Top 5 | Lightweight Hardtail Mountain Bikes 2021

Here are our Top 5 lightweight XC hardtail mountain bikes in 2021. The demands of cross country racing are huge on both bike and rider. Therefore many bike brands search for the lightest carbon frame tech and finishing kit around to save precious time when the trail gets steep.

In the search for ultimate lightweight, geometry is still key. Our top 5 includes some progressive geometry numbers and some not quite so much, but one thing is for sure, they're all pushing the boundaries of what's possible in super light mountain bike tech.

What do you think to our list? Did we miss a superlight hardtail you wished we covered? As always, let us know in the comments! 👇

00:00 - Intro
00:15 - Specialized Epic HT
01:06 - Radon Jealous 10.0 EA
02:13 - Canyon Exceed CFR
03:25 - Mondraker Podium RR SL
04:34 - Unno Aora

Want to know how far XC tech has come in the last 10 years?
10 Years Of XC Bikes In Under 10 Minutes 👇

Do you love hardtails? Check out our Top 5 Hardtail Mountain Bikes

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[bikeradar]

What lightweight hardtail mountain bikes would make your top 5? Let us know in the comments!

[keaty]

I have the Radon Jealous... What a machine !!!

[budycelyn]

out of the five here the radon is the one i really like the look of, not just what parts it has but visually, very nice bike

[antoniosangevrasio]

BMC Two Stroke 01 the best in price and quality!!!!

[awesomesloppyjoe]

I bought a lightly used S-Works Epic ht (2019). It has alloy wheels and stock cockpit. 8.7kg with pedals and cages xD. I dont know how. It is race ready (2.25 knobby tires) and far away from weight weenie.

[keinotee]

This video is timely with gravel suspension becoming a thing, a lot of people on the gravel market will be like "screw it, I'll just get a hardtail.."

[alex_n]

I'll stick with my alloy Spesh Chisel. It goes like a spring; and if I drop it, chances are it won't be a right-off!

[yengsabio]

That Unno Aora seems an interesting rig!

[samvilla]

While it may not be the lightest hardtail out there, the Specialized Chisel is a great option for those looking to get around the 11 kg mark without spending a fortune

[Bread_Garlichouse]

Just to let you know, if you slap on a pair of 300g xtr pedals on the S works epic with the parts that come with the $12k you parted with, it's barely under 9kg. Nowhere near the 7.8kg claimed.

[davidcarroll]

what about giants XTC SL which won the last 2 XCM worlds under Leo Paez . . .

[DrgnWd]

Bike 9.7 kg Rider 90 kg (hobbyrider) LOL

[johanrr]

What do you think about the entry-level Orbea Alma, Seems like a good value, and its only 12, 5kg

[tristandesade]

Have you noticed how many smaller brands such Unno and Megamo are kind of trying to make XC HT nikes that look like a Scott Scale? Megamo even got the geo pretty much the same as Scott.

[Pillokun]

8.6kg without pedals for the Jealous, imagine what a modern bike would weigh in shape of 26" and using light v-brakes(v-brakes are still very powerful). I mean I still remember back in the day when a popular MTB magazine here in Sweden wrote about the bike for the season and all the upgrades they did, the weights on those machines were incredible and that with steel frames/ti and alu frames. The lightest frame they had was an 1.3kg alu frame yet they were at 8kg mark back then.

[marvintpandroid]

Can you guys do a test of a fully rigid bike or two? Just to see how it works out in 2021.

[williammorris]

Put the Specialized full build on a scale on video and lets see if its really 7.8 kg. Maybe it actuallly is. Scales don't lie but companies exaggerate. hehe

[mtscott]

UKP10, 000 for a bike! FFS…it better carry me up the hill as well! 😳

[jamesbondaygee]

I never heard of any of these bicycles in Canada

[fib]

Check out the DEVEL Meta V3 it weighs 920g for the frame and only costs $750