I'm still not convinced anyone has identified the weight difference between "department store" bikes and more upscale ones (Trek, Specialized, Giant) or even customized ones. People throw out references to "2-5 lbs" or "5-8 lbs," but what's the real difference in weight .... and at what price? I don't think you'll see any weight info. published on Trek, Specialized or Giant web sites for kids bikes and I've never seen a comparison published anywhere else.
OK, great.... You had to ruin my night by forcing me to weigh, measure and record our fleet! Some bikes are in use, the others in the basement.
Unfortunately, my excel spreadsheet got a bit garbled, but you get the idea. The weights are as accurate as I could get given the limitations of a bathroom scale. Values are without training wheels, with kick stands & water bottle cages (all but the 12" bike), and without the saddle bag on my Trek (which adds about 4 lbs - lock, tools, etc.). Year is date of mfg/sale. Age is when my daughter(s) first used them.
Trek & Giant both switched over to Aluminum on their youth bikes around 2004. My impression from picking them up when last in the LBS is that the new versions of the Mt Trail & MTX feel about 2-3 lbs lighter than the ones we have - maybe 28 lbs or so?
The bikes for the smallest riders are indeed disproportionately heavy, but not as bad as I originally thought.
Steve
Bike Mfgr / Model Name / Store / Year / Style / Gears / Sex / Frame / Tire Size / Seat Tube / Weight / Rider
Trek / Navigator 200 / LBS / 2002 / Comfort / 21 / M / Aluminum / 26x1.95 / 18.5" / 31 lbs / Dad
K2 / Rosario / LBS / 2003 / Comfort / 21 / F / Aluminum / 26x1.95 / 15" / 31 lbs / Mom
Trek / Mt Trail 220 / LBS / 2002 / MTB / 21 / F / HiTen Steel / 24x2.05 / 13" / 30.5 lbs / 9 yr old
Giant / MTX 225 / LBS / 2001 / MTB / 21 / F / HiTen Steel / 24x1.95 / 12.5" / 30.5 lbs / 9 yr old
Pacific / StarGazer / ToysRUs / 1998 / kids / 5 / F / Steel / 20x1.75 / 13" / 26 lbs / 7 yr old
Kent / SummerBreeze / ToysRUs / 2002 / kids / 1 / F / Steel / 18x1.75 / 11" / 25 lbs / 5 yr old
Dynacraft / NEXT - SlumberParty / WalMart / 2000 / kids / 1 / F / Steel / 16x1.75 / 10" / 21.5 lbs / 4 yr old
Dynacraft / Magna - Jewels&Pearls / Target / 2006 / kids / 1 / F / Steel / 12x1.75 / 8" / 17 lbs / 4 yr old
Last edited by Fibber; 03-14-06 at 10:50 AM.