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Do you want to change it?
When you set out to build the world’s lightest mountain bike hardtail, you know you’re taking on for an ambitious engineering, design and planning challenge. The whole process requires a meticulous approach to materials and component selection with every gram counting towards the end goal. However, just being lightweight is not enough, the bike also needs to be a 'real MTB' and retain strength in key areas and maintain the bikes overall performance and handling, a true balancing act. Dream Builds YouTube channel are know for their jaw dropping builds and together with Spanish brand Mondraker, set out to see what was possible and to create a bike that not only was the lightest on the scales in the world but also maintained performance on the trail.
Gram watching was the aim of the game, but that could not come at the cost of the end product as the bike had to be able to take on the tracks and trails of modern mountain bike riding. Yes, a 620mm wide handlebar could have been fitted to save another 19grams and swapping the FOX fork for a rigid carbon one would of saved around 500grams from the total weight but, the impacted on handling and the bikes ability to tackle technical terrain would of suffered. The aim of the project was to balance the bikes low-weight with on trail performance and it was achieved with this build perfectly.
At the bikes heart is an off-the-shelf Mondraker Stealth Carbon Podium RR SL frame in medium, which was given the ‘lightweight’ treatment by the brands inhouse, Alicante based ‘Blue Lab’ team in Spain. This is the team responsible for creating the Mondraker's 'Unlimited' series of custom painted bikes, including the Gulf Neat edition bikes and the 20th Anniversary Foxy. Stock, the frame has a weight of 840.4grams fully painted and although superlight already, Mondraker knew they could do better. Setting to work, the 142.7grams of factory paint was stripped off the frame leaving it in a raw carbon fibre state and with a weight of only 697.7grams. A frame like this would never survive in the wild, so 34.5grams of lightweight decals and paint/lacquer was applied and the resulting matte finished frame could then face real mud and still sit on the scales at a featherweight 732.2grams…yes, a fully World Cup proven MTB frame that weighs less than most riders full water bottles.
At Just 5.68kg for the whole bike (including pedals) it’s a weight-weenies dream and just as beautiful to look at as it is low in weight. The frame alone is testament to Mondraker’s Alicante based team of designers, engineers and painters that created such an amazing machine, but the parts and components are what then sets the build apart. Machined FOX 32 Float SC Factory forks take the build to a whole new level and feature a machined lattice brace that removes any unwanted material, the Grigio Carbonio cranks feature carbon fibre crankarms and axle, a carbon fibre rear axle was fitted from Overcast, while the Shimano XTR rear derailleur was given the full HOPP carbon treatment before a host of Darimo carbon parts finish the build off, including a seat clamp that weighs just 4grams!
- -Total Bike Weight (inc pedals): 5.68kg (12.52Ibs)
- -Mondraker Podium RR SL Frame Factory Weight (Painted) : 840.4grams
- -Frame Stripped Raw Weight : 697.7grams
- -Repainted Frame (Matte Finish) : 732.2 grams
- -Decal and Paint Weight: 34.5grams
Frame: Mondraker Podium RR SL - Medium
Seatclamp: Darimo Sub4
Seatpost: Darimo T1 Loop
Brakes: Trickstuff Piccola Carbon
Forks: FOX 32 Float SC Factory
Stem: Darimo IX2AL 40mm
Bar: Darimo MTB - 740mm
Headset: ACROSS
Bottom bracket: Ceramic Speed BSA30
Crankset: GrigioCarbonio MTB T1000 Cranks
Rear Mech: Shimano XTR 12 speed - HOPP carbon upgrades with Aerozine jockey wheels
Wheelset: PORTE rims - Extralite hub
Cassette: Garbaruk 12 speed
Tyres: Innova PRO Bobcat
Rear Axle: Overcast carbon thru axle
Rotors: Ashima 6 bolt 160mm
Pedals: Crankbrothers E11 Eggbeaters
Saddle: GELU K-4 MTB
This size table is only an estimation, the optimum frame size depends on your personal preference and riding style