Mountain Biking - 17.5 inch frame too small for 6' 1" guy with 33 inseam?

is this too small for me? i want a bike that is good for rough terrain so i dont want to go to big, but im not sure if i will have gone too small with a 17.5 inch seat tube. any input on this? thank

Fits a personal thing, but for XC you should be on a 19" frame most likely. I've got a little longer inseam than you and ride a 14" for urban/dirtjumping.

You have the same height and leg inseam as me. I have a 19" giant and it is great as far as seat height etc but near short for me in length. one of the more important things to consider is how long the top tube is. That can be somewhat adjusted with different length stems. I rode a kona kula 20" for 9 years and loved it. It had a "effective top tube length of 24" with a 130 mm stem. That may be long for some (it is a race Bike) but thats the way I like it. For more average riding shorter is more comfortable for some.

At 6'2", with a 34" inseam I ride a 21" bike, and it fits nice. 17.5 seems really small.

-RotD

is this too small for me? i want a bike that is good for rough terrain so i dont want to go to big, but im not sure if i will have gone too small with a 17.5 inch seat tube. any input on this? thank

Dunno man, I'm 6'4 36in inseam and ride an 18in bike. It's all about personal preference. You'll see that Konarider24 and maelstrom both ride small bikes compared to their size.

The info Jomax gave about top tube length is well worth remembering. I would much rather acheive my ideal reach by way of a long toptub combined with a short stem and standard seatpost. I don't want to have to use a long stem and a layback seatpost to get the ride position I want because of a short top tube.

The info Jomax gave about top tube length is well worth remembering. I would much rather acheive my ideal reach by way of a long toptub combined with a short stem and standard seatpost. I don't want to have to use a long stem and a layback seatpost to get the ride position I want because of a short top tube.

Agreed

fit with the top tube length is most important. you can always adjust the seat up if the frame is a bit small. If the frame is a bit big, your standover height will be higher and you can't adjust that. If you are riding anything other than XC with it you want more than ample top tube clearance, clarance.

I have to agree with everyone here too. I am 6'1" and would never go under 18.5" and even that's a stretch becasue I've never seen a top tube length that I'd be happy with in 18.5" and under. But, try one out and see.

is this too small for me? i want a bike that is good for rough terrain so i dont want to go to big, but im not sure if i will have gone too small with a 17.5 inch seat tube. any input on this? thank


What do you consider "rough" terrain? A 17.5 might be just right depending on the bike. I am 6'2" w/a 34 1/4 inseam and use a 17" frame for freeriding and jumping. If rough to you is a lot of bolders or roots, sharp and ruted hairpin turns and very steep descents, drops and jumps then yeah, a 17.5 frame should work.

If there will be a lot of climbing, long rides in the saddle and may be 25% - 30% technical then you might want to consider a larger frame.

You should try and ride a 17" frame befor you buy. Try and find one with the same dimentions so you can get an accurate feel.

DBD:beer:

is this too small for me? i want a bike that is good for rough terrain so i dont want to go to big, but im not sure if i will have gone too small with a 17.5 inch seat tube. any input on this? thank

Bike sizing is a personal thing but I would say that you are pushing it a bit with a 17.5 and would be better served by a 18" or 19". It would not surprise me that you would exceed the minimum insertion level of the seatpost that comes with the bike and will need to start by replacing it. I am 6'2" with a 34" inseam and by formula should ride a 19". By trying different bikes I have confirmed that the formula is correct and that this is the size that fits me better. I can ride an 18" or 17.5" but not with the standard seatpost and they are a bit cramped for me. Try boths sizes before buying and see in which you feel more comfortable.

I"m 6 foot and have a 19 inch bike. Sometimes I wish i had a smaller frame for better agile handling when weaving in and out of trees but when I'm leaned forward climbing hills I think if I had a 17 inch I would be banging my knees on the bars and stem.

I would say it's too small.

I'm 6'2" with a 34" inseam. I thought for sure I needed a 21" however, at the advice of ...(i think it was mastersezfaster)...I rode some 19" and several of them felt fine. I think it depends on the top tube length for me. If that's long enough, a 19" works.

Hey try being 6'3 on a 16.5 bike!!!!! It's not that bad though. Lol.

I'm 6'1" and ride an 18.5. If you feel comfy and confident it will carry through to your riding.