression though that the Klein Adroit was the pinnacle of lightness in the early 90s.

A 95 bike will always be lighter than a bike 4/5 years older, through Cnc of areas plus parts
Shimano cnc’d the back out of brake leavers etc also.

Let’s not forget every year there were advances in, technology to reduce weight where it could be done without compromising the strength or function of the parts

 

[trailwright]

A 95 bike will always be lighter than a bike 4/5 years older, through Cnc of areas plus parts
Shimano cnc’d the back out of brake leavers etc also.

Let’s not forget every year there were advances in, technology to reduce weight where it could be done without compromising the strength or function of the parts

Very true, but those OCLV frames were damn light! Interestingly, Giant's MCM carbon monocoque frames which came a couple of years later were much heavier. Not sure why.

 

[mtbdave]

Very true, but those OCLV frames were damn light! Interestingly, Giant's MCM carbon monocoque frames which came a couple of years later were much heavier. Not sure why.

Probably reinforced various areas

 

[Vesatoro]

Mid 90's a friend had a 16" Zaskar with RS forks that was under 21lb, he was small and light though and never really took it off-road much. He loved that bike, he used to keep a cloth tucked under the seat and stop and clean the bike every now and again

Of course there were built bikes even under 19lbs, but I do not think any catalogue specced Zaskar with front suspension was below 21lbs.

 

[Vesatoro]

I'd say that the Klein Adroit Ultralight from 1992 claimed at 20,05 lbs for 19" frame would do quite well in this contest
https://www.retrobike.co.uk/gallery2/d/2633-2/Klein1992.pdf

 

[mtbdave]

Just found this, as said earlier always the smaller frames they give weight of

 

[trailwright]

I'd say that the Klein Adroit Ultralight from 1992 claimed at 20,05 lbs for 19" frame would do quite well in this contest
https://www.retrobike.co.uk/gallery2/d/2633-2/Klein1992.pdf

Very useful brochure. But, an Attitude specced with Record OR is 2.7lbs lighter than one with XTR!! Really? Did they miss a wheel off the scales?

 

[Vesatoro]

Very useful brochure. But, an Attitude specced with Record OR is 2.7lbs lighter than one with XTR!! Really? Did they miss a wheel off the scales?

The ”roadie” rear cassette 11-23 and front chainwheels (20-30-42), short cage derailleur are probably much lighter in OR compared to bigger Shimano parts, but yeah, 2,7lbs sounds a lot.