Factory Bike weight savings

skypig
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Caloundra, AU
4/21/2025 1:57pm

Lightweight, strong, cheap. Pick the two you want. 

I rebuilt the two front calipers on my road race bikes with Ti hardware. Even the 8 pistons.(they were the worst value, cause I can’t see them. But actually cheaper than genuine, and no corrosion potential.)

The tiny weight saving makes me happy - doubly so, as it’s “unsprung”. 

The forged wheels saved a lot more. Both “unsprung” and “rotational”. (Still couldn’t swear I can tell the difference.)


“Oh look, Ti chain adjuster bolts!”

mx216
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Portland, OR, USA
4/21/2025 2:00pm
JazzyJJ wrote:
So you put one wheel on the scale and the other on the ground? Then reversed and added them together? Seems like a very inacurate way...

So you put one wheel on the scale and the other on the ground? Then reversed and added them together? Seems like a very inacurate way to go about it. 

How do you think they weigh race cars? 

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/pro-67644?seid=srese1&ppckw=pmax-tools&gclid=Cj0KCQjw2ZfABhDBARIsAHFTxGwzUnIhopqNTwiVw1NAUTPbzQe9ZdnuMjQ_HFRtljySbquUOQ7CBE4aAoukEALw_wcB

It is an incredibly accurate way to weigh, and can even give you the weight bias of your bike. 

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3
j368
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Tulsa, OK, USA
4/21/2025 5:00pm
Tak_ryan wrote:
There’s a guy on Instagram documenting his progress of building an ultra light bike with zero expense spared. I think you’ll find exactly what you’re looking...
There’s a guy on Instagram documenting his progress of building an ultra light bike with zero expense spared.

I think you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for.

https://instagram.com/ah2stroke?igshid=8jp6ftnd28bh

TokyoTiddler I believe it is here on Vital too with his Honda CR250. An incredible build with works parts too, and everything weighed on a scale showing the difference. 

The Shop

KurtJ99
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USA
4/22/2025 10:26am
AK74 wrote:

I always think of this Dirt Bike article whenever the subject comes up: 


https://dirtbikemagazine.com/lightest-honda-cr125-ever-built-two-stroke…

Flatliner wrote:

Always wondered what it was like to ride.

167 lbs. Wowza. I thought I read all of the factory bikes are at the weight limit, and use purposefully positioned weight to reposition weight where they want it, typically lower on the bike (skid plate?). 

SEEMEFIRST
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Arlington, TX, USA
4/22/2025 11:42am
JazzyJJ wrote:
So you put one wheel on the scale and the other on the ground? Then reversed and added them together? Seems like a very inacurate way...

So you put one wheel on the scale and the other on the ground? Then reversed and added them together? Seems like a very inacurate way to go about it. 

mx216 wrote:

How do you think they weigh race cars? 

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/pro-67644?seid=srese1&ppckw=pmax-tools&gclid=Cj0KCQjw2ZfABhDBARIsAHFTxGwzUnIhopqNTwiVw1NAUTPbzQe9ZdnuMjQ_HFRtljySbquUOQ7CBE4aAoukEALw_wcB

It is an incredibly accurate way to weigh, and can even give you the weight bias of your bike. 

Every race car I have seen weighed is on 4 load cells, all at the same time. How else do you know what your weight jackers are doing?

2
JazzyJJ
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Nunya, WY, USA
4/22/2025 11:51am
JazzyJJ wrote:
So you put one wheel on the scale and the other on the ground? Then reversed and added them together? Seems like a very inacurate way...

So you put one wheel on the scale and the other on the ground? Then reversed and added them together? Seems like a very inacurate way to go about it. 

mx216 wrote:

How do you think they weigh race cars? 

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/pro-67644?seid=srese1&ppckw=pmax-tools&gclid=Cj0KCQjw2ZfABhDBARIsAHFTxGwzUnIhopqNTwiVw1NAUTPbzQe9ZdnuMjQ_HFRtljySbquUOQ7CBE4aAoukEALw_wcB

It is an incredibly accurate way to weigh, and can even give you the weight bias of your bike. 

With one scale under each tire. I've done that countless times and no one I know only uses 1/2 scales to weigh one side of the car then the other 

1
1
PRM31
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Northern, VA, USA
Fantasy
4/22/2025 11:56am

When I see articles on old factory bikes I always wish they would weigh them. Wasn’t too long ago there was a video with Wardy’s old factory SR125. Be cool to know what they really weighed.

mx216
Posts
817
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Location
Portland, OR, USA
4/24/2025 12:23pm
JazzyJJ wrote:
So you put one wheel on the scale and the other on the ground? Then reversed and added them together? Seems like a very inacurate way...

So you put one wheel on the scale and the other on the ground? Then reversed and added them together? Seems like a very inacurate way to go about it. 

mx216 wrote:

How do you think they weigh race cars? 

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/pro-67644?seid=srese1&ppckw=pmax-tools&gclid=Cj0KCQjw2ZfABhDBARIsAHFTxGwzUnIhopqNTwiVw1NAUTPbzQe9ZdnuMjQ_HFRtljySbquUOQ7CBE4aAoukEALw_wcB

It is an incredibly accurate way to weigh, and can even give you the weight bias of your bike. 

JazzyJJ wrote:
With one scale under each tire. I've done that countless times and no one I know only uses 1/2 scales to weigh one side of the...

With one scale under each tire. I've done that countless times and no one I know only uses 1/2 scales to weigh one side of the car then the other 

If the wheels are level with each other it doesnt matter. Dont be so dense🤦‍♂️

1
burn1986
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bossier city, LA, USA
4/24/2025 2:57pm
AK74 wrote:

I always think of this Dirt Bike article whenever the subject comes up: 


https://dirtbikemagazine.com/lightest-honda-cr125-ever-built-two-stroke…

Awesome man! I was just looking for this article and couldn’t find it. Sweet 👍

I would still like to have a list of all the parts and their manufacturers. 

1
AK74
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402
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10/2/2008
Location
GB
4/25/2025 2:10pm
AK74 wrote:

I always think of this Dirt Bike article whenever the subject comes up: 


https://dirtbikemagazine.com/lightest-honda-cr125-ever-built-two-stroke…

burn1986 wrote:
Awesome man! I was just looking for this article and couldn’t find it. Sweet 👍I would still like to have a list of all the parts...

Awesome man! I was just looking for this article and couldn’t find it. Sweet 👍

I would still like to have a list of all the parts and their manufacturers. 

I sent Terry an email about this bike earlier in the week. I don’t know if the address I’ve got for him is still active, but here’s hoping! 

1
burn1986
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12246
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4/16/2010
Location
bossier city, LA, USA
4/25/2025 2:12pm Edited Date/Time 4/25/2025 2:17pm
AK74 wrote:
I sent Terry an email about this bike earlier in the week. I don’t know if the address I’ve got for him is still active, but...

I sent Terry an email about this bike earlier in the week. I don’t know if the address I’ve got for him is still active, but here’s hoping! 

How cool would it be to have an updated build like this?

That bike (167lbs) is about 29lbs lighter than a ‘23 GasGas 125 (carbed 196lbs). About 40 lbs lighter than modern 125s (207lbs).

skypig
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Location
Caloundra, AU
4/25/2025 8:13pm Edited Date/Time 4/25/2025 8:15pm

Ti axles, swingarm pivot and linkage bolts would have to be the biggest weight saver on a modern MX bike, that didn’t compromise performance or reliability. Also lightens your wallet impressively.  
Probably a bigger weight saving than replacing every other single fastener on the bike with Ti. (Which I would do if money was no object. 

Tires would also be big gains. Especially easy to feel being “rotational”, and unsprung. Assuming the performance of the lighter tires is good. 

Ti foot pegs and rear spring would help. 

Most other savings are pretty small - the difference in weight between stock wheels, and the lightest available (that are strong enough) is not much. 

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