76 MC5 Weight

[Tahitian_Red]

I have a few old magazine tests of the 1976 MC5 250 and the weight difference between them is amazing.  Modern Cycle praises KTM for keeping the weight to around 208 lbs, but Cycle Guide weighs the MC5 at 224 or so.  I think the MC test may have been near the Austrian factory, but a 16 lb weight gain on the cruise over seems a bit much.  Most of the items on the bike are already CrMo, Magnesium, Aluminum and Fiberglass.  Where can you shave 16 lbs off an MC5?



Racing the "FaltaNator" in 2010

[brian kirby]

Modern Cycle is wrong, no way a stock MC5 was 208, 225 is much more realistic but I suspect even that is low.

Brian

'72 Berkshire

[joe novak]

Sometimes bikes are weighed with fluids (oil, gas,), and other times weighed "dry".   I think gasoline is about 5-6 pounds per gallon.  It is a little heavier with premix (oil and gasoline).  Also, it is most likely that the KTM's are weighed in kilograms, then the kilogram value is converted to U.S. pounds or British pounds.  I think I remember 1 kilogram is equal to approximately 2.2 U.S. pounds.   Now if they round that 2.2 off to 2.0, that would make the bike appear lighter....

[Tahitian_Red]

Joe,

I think you're right.  Maybe the "New Math" had the guys at Modern Cycle dazed and confused.  Although, the story makes it sound like they thought the bike was light compared to others in it's class.  
[?]

Racing the "FaltaNator" in 2010

[Tahitian_Red]

quote:Originally posted by brian kirby

Modern Cycle is wrong, no way a stock MC5 was 208, 225 is much more realistic but I suspect even that is low.

Brian

'72 Berkshire

Brian,

Are you saying an MC5 weighs twice as much as you?

That would be like me racing a 1200 Sportster around a track.

Racing the "FaltaNator" in 2010