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Way to Weigh?

Old 11-10-21, 02:28 PM
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1989Pre 
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Way to Weigh?

Is there a way to weigh a complete bike on a 12"x12" platform scale? I am having a difficult time getting it situated on the scale.
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Old 11-10-21, 02:35 PM
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John Valuk
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If it's a bike that you can pick up easily enough...

I weigh myself, then myself+bike.
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Old 11-10-21, 02:35 PM
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Originally Posted by 1989Pre
Is there a way to weigh a complete bike on a 12"x12" platform scale? I am having a difficult time getting it situated on the scale.
First weigh yourself and then pick up the bike. Subtract the two weights and you're left with the weight of the bike. HTH LOL
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Old 11-10-21, 02:36 PM
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Bathroom scale?
Lift bike off the floor, step onto scale.
Note number.
Put bike down. Note number.
Subtract 2nd number from 1st number.
Done.
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Old 11-10-21, 02:54 PM
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It is more like a postal scale for ebay sellers. It only works for items up to 60 pounds.
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Old 11-10-21, 03:04 PM
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If you can put the bike on its seat (upside down) and sort of balance it you can get an approximate weight.

If you have a little lumber you can lay two rails with three crossmembers, one under each tire and a wide one at the balance point which you would put on the scale.
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Old 11-10-21, 03:05 PM
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Or spend ten bucks and get a hanging fish scale.
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Old 11-10-21, 03:49 PM
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No matter how you eventually weigh the bike, just make sure to deflate the tires before weighing.
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Old 11-10-21, 03:55 PM
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Helium in the tires ..... lowers the weight .....
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Old 11-10-21, 03:57 PM
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Maybe put the scale on the corner of a table or countertop that has a lot of over hang and then hang the bike by it's top tube on the scale.

If the bike wants to slide on the top tube because of the way it balances, then put a damp rag or towel on the scale and zero that out first.
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Old 11-10-21, 04:09 PM
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Weight on the front wheel + Weight on the back wheel = Total weight of the bike

You're welcome

Captain Obvious
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Old 11-10-21, 04:29 PM
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Originally Posted by Maelochs
Or spend ten bucks and get a hanging fish scale.
Mine's a luggage scale, about the same price: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NW62PCA
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Old 11-10-21, 05:53 PM
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Originally Posted by 1989Pre
It is more like a postal scale for ebay sellers. It only works for items up to 60 pounds.
Find a 4 year-old to do it.
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Old 11-10-21, 06:16 PM
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Originally Posted by Barry2
Weight on the front wheel + Weight on the back wheel = Total weight of the bike

You're welcome

Captain Obvious
That's the way vehicles are weighed on CAT scales.
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Old 11-10-21, 06:48 PM
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What Barry said.
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Old 11-10-21, 07:19 PM
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Originally Posted by SpedFast
That's the way vehicles are weighed on CAT scales.
That is mostly about allowable weight per axle.
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Old 11-10-21, 07:33 PM
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Originally Posted by maelochs
helium in the tires ..... Lowers the weight .....
snork!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Old 11-11-21, 08:41 AM
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how about putting the rear wheel on the scale & lifting the front of the bike vertical? then just lightly hold it in place w/all weight on rear wheel, while you glance down at the scale? or is that what you tried & it's just nutz?
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Old 11-11-21, 08:54 AM
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Originally Posted by cubewheels
Lift your bike, hop into the scale and subtract 140 lbs.
I guess my bike weighs 55 lbs then.
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Old 11-11-21, 09:45 AM
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Originally Posted by ThermionicScott
Mine's a luggage scale, about the same price: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NW62PCA
This has been accurate for you? Are you hanging from a wheel or just strapping around top tube and lifting?
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Old 11-11-21, 10:09 AM
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Originally Posted by polymorphself
This has been accurate for you? Are you hanging from a wheel or just strapping around top tube and lifting?
It's a bit awkward I'll admit, but yeah, I'll loop the strap around the top tube just behind the bottom bracket and lift up in sort of an upright row motion. If you do it smoothly, you can get a good and consistent reading.

Most of the time I just use the me+bike on a floor scale method.
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There's no such thing as too far.. just lack of time
Originally Posted by noglider
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Old 11-11-21, 10:28 AM
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Originally Posted by ThermionicScott
It's a bit awkward I'll admit, but yeah, I'll loop the strap around the top tube just behind the bottom bracket and lift up in sort of an upright row motion. If you do it smoothly, you can get a good and consistent reading.

Most of the time I just use the me+bike on a floor scale method.
Nice, gonna try both and see what I get. Thanks.
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Old 11-11-21, 10:52 AM
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Originally Posted by rumrunn6
how about putting the rear wheel on the scale & lifting the front of the bike vertical? then just lightly hold it in place w/all weight on rear wheel, while you glance down at the scale? or is that what you tried & it's just nutz?
This. To make it a little easier you can use a strap to secure the rear wheel to the seat stays or chain stays, or squeeze the rear brake lever with it, so it doesn't rotate, then lift it to vertical and put it on the scale with the rear wheel.
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Old 11-12-21, 01:12 PM
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Used both the floor scale and ThermionicScott 's luggage hook method. Both gave me nearly the exact same results, putting my 1986 Voyageur at 26.5lb with fenders, double bottle cages, a brooks saddle, leather bar tape and a bell attached. Which probably puts it right around the catalog weight of 24lb if it were stock. Nice!

Last edited by polymorphself; 11-12-21 at 02:01 PM.
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Old 11-12-21, 05:14 PM
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Not bad! I found that Velo-Orange Zeppelins add about 1.2 lbs on their own.
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There's no such thing as too far.. just lack of time
Originally Posted by noglider
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