New bike pending - weight saving recommendations

[4ibanez]

After a about 6 years of mainly road, interspersed with occasional mtb rides on commutes and with the wife on easy trails, I bit the bullet on a new mtb.

Not exactly a new release, but I got a good price for it as a new bike, and the UK's cycle 2 work scheme means this only cost around £2.7k spread over 2 years. It replaces a £700 Trek Marlin 6 which commutes to work in all conditions, and despite entry level... everything it got me round Whinlatter red trails ok-ish, including a Strava top 10 for the South Loop. So hoping to 1-up that this year on the new bike...

Anyway, although I no longer fuss on WW for road, since I have a 7kg bike and live in Norfolk, I'd quite like to shed some weight on the new steed for some uphill trails in the Lakes.

Being a bit of a noob, I'd welcome some recommendations on low hanging gains that don't sacrifice decent downcountry performance - budget of approx £300, so I'm looking at smaller components, not a 1 piece Carbon wheelset! A quick glance suggests things I might usually look at to save easy grams like Extralite through axles and a Carbon-ti seat clamp might only save a grand total of 30g for £150. I figure there must be some lower hanging fruit than that? Also recommendations on a Garmin mount and and bottle cages would be helpful. With a size large, I should be able to fit a 2nd cage, but might have to be side load, which I have no experience of. Also with most local trails being flat, what would be a sensible chainring size to avoid a 10 or 11t all the time on nearby trails, but survive in the Lakes?

Frame: Spark RC Carbon HMF, Integrated Suspension Technology, Flex Pivot / Adjustable head angle, Syncros Cable Integration System, BB92 / UDH Interface / 12x148mm with 55mm Chainline
Fork: RockShox SID Select+ RL3 Air, Custom Charger 3-Mode Damper, 15x110mm Maxle Stealth / 44mm offset / Tapered steerer, Lockout / Reb. Adj. / 120mm travel
Fork Travel (mm): 120
Rear Shock: RockShox NUDE 5 RL3 Trunnion, SCOTT custom w. travel / geo adj., 3 modes: Lockout-Traction Control-Descend, Debon Air / Reb. Adj. / Travel 120-80-Lockout / T165X45mm
Rear Travel (mm): 120
Rear Derailleur: Shimano XTR RD-M9100 SGS, Shadow Plus / 12 Speed
Shifters: Shimano XTR SL-M9100-IR / Rapidfire Plus, Ispec EV clamp
Number of Gears: 12
Brakes: Shimano XTR M9100 Disc
Disc Rotors: F: Shimano RT-MT800 CL / 180 mm, R: Shimano RT-MT800 CL / 160 mm
Wheelset: Syncros Silverton 1.5-30 CL, F: 15x110mm, R: 12x148mm, 30mm Tubeless ready rim 28H / Micro Spline, Syncros SL Axle w/Removable Lever, with 6mm Allen, T30 and T25 Tools
Tyres: Maxxis Rekon Race / 29x2.4" / 60TPI Foldable Bead, Tubeless Ready / EXO
Wheel Size: 29"
Handlebars: Syncros Fraser iC SL XC Carbon, -12° rise / back sweep 8° / 740mm
Headset: Syncros - Acros Angle adjust & Cable Routing HS System, +-0.6° head angle adjustment, ZS56/28.6 – ZS56/40 MTB
Grips: Syncros Performance XC lock-on grips
Saddle: Syncros Belcarra Regular 1.5, Titanium rails
Seatpost: FOX Transfer SL Performance Elite Dropper Post, 31.6mm / S size 75mm / M, L & XL size 100mm
Chainset: Race Face Next SL Carbon crankarm, 143 Spindle / 55mm CL / DM32T SHI
Bottom Bracket: Race Face BB92, Ø30mm / Double Row / Ext. Seal
Chain: Shimano XT CN-M8100
Cassette: Shimano XTR CS-M9100-12 / 10-51 T
Pedals: None
Approx. Weight (KG): 11.1

[LeDuke]

That’s an interesting spec from Scott.

Fox, RaceFace, RockShox, Shimano, Syncros.


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[snaxez]

Biggest gains would be in the wheels, but you can`t upgrade those for 300£.
You could lose some weight from the dropper, if you don`t use it.
For the garmin mount, look for Fraser mount from Syncros.
For 2nd cage look for something sideloaded, or Fidlock.
I got those on my Oiz https://www.elite-it.com/en/products/bo ... ism-carbon

[zscs]

2.4 Rekon Race tyres are on the heavier side (see measurement: https://r2-bike.com/MAXXIS-Tire-REKON-R ... XO-Tanwall ), ~820-840g each.
I know, many people here are preferring wide tires but for ultimate weight saving, I can recommend e.g. a combo of 2.25 wide snakeskin versions of Schwalbe Racing Ray/Racing Ralph, or even more weight savings the classic 2.2 Continental Crossking/Race King (ProTection version, of course). Contis will be closer to the 2.1 wide than the 2.2 range but reliable and absolutely capable for easy/medium difficulty level trail riding as well. (600-650g range)

[stoney]

Yeah, those tires are on the heavier side and would be your cheapest weight savings. Probably easy to save 200+ grams of rotational weight by switching out both tires. If you like that type of tire, switch to Pirelli Scorpion XC RC in 2.4 size for some weight savings. I've read they corner just as well if not better.

[js]

I'm sorry this isn't an especially helpful recommendation, but that's a killer spec - just ride the bike.

11kg is pretty solid for a down-country machine, and none of the parts spec'd scream 'pending upgrade'. Even the cassette is XTR (not XT), so there's no easy changes on that build list. As said, the tires is about the only place you'd have significant savings, but you're also likely to make some trade-off there - either wear-rates or protection.

With regards to chainring, I believe 38T is the max - but that's a Nino spec for XCC. If you have a 32t, you'll spin out around 45km/h. If you're holding more than that consistently, you're at a strange cadence for trail riding. Even flat trails.

[snaxez]

Yeah, those tires are on the heavier side and would be your cheapest weight savings. Probably easy to save 200+ grams of rotational weight by switching out both tires. If you like that type of tire, switch to Pirelli Scorpion XC RC in 2.4 size for some weight savings. I've read they corner just as well if not better.

Or 2.4 Wolfpack speed tires https://wolfpack-tires.com/produkt/speed/?lang=en at 640g

[LeDuke]

Do the Elite Prism have any ability to adjust them vertically?


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[Lelandjt]

I have a couple of the new Sparks. This computer mount is even sleaker than the one intended for that handlebar:
https://www.syncros.com/us/en/product/s ... uter-mount

A 34t chainring will keep you in the middle of the cassette. You'll occassionally use 2nd and 11th, but almost never need 1st or 12th. The chain the bike came with that was matched to the 32t stock ring will work perfectly with a 34.

Cheap weight savings:
Light foam grips will save 100g.
Take the QR handle out of the rear axle.
Keep the tires. They are perfectly suited to the bike.
The 3rd tier frame & wheels are the only heavyish part, so there's no other cheap weight loss options.

Try using the seatpost & suspension remote FREQUENTLY. Many riders new to a dropper misjudge how much it helps to lower the saddle a little for smooth corners and tech climbs. What makes the Spark so much better than other bikes in its class is the middle suspension setting and being able to flick through the three settings almost constantly. If you don't use them you miss this advantage.