The weight of a bike can vary from model to model but generally, they weigh around 20 pounds. Depending on the type of bicycle we are looking at though, the weight can change significantly.
The weight can also change with how many accessories you have attached, the size, the material, the hardware, and the frame as well as what you are using your bike for.
Bike weight affects different aspects of the bike performance and how you use it, whether that is for racing, commuting, or recreational purposes. A lot of people might associate a light bike weight with faster speeds, but this is not always the case.
We have written this article to tell you a little more about the weight of a bike and how it varies. We look at a range of different bikes from road bikes, to mountain bikes, to beach cruisers, and what the various aspects are that affect overall bike weight. So keep reading to find out more!
Importance Of A Bike’s Weight
The weight of a bike influences speed and how quickly you can accelerate on your vehicle. Although a difference of about 1 pound is not going to be noticeable, a difference of around 20 pounds is going to be very noticeable.
And if this means shaving seconds off your time in a race, it might mean the difference in finishing first or second place.
It might not matter for recreational cycling, but knowing what weight bike to buy for racing, or mountain biking, or even time trials can be important.
It’s also important if you are a commuter as you don’t want to be lifting a bike that is too heavy into the office each day.
Road Bikes
Road bikes are one of the most common types of bikes you can find and in general, they weigh around 17-18 pounds. They consist of skinny tires with drop handlebars and are one of the lightest bikes around.
As a result of this, they offer extreme efficiency and high speeds and the thin tires enable you to glide smoothly along the road. The weight includes the pedals and the cages and the bike allows you to ride with minimal handling.
If you are looking for a recreational bike, you might want to opt for a heavier bike than this as it can provide more exercise, however, this is the perfect bike if you are a road race biker.
The International Cyclists Union set a weight limit of 14.99 pounds as the minimum weight for road bikes to be entered in races and so if you were to compete, you could still choose to enter with a bike that weighs less than the average road bike.
Carbon Road Bike
A carbon road bike weighs around 18 pounds and just as every other bike is affected by frame, size, wheel, and gears, so are these ones. The frame is made of carbon fiber which makes it strong and stiff, but overall very lightweight.
They are made from carbon fiber strands with a hard epoxy resin. They can provide you with a very smooth and comfortable ride but this comes at a cost and they can be relatively expensive.
They are also more durable than other bikes and technological and manufacturing techniques are starting to make the type of bikes much more affordable and widely available.
If you are looking for a lightweight bike that holds great speeds, investing in a carbon road bike is recommended.
Steel Road Bikes
A steel road bike is one of the heaviest models of road bikes, and one of the heaviest types of bikes around. They can weigh up to 29 pounds and for years, it has been the ultimate material to use in bikes.
Steel frames can be heavy, yet are not as durable and strong as titanium, aluminum, or carbon frame bikes.
Steel road bikes can however be great for keeping fit and weight loss as the heavy materials can aid in burning fat faster.
Mountain Bikes
Mountain bikes are slightly heavier and come in at around 21-29 pounds. They are built for rough and rugged terrain and weigh more because of the additional gears designed to cope with uneven trails along the mountain.
Their frames are rugged and they will allow you to navigate through tricky paths and up and down steep slopes. Mountain bikes also have front and rear suspensions which depending on the rider can help with stability.
They require stronger brakes and these help with steep ascents and descents.
Common accessories to add to your mountain bike include water bottles, cameras, and helmets and these can increase weight too.
Kids Bikes
Kids’ bikes can weigh more than some adult bikes and bikes designed for kids around the ages of 5-7 weigh around 24 pounds.
This is heavier than a lot of road bikes and this is because they get thrown and crashed about quite a bit. The extra weight allows for minimal maintenance to be necessitated.
A higher weight also equals more stability for the child, especially if they are learning to ride a bike and need that extra balance.
You can get lightweight hybrid kids’ bicycles in a range of different sizes and styles, but only from certain manufacturers.
Hybrid/Comfort Bike
Hybrid and sport comfort bikes are similar to road bikes but you might find their tires are a lot bigger. They weigh around 20 pounds and the hybrid quality means the rider can stay in an upright position which works well for smooth dirt, paved trails, and family cycling trips in the summer.
Recumbent Bikes
These bikes allow the rider to ride closer to the ground in a chair and offer a much more stable position. They are comfortable and faster on the road compared to diamond-framed bicycles and on flat surfaces, the drag is reduced by 30% as opposed to if someone was riding in an upright position.
They are designed for long touring cycle trips and if you push against the seat, they offer a greater thrust and an explosive acceleration.
A typical recumbent bike will weigh around 44 pounds, depending on the accessories you have installed, but the weight can range from 25- 45 pounds.
Beach Cruiser Bikes
Beach cruiser bikes are generally quite heavy and this is often the case if you go for the less expensive ones. The majority of beach cruiser bikes are between 35-40 pounds, yet there are some out there that weigh more than this.
They are built to be strong and withstand small crashes and are used mostly for touring around long distances. For this reason, they have larger and much heavier sets of tires.
The bike’s weight will depend on the material of the frame and the load. Components of the bike are usually made of heavyweight fabric and weigh a lot more.
Triathlon Bike
A triathlon bike, also known as a time trial bike weighs around 20 pounds and provides a heavy focus on aerodynamics and a streamlined design.
This bike is designed to enhance speed as they are used in time trials and triathlon races and this is done by a slim design that allows the rider to lean forward.
Single Speed Bike
A single-speed bike might weigh around 20 pounds and are generally a lot lighter and simpler to control than multi-gear bikes. The gearing system is simple and there are fewer parts on the bike.
This means little maintenance is required. The drivetrain efficiency is also greater than multi-geared bikes, which is also due to the straight chain line, lack of chainring, pin, ramps, and no chain drag.
You can even find single-speed bikes as light as 14 pounds, depending on the size of the frame and the material.
BMX/Trick Bike
BMX bikes can weigh anywhere from 25-28 pounds and are designed purely for racing and doing other tricks. BMX riders have a preference for the weight of their bike but usually, lighter BMX bikes are the best option.
It will not only allow you to jump high, but you will also be able to reach greater speeds and spin the bike faster. If you want the lightest BMX bike you can find on the market, you will need to look for something made of titanium.
However, this material comes with an extra cost.
All BMX bikes have grinding pegs and these are installed directly onto the tires. They allow the rider to grind on curbs and other rails and depending on the number of pegs you have on your bike, it will also increase its weight. A rider can have up to 4 pegs on their bike.
Electric Bike Weight
Electric bikes can be heavy as not only are they the same size as a regular bike but they also have a battery attached to them. Depending on which model of electric bike, they can weigh up to 80 pounds. Although you can find some that are just 40 pounds.
The difference in weight depends on the type of electric bike you buy. Foldable electric bikes are a lot lighter and easier to transport and are nearer to 40-pound weight.
However, if you are looking at a heavy-duty electric mountain bike that can climb the steepest and most rugged mountains and have a battery life that lasts, this is where you might find your bike weighing as much as 80 pounds.
The great thing about electric bikes is that despite the battery adding extra weight, you will get extra assistance in pedaling. If you are riding a bike that weighs as much as 80 pounds, make sure you are making use of that powerful battery.
Fat Bike Weight
When the popularity of these types of bikes increased, people were curious about how much they weighed. A fat bike weighs anywhere between 25-45 pounds and they are off-road bikes designed for unstable, uneven, and rough terrain.
To deal with this uneven ground, they have large, fat tires which add great amounts of stability for the rider. They are perfect for riding on the sand, in the snow, and through large amounts of mud, however, as a lot of bike riders like how the fat bike looks, they often use them as a commuter or a general mountain bike.
You can spot a fat bike by its large tires. To accommodate these, the frame needs to be large enough and sturdy so the tires are fitted correctly. The frame also needs to hold the extra weight in rim size too and this is why they are that bit heavier.
Folding Bikes
Folding bikes in recent years have increased in popularity and they promise to live up to their name. They are commonly used for bike commuters as they can be easily folded into a smaller, more manageable size that can be carried in and out of the office.
They are designed to be lightweight so you do not have to worry about lugging them upstairs, on the metro, or in tight spaces like elevators.
The bikes weigh around 20-25 pounds depending on which brand and model you opt for. You can get high-end carbon fiber folding bikes but they come at an extra price as they weigh less than 20 pounds.
It’s a good idea to check the weight of a folding bike before purchasing, so you have an idea of how much weight you might be dragging around the office every day.
As they are foldable, these bikes are also great in storage and can be a real space saver.
Other Factors That Influence The Weight Of A Bike
There is a range of different factors which influence how much your bike might weigh and these can be as simple as accessories to the whole frame design. Let’s take a look at these in closer detail.
Components- Components are made of different materials and the number of gears on a bicycle will inevitably change the entire weight.
Frame- The frame alters the weight significantly. Steel is the heaviest material and old steel-frame bikes are like workhorses that can last an extremely long time.
However, they are not the lightest material. If you were looking for something lighter, it’s a better idea to choose something along the lines of aluminum as this is lighter than steel but still sturdy. If you wanted the lightest bike material, however, you would be looking at titanium or carbon fiber.
Rack- The rack of the bike will increase the total weight of the bike. A rack, which has been mounted onto the front or the back of the bike will weigh around 1.5 pounds.
Tire Size- Bike tires weigh around 1-1.5 pounds per tire and this weight can increase if you choose heavy, larger fat-tire bicycles.
Seat- A narrow seat might be less comfortable than a big comfy bike seat, but if you are looking to decrease the weight, this might be the way forward.
Accessories- If you add extra accessories to your bike, this will carry quite a few extra pounds. For example, extra bike tubes, lights, a fancy bell, a bike pump, extra tools, even a snack, and a simple water bottle can add up to around 20 pounds of accessories.
And if you are going on a long road ride, it is a good idea to bear this in mind and try to reduce the number of extra accessories you decide to bring.
User’s Body Weight- Before you buy a new bike, you need to know how much you weigh. Your body weight is important and can affect how you ride. If you have low body weight, for example, you should purchase a heavier bike.
This is because heavier bikes can provide balance and stability and can help evenly distribute weight when riding. However, if you have a higher body weight, opt for a lighter bicycle so you don’t have as much gravity pulling you down when riding on the road.
Lighter bikes can also help you gather speed, and accelerate even on steep hills.
Final Thoughts
We hope by reading this article you have gained a better understanding of how much a bike actually weighs. We know the weight of a bike doesn’t affect most of us, especially recreational cyclers but if you are racing or a commuter, those few extra pounds can make a difference.
It might increase your overall speed in a triathlon or make it easier to carry up to several flights of stairs in the office on a Monday morning. If you are trying to increase your speed even more than this, increasing fitness levels and keeping an eye on your weight can also help.
However, whether you choose a recumbent bike or a foldable bike, or a super-light road bike, stay safe and remember you’re saving the environment, having fun, and keeping fit.
Hi, my name is Andrew Daniels, and I have been cycling as a hobby for the last 10 years. I love all types of cycling, and it is one of my biggest passions. The Monster Cycle will be an extension of my passion for cycling, and everything related to it.
I will be focusing on the best accessories to purchase, and the best bikes. In addition to this, I will be providing informational content to answer any questions or queries surrounding cycling that you may have.
