rpenmanparker 

No, lighter but not so cheap. And self-built wheels, eBay parts, etc. For a purchased new, complete bike, 17 lb for under $2,000 is reasonable. Some of the above suggestion are very sensible. The CAAD 12s sound like good deals. You get the rest little by little.

I do think some of the discrepancies mentioned above are due to differences in frame size.

kbarch

Well, if we're really talking round numbers, lets just say 20 lbs. Try suggesting a 20lb bike to a weight weenie. 17.85 is significantly more than 17, especially if the range of interest is BETWEEN 16 and 17.

MagicHour

That Merlin Nitro SL looked pretty tempting to me at first - it's actually a rebadged older model Ridley Helium SL frame w decent parts spec. But by the time you add shipping and probable duty/surcharges fees (it's an item over $800)to the US it becomes less attractive a deal. Probably a better idea to go with something available from a shop stateside - also less hurdles to deal with from a customer support standpoint, should any issues arise. Nice bike, though.

San Pedro

The M sized TCR Advanced 2 is listed at 7.9kg, which is pretty good for the price. I ride an S, so maybe I'm in that weight, especially after swapping wheels. . . though I just put a 2nd bottle cage on.

rpenmanparker 

Doesn't matter. Bottle cages (pedals, computer) aren't counted in the "official" or "listed" weight. And no matter whether folks may think about that, it is what we are discussing here. Talking about advertised weights for a price.

helmet4000

17lbs Fuji altamira 2011 nos from nashbar for $1079

1.0 was available in march for $1725 and weighs 15.4lbs

redfooj

used or new: fuji , scott , and giant are the usual suspects that offer best $/g values.

if you build your own, just keep in mind:

*sram is the weight champion of the big 3
*sram red 10sp (used, obv) if you really want to do price effective weight weenie
*easy weight savings are in wheels, tires, saddle,

start off with big 3:
(1)frame/fork = 900g/350g @ 600$ shipped
(2)groupset = 2300g (ultegra 11sp) @ 600 shipped
(3)wheelset = 1500g @ 500 shipped [see example list https://road.cc/content/buyers-guide/...r-choices-new]

prices and weight are approximate as im in a different geographic market and currency than you (so theyre both overestimated, actually), but basically its a good foundation for a 6.8kg build. mine came in at that weight right on the button.

the real cost will be all the special tools like like bottom bracket tools and cassette wrenches and cable cutters.... but its a good 'investment' anyway and a fun exercise to do.

topslop1

Only seeing the frameset for $849 at nashbar.

700

This thread could be a good map of the land of diminishing returns. Chart the lowest cost/lightest frame, lowest cost/lightest wheels, tires, components, saddle, handlebars.
16 pounds - how did you get there? Or theoretically, how would you?

WhyFi

Did @topslop1 find me a <$600 CF disc frameset with room for 30s yet? If not, lemme know when he does.

maartendc

Then perhaps this is a bit better $/weight ratio than a CAAD12. I have heard that Giant makes some pretty stellar bikes for the money.

Although I agree with above posters, you really need to factor in pedals and bottle cages too, which ads another 250-300g for pedals, depending, and another 40-80g for 2 light bottle cages.

However, for a point of comparison between off-the-shelf bikes, the weight is always quoted without pedals or bottle cages, so lets compare that.

My BMC SLC01 weighs 7.22kg without pedals and bottle cages, so about 15.9 lbs. So again, for $1250, used price / performance ratio cannot be beat.

helmet4000

They have it today 25% of which brings it down to $1725 + free ship

2012 Fuji Altamira 1.0 Road Bike

helmet4000

2012 Fuji Altamira 1.0 Road Bike

noodle soup

a good price, if you ride a tiny bike(44cm and 47cm only).

topslop1

I may be asking big boy questions soon^

helmet4000

Fuji is weird. I'm 5'5" and the "44cm" fit me perfect-- the effective top tube is 51.5cm and the seat tube angle is "racy." So the "44cm" is like a 51.5 or 52cm in traditional road bike sizing.

gsa103

Rule #1: Used doesn't count. Someone always has "great deal" or something else, that no one can realistically replicate. Yes, it's fine, just getting a $5k bike that's a year old for $1500 isn't relevant.

That said, it should be relatively easy to build a decently light bike for <$2k. Open mold frame/fork ($800, 1200g). SRAM Force (lighter 2.2kg), or Ultegra ($500). Vuelta wheels from Nashbar ($200), 1580g). That leaves roughly $500 and you're at a base weight of an ~5kg, to finish things off with bars, stem, saddle, tires.

rpenmanparker 

I agree, but would say that you don't have to spend more than $450 for the Workswell 066 1,240 g frame/fork (54 cm). Comes with a decent BB adapter and headset and a very light carbon seat post all included in the price. I also highly recommend old graphics label FSA OS-99 alloy stems which can still (I think) be found on eBay for about $25 new or used. They are terrific for the very light weight.

With a 500 g pair of tires, 270 g bars and a 250 g saddle you should be way under 16 lb with no trouble. Probably under 15. In fact the way I would finish it off, I get damn close to 14. Don't forget tubes and bar tape.

scplus5

My 2009 synapse carbon ultegra is well under 17 lbs. SRAM red crank, rs-81 wheels. Pedals and cages included. Probably $1500 total in it.

Seattle Forrest

These were ~$15.

noodle soup

that's great for you, but you are on the very short side of average height, for males in the US.

helmet4000

Yeah it is usually the opposite scenario (I usually have a tough time finding my size). Sorry it was not more help. I guess Fuji must have had Cobo win the Vuelta in 2011 and then over-produced a bunch of Altamiras thinking they would sell a lot in 2012 and now they have a backlog of them in smaller sizes.

FWIW, I found that riding an 18.5lbs Aero Road Bike (Fuji Transonic 2.5 LE) only has me faster than the Altamira. The Transonic was a 2016 leftover from Peformance priced at $1,600 (though I put some Dura Ace C50 wheels on it, so that might be it too).

topslop1

pinging you back - i'll take a complete bike recommendation without a price limitation (within reason). what bikes are on the market?

Elvo

Neo Hyper SL with 10 speed SRAM Red/Force and Bontrager RXL TLR's for $1k weighed 15.0 lbs with cages and barfly mount.

Damien09

Shoot that's a light bike for the price makes my caad 10 105 feel porky at 7.950kg/17.51lbs. it could be lighter but 36cm bars are hard to find that are high end so it has ones that weigh 300grams. And then I have a quarq and praxis bb which both add weight. I could have gone for a more weight wennie build on it but I went down the path of decent bike + power meter over expensive bike and no pm