Aloha AX-Lightness Alpha: A 7.9lb Road Bike Built With Real Parts
- Posted on
- By Steve T.
- Posted in AX-Lightness, Builds, Custom Builds, Road Bike, Road Bike Custom Build, Weight Weenie
What if you could ride the world’s lightest road bike—not a showpiece, but a fully functional, daily-ready machine? Inspired by Gunter Mai’s iconic 2008 featherweight build, our “Aloha” AX-Lightness Alpha takes that vision and makes it real—with all obtainable parts, no unicorn components. This unique hill-climb machine features at its core an AX-lightness Alpha frame paired with THM Scapula Fork.
A Real-World, Replicable 7.9lb Build—Built to Ride, Not to Sit Pretty
Inspired by Gunter Mai's World's Lightest Road Bike from 2008, this build was meant to be the “heavier” version—not a garage queen, but a fully functional, daily-ready machine built to be ridden, not just admired by its new owner.
While Gunter Mai's mythical 6.2lb build used handmade or now-unavailable components, this one has parts that are actually obtainable and is replicable today. It trades a few grams for year-round rideability and reliability. Nothing on this build is one off or manufactured specifically for this bike hence you could actually build this bike with some custom work and the proper funds.
It took over a year to source all the components for this build.
Where “Aloha” Comes From
The name came by accident—literally. A tiny chip in the “P” of the Alpha decal gave birth to “Aloha,” a name that now suits the build’s laid-back attitude and exotic, ultra-light nature.
Drivetrain
The heart of this ultralight drivetrain is the THM Clavicula SE carbon crankset, paired with Fibre-Lyte 50/34 carbon chainrings and a Yaban SFL210 10 speed titanium chain. This combination delivers exceptional stiffness, precise power transfer, and significant weight savings—key elements in building a sub-8lb road bike.
Shifting & Drivetrain Tuned Parts
Every shift counts. The SRAM Red rear derailleur is carefully tuned with a BTP carbon cage and Alligator Mini I-Link housing, with Powercordz routed away from the guide fin to prevent friction and stretch. Up front, a modified Campagnolo Record derailleur is mounted via a custom carbon braze-on plate. The finishing touch? Tuned SRAM Red shift levers—light, responsive, and purpose-built for this sub-8lb build.
We shaved precious grams by swapping the SRAM Red rear cage for a BTP carbon unit and rerouting the Powercordz above the guide fin. This eliminates stress points while saving weight without compromising shift accuracy...
Brakes & Cockpit
At the front end of the build, control is dialed through a featherlight cockpit setup anchored by Schmolke TLO Handlebars paired with a 120mm MCFK carbon stem. This ultra-minimal combo, bonded by Calfee Design, delivers precision without penalty. Braking duties are handled by AX-Lightness 3000 brakes—barely-there in weight, but impressively firm when it counts. A set of B.T.P. carbon pad holders round out the setup, keeping things clean and carbon-compatible.
THM Scapula fork with Tune hubs.
Pillar Megalite spokes laced to an early Tune Hub. Recon Alloy 10 speed Cassette
The Berk Nanotech saddle/seatpost combo is as sleek as it is light. Integrated, full carbon, and barely there—just how we like it.
BTP carbon bottle cage and down tube front derailleur shifter—minimalist and functional, even if not the prettiest solution. Tufo tubulars are paired to AX-Lightness rims for weight savings without compromise. Finishing touches include ultralight Aerolite pedals.
Watch the Build in Action
We partnered with GCN to showcase this one-of-a-kind, ride-ready sub-8lb build. Full specs and weight breakdown below.
| Component | Description | Weight |
| Bar Tape / Bar Ends | Tesa 51608 Black, Carbon | 14 g |
| Bottle Cage / Bolts | BTP, M5 Carbon Countersink | 8 g |
| Bottom Bracket | HSC 6806 Full Ceramic | 33 g |
| Brake Housing | Alligator Mini I-Links | 14 g |
| Brakes | AX 3000 | BTP Clasps Pads, M5 Carbon Bolts | 108 g |
| Brake Cables | Powercordz Shift (Nokon Beads on heads) | 5 g |
| Cable Guide | AX Lightness (Carbon Bolt) | 4 g |
| Cassette | Recon Alloy 10sp 11-25t,Ti 11t cog | 98 g |
| Chain | Yaban SFL210 Ti | 214 g |
| Chainrings, Bolts | Fibre-Lyte 50x34 34/13 (Alloy Bolts 9g) | 56 g |
| Crank | THM Clavicula SE 175mm | 292 g |
| Derailleur Cables | Powercordz Shift | 5 g |
| Derailleur Housing | Alligator Mini I-Links | 10 g |
| Front Derailleur | Campagnolo Record (Tuned) - Carbon Bolts | 44 g |
| Fork | THM Fibula 203mm Steerer (Inc. Cover 4g) | 250 g |
| Frame | AX Lightness Alpha (Inc. Ti Shift Boss, F / R Hangers) | 702 g |
| Wheelset | AX Rims | Tune Hubs | Pillar Megalite Spokes | 688 g |
| Handlebar & Stem | Schmolke TLO 44cm | MCFK stem 120mm | Bonded by Calfee | 228 g |
| Headset | Tune Bubu (Polished Cap), KCNC Ceramics | 41 g |
| Levers | SRAM Red Tuned, BTP Clamps, Heat shrink Hoods | 199 g |
| Pedals | Aerolite | 58 g |
| Rear Derailleur | SRAM Red Tuned, Fibre-Lyte Plate | 102 g |
| Saddle & Seatpost | Berk Nanotech c64 shape 27.2 | 123 g |
| Seat Collar | Parts of Passion 30.0mm | 6 g |
| Shifter - I side | BTP | 6 g |
| Tires | Tufo 120 Tubulars | 246 g |
| Top Cap | Carbon and Cork | 1 g |
| Glue, Grease, air, etc. | ~12 g | |
| Final Weight | ||
| 3.584 kg / 7.91 lbs | ||