Is A Lighter Mountain Bike Better. Does It Matter To You?

Is a light mountain bike actually better than a heavy bike? In this video Andrew 'Doddy' Dodd compares his lightweight trail bike with a much heavier E-Bike (with the motor off!). On a heavy bike, the suspension often performs better and the bike feels more planted, but a lighter bike is more nimble and obviously climbs up hills much better!
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[@JonnyNorthmore]

So in conclusion....I need a larger water bottle. Got it. Thanks, Doddy!

[@marcalvarez4890]

I carry a roll of duct tape with me when riding. At the top of each climb, i gather about 50 pounds of rocks, and tape them to the frame...Then i ride downhill as fast as i can go. This video confirms im doing everything right!

[@nebnollock5198]

@@marcalvarez4890 excellent work 👍

[@coldforgedcowboy]

@GMBN Tech 13.8Kg (30.42379 lbs) is not a light bike! My first mountain bike only weight 29lbs and that was in 1990.

[@marcalvarez4890]

@@coldforgedcowboyYou need more rocks and duct tape, my friend!

[@coldforgedcowboy]

@@marcalvarez4890... I do realize that every thing on mountain bikes got biggie sized in the past ten years of mountain biking. Wheels got wider in both diameter and width, suspension got longer and wider, cassettes got wider with more gears. Overall mountain bikes have gotten a lot better at descending but their has not seen same improvement in ascending.

[@RyanAlexanderBloom]

When you’re riding 10+ miles and doing serious climbing above 3000m I think each kg is important. When you do light DH, Enduro, flow trail style riding like this channel usually demonstrates then weight is less of a problem. Many bikers don’t want “handling” they want to pedal farther and faster. Gravity disciplines get too much coverage in the media compared to how much actual people ride flatter or more varied terrain, or at altitude, or longer rides.

[@dominikbachraty3611]

that is so true, no common person that barely finds time to ride their bike, or will to ride it, will ever have a bike as expensive as "entry-level" trail, enduro, DH bike ...and they'll most likely go for a ride on their nearest bike path or that one wide gravel forest road

[@DM-jh5rs]

yep, here in the midwest united states, most people ride short travel XC hardtails. When there is very little gravity to play with, all the full suspension, slack geo, big tire, and big travel tech just slows you down.

[@leonline3424]

i agree, i've done wild stuff in the past but now i just love slow trails and grinding simple tracks off road!

[@flippy66]

Many riders do want handling (and in this case handling also includes climbing performance), because many riders are doing light DH and Enduro/technical descents. Here in Scotland that's what most trails are like. Steep and technical. The number of people doing "serious climbing about 3000m" anywhere is very much going to be in the minority (and of course impossible in the UK since we have nothing that high). And Doddy even says, it's worth making weight savings in specific places - i.e. the wheels, due to rotating mass. Don't make the same mistake you accuse GMBN of, your experience is not necessarily the majority experience. This is also a mountain biking enthusiast channel, it knows its audience. If you want something different you should check out different channels or start your own.

[@rcs2003]

Any 29er looks like a 24 inch kids bike when Doddy stands next to them :D Thats funny

[@dystopiaisutopia]

He isn't that tall.

[@silas5483]

@@dystopiaisutopia u on drugs? Me at 5’7” looking at him be like woahhhh he’s tall

[@habanerat]

@@dystopiaisutopia I think 6' 1" - I'm 6'2" and don't feel that tall anymore. Lots taller folks out there. Edit: Weird thought, sometimes I wish I was short. So many sport advantages. But no, I still want to be able to crush tiny men with a burp ; ) totally joking my friend Guy in front of me at the store was 7 freaking feet tall! I was an ant!

[@dystopiaisutopia]

@@habanerat 7 feet is only one foot taller. You need to calm down and be happy you're not 5'8".

[@habanerat]

@@dystopiaisutopia Nah, you stocky guys can do a lot of awesome stuff us lanky guys can't. Tossing around 215 is tiring! hahahaha

[@NullDestination]

One thing to bear in mind as well is the further out the weight is on the wheel, the more impact it has on the wheels feel.

[@SneakyB]

Not necessarily just the wheel but the entire unsprung mass. The lower it is, the better it responds to high frequency chatter and sticks to the ground like glue. Conversely, increasing sprung mass also has its benefit by making the suspension more efficient.

[@gussanders5518]

@@SneakyB I think They are talking about the effect of mass further away from the COR. Lowering rotational inertia is definitely key in my personal decision matrix. reducing unsprung mass is also desired don't get me wrong, but the best way to do that is expensive cassettes and derailleurs (I imagine..?) which are consumables in the current sate of things (I hate this! gearbox the world IMO) . I hypothesise that investing in a fancy light rim with mid range running gear would be far more beneficial for performance than a mid range (heavyish) rim with light running gear, even if the latter is has a lower total mass. I think "ability to accelerate" (which definitely increases with reduced rotational inertia) would outweigh the suspension performance benefits of a light cassette+derailleur. Tl;dr: I propose reducing rotational inertia has greater positive impact over reducing unsprung mass, for similar cost.

[@SneakyB]

@@gussanders5518 not necessarily more expensive cassettes and derailleurs though. With 10 speed coming back in fashion, there's plenty of mid range options out there that are much lighter than the high range cassettes and derailleurs. I've estimated that you can save atleast 200g and up to a whopping 500g from it if you're good at weight weenie charting. Another way is to use lightweight 2 piston brakes that have a lot of stopping power. One great example of this is Formula Cura. It's about at least 100g lighter than most 4 piston brakes yet has the same stopping power as shimano zee. According to vorsprung, lighter chains with short cage derailleurs can also improve suspension performance by reducing their influence. Of course, the ideal solution would be a belt drive similar to Cavalerie Bikes with their high pivot designs.

[@gussanders5518]

@@SneakyB ah yes I think I what you're getting at, esp. re: 10spd, I can't deny apprehension at the huge hunk of steel that is my 12spd cassette and low spec derailleur (on account of lots of riding and a student's budget). for the record I think belt drive+gearbox is the sensible solution to the mtb gear problem. but a good solution is not always a good product! I still think the reducing rotational inertia would be the better approach than reducing unsprung mass for similar cost, However, I suspect (like most things) the problem just isn't that simple, and is probably quite subjective.

[@SneakyB]

@@gussanders5518 my problen with relying on wheels is I also have to spend above 500 usd for the same weight savings, assuming I'm building a wheel from scratch. Rotational inertia doesn't really play much when it comes to unsprung mass though since the force vector is tangent with the rotation. Mass is still just mass. Where it does play a bigger role is acceleration and the ease of overcoming the gyroscopic effect when applying a yaw and roll motion.

[@SergejGrabun]

One of the best made videos about the topic and very good tips at the end to sum up whole experience. Awesome job. Well done.

[@fpamps5805]

Thank you Doddy! You’re the best at what you do in my opinion. Keep up the good work!

[@projectbora]

I do love the very British Spring weather in that video, raining with sunshine! ☀️

[@matsherwood6277]

I appreciate that you guys always talk about upgrading after components wear out. Seems like folks get a new bike and race to replace everything. Doesn't make a lot of sense.

[@floydblandston108]

I got into the light-bike craze through my 110lb. daughter, when I realized that her struggling up hills on her (average) hardtail was like me peddling my 44lb. downhill bike. Getting the hardtail down to 20.5lb. with pedals, small seatbag and bottles sure made a difference to her! For me, it runs in a range; anything under 30lb. feels awesome, while 38+ starts to feel definitely sluggish.

[@BGraves]

44!?!

[@floydblandston108]

@@BGraves - '03 Turner DHR w/ Marz coil fork, built for Clyde riding durability and a preference for solid components. 44lbs. ready to ride- you bet! ; )

[@vivek_v]

A way to visualize this effect is to think of it like this: The weight of a heavy bike is the equivalent of completely rigid arms which prevent the bike frame from moving up with an impact that compresses the suspension. But on a heavy, you can also have loose arms. But the frame keeping the frame from bouncing up after a hit causes the sensation that the suspension tracks better. You can kind of experience the same effect by keeping your arms almost completely rigid and going over a bump. The weight of your arms keep the bike from moving up while the suspension compresses. Obviously, this will be "bumpier" than having loose arms but it shows the effect of having a weight press down on suspension. On a heavy, the bike weight does the pushing down for you and you can keep your arms loose.

[@SnootchieBootchies27]

Been strapping everything to the bike for a couple years now. Mostly wanted to ditch the backpack, but it also makes my bike track marginally better.

[@benconnelly5246]

Cheers Doddy nice vid very informative as usual 👍

[@MrGourd]

I’d love to see the difference in handling on slow and steep technical terrain and on drops. Does the extra weight hinder getting into a nice manual position on drops? How much does the extra weight affect your control on steep rock slabs? Would love to see a part 2 to this video.

[@florianmarx6508]

Great learnings and explanations! More like that!

[@superawesomefuntimego]

Wheels are almost always my first upgrade. I just got a 2021 Specialized Comp Carbon and the stock wheels are super heavy, like 2300g. My under $600 custom set I have coming, with spank 350's (30.5mm inner), Bitex hubs and cx-ray spokes is estimated at only 1750g. That is over 1lb of weight savings just from the wheels. Makes a huge difference.

[@HelplmAlive]

How high of a seat tube do you want? Canyon designer : Yes

[@fwmtb]

Doddy is riding an XL

[@cornishcactus]

I went from WTB to Hunt Trailwides on my T130 and saved a fair bit of weight. Only difference I noticed was less stability in the air and less plowability in rough stuff. I recently changed from a grip quest ending up on Assegai's front and rear from Minions to bringing it back to trail with a Dissector/Rekon combo. What a difference, I might have less grip but I'm faster on nearly everything and the bikes in it's happy speed window for longer.

[@dangrady2938]

thanks Doddy useful info as always， great experiment.

[@chrisinstasis7986]

The paint job on the e-bike makes it look like it was built from leftovers in a B2 factory.

[@jonnysnakes5417]

When i was in morzine i rode a santacruz v10 carbon dh bike on the first day, then day 2 i was on a scott genius ebike riding the same dh tracks and the ebike felt so much better in the park even with nowhere near the suspension travel. Felt really stable over jumps but dropped like a rock off the drops and ended up with a broken ankle from casing a drop really hard lol

[@drmoynihan]

" ... almost disappointing how good it is." Hahahahhahahahahahah !!!! :)> No Doddy - I'm 69years and I am not going to take a e-bike up on my lovely trails. But, my 29" Commencal FS is aluminum and noticeably heavier than the carbon bikes on the trail - but it is also very stable, which I love. Just like PB's Christina has taught us - I choose my line and then ride it! Thank you Doddy for sacrificing yourself for us, "with the motor off", and being the good teacher you are! :)

[@BrianRPaterson]

Same here. I'm 58, not keen on e-bikes either, and have always been comfortable riding metal frames. Can't see that changing anytime soon.

[@dystopiaisutopia]

I've passed many ebikes on trails. Sure they give extra power, but the bike weighs 50 damn pounds. And that motor doesn't do anything on the DH except making turns slow and boring.

[@jimbo4203]

Love my Scott scale 930 ! Super light , fast . A real joy to ride and pick up

[@donbridgewater2988]

Good day Doddie. Thank you for all the hard (fun) work you do to bring us all of this content. I have always wondered about the weight thing on MTB's myself. I use to ride dirt bikes around 100 year ago(50) and was wondering if the added weight might be more in line with a dirt bike? I am kind of new to riding MTB's, just a year now and have an alum. framed bike that weights right around 32 pounds and wondered if it were heavier, would it feel better? But I have come to the conclusion that if it were lighter it would be easier to flick around on the trails for old man (65). So I swapped it to a bloke for a lighter bike and can not wait to be able to take it out and give it a go. Thank you again for your hard (fun) work, Don.

[@timbrown1217]

Have noticed this - I have two versions of the same enduro frame - one E one not. The ebike handles *drastically* differently. The suspension tracks really well, but you need to plan well ahead to get on the right line. Once you're on that line, you can not get knocked off it tho.

[@88davidw]

Brilliant video. Really helpful.

[@cotton009]

One thing ive learnt from this is if im getting an all mountain / enduro bike, which is my plan for my next bike, is that I in no way need to get fixated on it being light, if anything heavier might a better, a good middle weight between my current HT and an e bike maybe.

[@BFBMTb]

Weight doesn't matter too much when you start going enduro or dh. What they are mostly worried about is longevity of the parts and if it will survive the trails they are doing. This is especially true when it comes to tires, many will sacrifice weight for a tougher casing.

[@James-dn1hu]

Would like a video on unsprung mass as mentioned. Could go head to head and use two different sets of wheels of different weights to see the difference. What would you say is a good weight for an enduro wheel set with a mix of performance and durability in mind. Cheers

[@adamjbailey85]

Such a good video Doddy as always. Sorry for the likely obvious question, but are these attributes the same for hardtails? No unsprung mass I appreciate but are there still benefits?

[@hipkiss100]

So basically Sit down through the chunder for max tracking and dual suspension appreciation. 💎

[@MW-ud8zp]

Great video idea + your insights are very interesting as always!

[@Artem-ds6yx]

Heavy aluminum frame with light carbon rims. Perfekt combo.

[@flightpathproductions5579]

Agree. Need to find some quality carbon rims

[@viethknorr5389]

Did know one of you were i can find carbon 26 inch v brake rims ?

[@dystopiaisutopia]

Steel 853 frame and Spank Spike Race 33 rims. Perfect.

[@tonychambers6275]

Being a mechanic love this tech stuff have you thought about doing a video on products that had loads of hype but when you tested them was actually not that good

[@NDemanuele1]

I recently switched to a Heavier bike. I went from an Ibis Ripley to a Ripmo. I understand the Geo is different, but in my experience after a year of riding the Ripmo, the added weight is actually a benefit! It helps me plow through the terrain on descents and think it helps me balance the bike through technical features. I still love the Ripley as much though, it has a slightly different application. These days everything is heavier! So weight is irrelevant. It all comes down to the Geo and suspension platform. I may experiment with lighter tires although I'm very happy with my current setup. On my Ripley I had Carbon wheels, on my Ripmo I have alloy. I don't really feel the difference.

[@amandajane8227]

Out with e-bike riders yesterday. Weight counts when you want to load the bike back onto your vehicle. Wow I couldn't believe how heavy they were and why the guy with muscles lifted one bike onto the carrier and another guy with muscles used a ramp to get his onto his ute.

[@onetwothreefourfive12345]

Great vid again mate

[@jpg6482]

If/when I ever loose my belly I will worry about my bikes weight 😂

[@patricklew3041]

Excellent video. You've got the point spot on. Wheelset does make a huge difference due to the rotating mass. Lighter rims = lower moment of inertia.

[@stevejames6338]

Just put 1400 gram soft rubber tyres on my bike. They feel so comfortable with a thick sidewall.Thought they were going to be so slow but got a pb on my local blue trail on my first run🤷🏻‍♂️

[@willhoonforfood4463]

The best option for light wheels on a budget is a set of Spinergy wheels. They weigh less than 1600 grams and only cost me about $550 on sale. Super high tech (synthetic spokes) and appear to be bombproof. I have a set on my enduro bike and love them.

[@EsraMeylemans]

Hi Doddy and MTB community, i'm looking at buying my first proper MTB. Ive been looking into the Canyon lineup and looked at a couple vids about them, but the one question i have is, how is the Spectral uphill ? Espcially compared to the Neuron.

I like your long term suggestion!

[@Fincher123]

GMBN Tech So i just installed the PTN Rokk Line and get somne wheigt in the Wheels. And now its called loud taht i should get lighter wheels. Please make a video about light wheigt wheels with light tires, Light tires with Tire Noodle and heavy casing/ strong tires. What rolls better and had more grip/ comfort and speed.

[@webster169]

Remember the e-bike will get lighter as you empty the battery 😉

[@kahimma4577]

Weight won't change if battery is empty

[@dominikbachraty3611]

actually, it's gonna feel even heavier when you have to push all that weight yourself with no assistance ...speaking of batteries, they weigh less when empty, but the amount is so little no scale can currently measure it

[@flippy66]

@@kahimma4577 Whoosh

[@PB-mr4hc]

Not how batteries work…

[@flippy66]

@@PB-mr4hc It's obviously a joke.

[@kenanschoon8585]

I have a giant trance with an fox x2 and fox 36 grip2 and there is never a time where I have felt that the suspension doesn’t track the ground compared to my old e bike

[@Paganiproductions84]

My 2018 Orbea h20 bonestock used to be 13 kg bonestock with with Crankbrothers Flat pedals have done plenty of upgrades whit Carbon Handelbar and seatpost that knocked some weight of it and is better for comfort on long rides than i ditched the stockwheels than where more than 2kg in weight some have some hand build wheels that weigh 1660 gram and are 25mm wide and use 11 to 46 shimano xt casette weight be some 11,5 11,6 kg maby lighter and i love it now very quick bike now

[@jimmygrimshaw3318]

Great content again ……lightweight wheels and cassette/HUBs make massive difference to handling …. I think the tech show should move into embn more as the ebike is future tech ….

[@duncandehulst2016]

We've also had some brrrrritish weather today... In the Netherlands 🤔

[@EricBerghen]

Hey Doodie, excellent video as always !! But would all this be completely different with a hardtail ? Or partially different ? Thank you for your reply and keep up with the good work !! Love the channel :-)

[@marcalvarez4890]

Hardtail has half of its weight "unsprung". So it'll ride far far worse. Its one of the reasons why im buying a XC bike. That 4 inches extra travel makes a difference, over the hard tail's 1inch of tire suspension. Its effectively 500% the travel of the hard tail.

[@EricBerghen]

@@marcalvarez4890 That's what I thought too :-) Far worse means it'd better be as light as possible !! --> upgrade to lighter parts :-)

[@marcalvarez4890]

@@EricBerghen Lighter and more responsive and agile is ALWAYS more fun than heavy. Im shooting for a XC bike under 25 pounds. Enjoy that ride. Be safe, have fun!

[@EricBerghen]

@@marcalvarez4890 I'm waiting for my Canyon Stoic 4 !! Same for you, have fun and stay safe !! :-)

[@marcalvarez4890]

@@EricBerghen Nice, im waiting for the next gen Canyon Lux! Next year! : )

[@DJSILKYD]

Needed this. I have the calibre sentry which I struggle to get it off the grown. It's a heavy enduro bike and for climbing it weighs a Ton. The wheel change I have been thinking off but wasn't sure it would make a difference, but glad you pointed a few things out. I agree down hill its eats trails but for twist and turn it struggle to maneuvering.

[@benjy288]

Coming from someone who's done a lighter wheel upgrade, its noticeable if you knock enough weight off them, they do accelerate faster, and make your bike feel more agile and responsive to bar input, but they don't have the inertia of the heavier wheels so they do get knocked around a bit more on fast rough rocky stuff, it just depends on what your after I guess.

[@DJSILKYD]

@@benjy288 So tecky trails do you feel it more underneath you abit... if you get me so if you hit loose rocks will it bounce you around. I guess the weight of the bike keeps you planted? Nice one for that.

[@benjy288]

@@DJSILKYD Pretty much, because they're easier to change direction on that also means they will get knocked off line easier too, the bike will feel a bit more lively and less planted, its not a big difference, but its a noticeable difference, depending on how light you go.

[@karlmiller7841]

I just updated my Polygon Vander N7 aka Sentry with new wheels, lighter tires and a lighter cassette and the bike now handles and climbs great. I got it down from 35lbs to 32.5, really like the frame geo of the Sentry.

[@wesellis4135]

I prefer a little extra weight when on the trails. I had a 2019 spectral and recently cracked the frame. I swapped to a commencal meta which is about 1.5kg heavier and it feels so much better in every possible way.

[@gabrielblain6229]

I just tried my friends new meta. (I have a 2018 spectral CF) And I was amazed at how much more stable it was. Maybe its the weight or my suspension isnt set properly, but dammmn

[@vladborkus2784]

To replace a heavy steel cassette is a good advice but usually it requires changing a rear hub too and adds cost.

[@spudvader]

When I started adding stuff to the frame with a strap on the top tube, bike felt a whole bunch more stable through rough stuff. I was surprised how much the bike handling changed with relatively little weight added.

[@marcalvarez4890]

So if a little weight added to the frames sprung mass improves handling....then adding even more weight to the riders extra sprung mass should make it even better! Ideal bike?....20 pound XC full suspension bike with 400 pound rider! There, i just solved downhill biking!

[@spudvader]

@@marcalvarez4890 Do xc rims not have a weight limit? The real question is, if you have a banana strapped to your top tube, do you eat the banana or keep it strapped to the bike and plow through the rock gardens like a boss 🤔

[@marcalvarez4890]

@@spudvader Depends on the company that makes them. I know Santa Cruz has no weight limit, but they also charge way more, and the wheels are heavier. Being 140 pound, i dont stress bike parts, so i dont give a F what the weight limit is. But from what I've read, most bikes are built to carry a 250 pound rider, more or less. And no, i eat the banana at the bottom of the climb so i can carry the weight inside my belly. Like a boss!

[@polishguywithhardtospellna8227]

@@marcalvarez4890 Aaahhh the belly stash 😂

[@marcalvarez4890]

@@polishguywithhardtospellna8227 Funny you should say that. Living and riding in the desert, I've got to inject large amounts of water in the summer. Since i HATE carrying weight on my bike, i hydrate well before leaving to ride, then i will suck down a liter or two of water at the car, before riding. So I'm carrying at least a half gallon of water (4pounds) inside my belly. The first hour of my ride i pee a LOT, like every 10 minutes. But when i get to the top of the mountain, i have no water bottles, no fanny pack, no backpack, nothing...just me and the bike. Feels good. So yes, im a huge believer in using my belly as a water bottle!

[@hotf00t13]

Surely the same suspension characteristic can be achieved in theory, with any weight bike. The effect on tyres on the other hand, thats different !

[@cooldante11]

you really need to set up a better comparison where you use the same bike but make it heavier between runs or lighter therefore we would be able to see the differences better without having to question the tires and stuff (i guess the problem with this is that you might need to redial the suspension for every run) I wonder if it is possible just to remove the battery between runs or if it's integral to the structure of the bike

[@mattkavanaugh5623]

Clever way to get me to watch a video on ebikes on this channel...

[@Crashtest_Fetus]

I've got a light frame but coils front and rear. To me that feels like the best of both worlds

[@hananas2]

Better? dunno More fun, for me personally? absolutely! I have a very playful ride style, and my 12.3kg / 27 lbs 26er 2006 Specialized stumpjumper absolutely perfectly fits that ride style, and is loads of fun for me!

[@UnjustifiedRecs]

I've got a specialized demo 9 pro, it weighs more than my car, id rather have weight doing the downhill. But my lord it's awful to ride.... Even on the flat it's bloody hard work lol

[@grahamreeve5209]

The difference in gyroscopic action from those heavier wheels will have a massive effect on the feel of the bike.

[@colbyguay8466]

#askgmbntech Hi Doddy, Writing in from the heart of Texas. I ride relatively slow technical trails (jagged limestone). I have a 2021 Norco Fluid FS1. Its about 15-15.5 kg for a 120/130 travel trail bike. My understanding is Norco make heavy frames. Do you recommend saving up for a lighter CF bike for more agility or go the lighter wheel route as mentioned in the video? This is the first nice bike I've ever had so I don't know how much a difference this stuff makes. Just wish I had more agility/manuverability. Thank you for all the great advice and entertainment!

[@MrAimMDMA]

I moved from a nukeproof scout with 2.6 tyres, to a steel full sus, i find that the full sus is easier to ride and a lot faster even on canal rides

[@glitch8441]

I just got a carbon full sun osecond hand with loads of upgrades letssss go

[@dcallan1]

Thanks for telling us the truth about the weight weenie stuff. Most can't afford $5K frames. But, we can save up for better tires, go tubeless, and eventually a new cassette. Moreover, they are parts you can keep if you do find the cash for a new frame one day.

[@chrisridesbicycles]

Two thoughts: 1: Is it more complicated to dial the suspension in on a light bike because the rider is a higher percentage of the weight? (nobody changes springs on a motorcycle just because the rider is 20kg more or less) 2: Lighter wheels accelerate and decelerate better. The question is do you want them to? I remember my first go on a 1.5kg (26“) downhill tire. I was completely blown away how it went over roots without hooking in ob every second tree. Btw. my „why is my old CC bike that much faster“ project is on the way. (chris.rides.mtb ob Instagram) Light wheels only did half the job. Now I have fitted clipless pedals and see what they will do.

[@CeDubble]

A new set of lighter wheels on my trail bike was a game changer!

[@liammccheyne6184]

Just trying to get my brother a hard tail why is everything expensive hahahah

[@Primarch_Vulkan]

Low supply, high demand and if you are in the UK post Brexit import fees bumped bike prices up.

[@chrisward7582]

Larger frame, wheels and forks compared to years back. Prices were ridiculous before brexit or coronamadness

[@chrisward7582]

@Merican Ignorance - agreed that the ones in charge maintain their grip but I’d rather live in the western world than under putin or the CCP and their alternative world view. Besides, the system can be bypassed by going on eBay and buying older 26” bikes. I’ve got three for the price of one new, massive and heavy 29er

[@thim8009]

The motor has drag in it. Should of stole Jonsy's levo sl. I noticed how stable my levo was over my stumpjumper, blew my mind. Over time i learned to lean more with heavier bike and i was able to get more agile with it.

[@Sicklehead88]

what do you mean with drag in it? if you mean that it adds resistence when peddling, then that is not the case.

[@thim8009]

@@Sicklehead88 i own a levo, there is some resistance in the motor when its turned off.

[@rasmusnielsen8583]

Its All in the relativ between sprung and unsprung mass

[@chrisward7582]

Thanks Doddy :)

[@Etho_7]

It's the same with motorbikes, just exaggerated, you can go 3 times as fast on most trails compared to a mountain bike cause you float over the trail, absorbing all the bumps. But in the hairy stuff line choice is more critical cause the weight makes it harder to shift lines quickly.

[@pranavreddy6470]

How about in rigid bikes or hardtails? Does weight matter?

[@dystopiaisutopia]

Weight always matters.

[@jonm7272]

Amazing how much grip and suspension compliance a 150kg motocross bike has too 😊. And a 2000 kg Range Rover. Just in case anyone out there missed the bleeding obvious.

[@TheSHARCRASH]

Depends what you want... in general i'd say lighter is always better just for the control, acceleration/deceleration... but for DH i'd guess that weight and stability plays a key roll. Having said this, when i cross an e-bike on my analog bike, I always end up overtaking it and i don't consider myself as a great rider, just average. My bike weighs 13.3kg.

[@ibonm9344]

#askgmbntech Hi, i have a problem with my fork suspension where the preload doesn’t adjust anything, what i mean is that even though i turn suspension still bottoms out every simgle time

[@rpvnwnkl]

The reason the eBike felt like it had more grip even with the higher pressures is due to the weight of the bike (ie. higher normal force, thereby increasing friction). As well, the pressures can’t be compared between the two since the weight and resulting tire deformation due to the weight is so different.

[@marcalvarez4890]

I suspect the same. Drop the real bike's tire pressure and it'll track as well, and still be far more agile than, the moped. This is a tire pressure problem as much as sprung/unsprung mass problem.

[@rpvnwnkl]

@@marcalvarez4890 There will be a limit of how much the regular bike’s tire pressure can be dropped though. My only point was that the pressures aren’t comparable, and the weight influences both suspension performance and traction (independent of suspension).

[@marcalvarez4890]

@@rpvnwnkl 8psi. Thats what people are running with cushcore now. Thats pretty friggin low, and A LOT lower than what was done in this test. Run the test again, but with15psi in the bike, and see what the results are. I suspect they will favor the lighter bike that ALSO has the better grip.

[@mkhitarkhodaverdian7159]

I prefer heavier bike because I'm 6'5 and 110kg and i ride really aggressive, so aluminum enduro bikes fits me the best

[@dystopiaisutopia]

Steel is better.

[@mkhitarkhodaverdian7159]

@@dystopiaisutopia unfortunately i didn't had the opportunity to try a steel bike

[@mclaren44]

this guy has a great job

[@better.better]

part of the problem though is that your body is not really used to the weight either. last October I switched from a gravel bike to a Surly Big Fat Dummy Cargo Bike, and I'm only just now really getting used to it getting used to the extra weight, getting used to different distribution of weight, getting used to the length of the wheel base... I don't think you can do a valid comparison on the first day using the bike. yeah you're going to have an impression of it, but not the sense of the way your body would get used to it long-term. it's kind of like over on gcn they talk about training then Blake gets on the stationary and blows them all out of the water... and that's because he's used to that heavier MTB and then he gets on a roadie and that thing is nothing to him. WELL IT'S THE SAME THING FOR YOU GUYS. train hill climbs with that EMTB without the motor turned on for a few months and then revisit this experiment and see what you think about it then.

[@manuelcruz4824]

Hope they read your comment! You nailed it

[@koreanmtnbiker2931]

I just bought a Carbon CC to lighten up my 35 lbs alloy bike to 30 lbs. I climb 1hr 15mins .

[@jabehauber]

For a minute there, I almost thought this video was a way of letting us know that Doddy was heading to EMBN. Bullet dodged?

[@sepg5084]

Without watching the vid: downhill, weight won't matter much except for handling, it might even help you. Uphill, weight is a biatch.

[@darrinkulyk9560]

You Can Look Into Combo Weight Rider and Bike . Big Factor Especially Braking . Me and CF Warden Fully Suited Is 165 Lbs 😎 Bike Hauls 😁

[@rajm1976]

Perhaps a bit more progression in the lighter bikes suspension will work?

[@janvahalec4386]

Hi Doddy, thank you for explaining this very well. I would like to also add that you can also save weight using smaller brake rotors and brake calipers. Using smaller rotors with ice technology or added alu fins on pads. It also definitely helps.

[@richardswales6371]

Is there a horrible mid ground? A bike that is heavy and hard to climb and move about, but not heavy enough to make the suspension work really well.

[@nickhill3868]

Interesting thoughts but feel the comparison is flawed by not using the same wheels/tyres in both bikes, the heavier weight of the tyres and wheels will also have an effect due to gyroscopic effect on the ride quality. Maybe you can do it all again and only change one thing, the frame weight, this would give a true comparison and give true results rather than muddying the results with too many factors being changed.

[@markstorer7204]

Doddy, do you carry that stick that props up the bike around with you??? Looks like it's been in a few of your videos🙄

[@ericgodfrey5751]

My bike weighs nearly 40 lbs and while I'm riding it I don't notice the weight at all. In fact, I prefer the weight because it helps keep the bike planted

[@exhibitD79]

I noticed many 27.5'' aluminum bikes from a few years ago weight less than ''modern'' carbon bikes with 29'' wheels.

[@nd-199]

I love to lift my super light bike in the bikepark lift

[@CoderShare]

After racing a couple enduros on a 40 lbs bike....yes.

[@markmoreno7295]

Lighter wheels? Sounds like I need a Pinion gear box.

[@Calispeedboi]

Weird how the local carbon repair shop has mostly canyon bikes in there… they are made insanely thin to save weight

Well... Chris Porter has been saying it for a while :D

[@michalwiktorow2188]

Unskilled rider will always be better off on an heavy e-bike, rather than lightweight bike. Simple as that. Does this goes the other way round? That depends on multiple factors then: if we have skilled biker then how heavy she/he is? How light the bike is? How much of other terrain (fireroad) is to cover before initial/final trail starts, etc. 🙂

[@tomquimby8669]

Next week we will be seeing if the colour of your bike affects it's performance

[@khervinjaycolita]

at first i love lighter bike, but, as got to ride more enduro, i now prefer heavier bike. i just want to descend fast, and with the light bike, it feels more nervous, i bounced around easily. I don't do much airtime, i just really want to descend faster. Not e-bike heavy though, darn their too heavy for me.

[@garthflint]

There needs to be a realistic comparison. Do a 28 lb 29er to a 32 lb 29er comparison. This would be a comparison that average riders actually deal with. Is it worth dropping the money for that 4 lbs? In my experience yes. I just dropped $1200 for Reynolds carbon wheels. Ouch. Lost 500 grams of wheel weight. OMG! Totally different bike. My 29er is now as nimble as my 27.5. Braking, cornering, accelerating, climbing, all different.

[@Bob_Shy_132]

Yes

[@shredthetrack6858]

The Center of Gravity is also much lower because of the heavy Motor. So iam Not Sure If the e Bike is a good comparison between a light and a heavy Bike.