Is my new MTB too big?
- Thread starter superdon
- Start date
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ScotiaLass
Guru
- Location
- Middle Earth
I don't ride technical (anymore) so opted for the larger frame with mine...smaller frames are easier to control, but as I only ride light trails/woods and towpaths, I was happy with my decision. I have a good 2 - 2.5 inches stand over.
You have to be happy riding the bike and only you will know how you feel riding it!
You have to be happy riding the bike and only you will know how you feel riding it!
ScotiaLass
Guru
- Location
- Middle Earth
Hmmmm.
I brought a Fuji MTB all the way home from Glasgow on the train....rode it, maybe half a mile, before I got home and decided even after adjustments, it wasn't right for me.
I took it back the next day and got a full refund. That was Evans.
Could you call them up tomorrow and check on their returns?
ScotiaLass
Guru
- Location
- Middle Earth
If it was me in this situation, and I wasn't sure, I would take it back and go to my local bike shop, where I could try one out before ordering.
That's what I did after I returned the Fuji. I got better advice and better service and I wish I had gone to them instead of trying to save myself some money. In fact, they were the same price for the bike I eventually got anyway!
NormanD
Lunatic Asylum Escapee
- Location
- Heworth the other side of life!
Turn the forks around to the correct position then do the stand over, I think you'll find the front has dropped a little 
... looks good for fit to me
... looks good for fit to meRight changed things and some more photos for you....
This one, I have moved forks to right direction and moved saddle backwards...
This one, is as above with me standing over the bike....
This one, is as the above but I also moved the saddle up about an inch.....
This one shows the max that I can lift the front of the bike with me stood over it touching my crotch bone (wheel was about 2 inches above ground)...
It made a small difference to standover height moving the forks and the saddle back, but not masses. The bar still touches my dangling bits, but I can lift the bike so it touches my bone and get the front wheel up a good couple of inches.
When I tried raising the saddle, the pics above show the max I can move it up before I get uncomfortable on the pedals, which was around 1 inch.
With the saddle up an inch and back, it felt ok, but again I still haven't ridden it in case I need to take it back.
On all pics the suspension fork is locked. I am also holding the wall with my left hand which skews things a little.
Hows it looking now?
This one, I have moved forks to right direction and moved saddle backwards...
This one, is as above with me standing over the bike....
This one, is as the above but I also moved the saddle up about an inch.....
This one shows the max that I can lift the front of the bike with me stood over it touching my crotch bone (wheel was about 2 inches above ground)...
It made a small difference to standover height moving the forks and the saddle back, but not masses. The bar still touches my dangling bits, but I can lift the bike so it touches my bone and get the front wheel up a good couple of inches.
When I tried raising the saddle, the pics above show the max I can move it up before I get uncomfortable on the pedals, which was around 1 inch.
With the saddle up an inch and back, it felt ok, but again I still haven't ridden it in case I need to take it back.
On all pics the suspension fork is locked. I am also holding the wall with my left hand which skews things a little.
Hows it looking now?
NormanD
Lunatic Asylum Escapee
- Location
- Heworth the other side of life!
Now that looks a lot better ... remember your danglies will touch the cross bar a bit, as you're not wearing cycling shorts (which will tuck them up a lot) arm length looks fine and a slight arch in your back ..looks to be a good fit really ... now the test comes when you have to get out to ride it 
Saluki
World class procrastinator
- Location
- ...Norwich over the water.
That looks a lot better.
I am 5'8" and I have a 19" Spesh Hardrock and its fine for me. I only ride tracks and trails on it, I don't do anything technical on it.
I am 5'8" and I have a 19" Spesh Hardrock and its fine for me. I only ride tracks and trails on it, I don't do anything technical on it.
Globalti
Legendary Member
I've test-ridden bikes at Halfrauds before; they have allowed me to whizz around behind the shop with an assistant watching. Even if you just rode it down the road, there wouldn't be a problem if you took it back still wrapped like that - they aren't that clever!
That upright riding position and fat tyres are going to make the bike painfully slow though - why not take it back and get a road bike?
That upright riding position and fat tyres are going to make the bike painfully slow though - why not take it back and get a road bike?
mickle
innit
- Location
- 53.933606, -1.076131
It looks very short in the top tube. Youve got shortish legs, short torso and long arms. A difficult set of parameters to fit on a bike. You definitely need a longer stem. Possibly a larger frame.
Right I've just checked my own bike and I have a similar clearance. I thought I had more but in fact it's pretty much the same and i manage just fine. I'll upload a pic in a minute when my phone has finished delivering it.
Mickle might be right about the stem, 29ers tend to have a higher bar position because of the extra wheel height, tyre clearance and in your case, 120mm forks. So unless the head height has been reduced the bars come up and it all looks shorter and is a bit shorter. it's a conundrum I'm currently solving on mine. I left a lot of stack height on my build and it's all come off now as the I've put the bars lower.
Personally i reckon your standover height is fine and personally I don't think it's too small, it just gives that illusion because of the 29er geometry. Mickle may be able to give you a bit more input on his observations there, he's pretty experienced.
Mickle might be right about the stem, 29ers tend to have a higher bar position because of the extra wheel height, tyre clearance and in your case, 120mm forks. So unless the head height has been reduced the bars come up and it all looks shorter and is a bit shorter. it's a conundrum I'm currently solving on mine. I left a lot of stack height on my build and it's all come off now as the I've put the bars lower.
Personally i reckon your standover height is fine and personally I don't think it's too small, it just gives that illusion because of the 29er geometry. Mickle may be able to give you a bit more input on his observations there, he's pretty experienced.
