CyclistBest lightweight bikes reviewed 2024: Road bikes for climbingEveryone wants a lightweight bike. Whether youre a beginner or a top-level professional, a lighter bike makes riding uphill easier and thats beneficial for everyone. That means that manufacturers are always considering weight when making their frames, wheels, groupsets and other kit, it also means that products are produced specifically to be as light as possible.Since cyclings governing body, the UCI, has a minimum weight limit for bikes in races 6.8kg that standard is generally what the bike industry builds around, although there are more and more cases of super-lightweight bikes produced for the consumer that would be illegal in a race.Obviously weight isnt everything on a bike comfort, aerodynamics, durability, stiffness etc. are all key factors in a bikes performance and feel so our best lightweight road bikes comprises of what we think are the best bikes that are lightweight, rather than just listing the lightest on the market.Reviews of the best lightweight bikes BMC Teammachine SLR: RRP from 7,600 Read our full review Cannondale SuperSix EVO LAB71: RRP 12,500 Read our full review Canyon Ultimate CFR: RRP from 9,499 Read our full review Cervelo R5: RRP 8,300 Read our full review Factor O2 VAM: RRP 9,900 Read our full review Giant TCR Advanced Pro: RRP 6,699 Read our full review Liv Langma Advanced SL: RRP 7,999 Read our full review Open MiND: RRP $3,900 frameset Read our full review Orbea Orca M10i LTD: RRP 11,999 Read our full reviewSpecialized S-Works Aethos: RRP 12,000 Read our full review Trek Emonda SLR: RRP from 6,500 Read our full review Wilier Verticale SLR: RRP 11,000 Read our full reviewWeight isnt everything (but it helps)Charlotte HeadBack in the early 1900s the idea of a bike weighing less than 15kg was a pipe dream. But by the 1960s a skinny steel racer could comfortably hit 10kg, and with a little help from drillium the fad that saw mechanics and riders drill holes in brake levers and chainrings to shave grams even lighter.Eddy Merckxs Hour Record bike of 1972, built (and drilled) by Ernesto Colnago, weighed just 5.75kg, and even De Rosas heart logo was a result of weight saving, with Ugo De Rosa drilling three holes into a bottom bracket shell then cutting a triangle between them to lose excess material.Aluminium followed steel, with Italian manufacturer Alan creating the original mass-production aluminium frame, which weighed as little as 1.6kg, in 1972. A few years later titanium joined the party, among the first the 1974 Teledyne Titan whose 2kg frame was a third lighter than comparable steel. And then carbon fibre came along and started chipping away, bike by bike, at weight targets once thought impossible to reach.The biggest target was the UCI weight limit of 6.8kg, which might have seemed optimistically low when it was introduced in 2000 but is now embarrassingly outdated. As early as 2004 Canyon engineer Hans Christian Smolik created the experimental Projekt 3.7, a 3.7kg, 16-gear bike.In 2006 the Germans were at it again, debuting the Projekt 6.8, a 6.8kg disc brake road bike. In fact weight seems a bit of a theme in Germany, with the record for the lightest rideable bike standing at 2.7kg a custom project started by German Gunter Mai, then finished off by Jason Woznick of Fairwheel Bikes in Tucson, Arizona.As for production ie, not custom bikes, the feathery crown rests with German brand AX Lightness, whose Vial Evo Ultra tips the scales at 4.4kg thanks in part to a frame weighing under 600g. More recently Specialized hit the headlines with its Aethos, a sub-6kg fully built racer that the company claims has the lightest disc-frame ever built just 585g for a size 56cm.Its incredible stuff, but there is a big but. When we put together the list of the best lightweight bikes it soon became clear that weight wouldnt actually be the defining factor. Otherwise a bike such as the Tifosi Mons, which stole 15 minutes of fame by dressing up in the most expensive parts and weighing a claimed 4.6kg, would be on the list.Not that its a bad bike, but it is an example of how if you throw enough money at a light-ish frame (780g) you can hit crazy-light numbers 790g AX Lightness tubular wheels anyone? That isnt really cricket. No, bike design has come so far that at the top end riders can and should expect a more holistic approach, such that stiffness, comfort and even aerodynamics need not be sacrificed.Weight matters and it underpins our choices here, but theres much more to these bikes than meets the scales.Why you can trust Cyclists adviceWeve been riding and writing about bikes since 2012, when Cyclist magazine first hit the newsstands and over that time weve reviewed many hundreds of bikes, among them the cream of the crop. Low weight has always been the holy grail of bike design, since before aero became significant, so weve slung a leg over a fair number of the best lightweight bikes.Our review team, led by tech editor Sam Challis, has unrivalled expertise. Even if some of the bikes below dont look that lightweight from the numbers, because weve reviewed a lower spec, weve included them because we understand that their premium spec siblings really will trouble or undercut the UCI 6.8kg weight limit. Related Posts Aero vs lightweight vs all-rounder: which is the fastest road bike? Aero vs lightweight bike: Which is better for climbing? What is the UCI weight limit? Best road bikes 2024 reviewed by Cyclists experts Best aero road bikes 2024: Ride faster for less effort Best lightweight bikes ridden and reviewedBMC Teammachine SLR014,995 (RRP: 7,600) |View offerWeight (as tested): 6.8kgPros: Comfortable and reactive Cons: Stiff cockpit is a little firmAlthough it may appear that the Teammachine SLR01 has been superseded by the latest Teammachine R, launched in 2023, and incorporating Formula 1 tech derived from a collaboration with Red Bull Advanced Technologies, the Teammachine SLR will continue to live alongside the newer bike. Thats because, although less aero, the SLR shaves a useful few grams from the newer bikes 7kg claimed weight, making it still the choice for the mountain goat, just with slightly less honed aerodynamics.We found that the Teammachine SLR offers excellent handling and stiffness, alongside its 6.8kg weight, so that it rockets out of the gates and up hills. Its comfortable at the rear too, although less so at its stiff cockpit.Read our full BMC Teammachine SLR reviewCannondale SuperSix EVO LAB71Lizzie Crabb12,500 |View offerWeight (as tested): 7.2kgPros: Impressive ride feel, more aero than last generation bike, new BSA bottom bracket should be reliable Cons: Potentially awkward Di2 battery placement, specced with narrow 25mm tyresWeve yet to get our hands on the top spec LAB71 SuperSix EVO, but weve ridden the latest fourth generation bike in (slightly) less fancy Hi-Mod guise, which weighs 7.2kg. Opt for the LAB71 bike though, which comes equipped with Dura-Ace, and the bike should head down close to 6.8kg. Cannondale says that the latest bike is 12 watts more aero than its predecessor and it now comes with a standard BSA bottom bracket in place of BB30a, which should make for easier serviceability. At the rear, the new bike is extra skinny, with flex built into the seatpost, which has resulted in the battery for Shimano Di2 builds being moved to the bottom of the down tube. That has preserved the ride comfort of the previous generation, despite the newer bikes deeper seatpost. Wed like to see 28mm tyres as standard rather than the 25s specced, though theres room for up to 34mm.Read our Cannondale SuperSix EVO Hi-Mod 1 reviewCanyon Ultimate CFR7,499 (RRP: 9,299) |View offerWeight (as tested): 7.3kgPros: Comfortable, nimble, aero profiles Cons: One-piece bar-stem reduces adjustability (although its still width-adjustable)Another bike where weve not been let loose on the lightest, highest spec model in this case the Ultimate CFR which has a 6.3kg claimed weight. We rode the CF SLX 8 Di2 with Ultegra Di2, which tipped the Cyclist scales a whole kilo heavier at 7.3kg.We reckoned that the SLX 8 was still light, stiff, nimble and aero though, while still being comfortable enough for extended rides. It shares its geometry and some components with the Aeroad, while retaining the classic road bike profile. You can fit 32mm tyres or wider as proved by its winning line-up in the first UCI Gravel World Championship in 2022.Read our full Canyon Ultimate CF SLX 8 Di2 reviewCervlo R56,122.49 (RRP 8,189.46) |View offerWeight (as tested): 7.6kgPros: Stiff and reactive, racy up hills, planted down Cons: Not the smoothest ride, expensive for top spec buildsYet another bike that can scrape the UCI weight limit, with a frame weight claimed at 703g. Weve ridden a heavier spec, in this case with SRAM Force AXS and Reserve wheels for a 7.6kg weight. Cervlo claims that the latest R5 is not just lighter but more comfortable, with room for 34mm tyres. Of course, its also more integrated although Cervlo has kept to roundish tubes rather than trying to up the aero quotient.The R5 remains a stiff, fast racing machine though and although the tyres take the edge off the ride, its still not endurance bike smooth. Head uphill and its super-effective though and descending is equally impressive.Read our full Cervlo R5 reviewFactor O2 VAMSam Challis9,999 |View offerWeight (as tested): 6.5kgPros: Very light, and also stiff and aero Cons: High price of entry Unlike Cervlo, Factor claims to have upped the aero on its 2023 O2 VAM, while increasing the frames stiffness by 35% and keeping the bikes weight impressively low. At pro speeds, it says that aerodynamics retain their importance even on gradients up to 8%. The 1,146g carbon spoked Black Inc wheelset helps to keep weight off, as do a range of other O2 VAM-specific Black Inc components and the seatmast design. Its an impressive ride both uphill and on the flat, with the ultra-skinny top tube and the 28mm tyres, for which the aerodynamics are tuned, helping to take the edge off the frames stiffness.Read our full Factor O2 VAM reviewGiant TCR Advanced ProJoseph Branston6,699 |View offerWeight (as tested): 7.3kgPros: Great handling, more aero, comes with power meter Cons: Narrowish 28mm tyres The Giant TCR has been around since 1997 when its sloping top tube was a radical departure from the race bikes of the day. Ten generations later, weve reviewed the 7.3kg Giant TCR Advanced Pro 0, which has again upped the aero quotient with new tube profiles and integrated cabling, while improving claimed compliance and losing around 10 percent in weight, with a claimed 800g frame weight. The bikes weight is low down, which along with the frame stiffness leads to a snappy feel on climbs and stable descending. Theres now 33mm tyre clearance, although Giant fits 28mm tyres on its own 40mm deep wheels and we reckoned that wider tyres on slightly deeper wheels could up the performance. Read our full Giant TCR Advanced Pro reviewLiv Langma Advanced SL Disc6,399 (RRP: 7,999) |View offerWeight (as tested): 6.7kgPros: Womens specific geometry and touchpoints Cons: Exposed front-end cabling as with the mens bike The TCR Advanced SLs impressive weight is matched by Giants womens version, the Liv Langma Advanced SL. The womens bike shares the tube profiles of the TCR, although the geometry and components have been tweaked to better suit women and theres a seatpost in place of a seatmast.We were impressed by the Langmas responsiveness and handling when riding the hills of the Lake District. The built-for-women feel was also hard to beat.Read our full Liv Langma Advanced SL Disc reviewOpen Min.D $3,900 (frameset) |View offerWeight (as tested): 7.1kgPros: Relaxed position, geometry leads to great handling Cons: Seatmast may make resale more tricky Open took a different turn in the road with the Min.D, having made its name for its gravel bikes. The Min.D is designed around 32mm tyre clearance, but with a more gravel-like and relaxed geometry than many road bikes. A seatmast with 35mm of vertical adjustability allowed Open to build more flex into the elongated 25mm diameter seat tube, while the 405mm chainstays and short wheelbase avoid a ponderous feel.The result is a buttery smooth ride, with a 7.1kg weight for a size 56 bike equipped with SRAM Force AXS and DT Swiss CRC 1400 Spline wheelset, with an all-in cost of around 8,450 as tested. Weve also reviewed the even lighter, but now discontinued Open Min.D California, which weighed in at a UCI-busting 6.4kg.Read our full Open Min.D reviewOrbea Orca M10i LTD11,999 |View offerWeight (as tested): 6.85kgPros: Race bike handling combined with ride comfort, decent 32mm tyre clearance Cons: Non-aero frame profile, fragile 25mm tyres dont fare well on poor roads Orbea has prioritised low weight over aerodynamics with the Orca M10i LTD, with round tube profiles, which help the full build nudge the UCI weight limit. Theres space in the frame for 32mm tyres, although 25mm Vittoria Corsa Speeds were fitted to the own-brand Oquo wheels, which weigh a claimed 1,370g in the 35mm depth reviewed. A power meter comes as standard.We didnt find many mountains to test the lightweight cred, but the Orca is just a really nice bike to ride, even on the flat. Theres race bike handling and frame stiffness, while the unfashionably wide bars help keep neck and shoulders happy and make for more stylish climbing. Read our full Orbea Orca M10i LTD reviewSpecialized S-Works Aethos12,500 |View offerWeight (as tested): 6.2kgPros: Impressively low weight, practicality Cons: Round tubes and external cabling lower the aero quotient Staking its claim as the lightest production bike available, the S-Works Aethos has a claimed 585g frame and 270g fork. With a smattering of choice lightweight components, that leads to a 6.2kg build, light enough for an unmodified bike to show up at the 2023 National Hill Climb Championships. But despite that, we were impressed with the bikes day-to-day usability and its ease of servicing and adjustment. Its geometry comes from the Tarmac, but the light weight lends the Aethos an extra dose of responsiveness, while the stiffness and handling endure. Our only complaint was the lack of tubeless-compatible wheels, one that Specialized has now addressed with the latest version of its Roval Alpinist CLX wheelset, although the bike still ships with tubes.Read our full Specialized S-Works Aethos reviewTrek Emonda SLRFrom 7,000 |View offerWeight (as tested): 6.8kgPros: More aero than its predecessor, quality wheelset Cons: Loses a little in comfort and handling Trek has sacrificed some of the previous generation Emondas low weight on the altar of aero, saving a claimed minute of ride time every hour on the flat. Despite this, its still impressively light and responsive once you hit a hill, helped by the 1,350g Bontrager Aeolus wheels. We did feel that the comfort and handling had suffered a little for the Emondas aero makeover though, making it more of a bike for the pros than the everyday rider.Read our full Trek Emonda SLR reviewWilier Verticale SLRLizzie Crabb11,000 |View offerWeight (as tested): 6.6kgPros: Low weight without compromise in stiffness, 30mm tyres for comfort and grip Cons: Wheels a little heavy on a bike of this price, non-aero design A new, premium carbon fibre mix has allowed Wilier to shave 150g off the frameset module weight of the 0 SLR, its previous lightweight bike. There are no aero flourishes, but thats compensated for by the 6.6kg weight for a size L, even with not-so-light 1,400g wheels and 30mm tyres. An aggressive ride position and flared bars help make bike-plus-rider more aero though.Despite the low weight, the Verticale is stiff and engaging to ride, while the ride position, tyres and brakes allow you to come down as well as you can ascend. It may not be aero, but we found the Verticale a joy to ride.Read our full Wilier Verticale SLR reviewSome of the best aero bikes now weigh under 7kg, so read our guide if youre looking for more aerodynamics. Related Posts Aero vs lightweight vs all-rounder: which is the fastest road bike? Aero vs lightweight bike: Which is better for climbing? What is the UCI weight limit? Best road bikes 2024 reviewed by Cyclists experts Best aero road bikes 2024: Ride faster for less effort The post Best lightweight bikes reviewed 2024: Road bikes for climbing appeared first on Cyclist.