Why the Weight of YOUR Mountain Bike Doesn't Matter

We all want the lightest bike, right? Well, maybe not. In this video essay, Henry compares light weight and heavy mountain bikes. Can a lighter weight bike sometimes undermine performance?
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[@pinkbike]

Hi everyone, thanks for tuning in. Sadly, Henry hurt himself before filming the second part of the video so there wasn't quite as much riding footage towards the end as we would have liked - and lots more hobbling about. His only other job during the whole shoot was putting his three-month-long excel evening course to good use and nailing that spreadsheet at 11:40, which he's adamant he did. Others may well disagree.

[@Matthew_Xc_Mtb]

Henry sacrificed

[@jakemercado7154]

intense 951 xc

[@strongerthanyouallday]

Lol ahhahaahahahahahaahahahaa

[@eph8334]

Prob could handle the corners on a heavy bike

[@TheCHrizzzzzzooo]

@@eph8334 😂😂😂

[@Biker790]

Henry is massively underrated as a presenter. I feel like I don't see him on screen as often as some other presenters, but he kills it every time.

[@reneh.6551]

Yes, in terms of quality content and details...

[@armandutan5901]

I wonder why he got booted from GMBN...

[@rpattinson]

Agreed - more Henry please. His subtle UK only jokes are great too.

[@sufyanm4661]

@@armandutan5901 I think he left

[@chickenclips]

he's good, he just needs to talk louder. Sometimes it feels as if he's trying to whisper MTB lies

[@ZFit11]

Comparing mountain biking back in 1996 to today, it does amaze me how much has improved by letting go of being a weight weenie and packing on the pounds! Yes, it makes uphills more of a challenge, but the stability on corners and downhills puts a much bigger smile on my face (compared to fear)! Great video, Henry!

[@anthonywalters7434]

On note of the Versus tires, I run the Trail casing and I’ve never had issues with the casing being too weak. On my old Maxxis EXO+ set I managed to stretch the tire’s sidewalls while riding in Asheville NC on a 4 day trip. The Versus tires have had no such issues at all.

[@richardaltman7468]

Agreed. I replaced my worn maxxis with trail casing versus tires and found that I could lower the pressure due to the tires stiffness. Found them harsh if I didn't reduce pressure.

[@anthonywalters7434]

@@richardaltman7468 yeah, I have to run at most 23 psi out back compared to 27 on my old Minion DHRII

[@richardaltman7468]

​@@anthonywalters7434 Me too. I'm at about 18 psi front, also. Never had a problem at that low pressure.

[@99MrJ99]

Totally. Im riding a 60lb ebike now for dh and it handles better than my enduro did. The weight is a marketing tool for sure. Unless your a top level pro you do not need a light bike, you just need to adjust your riding style a bit for weight differences if it is significant.

[@SnootchieBootchies27]

Henry out here saying what I've been telling people for years. Thanks champ!

[@erictrelz3519]

I enjoy Henry's presentation style and in-depth analysis. He is correct, when discussing trail or enduro bikes, weight is not a high priority. Thanks for addressing this issue and providing me with facts to ponder when building a new bike.

[@stevenh766]

When did mountain biking become synonymous with downhill / enduro riding? XC and pedaling uphill are now the asterisk or afterthought?

[@jexner]

110kg guy, riding a fatbike up about 1000-2000m each week. I went for a Deore 11spd 11-51 cassette because it was made of steel, and I trust that. Very much think Henry is right.

[@Rzagski]

I’m 90-92 kg and I can tell you after having dropped 3-4 kg you can definitely feel your weight and the weight of the bike. Almost 60 now I still race so staying light is critical

[@richardsmith3350]

Great video, thanks. I run eddy current tyres, inserts, 36 hole hubs, straight gauge spokes, 220mm brakes, 9 speed gears, coil springs. I couldn't care less about climb times, strava stats or racing. Just like a nice burly safe feeling on steep decents. We have so many different styles of bikes now it's crazy. I guess there are two different kind of riders 1. Adrenaline junkie, free riders who chase a feeling. 2. Competitive fitness style guys who want to measure a performance gain.

[@ricusmate]

Bunny hops? Distance and height when jumping? Jibbing and tricks? Speed and stability are second to me. I use downhill casing front for corner support and better damping.

[@diamondbracelette]

Jibbing and flicking? You mean you're not just non-stop SENDING it??

[@o2boutdoors]

This was good info. I do have to say that I was riding a 23-1/2 lb. bike in the late 1990's, and I loved it for the tight, twisty, XC trails that are my favorite kind of riding. My preference would be to not count grams on things like tires that improve durability and performance, but I'm happy to give up big rotors and suspension travel for less weight and a lower center of gravity.

[@JeremyFacer]

Say it with me everyone “HEAVY IS THE NEW LIGHT!”

[@johndef5075]

🤣

[@jimmyz5831]

Never has a hobby been so analyzed and debated. We are riding bicycles. That's pretty much it.

[@pixelheart3539]

The 80's inspired intro was perfect! 😂

[@jptothetree]

Pinkbike's production value is through the roof these days! Fantastic 🤘🤘

[@86309]

Were those EE Wings? Great discussion. I tend to agree, I just got my Pole Vikkela 190/190, and all set for Enduro racing its at 34lbs 12 oz. I think the points on cost and performance are valid. I actually am growing weary of Carbon frames ...just too many cracks , splits and rock damage over the years ...so I went 7075.

[@elliottanderson4453]

Just go steel and never worry about it again, haha.

[@steelfalconx2000]

As a big guy I upgraded my rotors to the biggest Shimano made at the time, I think 203mm. It makes a world of difference.

[@petergottschalk726]

There needs to be a segment where you explain that we have to be thankful to bike industry to make the heavier bikes more and more expensive 😏

[@grantschoen1726]

Great weather segment, Henry 2:28

[@158158cow]

Much like cars and motorcycles - ergonomics aside - weight is the biggest characteristic noticed by any pilot. I feel that the rider’s weight and terrain ought to be paired with a substantially robust mountain bike setup. I’m 185lb in PNW and added 4.5lb to my Reign. Inserts, coil suspension, CC link, 4-pot brakes. Wouldn’t change a thing!

[@MasterOfPace]

Wow! Where did you film this? What a gorgeous place to ride

[@NONO-hz4vo]

I have a bike with 4lb tires and massive coil suspension. Dropped it to a single gear too just to be safe. Massive rotors front and rear make anything Shimano or Sram spec look silly. You would think with all this weight it would suck on the climbs but even at 100kg this bike flies up them like I am not even pedaling.

[@renzoeltigre]

TRP thanks a lot for that 223 mm rotor. Adding 3 mm is just for commercial purposes and complicate our life. Is it that hard to follow the standard?

[@greganphotography]

Thought you were in the uk at the beginning of the video.

[@walterbrown6388]

That was a really funny video. And the content and logic was interesting too. Awesome stuff.

[@gmbmedia28]

Sheeshh that Factor Lando bike is 🔥

[@sbbeowulf8296]

henry makes awesome videos

[@ryanmb21]

Best video I’ve seen in awhile! 🧐

[@jonahdewitt8464]

If you feel like the weight of your bike is holding you back, remember that somewhere out there, there’s a bike packer riding five times further than you with fifty pounds of shit strapped to his frame.

[@brundlefly7686]

More metal riffs please 🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘

[@chasepalpatine170]

Video ends with him pushing the bike up the hill because it’s soooooo heavy. 3.3kg…madness. 😉

[@AbdoonAhmd]

I love such bikes but I don't have the money for them

[@Happy_Biker]

Production values 🤯

[@DemonicVelocity]

40seconds on 200meters of elevation is quite a bit, especially if you take into account, that burlier casings usually also come with softer compounds. When regarding weight, you should also differentiate between rotating and general bike mass, especially when you can't pedal circles all the time like roadies. All in all, you could calculate with twice the penalty in "climb-a-bility". So a typical 40minute climb where I live takes about 160s longer, which doesn't sound much, but keeping up with someone as fit as you are, riding a pace this much faster actually is pretty strenuous. Also I like the "poppyness" of a lighter bike.

[@TeddyParker]

Henry Quinney, yet again, single-handedly saving this platform.

[@K.V.P14]

Breath of fresh air compared to the other cringe fest! Just my opinion 🤷

[@brainpaint43]

Ben cathro is my favorite addition to pinkbike but Henry is great

[@TeddyParker]

@@brainpaint43 Absolutely. If anything I wish Cathro could do these types of things without PB but that's a pretty tall order so if PB is what it takes absolutely... PB Racing all the way. Sleeper Co, Cathro, Quinney... Just so good. Imagine if they made their own platform lol

[@paulbigbee]

Henry, Ben and Christine. If they’re doing a video, even if it’s not in my particular area of interest or riding, is gonna get me to watch.

[@brainpaint43]

@@TeddyParker ive already watched almost all of ben cathros own youtube channel!

[@Matthew_Xc_Mtb]

Me as a xc rider reading the title 😭💀

[@strongerthanyouallday]

Cry!

[@sepg5084]

​@@strongerthanyouallday 50 lb. Bike = best bike.

[@jamest4016]

Me with a Magic Mary 2.6 super downhill on the front of my hardtail 😎

[@jasonkroll2735]

The heavy bike riders i c struggling up hill.. Gravity and brakes takes care of downhill.

[@jamescourier1545]

My XC race bike weighs less than 23 lbs, ready to ride. Lighter IS better in the XC world.

[@hectorlmges]

I’m a light 60Kg guy and on my DH Scott Gambler on ski lift days I don’t mind weight at all. On my XC bike for looong days pedalling on the other hand it’s another history… I upgraded with lighter parts and faster rolling tires and it is night and day. Maybe for people over 90Kg the difference in bike weight is less noticeable but for light people it is.

[@shaun1900]

Nah I'm 90kg's and the difference between my 12kg and 15.5kg bike is noticeable, mostly, I think in the rotational mass of the heavier wheels and tyres and brake rotors - but it is much calmer and safer on the decents.

[@oliverjacobs8594]

@@shaun1900 im 47kg and I can't even imagine how horrible it would be to ride xc with anything over 13kg.

[@5gvaccinator343]

I m almost 90kg, and I feel 700g removed from the wheels very well. So, weight is a factor. Even just keeping up with your friends is hard with burlier tires. Ps. For some reason, jumping is way easier for me with burly maxxis assegai and tubes. Tail whips and other tricks come more naturally with way heavier wheels.

[@shaun1900]

@@oliverjacobs8594 that's why as a fatty I have an XC dual suspension bike at 12kg's and an 8.5kg hardtail bike both with cages, pedals and I fully appreciate the weight saving, must be more pronounced for a featherweight.

[@User-re9so]

@@5gvaccinator343 well yes. This comes down to rotating and unsprung mass. If you get a heavier seatpost, shock, stem or stuff like that, you barely gonna notice it.

[@PowerTime847]

Every once in a while pinkbike creates content that is really really good!

[@gmas135]

Not the case this time though

[@casestudymtb]

Everything about this is perfect. Henry's in fine form doing video editorials, and I'm here for it.

[@HS-iu2nv]

Couldn't agree more. My personal favorite: the soap box is still on his foot in the next shot.

[@E.T_rode_bikes_As_well]

Henry still carries whole Pinkbike metaverse on his back. Protect this man!

[@user-xq5rp9fm1p]

Time is one thing, and yes, 30 sec is not a big deal, but energy and resource expenditure definitely can be. When I pedal a 34lbs bike 3000+ ft in altitude, definitely notice the difference compared to a 27lbs bike. I'm not fatigued, cramping, or waining in concentration when it comes time to pointing the bike down the mountain and risking getting into an accident. To each their own, and hence why I weight weenie...

[@noahthegildedone5917]

I hear you, and I'm not at all disputing the validity of your statement. I've done the weight weenie with a super light XC bike when I weighed 165lbs. Now my riding weight is 190lbs and my enduro bike is 40lbs! (It is also my "XC" bike as it is my only bike lol) All I have to say is that you're body adapts to the situations you constantly expose it to. If I really feel the need to lighten the load, I'll just lose 10lbs of fat🤷🏾 #problemsolved I do plan to get in better shape, but climbing with a heavy bike is a great way to do that. (Better than the gym IMO)

[@OverMotoren]

Wow. What a production. It's not even the contents, it's making this story which takes up a fair bit of research and writing and after that, filming it. I can only imagine the amount of time and effort this took. Well done, very well done.

[@howarddavies136]

Henry looks soooooooo much more at home on PB than GMBN. This video is the most natural and comfortable I've ever seen him.

[@TimothyM]

This is one of the best MTB tech videos I've seen in quite a long time. I absolutely love this format! Witty and informative 😁

[@ryanmichels2981]

Great vid and perspective on how important weight is (or isn’t). Always enjoy Henry’s deep dives into this type stuff.

[@rlsedition]

It seems to me Henry was supporting the notion that different trails require different bike solutions. No question the kinds of trail in this video are not "average", but more downhill focused and technical. Of course those trails demand heavier, more robust components to optimize the experience. It all depends on where you ride and what you like about mountain biking, as always.

[@bigslacker666]

This has been a thing for a while now, especially with modern geo, especially STA that lets you winch a big bike up. My Evil Insurgent is near 38 lbs and does mostly park and shuttle, but I've done 40+ mile rides on it. That said, there is an argument to be made for very light downcountry bikes like the Epic Evo that can climb like XC but still rip downhill within reason. Just depends on what riding you're doing.

[@bk83082]

As someone who started in the mid 90s, and miss those days a lot, this video sums up a lot of why I don't really identify with the direction the sport has gone. I'm not a weight weenie, I ride a 4130 cromo hardtail, but I don't prioritize "performance" as much as I do fun and engagement. Bikes designed to winch me up a 30 minute fire road climb and then fully soak up any obstacle on the way down leave me feeling a bit "meh" compared to a 15-20 mile trail through the woods that has an element of exploration along with a variety of terrain to negotiate rather than blast through it with 170mm of travel. I'm not telling anyone that they are having fun the wrong way, just that what this video addresses seems like it's already very much catered to.

[@seano218]

I agree fully. The industry needs to calm down and stop focusing on one area.

[@topspot4834]

I ride most DH (bike parks) so I'm not overly concerned with weight. That said, I prefer a lighter ride, but tires and suspension have more to do with that than anything, and for any DH rider that's gonna be a lot more important than weight. Still like throwing it around a bit though, so I prefer it lighter, it's just not something I obsess over anymore.

[@jbs3691]

One of the best PB videos I have seen in a while. Great work in both content and production quality. Well done Henry and team!

[@jefferson9428]

Weight matters even less the bigger you are too. Like I weigh 210 lbs. My trail bike and enduro bike both weigh about 37 lbs. Combine that with my weight, you got 247 lbs that my energy is pushing uphill. I could buy the lightest trail bike and kit it out with the lightest parts, but that’s over $10k to save maybe 6 lbs. am I going to notice a 2-3% decrease in weight? Absolutely not.

[@andrewwellman]

I could not disagree more with these low information, over generalized statements about heavy vs light. There is so much more you failed to talk about. Material science, compounding, engineering, geometry etc. Just saying heavy vs light is so void of information. Your paving the way for bike bike producers to be ok with obese bikes that are cheap to produce.

[@benefiet]

I always wonder if loosing 1kg of bodyweight has the same effect on the riding as having a 1kg lighter bike...

[@peterkelly7937]

Was just thinking about this a few hours ago. Losing 5kg of body weight is like taking a 15kg bike and turning it into a 10kg - for straight fireroad climbing at least. I guess in all other riding situations, the weight coming off the bike as opposed to the body would have very different effects. I think?

[@andymoss4285]

@@peterkelly7937 I guess it depends on if you’re losing fat or muscle. 😂

[@MasterChronometer]

Depends where you live, riding a big heavy enduro bike on flatter trails is the most miserable experience. Light bikes still have a place.

[@StuartPlumbley]

Love to watch Henry, always makes informative and fun videos. However, I'd probably disagree with sticking linkglide on, if your focus is descending, then perhaps uplifts are being used quite a bit, not sure a standard drivetrain won't last just as well. On an emtb however, linkglide looks like a great idea and I would definitely have used it had I not had a set of wheels with a xd freehub

[@kevinanthony8925]

As someone who has ridden everything from xc racing to downhill, I couldn’t agree more. I broke so many light parts back in the xc days it was ridiculous. Then went on to 20 years of DH. The last few years I’ve mostly been riding enduro. On my 4th enduro ride on a brand new bike, I tore a knob off the rear single ply tire causing a complete failure of the tire. Two rides later, I put a huge dent in the rear rim. After that I went to double down tires and Cush core. Couldn’t be happier. The bike is a little heavier, but performance is way up!

[@peterj.2114]

I recently went from riding a 13kg hardtail to a 16.5 kg full sus and within a week i was used to the weight and it feels completely fine on the climbs. What I'm noticing alot tho is everything else that the bike offers. I live in a fairly flat area but nonetheless there's a lot of fast short enduro, drops and gnarly bits. The new bike just puts the hardtail to shame and it's been an absolute blast. I was worried a bit before purchase and I'd say if you're on the fence, the weight really doesn't matter :) Great video. Thanks.

[@filipdrs8998]

me as a hardtail rider that built a bike that weighs close to 15.6kg that is 34.4 pounds i guess that its pretty fair to ssay i dont care about weight very much butt everytime i ride a light bike i feel like its not as fast downhill but i guess thats just my tought but i personally built my bike with dh rims dh/enduro casing tyres heavyduty tyre inserts and 220mm rotors front and back i did put a rockshox domain on i so i guess i am not a weight wennie but you do you guys have fun and most importantly ride your bikes guy.

[@krusch75]

Spot on. Many manufacturers sell bike with lightweight tires to keep weight down as a selling point. And as soon as someone buy the bike they also by heavier tires. Bad economy and not enviromentally friendly as many just throw stock tires in the trash. Should be industry standard to set weight without tires. Or have 1200x2 (front and rear) grams as industry standard spec for total weight

[@dho]

I actually disagree with this opinion actually. I have a few points to make about why having a bike that's light matters. 1: Manipulating the bike: A lot of trail riding involves rowing the bike, throwing your bike, and shifting your balance between left and right side. The heavier the bike, the harder all these motions become. Imagine you need to row a 40 pound weight 100 times in a given ride. If you cut down the weight 5 pounds, obviously the difference is noticeable, and it's much more pleasant to manipulate a lighter bike. This kind of rule applies for any single motion you apply on the bike. Some you'll feel the weight of more than others. When you're in the air, this effect is definitely multiplied. Trying to jump a full power ebike playfully is just super tough, and not very fun. 2: Rolling resistance: Rolling resistance plays a huge role in the perceived speed and "weight" of a bike. As you go into enduro bikes, it's super normal to ride assegais, downhill casings, and other tires that just roll really damn slowly. Even if the bike only weighs a few pounds more than a trail bike, the tire difference will suck away so much energy on the climbs. This difference isn't accounted for in the numbers that were shown in this video about the climbing speed of two bikes. If you factor in an extra 15-20w of power loss due to heavy duty tires, you're easily down another minute or two in a 20 minute climb. 3: Lighter/medium duty forks have gotten much better in the recent past, and are only getting better. There's a lot of hate for the 120mm SID fork, but it's really impressive for what it does for its weight, and it's a promising trend. Trail bikes are becoming more and more capable, and you can get away with riding big features with less fork and less tire, because of excellent geometry and suspension tunes. My final point is that it really depends on where and what you ride. People are smart and will slowly find the right balance for themselves. I bought an enduro bike 2-3 years ago, and now I mostly just ride my Spur because it's super fun, fast, and I can get away with it on my local trails. ymmv.

[@pierrebroccoli.9396]

Me, thinking horses for courses. If you ride in some MTB heaven like Canada - pork it up but when you don't have the extended elevation pointing down - well I like a lighter setup but would love to ditch the 12 speed for a wide range 9 or 10 speed 11 to 46 would do. The dinner plate 12 speed has my derailleur cage scooping up the forest plants on my rides through natural trails. Maybe I just need to fix a bucket back there and have my MTB double up as a berry picking machine?? A lot of forest undergrowth where I ride.... I do like a sturdy frame and geo for the short but rowdy descents I fly down. Tires - under 1kg for me per tyre. More than durable enough. Great video though Henry, always fun to watch and Mike in the mobile Dutch Oven - classic.

[@nikonboy07]

I hate how every manufacturer is currently trying to make their bikes as ugly as possible. Everything is black/grey//dark green … yuck. Go back 10 years ago and you could pick the brand without even seeing the name on the frame☹️Trek’s 2012 Slash was one of the best looking colourways ever dreamt up. Kona’s Abra Cadabra was another good looking ride. Marketing departments desperately need a revamp.

[@chrisward7582]

As someone who doesn’t push their bike to the start of every downhill section I can honestly say that there’s nothing more depressing than riding a 30lb bike around your local trail. Larger wheels, larger frames and larger forks are all designed for larger people who expect an uplift. This video and modern bikes are completely skewed towards downhill thrills. Ride your bike like a normal person and you’ll never have more fun that with something like a second hand 26” specialized s works epic. 21lbs and an absolute pocket rocket! I’ve never had so much fun on two wheels :)

[@Cpt-Pugwash14]

Weight matters. my commencal FSR was 37lbs when i got it and it was horribly heavy and cumbersome to ride... got it down to 34lb and WHAT A DIFFERENCE!! so much easier to throw around and fun to ride. a heavy bike is about as shit as a ebike is....

[@graved1gger]

why everyone is talking about bike weight by itself without considering the rider? Sure 80kg rider would hardly notice any difference in the long term between 14 and 17.3kg. But if you take 60kg rider, he would be much more comfortable with 14kg bike than 17kg bike. And it's not only noticeable while climbing, working on the descents also requires a little less effort too.

[@mariorudovsky7222]

weight is a myth. a heavier bike will come to you only at the beginning, then you will get used to it, just like the light ones, the wow effect will last for a few days, then it will be just something you got used to. If we talk about the weight of bikes in individual categories, it doesn't matter if your enduro bike has a kilo more or less. Today, 15.5 kilos or 16.5 kilos doesn't matter. As with a trail bike 14 or 15, it doesn't matter. The amazing thing about these days is that there are so many different bikes and components that you can very precisely tune your bike to where and how you ride if you think about things a bit.

[@rpiian]

You have too much intellect for this crew, Quinney. Your soapbox needs some additional stiffness there (but keep it vertically compliant!). 5 stars.

[@SubversionGarage]

Where on the bike is more important than the amount of weight. An extra pound in the BB is practically unnoticeable compared to the same pound added to the wheels

[@steveloyd2723]

Thanks for the video... great to think away from mainstream marketing. I'd offer that for some people optimizing for stable, high-traction, downhill performance is their goal, but others enjoy that "spritely" ride as you describe it. A lighter cassette, wheel and tire moves more quickly up and down over the trail and the more supple tire casing provides a high-traction super smooth experience. While it really isn't about optimizing speed for many of us, the feeling of the bike does matter, and light weight components are necessary for a "spritely" ride that can not be experienced with heavier components.

[@Albatrossamongus]

Factor road frames crack if you look at them sideways, a Factor MTB frame? No fucking thanks.

[@ajandlucy]

Not sure what Henry is on about bikes have been getting heavier for years, the obsession with weight I would say is done for most riders in terms of grams, kilos a different matter

[@amore8325]

Meanwhile: XD riders counting the grams lol😂😂😂

[@beautiifuldecay]

“Some say this is intellectual property of Top Gear” Give this man a raise😂😂😂😂

[@randypratt6304]

Tire rolling resistance can have a much greater impact on climbing speed than tire weight. There can easily be a 15 watt/tire rolling resistance difference between a trail tire and an XC tire. This would add about 2 minutes to the climb time in your example.

[@jonahdewitt8464]

And on a technical climb or flat, you’d gain more time because xc minded tires are easier to accelerate after a tight turn or steep section.

[@orionktulu]

The thing that that equation is missing is that as weight increases, power output is no longer constant.

[@louieschramm1184]

I'm a lighter rider who races XC and I totally agree with you about choosing performance over supper light weight especially on brakes and suspension. However I was a bit confused by your reasoning for heavier tires because with the DH casing tires tires on my Spire I felt that they were stiffer and so when I really got after it the point at which they would let go was pretty unpredictable. On my race bike I have lighter wheels and have always biased towards a lighter tire with some type of insert in it. I felt that the insert provided the support and the normal casing was great for grip. Any thoughts on this?

[@MichaelLargent]

I've always preferred heavier tires. Now I have the justification. 😅 They ride so well and I never have flats.

[@versustires5494]

Excellent work Henry! This is both entertaining, informative & something we've been been trying to tell anyone who would listen for quite some time. Thank you for using our tires to help illustrate such an excellent point.

[@TheShift1313]

I want to try a heavier casing tire to try to save my rims. Will def check out your products

[@Edwordless]

I didn’t hear you talk much about how weight affects downhill handling, jumping, etc. I got a serious enduro e-bike recently that is 20 pounds heavier than my MTB, and it is really nice jumping and flying down hills. Feels planted and more stable. I ride ride dirt bikes as well, and my big KTM weighs in around 250 pounds, all due to a big motor, heavy suspension, and durable parts. It seems like added weight is mostly benefit down hill, and probably a huge cost for all mountain riding and up hill grinding. However, just like with dirt bikes, any weight disadvantage for climbing can be easily offset with a motor, and you can have the best of both worlds!

[@4KMTBRider]

“Heavy is good, heavy is reliable. If it doesn't work you can always hit them with it.” - Boris the Blade

[@lerubi1]

Whole argument is baseless, as Henry is referring to performance only for going down, if you ride for the whole mountain, then performance is also required for going up and in the flats. One would usually spend 1/3 of the ride going down and only a handful of minutes at it, while you drag an anchor that understeers and handles awful for the majority of the ride.

[@diamondbracelette]

Or trails that are techy or in between and benefit from an agile bike. He left room for rider style and preference, but overall the MTB press focuses on a very specific style of riding, region, and terrain. I get it, certain ride styles and terrains aren't as "yip!" worthy. To each their own (terrain).

[@ownyourworld]

If it doesn’t matter why do they make them out of ally and carbon fibre ?

[@shafiqjan1474]

My bikes weigh more Coil springs rule They have tough tires that finish rides They run 28t rings and 9-50s They are shiny metal I have to worry about fitness, my bikes let me relax

[@michaelmann3636]

Henry, I have a Spire and would love to know your take on what coil shock to run. My rider weight (full gear) is 205 lbs. I was thinking Fox but not sure on spring weight, or to go progressive spring or not ?

[@swankysnail]

I'm not Henry but I did put a coil shock on my sentinel which has the same leverage curve as the spire just 20mm less travel. My opinion is to do it. It transformed my bike for the better in every way. I went for the cane creek dB because it's got such a wide range of adjustment that you don't need to get it tuned. Any brand of coil will be good though. I would definitely get it from your local suspension centre. Ask them the questions, they know their stuff and there's a spring weight calculator online. I also spoke to transition about progressive or linear springs. They said the bike works with either. If you're in the bike park doing massive Huck's and big jumps then go progressive. I went linear. I lost a little bit of low speed pop but i can't say I've felt like I need a progressive spring even on medium sized jumps and Huck's of 6ft or so. Hope that helps.

[@MarkJolley]

This is good because i have a $12,000 bike that's well over 30 pounds.

[@NDemanuele1]

I preach this to my Roadie buddies - they never listen!! 🤣😂 Previously I had an Ibis RIpley and loved it to death. Eventually I sold it for a Ripmo. As Henry explained here, I noticed the extra weight of the Ripmo contributed to more support on descents and climbed just about as well. Also, I was shocked to find out on my first ride at my local trails I had 18 new PRs without even trying! I attribute these PRs to a longer wheelbase and I believe I unknowingly go faster due to the increased stability - it's very misleading!...LOL. However, I think the different Geo makes a huge difference.

[@bikoastal9203]

Utter nonsense.

[@jamiehamilton3253]

100% agree with you! Especially regarding downhill performance and gear longevity. Also as a lighter rider (I'm 73kg geared up) I've noticed, for me, a slightly heavier bike allows me a bit more calmness and stability through really fast rough terrain. I don't get knocked about as much. Hence my Commencal Meta AM ticks pretty much all my boxes. And even downsized which is another story for Alice and her rabbit hole. 🤘

[@sandy_knight]

Yup, sounds like a sensible choice. Personally I haven't looked at the weight of anything MTB for over a decade, the only exception is a few bits on my DJ bike, mainly tyres. You don't want to compromise strength but when you run >60psi you can get away with a lighter tyre and the extremities of the bike are the best place to save weight if you want to improve manoeuvrability.

[@josh33172]

I like the video, but we have to be honest about one thing: Our goals. Climbing has completely different requirements than descending. If you want a bike that does both adequately, you need to balance those things out. If climbing is just a means to be able to descend, by all means..but if climbing is more important or just as important, you then also have to consider what your goals are as a rider, and how much you can budget for it. Its all good advice, but the argument is more centered around descending than climbing. I own an older (original) Ibis Ripley LS, carbon with carbon wheels and other bits but has a DVO Diamond 140. I did this to exend the capabilities but its still wicked fast and fun on the trails, but its a trail bike. The most important aspect is that the fit and setup is absolutely dialed. I'm using GX drivetrain....it could be XO, but it doesn't need to be. I don't skimp on the bits that really make a difference in performance and feel, and the other stuff its kind of whatever. If you have a big enduro bike, your goals should absolutely be different to maximize what the bike is made for and I believe for a big bike that has a bias for descending should be built bigger and stronger....and in reality should have a bit more weight to it.

[@diamondbracelette]

Yeah most of these conversations seem to revolve around a very specific style of bigger, flowy mountain riding. The kind that's funner to film perhaps. Versus techy gnar fests with lots of sequential climbing to string together less epic descents. Not to mention repetitive techy session work to solve tricky spots and skill building. Certain types of New England riding for example. I'm open to a heavier more capable bike for whatever descents I do have, and certainly for whatever bike park days I might rarely have. But with admittedly being a bit behind the times (28.5lb "enduro" rig), I find it hard to imagine that my type of riding would benefit from a 35 lb chunker. But maybe I'm wrong!

[@josh33172]

@@diamondbracelette I moved from S. Florida which unsuspectingly is better suited for mid-travel bikes than XC bikes assuming you're not having one bike for MTB and gravel. It can absolutely use more travel as where the trails lack climbs, they make up for it with technical features. However I now live in Belgium, and its actually the opposite aside from a few destinations down in the Ardennes where you can actually get benefit from a LT MTB. To the point where my 140/120 Ripley was simply overkill for the trails here. XC/Gravel bike is practically all you need for 90% of the riding here. Vertical feet climbing/descending really isn't the metric for the bike...its how technical the singletrack is..

[@Larpy1933]

Best PB video ever. Thanks MR. Q.

[@jakemercado7154]

hey bob vose

[@woo_kash]

A voice of common sense

[@NZMtbGuy]

Hands down, one of the best videos you guys have bet made….

[@haydenstacpoole7987]

Great video Henry! The guy cops it, I rate his honesty and objective viewpoints. Bike design and build HAS to be relative to the intended use, strengths and weaknesses of the rider. Good common sense logically explained with that British tone of humour we've come to love, well some of us have😉 Keep it up Hendo

[@tomasstraka5244]

so when can we expect a review for that Prime? :D

[@ShadLife]

I do agree that if your focus is downhill and you ride trails like the ones shown in this video, by all means put heavier tires and parts on. But a large portion of mountain biking isn't like what you are showing here. I live in Minnesota and even places like Bentonville are not like what you are showing. I feel like you need to get out of the North Shore style trails for many of the videos you do because it seems like you only tend to represent a small portion of what mountain biking is. So yeah, weight does matter to most riders because msot of us actually do a lot of pedaling to get around. I would even say that jumping is easier and more fun on a lighter bike. Sure, maybe not big motocross style senders, but again, most of us are not sending it that big.

[@garykerr]

My Kona weighs in at about 36lbs with DH casing tires, coil shock and a bash guard. The climbs are tough, but I just ride with people who aren’t as fit as me in order to help my ego, and the descents are amazing! This video was a good counterpoint to the prevailing narrative about saving weight at all costs, and I agree the prioritizing what is important to you as an individual rider is key, but also, if the industry was not constantly striving to minimize weight on some front, would things bloat out of control, necessitating a counterpoint video asking for lighter parts?

[@madjh8]

Matter and a lot for funn pourposes. My SB5 11kg 140mm travel is amazing, but the same with 14kg ... it doesn´t moves the same. The light weight one can be positioned in corners faster, you can do what ever you whant. Yes, I have the Minion DH front, and a cross max rear (light weight). But this is because I don´t do enduro or DH, I like fast tracks and a good climb follow by a descend. So ... for funn ... light weight but not too much crazy: Some Bike yoke divine SL, some Chris King, some Tune kommvor saddle, A 34 fox 140mm, some Hope tech brakes etc etc

[@birdpoop8753]

anyone else get hungry when he wrote "sope"