How Much Does A Mountain Bike Weigh – Bicycles In Motion

How Much Does A Mountain Bike Weigh

How Much Does A Mountain Bike Weigh

Out of all the non-powered bicycles, mountain bikes are generally the heaviest of all because they have the thickest and most durable frames.

Because mountain bikes have to handle uphill climbs, it puts more stress on the frame, and these rugged bicycles are also popular for trail riding, so they need to handle descents, drops, and even some jumps. How much does a mountain bike weigh?

A typical mountain bike weighs between 28 lbs (12.7 kg) and 32 lbs (14.5 kg), with an average weight of 30 lbs (13.6 kg). Cross Country MTBs average 20-28 lbs, Enduro MTBs average 25-35 lbs, Downhill MTBs average 30-40 lbs and Freestyle MTBs average 20-40 lbs. The weight of the bike is based on frame size, materials, and style of bike.

Recommended Gear

To see all of my up-to-date recommendations for bikes and cycling gear, check out this resource that I made for you!

Average Weight Of A Mountain Bike In Kg

The exact average weight of a mountain bike in kg is 13.6078, which works out to around 30 lbs.

However, this is just the median between the lower end 9.07 kg MTBs and the heavier 18.14 kg MTBs. However, an average isn’t going to give you the whole story.

There is an average weight for every frame size, material, and even every type of part. The correct average weight for you won’t be the same as someone shorter or taller.

Plus, the style you ride may affect your MTB’s ‘right’ average weight. Because of the variation, companies often go to great lengths to avoid listing a specific weight, possibly to avoid customer complaints later from individuals who don’t understand why bicycles vary.

How Much Does A Standard Mountain Bike Weigh

A standard mountain bike right out of the shop, or box if you ordered online, has an average weight of 30 lbs or 13.6078 kg.

However, it’s better to break this down into the different materials to get a clearer picture of the various averages. Always check the frame material before you buy.

Most MTBs are made from one of four materials. High tensile steel is inexpensive but very heavy.

Chromoly is lighter steel with durability but less weight and a higher price tag. Aluminum is also standard and combines lower prices with lighter weight, but it’s not as rugged as steel and will take damage more easily.

Other alloys are less common as well. Finally, titanium mountain bikes are among the lightest frames, incredibly durable, and more expensive than other materials.

The difference can be surprising and change the weight of your bike by a substantial amount.

How Much Does A Trek Mountain Bike Weigh

Trek makes excellent mountain bikes. The average weight depends on your bike frame size, the rise on your handlebars, and other customizable features.

Moreover, Trek offers multiple choices on each bike. Let’s look at the XC 802 MTB with 26″ wheels.

The listed weight for these bikes is 15.28 kg / 33.68 lbs with tubes. However, frame sizes come in 13, 16, 18, 19.5, and 21, which means a different average for each, so the weights were not listed on the company site.

The included Bontrager handlebars (model not listed) likely weigh around 0.595 lbs or 0.27 kg like the Bontrager Big Earl MTB handlebars.

How Much Does A Giant Mountain Bike Weigh

To make a fair comparison, I’ve chosen the Giant STP 26.

According to the Giant website, “The most accurate way to determine any bike’s weight is to have your local dealer weigh it for you. Many brands strive to list the lowest possible weight, but in reality, weight can vary based on size, finish hardware, and accessories. All our bikes are designed for best-in-class weight and ride quality.”

While Giant, like many companies, refuses to offer final weights and avoids listing any weight for the parts, the tires are Maxxis Ardent, 26×2.25s.

After a bit of digging, I discovered that these weigh in at 0.708 kg or 1.56087 lbs each.

How Much Does A Huffy Mountain Bike Weigh

Like most companies, Huffy doesn’t always list each part that goes into its MTBs and other bikes.

The Huffy Hardtail Stone Mountain Bike with 26″ tires weighs 42.7 lbs or 19.36839 kg. Just as before, I picked this model because it’s got the same 26″ tires.

The Shimano twenty-one-speed drivetrain on this bike has no model or specs listed, but the heaviest part of a drivetrain is the cassette.

One of the heaviest Shimano cassettes is the Deore LX CS-HG70-9 is a 0.973 lbs or 0.4414 kg. It is safe to assume the weight could be that high.

How Much Does A Specialized Mountain Bike Weight

When looking for a specialized mountain bike, asking how much it weighs doesn’t make sense.

Specialized bikes are quite literally custom-built and purpose-built. Some custom bikes are for oversize riders with extra-long legs, while others carry more weight or are more diminutive.

This is the category where you find unique alloys and titanium frames.

Asking this question is like saying, ‘what color is a rainbow,’ and expecting a single answer. The buyers’ specs, builders’ ability, and budget will determine what parts go on a specialized bike.

The combined weight of the elements and any accessories will eventually give a specific weight, but it will only apply to one cycle.

How Much Does A Schwinn Mountain Bike Weigh

The 26″ Schwinn Sidewinder Men’s Mountain Bike weighs forty pounds exactly.

This model is the companies most popular model and is the highest rated by customers across the board with a solid four stars.

The Kenda K75 S-7 Schwinn tires this model sometimes weighs 1.355 lbs or 6.146 kg.

How Much Does A Carbon Fiber Mountain Bike Weight

Carbon fiber mountain bikes rarely weigh less than fifteen pounds, though they technically can get lighter.

As Livestrong explains, “A carbon fiber bike can be built under the fifteen-pound weight limit of the UCI rules, but most are produced at just fifteen pounds, so they’re legal for competition. In comparison, an aluminum bike can get very close to that weight limit. Different factors like frame size, manufacturer, components, and wheels have a big effect on weight, but most aluminum bikes come in at around eighteen pounds or lighter…”

How Much Does A Hardtail Mountain Bike Weight

Cross country MTB racers prefer the hardtail style bikes. A light frame is the best choice since they are meant for longer distances, and the average hardtail mounting bike weighs 26-28 lbs or 11.79-12.7 kg.

The hardtails are also popular with casual weekend riders seeking a light, versatile MTB style.

However, ‘hardtail’ simply means the bike doesn’t have a rear shock, so it’s a more rigid ride with less give in the back end. It’s easy to lose weight when you remove unnecessary parts.

Full Suspension MTB Weight

A typical full suspension mountain bike weighs in around 30-34 lbs or 13.60 to 15.42 kg. An Ellsworth Joker 7″ has a frame weight of 7.297 lbs or 3.309 kg.

I chose this model because it shares the seventeen-inch frame size with the Huffy Hardtail Stone Mountain and likely has similar tires and features overall.

This style is for riding trails, with a uniquely robust frame.

Mountain Bike Frame Weight

There are four types of mountain bikes, and each has a slightly different frame style.

Since the frame is the largest part of a bike, it is easy to mistake it for the majority of the bike’s weight. However, this is only true for steel frames.

  • Cross-country MTBs, also known as XC, average 20-28 pounds.
  • Downhill MTBs average in the 30-40 lbs, making them the heaviest because weight is less of a concern when gravity does a lot of the work for you.
  • Enduro MTBs are right between the previous two styles, with an average between 25 and 35 lbs.
  • Freestyle is less definite. As Mountain Bike HQ puts it, “Since freestyle mountain biking is all over the map, both literally as well as figuratively, you can look at the terrains that you will be riding down and then decide which one of the other mountain biking disciplines that your riding will most resemble and get a bike from that discipline.”

Mountain Bike Frame Weight Chart

Although not all companies list their MTB frames by weight, and many don’t sell them separately, you can buy frames.

Below is a list of popular MTB frames with their materials and weights listed:

FrameMaterialWeight
Nukeproof Scout 275 Alloy MTBHydroformed 6061 Triple-Butted Aluminium4.82 lbs (2.19 kg)
NS Bikes’ Surge EvoCustom-butted 4130 CrMo6.01 lbs (2.73 kg)
Nukeproof Giga 297Ultra-Strong T700/800 Monocoque Carbon Fibre8.55 lbs (3.88 kg)
Vitus Escarpe 275 CRXUltra-Strong T700 Carbon Front/6061 Aluminium Rear8.75 lbs (3.97 kg)
Octane One ZircusA6061-t6 Custom Formed and Butted Tubes4.62 lbs (2.1 kg)

Aluminum Mountain Bike Frame Weight

Aluminum bike frames are a reasonably lightweight option that is also cost-effective.

Although this style isn’t as light as some specialty bikes made from alloys or titanium, it’s a lot lighter than steel because the metal is less dense.

A good average weight for an aluminum mountain bike frame is around 2.645 lbs or 1.2 kg. Anything less on a standard size frame would be dangerously thin.

Helpful Tips To Know About How Much A Mountain Bike Weighs

Mountain bikes aren’t quite like snowflakes, but the weight of each one depends on so many different possible factors that it’s tough to get a specific weight.

If you need a lighter or heavier MTB, swapping parts is relatively straightforward to achieve that goal.

Here are more helpful tips to know about how much a mountain bike weighs.

  • Not all mountain bikes are made from a single metal. Though many bikes are only carbon fiber, steel, or aluminum, some use two or more metals separately, such as a fork made from one material while the frame is something else.
  • If you are calculating the weight of the bike, it helps to also consider any accessories you are bringing. After all, a frame weighs more if it has a large bottle full of water in a holder that’s attached. While most riders don’t need these precision measurements, it’s still important to understand that weight is about more than merely the stock bike you get from the shop.
  • Light, durable carbon fiber frames are also available for some mountain bikes. However, as with titanium frames, this is more likely to be a part of a specialty or custom-built MTB.

Final Thoughts

Telling the weight of an MTB is a lot like telling the weight of a person. Sure, you can get an average for a particular frame size or style, but that’s only a ballpark figure.

The most important thing to understand about how much a mountain bike weighs is that the best way to tell is to have a shop weigh a specific, individual bike.

Manufacturers often specifically avoid listing weights for bikes because they depend on so many factors, and even a part’s weight depends on the specific size, model year, and other contributing aspects.

Brian Smith

Brian is the founder of Bicycles In Motion and an avid cyclist for 17 years. On the weekends, he enjoys exploring new bike trails and countryside roads to enjoy the outdoors.

Recent Posts