Bike Weight ?

[whutn18885]

Hopefully someone can advise. As per my other post I have recently purchased a early 90's Raleigh Dyna-Tech Sentinel MTB with a 17" frame. Its based on reynolds 2055 tubing. The bike is not with me just yet but I will have it on Sat.

The chap who is selling it has left it as it was out of the factory so it has no upgraded parts - 21speed based on vintage Shimano LX with rapid fire shifters

Just wanted to know what sort of weight I can expect the bike to weight ? Also will a swap to a new lightweight 25.4mm handlebar and some 1.5" slicks make a decent weight drop - If so how much realistically can I expect to lose ? I am planning on getting some bits on-line for before Sat so I can get it ready for Mon morning.

In fact with that in mind any suggestions on what bits (new tyres etc) I can stick on it to make it more in-tune with modern commuting ? I am planning on spending up to £100 on parts/upgrades to make it more commuter friendly. Top of the list would be slicks followed by some mud-guards and replacement pads (still got the original pads from 92 on!)

I am not a weight weenie and I fully expect an old MTB to be a touch on the heavy side just planning ahead really - This bike is going to be my wet weather commuter and I have been used to a single speed road bike so I am just trying to get a rough idea of what it will be like.

 

[Mahoney1978]

Hey mate, lovely choice in bike

From memory its catalog weight was approx 13kg (I think). I'll see if I can find anything to confirm this.

Other things that I'm looking at on my rebuild to save weight is seat post, seat, stem, bars etc

Get some pictures up when it arrives. Cheers

 

[whutn18885]

Cool thanks for that. Will pop some pictures both before and after.

 

[Neil]

At a guess somewhere around 26-28lbs - Raleigh bikes from the early 90s tends to be on the traditional side of the weight divide.

 

[cce]

Slicks, mudguards (proper ones, not crud catchers), a decent set of lights, Kool stop salmon brake pads (epic in the wet)

 

[xerxes]

Re:

Road tyres and full length mudguards would be top of my list if I were wanting to use an MTB for commuting.

I wouldn't get too hung up on weight saving, 2 or 3lbs difference isn't that noticeable from the saddle. Also, you can save a lot of weight in tyres, but light tyres are generally much more susceptible to punctures than heavier touring type tyres with some puncture protection. I have some 26x1.75 Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres on my "shopping" bike, at nearly a kilo each they are heavy, but in about 1,500 miles I've never had a puncture and the extra volume makes them comfortable on rough, potholed roads. There are lighter puncture resistant tyres, but I'd probably avoid going for the lightest weight tyres you can find.

 

[whutn18885]

Ok thanks for all the info will look at those options. Cheers

 

[randomdan]

Re:

Just my opinion... I Run skinny slicks for a while on my commuter MTB, it was bloody awful. Jarring over pot holes and handled like a dog. I'm now running continental traffics as a road tyre (love 'em! very good roll on road, still surprisingly usable off road - decent height sidewal, ride like MTB should)

Another worthwhile consideration - puncture protection. Slime tubes are worth a look, not everyone likes them though as they add weight.

+1 for "proper" mudguards

 

[doctorstewie]

If memory serves, the Sentinel's weight is 28.75lbs. Lovely bikes. Is yours coming with the documentation that came with it? ( Copy of frame hologram with serial number and a signed pic of the bloke who built it )

 

[whutn18885]

Ok that is not too bad then - For some reason I was thinking it was gonna be like 16kg or something, No paperwork im afraid but I only paid £80 for it and its in very good honest condition (i.e The bloke actually rode it). I like it when bikes get ridden - Nothing worse imo of are restored bike that sits on a wall hook somewhere