[RETROROCKS]

Ive never been much of a weight weenie, but Ive noticed some pretty hefty weights on some new bikes.
I was looking at the polygon sisku line.. Seems like descent bikes that rate well and are just under 2k.
But I noticed the weight on their own site 36.5 pounds!!
Does that number not ring bells for people?
So is 2k for a descent bike at 36 pounds normal?
Ive heard 34 or so is pretty normal.
But even thats kind of high in my opinion and these bikes dont get weighed with pedals or a dropper post!!
So again another big question arises in my mind is spending 2k and getting a size bigger wheel and a couple degrees slacker head tube and an inch more travel worth the heft?
Im riding an old sworks enduro and just for compairison.. Here it is on a scale 31lbs with pedals and dropper post no really crazy light parts either.
Over 5 lbs lighter!!! thats not chump change!!
I might as well ride an old downhill bike at 37 38 pounds!
Am I the only one seeing this?? I doubt it ..seems like a lot of bike to get up steep climbs.
Is weight now somehow a non issue?

 

[Catmandoo]

Yeah and is why I don't ride full suspension. The price to get under 30 lbs is nuts. I had a ProFlex back in the day, weighed 26.5 lbs and was all I needed. My alu HT is at that weight now and is as heavy as I want a bike to be. I see no point in 35 lbs.

 

[ehfour]

New Geo>Weight

 

[OldMike]

The new size tires (29") add weight as does the longer Frame needed to house them.
But IME the new Geo more than compensates the difference.
I had my old 2003 Jamis Dakar out today and I was struggling with climbs I normally easily clean
on my 2021 SJ Comp Carbon.
Both weigh the same and the climbs were not technical so the main difference was........Geo!

The newer Geo and body placement easily overcomes signifciant weight IME.

 

[PhillipJ]

You're looking at a $2k Polygon and comparing to an S-Works enduro and confused about the difference? Really? The current S-Works Enduro weighs about 32.5 lbs.

 

[RETROROCKS]

You're looking at a $2k Polygon and comparing to an S-Works enduro and confused about the difference? Really? The current S-Works Enduro weighs about 32.5 lbs.

Yes im comparing it to a 17 year old bike!! READ!!

 

[RETROROCKS]

Yeah and is why I don't ride full suspension. The price to get under 30 lbs is nuts. I had a ProFlex back in the day, weighed 26.5 lbs and was all I needed. My alu HT is at that weight now and is as heavy as I want a bike to be. I see no point in 35 lbs.

I MISS MY 957!! minus the girvin fork though!!! Lol

 

[006_007]

Bigger wheels = more weight

Tubeless setups - when I swapped it saved maybe 200g (I was using lightweight tubes to be fair) but then people are throwing in inserts to protect their expensive wheels so even more weight.

Used to be a 24mm inner rim width was big. Now if under 30 you are not a real biker. = Moar weight.

Durable tires for more support (especially tubeless) = weight

Sub 30lb bikes (29ers) are becoming more rare for sure but they are more durable.

 

[PhillipJ]

Yeah so in 17 years the S-Works Enduro is physically bigger (for any given size), has bigger wheels, more travel, better tyres, suspension and brakes, pedals better, descends better and is only about half a kg heavier. Sounds like a win to me.

 

[Grinchy8]

I'm also from the past and think the current bike weights are nuts. I'm in the process of building a steel hardtail (mid budget) and it's pretty amazing how fast the weight adds up, even when trying to be weight conscious.

A rear i35 singlespeed wheel with 29+ tire (825g) and a cushcore+ is 2519 grams . . . And that's using a light hub and triple butted spokes and a single speed cog. Drop the cushcore and it's only 2250 grams, but still . . .

Right now (unbuilt with some placeholder weights) the total bike with pedals and dropper is 28 1/4 lbs

 

[wayold]

Just waiting for someone to say "capable" as the catch all excuse for new bikes being heavy as tanks.

 

[Grinchy8]

I should add my 1998 FSR restomod with a DHF on it is around 30lb at 130/130 travel. It started at 29ish in 1998 with 100/100.

 

[noapathy]

Dangit, I'd almost forgotten I want this bike. Y'all old curmudgeons feel free to ride your old rattly no-dropper ejecto-bikes with V-brakes and complain about how things used to be great. 😂

 

[PhillipJ]

Just waiting for someone to say "capable" as the catch all excuse for new bikes being heavy as tanks.

A mid-range Scott Spark is 31lbs. Hardly heavy and likely just as capable as a 17 year old Enduro. At the other end of the spectrum my mid-range alloy 29" All Mountain bike is 36 lbs but it's way more capable than a 17 year old Enduro headed down and much nicer to pedal up.

Options for everyone, disregarding current bike shortages. Some people just like to complain.

 

[spaightlabs]

Lift some weights, grow some quads, glutes and hams and quit whining.

 

[cookieMonster]

From my perspective, the bikes that can handle the trails I like to ride and the way I like to ride them have come down in weight significantly in the last 20 years. A big travel, durable bike like my old SC Bullit used to weigh 42 pounds or more. The modern enduro bike is 8-10 pounds lighter and still every bit as capable if not more so because of better geometry.

If you like XC riding you can still get a very light bike, but it’ll also have better geo and will be a lot more stable should you choose to push it beyond general XC terrain.

 

[RETROROCKS]

Yeah so in 17 years the S-Works Enduro is physically bigger (for any given size), has bigger wheels, more travel, better tyres, suspension and brakes, pedals better, descends better and is only about half a kg heavier. Sounds like a win to me.

Maybe im missing your meaning im comparing my old enduro to a new sisku a 2k bike at 36+lbs.
Im pretty sure the new enduro is 32 33 lbs ya but its more than a 2 k bike.
I guess im trying to justify spending good money for a heavy bike.
Isnt the weight an issue??

 

[RETROROCKS]

A mid-range Scott Spark is 31lbs. Hardly heavy and likely just as capable as a 17 year old Enduro. At the other end of the spectrum my mid-range alloy 29" All Mountain bike is 36 lbs but it's way more capable than a 17 year old Enduro headed down and much nicer to pedal up.

Options for everyone, disregarding current bike shortages. Some people just like to complain.

I dont see it as complaining its more just wondering!!
Espcially at the money you plunk down for these bikes.
Well over 3k if you want anything under 34lbs.
And the new geo makes the extra weight just go away?

 

[PhillipJ]

Maybe im missing your meaning im comparing my old enduro to a new sisku a 2k bike at 36+lbs.

Yeah, you're comparing an S-WORKS, that is, the absolute best Enduro you could buy, to an entry level bike from a brand that mostly prioritises affordability. Your comparison makes no sense. In 2010 the FRAME ALONE of an S-Works Enduro was almost $3000.

If you compare your S-Works to a current S-Works then that's a more valid comparison but your complaint about weight no longer makes sense because an S-Works Enduro isn't heavy.

I guess im trying to justify spending good money for a heavy bike.

Then don't? There are plenty of options around 31lbs.

Isnt the weight an issue??

Seems like it is for some people and not for others, that's why there are options from ~30lbs up to ~38lbs in the trail, all-mountain and enduro segments.

 

[DeeCount]

Maybe im missing your meaning im comparing my old enduro to a new sisku a 2k bike at 36+lbs.
Im pretty sure the new enduro is 32 33 lbs ya but its more than a 2 k bike.
I guess im trying to justify spending good money for a heavy bike.
Isnt the weight an issue??

I read his response to mean you're comparing a very high end bike from 2004 to an entry level-ish bike from today. Your 2004 S-Works Enduro retailed at $4,880, which in 2021 dollars is $7,086. So if you spent $7k today you could get a bike that is larger but with better geo than your 2004 that probably weighs the same or less.