Specialized A1 vs. M5... I have weight comparisons!

I've been riding/racing my overbuilt (XT/XTR) Specialized Hardrock for some time now and I hoenstly LOVE the frame. But I always thought that I was "handicapped" because everyone else was riding "race" frames. I finally found a deal on an older '05 Specialized HT M5 and jumped on it.

So is there a difference in weight?

The '05 18'' Specialized S-Works HT M5 stripped down to bare frame weights 3lbs, 1oz

The '08 17'' Specialized Hardrock (A1) stirpped down to bare frame weights 4lbs, 1oz

That's only a 1lb difference! #-o

*Although the S-Works is a 18'' it has almost the identical dimensions as the 17'' hardrock

The difference in material does NOT make much of a weight difference HOWEVER, the two bike are not the same. The geometry of the S-Works feels much more aggressive and I'm sure the M5 is much stiffer than the A1. But for those who were wondering about weight... there you go! Only a 1 pound difference...

EDIT: Had the wrong weight... it's 3lbs 1oz...

 

wow, what a timely thread. just today i road a trail on a hardrock. it fit me perfect with stock configuration. the bars were in the right spot, the saddle. i felt that it fit me better than any other bike i have been on lately. then i wondered, how light is the frame? isnt everyone racing on stumpy HT's. huh. now i know. thanks

 

1lb is lot when comes to frame weight saving.

 

the m5 is stronger too...

 

20%:?:

 

Nice data. Though, I guess I was expecting a bare M5 frame to be well under 4 lb.

edit:
Are you sure it was bare? WW has the following listing for the M5:

M5 HT 2003 15.5" 1352 g
black anodized, incl. seat post clamp, canti studs, cage bolts (steel)

M5 HT 2003 17" 1430 g
black anodized

M5 HT 2003 17" 1485 g
flo red painted

M5 HT 2003 19'' 1492.5 g
black anodized, averaged (1492/1493)

M5 HT 2005 21" 1516 g
black anodized, w/out seatpost, clamp and chainstay protector (all supplied)

 

We must have different expectations. I think 20% savings on the same amount of metal is considerable. Especially if you don't have to compromise strength, perhaps even increase it. It must be hard to find 5% on a couple of aluminum triangles. You have to pay a lot for 20%. Imagine getting a 30 pound bike down to 24.
I know what you're getting at though. Weight is an interesting concept that we tend to obsess on. I mean you could lose 6 pounds by leaving your camelbak in the car. If you lost six pounds of fat you would probably put in better laptimes on your Hardrock than the M5 but I've ridden heavy bikes and light bikes and light bikes are just more fun.
Anyone know the difference between the M5 and the carbon?

 

1lb is a pretty fair weight savings...

you have to take into account, though, that the hardrock is speshy's entry level hardtail. i paid 300 otd for mine a few years ago. the s-works has much thinner tubing, better butt placement, etc.

the hardrock is by no means a weak bike, but it is a tank.

the s-works isn't either, but it is lighter, and therefore expensive.

the golden triangle: light-strong-cheap pick 2

fwiw, I think the hardrock is a bomb trail bike, if you don't mind lugging around a 5lb hardtail :lol:

 

I did weight the bike totally naked (no bb, no headset cups, not even decals)




After I swapped all the parts over, it hit the scale at 23lbs, 7oz w/ spare tubes, tire lever, and multitool strapped to the seat post.



The bike is spec'd as follow...
-05 S-Works HT M5 frame
-Race Face NEXT Carbon Fiber Straight Bar
-Race Face Dues XC Stem (90mm)
-Ergon GX2 grips with Magnesium Barends
-Carbon Fiber Stem spacers and top cap
-Fox F100RLC Fork
-Shimano XT M775 Hydralic Disc Brakes
-SRAM Flak Jacket Shifter Cables
-Mavic Crosstrails UST tubeless
-Specialized S-Works Fastrak LK 2bliss with Stan's
-Thomson Elite Setback Seatpost
-Specialized Phenom Saddle
-Race Face Deus XC crankset (170mm)
-Duraace/XTR Chain CN7701
-Crank Brothers Eggbeater SL Pedals
-XTR FD M970
-XTR Shifters M970
-XT RD M770
-XT Cassette M770

*I used a Parktool DS-1 for all the weights

 

I just recently switched to a Specialized M5 hardtail frame and it is superlight, strong and much more comfortable that I could have hoped for in an aluminum hardtail. It's the lightest bike I have yet bulletproof at the same time.

 

good job man thats one sick stealthy spechy hardtail!

 

1516g is approximately 3.3 lbs. Since yours is an 18", it should be slightly lighter.

A little surprised it's over 4 lbs. You sure you bought a real S-Works frame vs. some other frame with S-Works decals on it?

http://cgi.ebay.com/SPECIALIZED-S-W...Cycling_Parts_Accessories?hash=item2556da4bc6

 

HAH! apparently people are right when they tell me I have fish memory (reference to finding nemo)... I started tripping out when I saw the specs above. I remembered that I took a picture of the scale on my phone when I weight it, it's actually 3lbs, 1oz. My bad guys...

But I also rechecked the Hardrock Frame, it's 4lbs 1oz. I just had the number mixed up. Either way, the difference in weight is only 1lbs...

 

1lbs. in the frame is still a lot! Go try to shave 1lbs. in cranks, shifters, stem, handlebars, derailleurs, saddle and watch your wallet empty.

 

hey minh wasn't the frame 4 pound 15 ounces hahahaha

 

Ahah! That's more like it.

 

Good stuff.

In case you want to know, my 18" 2008 HT SJ 29er frame weighed in at 3.5 lbs. It is the M5 material. The frame would weigh in at 3lbs and few ounces without the sliding drop outs - which is cast iron, steel plates, and bolts.