A few years back, riders in the professional peloton were sticking weights on their frames to bring the bikes up to the UCI weight limit of 6.8kg (15lbs); and while the adoption of disc brakes and electronic groupsets have reduced the need for that, there are still some very light road bikes available on the market... as long as you have the funds, because shedding weight often doesn't come cheap!
If you are a frequent reader of our bike reviews you'll know that a bike's weight isn't the be-all and end-all, often being trumped by aerodynamics or comfort in the real world.
That doesn't stop us all wanting the lightest machine we can afford though, especially if you live in a hilly area. Plus we all know that at some point someone (even a non-cyclist) is going to do the 'car park pick up test' so that they can gauge just how light a modern road bike is, and you won't want to be embarrassed.
As a general trend, bikes have got a little heavier over recent years with the inclusion of disc brakes and derailleur motors on bikes with electronic gears, but on the whole road bikes are still very light. In fact, some of the models below aren't even anywhere near top-of-the-range, but still tip the scales at less than 8kg.
As you'll see from our list, carbon fibre is king. When it comes to reducing weight other materials often struggle to compete, especially when trying to balance stiffness and longevity too.
It's worth noting that our top picks are not necessarily the lightest bikes full-stop, more a selection that are available to buy, mostly off-the-peg and, crucially, bikes that we've reviewed ourselves so we can recommend them to you. Check out our FAQ section below for some more info and links on how to buy or build a super lightweight custom bike if you're after something more bespoke!
Specialized Aethos Pro
The Aethos Pro Ultegra Di2 is still one of the lightest road bikes we have ever reviewed on road.cc at just 6.66g. Specialized's S-Works model goes even lighter, with a 56cm frame weighing just 585g!
This build is now named the Aethos Expert (£7,250) with the Ultegra Di2 groupset and carbon fibre wheels, the current Pro comes with SRAM Force eTap AXS for £8,500.
Specialized's S-Works model goes even lighter with a 56cm frame weighing just 585g!
If you are not overly bothered about aerodynamics and just want minimal weight then Liam described this Aethos as the gold standard for general road bikes.
He found it to be a climber's dream with the way it floated up any sort of incline, and Specialized have also nailed the handling for when you are coming back down the hill, although the handling could be considered quite twitchy for some.
So, the price is high, but if you want one of the lightest mass-produced bikes on the market then the Aethos pretty much has you covered.
Giant TCR Advanced SL 0 Disc
Giant's TCR Advanced SL 0 Disc is a very stealthy looking superbike in its matt black finish and dark Dura Ace Di2 components, brightened only by the pearlescent Giant logo on the down tube.
Giant class the TCR as an all-rounder and while this latest iteration's design focuses more on aerodynamics than previous models it is by no means aero specific - Giant leaves those duties to its Propel.
What you do get from the TCR though is a lightweight build, based on high-end components like the aforementioned DA groupset, plus carbon fibre componentry and deep section Cadex wheels.
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When Mat reviewed it back in 2020 he highlighted how light feeling and responsive the TCR is, thanks to the size large he was riding tipping our scales at a featherweight 6.69kg! It didn't disappoint on the stiffness front either when pointed at a climb, or when placed on sprinting duties.
For 2023 it's 'competitively' priced against many superbikes at £10,999.
Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL7 Dura-Ace Di2
When we weighed the S-Works Tarmac SL7 on our scales it hit the UCI weight limit right on the nose, impressive for what is a semi-aero race bike with deep section wheels and an electronic groupset.
It is an incredibly fast bike, massively responsive and accelerates like you wouldn't believe according to our review, and it certainly isn't shy when it comes to stiffness, or getting the balance right between that and comfort.
With an integrated carbon fibre handlebar and stem, carbon seatpost and wheels there isn't much metal on show apart from the Dura Ace Di2 groupset and the spokes, hubs of the wheels.
Read our guide to the best road bikes - regardless of budget
The performance is matched by the price though with the 2023 RRP being a cool £13,950, up from £10,500 when we tested it back in 2020. If money is no object though, this is one superbike that won't disappoint.
Van Rysel EDR CF Ultegra
As this is our lightweight bikes guide, it would be rude not to include at least one bike with good old rim brakes! Our option is not only light, but it's pretty affordable too compared to others in this list.
We've gone for the Ultegra model rather than the 105, disc brake-equipped version we reviewed in 2021, because it weighs just 7.28kg overall with lighter wheels and groupset than the bike we reviewed. The frame and fork is largely the same, that we described as stiff and providing plenty of feedback without road vibration or harshness muting the signals. Our reviewer also found the geometry to be easy to live with, allowing you to get in an efficient, aero position when required; and this is largely replicated on the rim brake model.
The wheels are Fulcrum's high-end alloy Racing Zero, and if you switched to even lighter carbon wheels this bike could get close to troubling the UCI weight limit. At under three grand (before your wheel upgrade if you want to do that) this is a very tempting lightweight ride.
Wilier Filante SLR 2021
Italian brand Wilier do know how to make a stunning looking machine, and the Filante SLR is testament to that, especially in the stunning red colourway of our review model.
At a few grams over 7kg its weight impressive for a bike with relatively chunky aero tubing and the addition of deep section wheels - and that's in a XL size too. Wilier claim a frame and fork weight of just 870g and 360g respectively.
Wilier have focused heavily on the aerodynamics on the Filante, not just when it comes to tube shapes but also the way they have hidden every cable and hose for a super smooth look.
The biggest highlight was just how comfortable the Wilier was though according to Mat. The Filante uses Zero SLR: HUS-Mod carbon fibre and liquid crystal polymer blend. They are tight-lipped about the actual composition, but they say that the liquid crystal polymer helps improve the absorption of vibration.
However it works, Mat did think that the ride quality was pretty sublime.
Scott Foil RC Pro 2023
Aero bikes aren't renowned for their low weight, built even with its oversized tubing, electronic groupset and deep section wheels, this model is less than half a kilo over the UCI weight limit at just 7.35kg.
When Aaron recently reviewed this bike he described it as possibly one of the best all-round aero road bikes that are available right now due to it being ridiculously fast yet super-easy to live with as an everyday bike. The highlights being a very stiff frame which also passes on plenty in terms of feedback to the rider, while the front end geometry gives fun and direct handling in the bends.
It may not be the top-end bike in the Foil line-up, but this Pro model still comes equipped with the latest Dura Ace Di2 groupset, fully integrated carbon fibre handlebar and stem, plus Shimano's C50 deep section wheels.
If aero is your thing but you don't want a weight penalty, then this offering from Scott does tick a lot of the boxes when it comes to performance.
Merida Scultura Team 2022
This Team model uses the fifth generation of the Scultura frameset, which shares the geometry of Merida's aero race bike, the Reacto and shares some of the wind cheating design.
It's ridden at the top level by the Bahrain Victorious ProTour team, which means that there is a huge amount of stiffness throughout for coping with a professional's explosive leg power, while the handling is fast, and very precise indeed.
Although we did find the top half of the frame and the fork to give a very comfortable ride too, which wiped out any road buzz without muting the feedback.
At 7.1kg this build feels impressively quick when accelerating, or maintaining speed on the flat, and for a bike with decent amounts of aero styling it climbs well too. It also looks the business with its smooth lines thanks to full internal cable and hose routing, plus the integrated seatpost clamp.
Look 785 Huez RS Disc
Look's 785 Huez RS Disc has a very stiff frameset aimed at tackling those tough climbs or resisting any flex when it comes to hard efforts out of the saddle. Although with that in mind, it delivers that ride without harshness and gives a comfortable ride for such a race orientated bike.
For those of you who don't fancy the fast, direct, sometimes twitchy handling of a race bike then you'll also enjoy the slightly relaxed front end of the Look meaning that it is also a race bike that can be ridden quickly regardless of your skill or confidence. It's also a benefit when fatigue kicks in on longer rides.
Probably the most unique thing about the Look are the Zed 2 cranks which can be adjusted via inserts giving arm lengths of 170mm, 172.5mm and 175mm.
Canyon Ultimate CF SLX 8 Di2 2023
Canyon were always renowned for their value for money and direct-to-consumer pricing; and while they have lost some of that edge, this Ultimate CF SLX is still a lot of bike for the money coming in at one of the least expensive on this list. In fact the RRP has dropped fifty quid since we reviewed it back in September.
For your £6,449 you are getting a semi-aero frameset, an Ultegra Di2 groupset including a power meter, and deep section DT Swiss wheels which weighs in at 7.27kg. The same frameset built up with a Dura-Ace Di2 groupset, and even fancier DT Swiss wheels nudges that down to 6.8kg if you are willing to splash the cash.
We were impressed overall with how the Ultimate rides with Liam highlighting the stiffness thanks to a solid platform, while there is enough compliance in the frame and fork to stop you getting battered around on rougher roads.
The geometry is long and low a sit's designed for racing which is worth bearing in mind if you aren't the most flexible.
Chapter2 Toa frameset
Chapter2's Toa frameset isn't necessarily superlight on paper, but that doesn't stop it from being built up into a lightweight race bike that'll take 32mm tyres with ease.
The model we reviewed was built up with a Dura Ace mechanical groupset, deep section wheels and various carbon fibre pieces of finishing kit which weighed in at 7.4kg.
As for the ride, well it really can't be faulted with sweet handling and geometry that puts you into an aggressive position for riding hard against opponents or just on your own.
Comfort is great too, for such a stiff bike.
Chapter2 offer the Toa as a frameset which includes the seatpost and integrated cockpit, plus the paint colours are made in small runs giving a bit of a custom finish to each batch.
Ribble Endurance SL R Disc - Pro
It's been a few years since we reviewed Ribble's Endurance SL R Disc road bike, but it is still in their line-up and compared to a lot of models in this list, is on the budget side of things - well kind of.
Despite its name David found the Ribble to be anything but the relaxed riding machine the Endurance name would have you believe. The angles are still steep and it definitely focuses on performance.
The Endurance SL R Disc is available in three builds (or you can use Ribble's own Bikebuilder) starting with the Sport running Shimano's 105 Di2 and Level carbon fibre wheels for £4,199.
The Enthusiast model is £4,999 with Ultegra Di2 and the same wheels, while the Hero model comes with Dura Ace Di2 and Enve Foundation 45 carbon fibre wheels for £7,399.
All three models come with the same carbon integrated handlebar and stem cockpit set up.
It's a lot of bike for the money.
Cervelo R5 Force eTap AXS 2022
We found Cervelo's R5 to be an excellent all-rounder with its aero touches providing the benefits on the flat, while its stiffness makes it a flattering companion on the climbs. It's also supremely comfortable too making it ideal for those longer rides when you have the time.
This Sram Force AXS eTap build tips the scales at 7.3kg which is half a kilo over the UCI's weight limit, but it's based around a feather light frame of 703g (claimed) for a size 56cm, that's 103g lighter than the previous version, so there is definitely some scope there for a very light bike indeed.
Anne-Marie found the geometry numbers to be a little different to those used by many other manufacturers for a bike of this type and size. Most notably the slightly slacker seat tube angle, and you get quite a short reach measurement too, but she found that as a complete package everything worked very well which is what gives the R5 those excellent all-rounder qualities.
Specialized S-Works Crux 2022
Okay, so it's not technically a road bike, but the S-Works Crux is a very light weight gravel/cyclo cross racer that Liam found to also work very well on the road too.
The geometry allows for a low-slung position for speed work, while a slightly longer wheelbase than most road bikes gives it that extra stability off-road. In his review Liam said that he was very impressed with the handling meaning that the Crux copes well with technical descents and it's a prolific climber too.
Read our guide to the best gravel bikes that we have reviewed
It's not cheap at its current price of £11,700, but you are getting some very top end kit with a Sram RED eTap groupset, Roval Terra CLX wheels, and S-Works finishing kit throughout.
Basically, if you want to ride as fast off of the road as you do on it, then the S-Works Crux should be on your shopping list.
Reilly Fusion 2022
As you can see from the bikes in the list above, carbon pretty much rules when it comes to keeping the weight down. That's not to say that the various metal alloys can't compete.
Kinesis' aluminium Aithein Disc frameset could be built into a lightweight bike, as could the rim braked version which could easily smash the UCI weight limit with some lightweight off-the-shelf components fitted - unfortunately both of these models have now been dropped from the line-up.
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One of the lightest metal bikes we've recently tested is this Reilly Fusion though at 8.27kg including the electronic groupset and deep section wheels, so you could still cut some grams if you wished.
Apart from weight the other reason it is on this list is thanks to the ride quality - a blend of stiffness and comfort which easily matches that of a sorted carbon fibre frame.
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Is a lighter road bike better?
On the whole, the lighter a bike is, the more enjoyable it'll be to ride. Not only will it climb better, but it'll be more responsive to your inputs, so acceleration will feel quicker and pulling away from a standing start will become less of a chore on your legs.
It also comes down to what kind of riding you do too. If you live somewhere hilly, or you like to head off and spend time scaling mountain passes then every gram you can drop will be a bonus.
For those of us who ride on the flat or rolling terrain, though, having a more aerodynamic bike can be more efficient even if it is carrying a kilo or so extra, especially when you are up to speed.
As you can see from our list though, many of the latest aero bikes are also pretty light too.
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What is the lightest bike available?
Often touted as the lightest road bike is a creation by Gunter Mai using custom made parts including the carbon fibre frameset back in 2008, weighing around 3kg. It was then rebuilt by a new owner who managed to get that weight down to an incredible 2.7kg.
AX Lightness famously hit the cycling headlines back in 2015 with their Vial Evo Ultra, a production ready rim-braked road bike that was equipped with many of AX Lightness' own components to tickle the scales at a mere 4.4kg.
The AX Lightness Vial Evo Ultra, just 4.4kg
The UK's hill climb season isn't governed by the UCI which often makes it a breeding ground for the pros and amateurs to tweak their off-the-shelf-bikes in weight weeny, gravity-defying machines. We took a look at the British Nation Hill Climbing Champion's race winning Cannondale SuperSix Evo Hi Mod back in November last year which weighed just 5.39kg.
It was based around a 2019 rim braked version of the SuperSix Evo and was fitted exotica like Hunt's Hill Climb wheels at under 1,000g and a Schmolke saddle that weighed a svelte 63g.
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What is the UCI weight limit, and why?
The UCI brought in a weight limit back at the turn of the century of 6.8kg (15lbs) for a couple of reasons, with the main one being safety concerns over the reliability and durability of bike framesets and their components in the never-ending quest for dropping weight.
Newer materials in bike building were becoming more commonplace too, like aluminium alloy and carbon fibre. Both could see catastrophic failures if not manufactured into frames, forks and components properly.
Another reason was that it created a kind of level playing field. Riders riding for big budget teams on the lightest, most expensive bikes had a big advantage over smaller budget teams, especially those from outside of Europe or the USA, and the idea was that the weight limit would level this out.
With today's manufacturing techniques and tolerances failures are rare (when crashes aren't involved) so there have been many calls for the UCI to lower or scrap the limit altogether.
It's worth bearing in mind that if you aren't riding in UCI-sanctioned events then the weight limit won't apply to you.
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What's the best way to lighten my bike?
If your budget doesn't stretch to buying a range-topping lightweight model straight away, you can easily and relatively cheaply remove weight from a bike that sits lower down the range, or from your existing bike.
The best and cheapest ways to get a lighter bike
Usually the quickest way to drop the grams is to swap out the wheelset, as even mid-range road bikes tend to come with hoops that sit a few rungs down the lightweight ladder than the frame probably deserves.
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For six or seven hundred quid you could easily shed 300 to 400g from your wheelset, and an upgrade to some race tyres can also drop another 100g or so from each wheel.
Your complete guide to Shimano's road bike groupsets
You could drop weight by upgrading your groupset too by another few hundred grams as parts wear out. For instance, the difference between Shimano 105 Di2 and Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 is around 500g, with Ultegra Di2 sitting in the middle; although top-of-the-range groupsets are expensive, so a groupset upgrade is nowhere near the most affordable way to shed weight.
You can also upgrade aluminium components (think seatpost, handlebar etc.) for carbon although the gains will be minimal.
Of course, your other option is to lighten yourself... but that's a whole other subject!
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