How much does a steel road bike weigh? Many riders think about steel as a material from many years ago. But today pipes have evolved. The drawing of the tubes has changed, and today it is much more precise. And the result is frames that are – of course – heavier than carbon, but not by as much as many cyclists think.
Comparison between carbon and steel frames
Frames are always weighed unfinished, i.e. without paint and fork. There are significant differences between a good carbon frame and a cheap one, as well as between different types of steel. A genuinely super carbon frame may only weigh 700 -800 grams, but in reality, most carbon frames on the market currently weigh between 900 and 1000 grams. The excess weight is given by the increasingly aerodynamic shapes of recent years. Then there are carbon frames in the cheaper range, between 1100 and 1200 grams.
Steel frames with high-end tubing weigh between 1400 and 1600 grams. The more generous tube shapes of recent years also give a surplus of weight. Frames with cheaper tubes can weigh between 1600 and 1900 grams.
In conclusion, a steel frame weighs on average 600-700 grams more than carbon.
The big difference of the fork
Carbon forks weigh significantly less than steel forks. Modern steel bikes – equipped with carbon forks – weigh much less than they once did. A carbon monocoque fork weighs 350 – 400 grams, while a steel fork can weigh between 600 and 700 grams—a big difference.
The weight of the components
It’s funny to note how many steel detractors don’t even consider the weight of the components. To say that a bike of one material or another is light or not makes no sense if you don’t take into account the components. For example, the weight of the Shimano Dura-Ace is 2396 grams, while the Shimano 105 Di2 is 2953 grams. 557 grams of difference. Almost like the difference between a carbon frame and a steel one
Conclusions (and complete bike weight)
In conclusion, if we have a complete carbon bike with excellent components, we will probably have a bike that weighs between 7.2 kg and 7.8 kg. So how much does a steel road bike weigh? With the same components, probably between 7.8 kg and 8.4 kg.
