>>1779005>Also worth pointing out that this is clearly an exceptional case - that's a custom frame with non-adjustable seat mast, drilled parts, and carbon tubular rims. The fact that somebody got a steel frame bike down to that weight with a ton of effort doesn't really counter the point that super light bikes are going to be all carbon fiber 99 times out a 100...Yes, but we are talking about exceptional bikes here, as any anon who is interested in a sub 6kg bike is likely willing to swap and even modify components. The point is that it can be done without a lot of ridiculous boutique carbon or crazy drillium. A non-custom steel frame can weigh 1500g, and even lighter vintage race whippet frames pop up regularly on the second hand market for much cheaper than carbon. That's a 700g penalty over a super light, paint stripped $2k carbon frame.
Here's a 5.24kg stock-parts build on a limited production 1,240g steel frame (though it is a 52cm), no drillium, super exotic parts or milling here
>https://www.bikeradar.com/news/worlds-lightest-steel-road-bike/>The Svelte frame is delightfully simple, with only a few small modifications made to the frame components to reduce weight, bringing this 52cm frame down to just 1,240g (unpainted weight).And if you wanted you could even modify a stock frame with some of the tricks from this - milled out bottom bracket, slimmed dropouts, cut off bridges (if disc) and any unnecessary braze ons, hell even sand the centre of some tubes down after familiarising yourself with frame stress models. Would be an afternoon's work.
