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What is the weight of your hybrid?

Posted: 01:05 am Jul 30 2019
by SS109
Curious what the real world weight is of some of the hybrids? Please, no guesstimating. I want to know what an actual scale said.

Trying to decide if a hybrid would be worth it for me. It would have to weigh considerably less for me to give up my KDX's comfy seat and great handling in the tight nasty stuff.

Re: What is the weight of your hybrid?

Posted: 05:02 pm Jul 30 2019
by bufftester
Honestly, if there is nothing wrong with the frame I'd leave it stock and love the hell out of that old couch seat! I did my hybrid exactly because the frame had gotten tweaked so I had an excuse, but a properly set up KDX is just as capable IMO. I would guess that my hybrid lost 15 pounds or so over the KDX, but felt lighter and thinner. You end up sitting on top of your bike instead of down in it lol. Ill try and drag the bathroom scale out to the garage before the wife catches me.

Re: What is the weight of your hybrid?

Posted: 11:09 pm Jul 30 2019
by KDXGarage
One option is to find a KX125 weight, then tack on a few pounds for the heavier engine. I think the later models were in the 205 - 211 pound range, depending on year. That was measured weight with no fuel.

Re: What is the weight of your hybrid?

Posted: 11:55 pm Jul 30 2019
by SS109
I thought it was crazy that everyone talks about about the weight a hybrid saves yet, after reading through a bunch of builds, no one posted up their final weight.

Re: What is the weight of your hybrid?

Posted: 12:30 am Jul 31 2019
by KDXGarage
They spent all their money on welding. None left for a scale! :-)

From real old posts here and beyond, E series is 228 and 1995+ is 233 stock with no fuel. I think the last ten years of KX1252 are 205 -212. I think I read my 2005 is 208.

Re: What is the weight of your hybrid?

Posted: 10:17 am Jul 31 2019
by B737driver
In my case...it it's not the weight of the bike, it's the "feel" of the weight of the bike. bufftester nailed it in my opinion. Not sure if that makes total sense but the hybrid definitely feels lighter than my KDX.

I find myself standing much more on the hybrid and riding more aggressive. When I'm on the KDX, I find it harder to leave the confines of the cozy couch. :grin: On a recent ride in CO I actually preferred the KDX on the fire roads/light trails....but when it got really technical, the hybrid was my go to.

All that to say...I have no idea how much, if any, weight was lost with the hybrid but they certainly have different feels due to the ergos.

Re: What is the weight of your hybrid?

Posted: 07:28 pm Jul 31 2019
by SS109
See... lol! No one has actually weighed their hybrid! :doh:

Re: What is the weight of your hybrid?

Posted: 12:27 am Aug 01 2019
by B737driver
Well after reading the replies I decided to to break out the super scientific measurement device...bathroom scales that haven't been used in years. I measured both bikes back to back and here are the results. This is '04 KDX engine to '04 KX 125 frame btw..


Hybrid front.....118
KDX front........119
Hybrid rear......125
KDX rear.........132
Totals:
Hybrid...........243
KDX..............251

First - I question the validity of this measurement method...but I'm no engineer.
Second - There are way too many variables...The Hybrid has a pipe guard, skid plate, Tubliss, Goldentyre, Flexx bars, steering dampener, PMB kickstand, a full tank of gas, etc...etc...The KDX has 1/4 tank of gas, KX forks, small battery for the horn since it's plated...It's not apples to oranges, but it's not apples to apples either.

Honestly, the Hybrid build was during a time when I had fractured my scapula in three places and had four broken ribs in my back. I was out of work for a while and you can only stand so much staring at the TV or computer. I decided to go for it and would not have changed a thing.

Is the Hybrid as fast as a modern 2 stroke 250cc and up enduro type...orange, red, white, blue, pick your color...no, but close
Is the suspension as good...no, but close
Can I ride the Hybrid to it's full potential...not even close, but I have no problem keeping up with the guys on the new bikes..

Re: What is the weight of your hybrid?

Posted: 12:59 am Aug 01 2019
by SS109
B737driver wrote: 12:27 am Aug 01 2019 Hybrid front.....118
KDX front........119
Hybrid rear......125
KDX rear.........132
Totals:
Hybrid...........243
KDX..............251
:prayer: Thank you!

So, add another 15 pounds for a full tank of gas on the KDX and it would be...
Hybrid.........243
KDX............266

I'm figuring from this very limited, and highly suspect :kick: j/k, data set that a hybrid would be on average around 20 pounds lighter. That's pretty significant IMO.

Re: What is the weight of your hybrid?

Posted: 02:35 am Aug 01 2019
by KDXGarage
I am thinking 20 pounds also.

1995+ is 238, I think.

KX125 say around 210, tack on another 5 - 10 for the weight of the KDX engine.

Re: What is the weight of your hybrid?

Posted: 02:44 pm Aug 01 2019
by bufftester
Yeah, I thought about 15 pounds and it's probably pretty close, but the weight is carried different on the hybrid as I said, and it FEELS lighter. One thing that doesn't get mentioned a lot on hybrids is that you lose some steering . The KX has more trail and a slighter head tube angle, and the steering locks are closer together (at least on mine). Its enough that the hybrid doesn't turn as sharp as the KDX did. It's never been an issue on the trail for me, but I do notice it in the driveway when loading/unloading.

Re: What is the weight of your hybrid?

Posted: 06:52 pm Aug 01 2019
by kdxsully
Distribution of this weight is also vital.

Re: What is the weight of your hybrid?

Posted: 12:23 am Aug 03 2019
by SS109
But real world numbers are everything! :boogie:

Re: What is the weight of your hybrid?

Posted: 12:57 am Aug 07 2019
by chkdx
Yep, real world numbers ARE everything.......and a real eye opener. I just weighed my hybrid, 2001 KX125 / 1999 KDX 220 engine on three identical bathroom scales that I know are accurate; one under each wheel and one under the sidestand, hands off for accuracy, the stock KX125 gas tank FULL, and the total is.............

261 pounds! WTF??

The devil is in the details, as in the extras that I added for convenience, durability, and ride-ability; all weights are estimates except for sidestand and skidplate, which I actually remembered to weigh:

Rear fender tool bag, empty for this test: 1 lb
Front fender tool bag (stock KDX rear bag) with spare plug and small parts: 1 lb
Tusk Aluminum Handguards: 4 lb (beefy and strong for when I'm charging thru trees!)
Scott's steering damper and hardware: 1.5 lb
10 oz flywheel weight
All steel Primary Drive rear sprocket: 1 lb heavier than aluminum sprocket
Billet aluminum handlebar mount I made to move bars up and forward: 1 lb
Homemade "Ox-brake type" LHRB: 1 lb
SDG tall seat: 1 lb over stock KX seat
Extra front tire tube in a bag behind front number plate: 2 lb
Rear fender braces, added after tool bag broke rear fender: 6 oz
Homemade side stand: 1.5 lb
Homemade 1/8" thick aluminum skid plate with frame mounts and Obi-link guard: 3 lb
Tube saddle in rear wheel: .5 lb

All these goodies add up to 18 pounds! None are actually needed to ride the bike, and subtracting them brings the full-tank weight in at 243 lb. But all those extras serve a purpose; I ride on tough, remote trails. I could lose about 2-3 pounds with a different sprocket, lighter bar mount, and aluminum kicker. The tank holds 2.2 gallons, at 6.5 lb / gallon, the "empty tank, no goodies" weight is about 229 lb.

Hmmm, still a lot heavier than the KX125. I weighed both engines but can't find my notes, think the KDX220 engine was about 12 lb more than the KX125 engine, and the PC pipe with KX250 FMF silencer / spark arrestor was at least 2 lb more than the KX125 pipe and shorty silencer. Subtract 14 from 229 and we end up with an empty tank KX125 weight of 215. Sounds about right. I didn't weigh the KX when I got it as a disassembled basket case.

Just remembered, I used KDX220 rear wheel and brake disc, and rear brake caliper, both a bit heavier than KX125 items, not sure how much. Might account for 2-3 pounds. The O-ring chain is also heavier than the stock KX125 chain.

Keep in mind that when I fill the rear fender bag with tools and a bolt pack, at least 3 to 4 pounds are added, bringing ride-ready weight to about 265 lb!

Finally, before building the hybrid, I weighed my dead-stock KDX220 with a full tank of gas, PC pipe / stock silencer and no extra goodies: 250 lb

The lesson: little things add up!

Re: What is the weight of your hybrid?

Posted: 01:07 am Aug 07 2019
by KDXGarage
Thank you for the excellent write up of real world results!! :prayer: :prayer: :bravo:

Re: What is the weight of your hybrid?

Posted: 10:34 am Aug 07 2019
by SS109
Thank you for the excellent info! :supz:

Re: What is the weight of your hybrid?

Posted: 11:12 pm Aug 07 2019
by chkdx
Glad you liked the info! I was afraid it was a bit long, but I wanted to be thorough.

Re: What is the weight of your hybrid?

Posted: 02:35 am Aug 08 2019
by KDXGarage
OH NO! It was awesome. "Too much information is not enough". :-)

Re: What is the weight of your hybrid?

Posted: 08:09 am Aug 08 2019
by SS109
That kind of info is exactly why I started this thread.

Re: What is the weight of your hybrid?

Posted: 11:47 am Aug 29 2019
by Pressingonward
Great thread, thanks for sharing! It's amazing how all the little items add up. I'm hoping to build up (or down lol) my 1988 KDX200 into a sub-200 lb lightweight trail bike. It's going to be a challenge for sure, but I think it's doable with the stock frame.