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The 25 lightest fully frames in the worldRace bike model students in terms of frame weight

Jan Timmermann

 · 16.03.2026

At BIKE, we weigh the frames of the lightest race fullys in our own test lab. Our list shows 25 frame weights from super light to heavy.
Photo: Max Fuchs

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In the BIKE lab, we measure the lightest cross-country and marathon bikes ourselves. Our weight ranking shows the frame weights of 25 race bikes. These are the best carbon full-suspension bikes for gram-hungry riders.
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While the weight of a mountain bike has taken a back seat in many other disciplines in recent years, in marathon and cross-country sport, a lightweight frame is still a priority for most development departments. Although - or precisely because - this type of bike has also increased in suspension travel and trail potential, a particularly light chassis is still considered a masterpiece of engineering among race fullys. Only those who manage to optimise the use of carbon material without torpedoing the function of the rear triangle, the stiffness or even the durability of a frame can build a really light full-suspension chassis.

Junior World Champion Paul Schehl flattens the Arc8 Evolve FS. No modern race bike can score points with a lighter frame weight.Photo: Max FuchsJunior World Champion Paul Schehl flattens the Arc8 Evolve FS. No modern race bike can score points with a lighter frame weight.

The ranking: 1st to 25th place for race fully frame weights

Rankings always need to be put into perspective. It is widely known that large 29er wheels, long and flat geometries, more suspension travel and the increased demands on the resilience of a race bike have not necessarily made carbon frames lighter. For this reason, our list goes no further back in time than model year 2022. All candidates are designed for 29-inch wheels and cross-country or marathon use. That's why none of the bikes come with more than 120 millimetres of suspension travel even if there are lighter frames available even in the trail bike segment.

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Light equals fast: Although this formula has been relativised over the last few World Cup years, it still applies to marathon and cross-country bikes.Photo: Max FuchsLight equals fast: Although this formula has been relativised over the last few World Cup years, it still applies to marathon and cross-country bikes.

At BIKE, we go to unrivalled lengths to test mountain bikes. No other MTB medium in the world operates such an extensive test laboratory. True to the motto "Real data instead of guessing values", we do not rely on manufacturer specifications in the testing process. Especially in the field of race bikes, marketing claims like to talk about the "lightest frame". Our measurements create comparable facts. For the sake of comparability, only bikes with carbon frames in size L were included in our list. We always weighed the frames without any cables, without shocks and pedal or headset bearings but with thru axle, derailleur hanger and screws, for example for attaching bottle cages. For frames with pressed headset shells, these are included in the measurements.

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>> Further information on the BIKE test system can be found under this link.

The BIKE test laboratory is unique in the world. Here we measure test bikes according to our own controlled standards. Here, for example, the seating comfort of a race hardtail.Photo: Georg GrieshaberThe BIKE test laboratory is unique in the world. Here we measure test bikes according to our own controlled standards. Here, for example, the seating comfort of a race hardtail.

1st place: Arc8 Evolve FS - 1536 g

Not only has Arc8 managed to build the lightest race fully frame of the last four years with its special rear triangle construction using sliders instead of a rocker link. Our testers were also impressed by the riding behaviour. Never before has a race fully been so light, powerful and at the same time so confident downhill. This makes it possible to achieve top times on the climbs and save energy on the descents. But that's not all: thanks to the comfortable riding position and progressive geometry, the bike can also score points off the race track. On gruelling trail tours, for example. Bull's eye!

  • Suspension travel: 120 / 110 mm
  • Frame price: 2999 Euro
  • Complete bike price: from 5499 euros

>> Frame weight Arc8 Evolve FS - 1536 g

The title for the lightest frame weight goes to Arc8. The Evolve FS saves the weight of a rocker link and controls the shock using a slider system.Photo: Max FuchsThe title for the lightest frame weight goes to Arc8. The Evolve FS saves the weight of a rocker link and controls the shock using a slider system.

2nd place: Specialized S-Works Epic World Cup - 1577 g

The World Cup version of the race bike perennial favourite Specialized Epic was specially developed for fast courses and explosive sprints in the cross-country short track discipline. The extra-light S-Works frame is a fascinating piece of technology that blurs the boundaries between drive-efficient hardtail and power-saving fully. With the World Cup successes of the regular Epic model the relevance of the spring travel throttled version has recently faded into the background.

  • Suspension travel: 110 / 75 mm
  • Frame price: 2999 Euro
  • Complete bike price: from 6349 euros

>> Frame weight Specialized S-Works Epic World Cup: 1577 g

The Specialized S-Works Epic World Cup radiates racing fever and is a special tool for the fastest tracks in the world.Photo: Max FuchsThe Specialized S-Works Epic World Cup radiates racing fever and is a special tool for the fastest tracks in the world.

3rd place: Giant Anthem Advanced SL - 1640 g

The Giant Anthem Advanced SL is brand new and can call itself the "fastest mountain bike in the world" at its market launch. Alan Hatherly raced to the 2025 Cross Country World Championship title on a near-series Anthem frame. Giant achieves the astonishingly light weight of the Flexpivot chassis with 120 millimetres of suspension travel through a high degree of automation during the manufacturing process, among other things. In the Taiwanese company's production facilities, robots work more precisely than humans ever could and manage to save unnecessary weight. Nevertheless, the weight allowance for the carbon frame (138 kilos for rider and luggage) is pleasingly high.

>> Frame weight Giant Anthem Advanced SL: 1640 g

Giant can call itself world champion thanks to the brand new Anthem Advanced SL. The featherweight carbon frame makes it onto the podium of the BIKE weight ranking.Photo: GiantGiant can call itself world champion thanks to the brand new Anthem Advanced SL. The featherweight carbon frame makes it onto the podium of the BIKE weight ranking.

4th place: Trek Supercaliber - 1672 g

When Trek lifted the neoprene cover on Jolanda Neff's 2019 World Cup bike and presented the first Supercaliber to the public, the surprise was perfect: Is it a hardtail? Is it a fully? The world had never seen damping technology with a suspension strut partially integrated into the frame on a race bike before. The latest interpretation has more suspension travel from a new suspension system from Rockshox and a modernised geometry. With its super-light carbon frame, the Trek Supercaliber is still considered one of the sharpest race bikes on the planet.

>> Trek Supercaliber frame weight: 1672 g

The name Trek Supercaliber stands for racing like no other bike of the last five years. Short suspension travel and a super-light frame make for an explosive mix.Photo: Max FuchsThe name Trek Supercaliber stands for racing like no other bike of the last five years. Short suspension travel and a super-light frame make for an explosive mix.

5th place: Yeti ASR - 1675 g

Yeti has been turning the heads of passionate mountain bikers with its charismatic bikes for over 40 years. The ASR is considered one of the most iconic American models. When it suddenly disappeared from the line-up, many fans mourned. This makes its return after a ten-year absence from the racing circuit all the more pleasing. According to the company, the frame of the new Yeti ASR is the most ambitious carbon fibre project in the company's history. The effort pays off and the chassis makes it into the top five of the lightest race bikes.

  • Suspension travel: 120 / 115 mm
  • Frame price: 4300 Euro
  • Complete bike price: from 6200 euros

>> Frame weight Yeti ASR: 1675 g

The Turq frame of the Yeti ASR is not only wickedly expensive, but also really nice and light. The cult brand spared no expense or effort in its development.Photo: Max FuchsThe Turq frame of the Yeti ASR is not only wickedly expensive, but also really nice and light. The cult brand spared no expense or effort in its development.

Place 6 to 10

Even in the sixth to tenth places in our weight ranking of the lightest race bike frames, all candidates remain under 1900 grams. These include the most successful bike of the past cross-country season, the new Specialized Epic 8, and XC superstar Nino Schurter's workhorse, the Scott Spark RC.

The Specialized Epic 8 is probably one of the most hotly debated cross-country bikes of the past year. Especially in the sinfully expensive S-Works version with Rockshox Flight Attendant suspension.Photo: Max FuchsThe Specialized Epic 8 is probably one of the most hotly debated cross-country bikes of the past year. Especially in the sinfully expensive S-Works version with Rockshox Flight Attendant suspension.

Place 11 to 15

Outside of the top ten lightest fully frames from the BIKE test lab, the magical two-kilo mark is exceeded. The extremely powerful Cannondale Scalpel also exceeds this frame weight. With the Megamo Track, the BIKE test winner of our last comparison test of three marathon bikes lands in 13th place.

The Megamo Track Race doesn't just look modern. The Spaniards are pushing an absolutely competitive race bike to the starting line.Photo: Max FuchsThe Megamo Track Race doesn't just look modern. The Spaniards are pushing an absolutely competitive race bike to the starting line.

Place 16 to 20

Ranked 16 to 20 are not only attractively priced race bikes, such as the Bulls Wild Edge, but also models with high suspension and geometry reserves, such as the Canyon Lux Trail or the Mondraker F-Podium.

The Mondraker F-Podium already rolled onto the marathon course with extra travel and long geometry, while other brands were still riding "oldschool".Photo: Georg GrieshaberThe Mondraker F-Podium already rolled onto the marathon course with extra travel and long geometry, while other brands were still riding "oldschool".

Place 21 to 25

At the bottom of our weight ranking are carbon frames, some of which do without a lightweight rear triangle design à la Flex-Pivot or are based on very unconventional designs, such as the Berria Mako with integrated shock or the Celtic Chadh made from customised small series construction.

Storck has made a name for itself primarily with high-quality racing bikes and gravel bikes. The new edition of the Rebel marathon fullys is nevertheless a project close to the heart of the German brand.Photo: Georg GrieshaberStorck has made a name for itself primarily with high-quality racing bikes and gravel bikes. The new edition of the Rebel marathon fullys is nevertheless a project close to the heart of the German brand.

Conclusion - the lightest MTB frames in the world

As a marathon rider, I can still get excited about light frame weights in 2026. Designing a really light chassis with sufficient reserves in terms of stiffness and suspension travel is an engineering masterpiece. That's why it's all the more impressive that the top five lightest race bike frames were also able to impress in our practical tests. Chapeau! - Jan Timmermann, BIKE editor
BIKE editor Jan TimmermannPhoto: Marketa NavratilovaBIKE editor Jan Timmermann
Jan Timmermann

Jan Timmermann is a true mountain biker. His interests cover almost everything from marathon to trail bikes and from street to gravel. True to the motto "life is too short for boring bikes", the technical editor's heart lies above all in bikes with charisma. Jan also runs the fitness centre for our cycling brands.

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