It’s not ‘Euro lab test’ rigid underfoot but there’s no trace of morale-sapping twist as the revs drop and the torque peaks. If you’re looking at a sub 9kg bike though you’re probably mostly about the acceleration kick and climbs, and Epic definitely delivers here.
#Trek mountain bikes full
The 30.9mm seatpost size gives you a full range of dropper options, too. Add ‘short for XC’ 60-70mm stems and 760mm wide handlebars as standard and it’s a surprisingly composed charger on descents. The fork crown uses a short offset for extra stability and the head angle is relaxed at 68.5-degrees. The sculpted front uses a Brain-equipped, 100mm travel, RockShox SID Ultimate fork. The super-skinny, blade top seat stays combined with a deliberately damped 30.9mm seatpost to deliver a genuinely forgiving in-the-saddle ride. Unsurprisingly that’s the cliched ‘compliant over bumps but powerful through the pedals’ character touted by most manufacturers. Not only is it available in a full range of sizes - unlike the Unno - each size gets a slightly different ‘Rider First’ layup to deliver the right ride-feel. Best lightweight mountain bikes under 10kgĪt 820g for a medium frame with rear axle and seat collar (averaging 760g/1.72lb without), Specialized’s new S-Works Epic HT frame is one of the lightest mass-production mountain bike chassis you can buy. Keep reading for our list of the best lightweight mountain bikes available, or skip to the bottom if you are want to find out what you need to know about the best lightweight mountain bikes. Even fitting a remote control lockout to the best XC forks adds significant weight, but again most racers won’t be without it for smashing smoother climbs. Huge cassettes mean simpler 1x transmissions are often heavier than old double chainring setups too. Most of the world’s fastest racers are now using dropper posts for extra control on challenging courses despite a 400-500g penalty over fixed posts.
Some top racers like Nino Schurter are routinely using 2.4in tires now too, while others are wide rim or wide handlebar fans. 29in wheels, tires and forks will always be heavier than 27.5in or 26in (remember them?) but their smoother speed makes them an XC essential.
Developments and demands of riders mean it’s harder than ever for cross-country mountain bikes to hit that target though.
In reality, you’d be hard-pressed to tell any difference in the ride between a 10.2kg bike and a 9.8kg bike but the psychological/bragging rights of going under 10kg is massive.
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