I thought the liquid was around 31, but chet put it on his scale and said it was 38.
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I really doubt it is 38lbs, your scale may be off a bit. My bike is now basically a heavy duty 6" AM / FR bike and it is only 34lbs. With some lighter wheels and tires I should be able to get it closer to 31lbs. But that will be as light as I can go with out effecting stregnth and performace. I could easily have under 30lbs if I swaped out my adjustable seat post for the stock one and replaced my DHX coil for an air shock. But there is no way either of those things are coming off my bike. The adjustable seat post makes riding the gnarly stuff so much more fun, and the DHX coil is so much better and reliable than any air shock.
Plus adding weight in those places (center of the bike) are the areas that least effect a bike. Rotational weight (tires and wheels) makes the most difference. An overall heavier bike with lighter tires and wheels will feel lighter while riding and be quicker than a lighter bike with heavier tires and wheels.
6 inches of travel now? I thought that frame was only built for 5 inches?
And about tires, even though it is rotational mass and hence it feels extra heavy I really think it is worth it. Any extra contact area is well worth the weigh penalty, IMO.