Why are Euro bikes so heavy?

Well,

Does anyone know why European bikes seem to be so distinctly heavy?
I've not ridden any but they always seem to be up in the +14kg rang at least.

Tom

Tom,

I was told by an old Russian physicist that gravity in Europe, (especially
Eastern Europe) is stronger than in the rest of the world. Therefore
everything is heavier there. (See photos or Russian women)

If you exported a bike from Europe to say North America or Central America
it would undoubtedly weigh less. (Especially in Central America where a Kilo
almost always weighs less than a kilo.)

I hope this information is some help to you with that puzzling question. If
this turn out to be incorrect, send your emails to the old Russian
physicist....not me.)

jd


"Tom Nicholson" wrote in message
m...
Well,

Does anyone know why European bikes seem to be so distinctly heavy?
I've not ridden any but they always seem to be up in the +14kg rang at
least.

Tom

"Tom Nicholson" wrote in message
m...
Well,

Does anyone know why European bikes seem to be so distinctly heavy?
I've not ridden any but they always seem to be up in the +14kg rang at
least.

They're heavier because they have more mass.

HTH

Rocketman

Tom Nicholson wrote:
Does anyone know why European bikes seem to be so distinctly heavy?


Take a long look at them though. The bikes are made fo
transportation...not just sport. Also note that a lot of Euro bikes us
suspension too. Some even come with or equipped to run lightnin
systems too


-

On Wed, 04 Feb 2004 21:37:35 GMT, bentcruiser
wrote:

Some even come with or equipped to run lightning
systems too.

That would be the Rans in Hayes, KS. Very useful there...

Curtis L. Russell
Odenton, MD (USA)
Just someone on two wheels...
Used to live just down the road in Peabody and Newton, KS....

Curtis L. Russell wrote:

On Wed, 04 Feb 2004 21:37:35 GMT, bentcruiser
wrote:


Some even come with or equipped to run lightning
systems too.


That would be the Rans in Hayes, KS. Very useful there...

Never heard of either. But there is a RANS in Hays, Kansas.

Tom Sherman - Quad Cities

(Tom Nicholson) wrote in message om...
Well,

Does anyone know why European bikes seem to be so distinctly heavy?
I've not ridden any but they always seem to be up in the +14kg rang at least.

Tom

In the case of the Netherlands and Denmark, I suppose that it is flat
enough that weight is not much of a penalty, so why not use that
weight to make a bike that can carry whatever you want. I have heard
just such a case made before.

Germany by contrast is quite hilly to mountainous over much of its
geography so I have wondered the same thing, why are their bikes so
heavy. They probably ask the same thing about our cars, trucks and
vans. Maybe it has more to do with what is hot where.

I ride a 40+ lb trike so that I can carry what I want when I want.
Maybe they just think something similar.

Gary McCarty, Greenspeed GTO, Salt Lake City

"Gary Mc" skrev...
In the case of the Netherlands and Denmark, I suppose that it is flat
enough that weight is not much of a penalty, so why not use that
weight to make a bike that can carry whatever you want. I have heard
just such a case made before.

Denmark is not flat. Urban legend. Not very tall maybe but lots of
crinkly bits courtesy of the ice ages. ;-)
And saying all euro bikes are heavy is just daft. There are lots under
the limit he states. But if you want suspension and fenders and a rack
and lighting for practical use it adds up. You american types shouldn't
throw rocks with Bigha around. ;o)

Mikael

(Tom Nicholson) wrote in message om...
Well,

Does anyone know why European bikes seem to be so distinctly heavy?
I've not ridden any but they always seem to be up in the +14kg rang at least.

Tom

Most of them have suspension. Many of them have major curves in the
frame tubes, which I think would require thicker wall tubing. Some of
them have fairly sturdy hardshell seats.

BTW if I look down the list of weights in the Hostel Shoppe catalog,
it looks to me like _most_ bikes are in that weight range.

john riley

On Wed, 04 Feb 2004 17:02:58 -0600, Tom Sherman
wrote:

Never heard of either. But there is a RANS in Hays, Kansas.

Tom Sherman - Quad Cities

Sometimes I don't want to fight with the spell checker, which abhors
all capital anything. The only easy way is to do something like R A N
S.

Curtis L. Russell
Odenton, MD (USA)
Just someone on two wheels...