20 pounds would be tough if you're going to avoid any no name carbon stuff and use durable wheels and tires.

 

Maybe a Cannondale FSi 29er HT. Basic carbon model...add carbon bar, ESI grips, eggbeater pedals, carbon seatpost, stans tubeless. Could do all this for 3,000.

The next couple of pounds are not going to be cheap....unless he goes Single Speed and strips off the shifters and derailers.

 

I was thinking a Canyon Exceed CF 29er frame which costs $1500 and weights 870 grams. Couple that with Xt 1x11 groupset at $600. Maybe $300 for cockpit and saddle. Not sure about wheels or fork. Maybe some used Carbon wheels or end of year blowout price on forks?

 

So you're thinking about sacrificing a lot on the wheels, tires, brakes, and fork? Besides the frame, these are the parts that most affect the performance, handling, and ride experience of the bike.

I think this is one case where the "strong, light, cheap, pick 2" saying is applicable. You're targeting light and cheap, but your initial thoughts on spec choices don't quite agree... I'd say you should realistically aim for under 23 lbs on a budget, if you want gears. That will give you freedom to choose quality and value that is worth your money, avoiding questionable parts that are disposable.

Helps to be more realistic about bike weight too:
- How much time does extra weight cost on Alpe d?Huez? (roughly 2% slower, adding 3 lbs to the bike)
- How does weight affect your climbing speed? (video) - Cycling Weekly (significantly slower when you add weight to your body)

 

20lbs is easy, based on what he wants for a bike. Rigid singlespeed, no problem. Full suspension, no. front suspension hardtail, possibly.

What does he want/need? How much does he weight? What does he plan on riding?

CF Hardtail frame
Suspension fork with 100mm travel
1x11 (or 1x10) drivetrain
160mm rotor & hydro brakes
2.1" 29er tires
carbon fiber rims

 

It can be done if he's looking for a full rigid or ht. The more you're willing to give up the easier it is. Going single speed speed and you can keep front suspension. Give up front suspension then go for a cyclocross bike. Either of those can easily be under 20lbs. Now a x10 or x11 or even x12 and front suspension fork and a dropper and getting to 20lbs will be difficult.

 

I would say difficult if going all new stuff but doable if time is spent searching for good deals on used stuff. Like others have said if no front suspension it would make it easier to get to 20lbs. fwiw, my alum sj ht is just over 23lbs, so if he is willing to add a couple pounds on to that goal it would be easier.

 

Build an SS, it'll be less than 3k and probably weight less. My SIR is 21ish pounds, and was only 2200, with an extra 800 I could easily get it below 20.

 

It's definitely possible. Back around 2008 or so, I built a ~22lb rigid single speed hardtail with a steel frame that cost about $500 total. It had 26" wheels with 2.1" tires, V brakes, no dropper post, but it was cheap. For an extra $2500, you should easily be able to cut about 2 lbs.

 

Possible, but at what cost? I agree with Varaxis, and would lower the bar by a couple of pounds. You're not going to notice a pound or so difference, but the compromises you make for the sake of whittling the weight down to a prescribed point..probably so, since it means choosing each part based almost strictly on weight vs performance or longevity.
My own bike started as a ~30.3lb entry level HT, and is now 23.6lbs set up as a single speed with a dropper post. It's also durable and reliable.
I could easily drop more weight with lighter cranks, fork, rotors, seatpost, stem, and bolts. If my math is right, doing all that plus swapping over to a carbon frame and rims makes 18.8lbs *with* a suspension fork feasible. Sure, I've entertained all of the above ideas, but I can't tell a bit of difference from the last pound-and-a-half saved, and at this point won't spend a dime to save more weight, because I can't see anything except maybe wider and lighter rims making any practical difference at all.

 

My exceed weights 21lbs with stages crank. Okay, it has heavy cassette and it is not built for extreme weight weenie in mind, but it is decent weight and reliable race machine. I orderer carbon rims, tune hubs, sapim d-light spokes and xg-1195 cassette so I'm hoping to get about 200g off. With lighter seatpost, brakes, fork, grips and other little things you can get it easily under 20lbs. RS-1 to fox 32 saves 300g, wheels for normal 15mm axle 50g, seatpost 80g and you are about 19,5lbs but that is definitely out of budget. I think that exceed with 3000$ and you get about 20,5-21lbs bike. If you buy second hand parts you can get it under the goal.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/9...gu1clxEDHAj5IdVHbKXn2h8mi09f9oHNbBwCZmqylpfHY5L_fd8BlQPDprtXw=w1920-h1200-rw-no

 

If you're willing to go the "Chinese Carbon" route, you can do it. My 2012 "Chiner 29er" came in at 18.8 lbs and right around $3K - but it's rigid. That would leave you 1.2 pounds of wiggle-room for a suspension fork. And I'm not sure if prices have gone up or down since then.

Also noteworthy - I did NOT go crazy on some things like cranks, cables, grips, skewers, etc.

Read about it and see it here.

 

This build is right around 20 pounds and about $3,000.
Flyxxi FR-216 Carbon frame
Rock Shox 2012 Reba RL dual air with remote lock out
Wheels Manufacturing BB-30 Ceramic Bottom bracket bearings.
SRAM XX1 Carbon crank with X-Sync 34 tooth direct mount chain ring 175 mm 168 Q Factor
SRAM XX1 Rear derailleur.
SRAM XG-1199 Cassette 10-42
SRAM XX1 11 speed Grip shifter.
SRAM XX1 Chain.
ESI Chunky Red grips
ENVE 760 SWP Carbon bars
ENVE 75 mm Carbon MTN stem
ENVE 31.6 25 mm set back Carbon seat post.
Specialized Phenom Pro Team Red Carbon saddle
Light Bicycle Bead less 27 mm /22 mm Carbon rims 28 hole tubeless
Chris King iSO 28 hole hubs 15 mm x 100 mm front 10-135 rear
DT Swiss Comp Spokes
MAXXIS Ikon 29 x 2.2 Front and rear
Shimano XT BR-M785 Brakes finned pads
Shimano Ice tech Rotors 180 mmm front 160 rear.
Took my time waiting for great deals and yes they are out there you just have to dig and look daily.
Thing climbs like a goat and is very responsive.
I have the same set up but with a 2012 Stump Jumper Comp HT Alloy frame and I can tell the difference.
:thumbsup: Take your time don't try and rush the build.

 

Here's a good guess at a contemporary Chiner 29er (without fork)

PauLCa916's build above is beautiful and is excellent lead for a current build!

I worked the web for 30 minutes throwing together parts for a "fork-less" 29er based on internet prices and weights. You have to choose the fork. I came up with a 17.2 lbs bike (minus fork) for about $1750. (Tax and shipping excluded). That gives you both weight (~2.5 lbs) and budget (~$1150) to work on a fork.

[Disclaimer: I can't assure all the parts are compatible. You are expected to do your homework. You MUST check compatibility!!]

Check out the sketch of the build here: google sheets

That build is subjective and has many places to save money/weight based on opinion. I love BB7's but many people don't. That crank is cheap but not light. But it's sooooooo cheap. Cranks can easily edge up into $400! $59.99 is hard to bypass.

You can actually find less-expensive stuff for seatpost & bar than "Performance-Bike" on eBay and Amazon. But Performance-Bike is a real North-American vendor and I've had the handlebars for years on multiple mountain bikes.

And don't forget tools! You can buy all that shizz and end up not being able to assemble it! Don't rely on you LBS because they may turn you away for buying an internet assembly kit. You'll need the tools listed as an absolute minimum. Plus a connection to YouTube. Always ask YouTube first!!!!!

(And... I can't guarantee I got everything in the parts list. Did I forget anything??)

 

Beautiful builds....

Staggeringly beautiful build juu-zo!!

And PauLCa916 as well here.

 

Chinese carbon hardtail, XT drivetrain, chinese carbon wheels on DT/Hope hubs, spend some budget on a Fox32/Sid. Easy button would be a rigid fork.

I've taken my Diamondback Overdrive Carbon Sport, which is a PerformanceBike offering, down to 25lb in 22" (XL size) while spending under $2000 in an all-mountain build (dropper post, heavy 2x crankset, long travel fork). In a smaller size, particularly without the need for clyde-proof wheels, it should be possible to trim three pounds pretty quickly right there.

Getting under 22lb should be totally possible with a fork, but it'll be no-name or chiner on frame/wheels, and kinda slimy tires (Aspen EXC, ThunderBurt Snakeskins). The XT cranksets are a great value, but some of the X01 carbon options are also impressive weight/cost ratio items. Charge Knife saddle is a good value option, but there are also ultra-light no-name items that are even cheaper. ESI type silicone grips are practically a given, as is running tubeless. There are some good name brand carbon bars, seatposts, and stems on sale that would work really well.

To me, giving up front suspension in the name of weight savings is silly - just accept that extra 500g and have a more versatile bike if it's general use. If you want a rigid bike, then build a rigid bike as the goal and then make it really light.
I feel much the same way on gearing - a rigid SS bike is awesome if that's what you want, but ending up at that configuration because you want a light bike would be unsatisfying.

 

Heck you could buy a full zoot used HT, less than 1 yr old right now for under $3,000. Shop around around and I bet you could find one hardly ridden w/ high end carbon wheels & kit, XX1, Sid or Fox 32 Factory, etc for quite a bit under that. The market for used 29er HT is pretty soft right now, especially in the mountain west.

 

i would probably look at used. try and find an xtr or xx1 / sid / carbon frame bike with a good wheelset. 3k used gets you top tier

new may be hard. awhile back competitive cyclist had niner rdo frames for 999, ebay sid 500, wheels 1k which pretty much forces you into xt if you want to stay close to 3k

ah, more sizes in stock too

Niner Air 9 RDO Mountain Bike Frame - 2016 | Competitive Cyclist

 

I'm riding an AL SC Highball with a Reba and an XT drivetrain that weighs 20# and hit right about the $2k mark. The wheels make a lot of difference and that could make/break the budget. The carbon version would be a little lighter, but that would blow the budget all together.

 

Niner RDO SS rigid is probably right at 20 lbs right out of the box.

 

Yes - totally possible
My personal bike - built from Motobecane 29er Titanium XX edition (gen 1 frame).

It is a 15.5 inch. In this pic; it has:

1) handlebar bell
2) light mount
3) two bottle cages
4) crankbros ti pedals
5) 720mm carbon bars
6) SLR carbon saddle
7) kcnc alu post
8) 27.5x2.8 Maxxis Ikon tires on it which weigh about 800g each.
9) ZTR Rapid wheels
10) topeak saddle bag cleat
11) super heavy Topeak Ergo grips

Total Trail ready riding weigh= 21.76 lbs As Seen in pic

Normally I run Maxxis Aspen 29x2.1 at 518g each. and Race Gold wheelset at 1400g-ish which bring it below 20lbs

 

chinese carbon frame (flyxii) - $500
chinese carbon wheels (light bicycle) $800 - 300 for rims, $500 for high end hub like i9 torch or chris king
XT groupset from merlincycles (drivetrain + brakes) - $490, replace crank with next sl carbon crank for $500, sell XT crank for $100 (might be able to put the brakes rear der, shifter together instead of a groupset)

XT brakes $70
xt shadow+ rear der - $50
xtr chain -$30
XTR gear lever 80
Next SL crank with single ring - $500
rockshox sid fork 650

misc carbon bits and pieces (stem, bar, seat, seatpost, bottom bracket) - $200

right around 3000