Mountain Biking - Frame sizes

Hi all,

I have finally found my next frame for an ultra heavy xc/light FR bike, the new Enduro S-Works frame. Anyhow my question is relevant to the size and not the frame choice. Currently i have a 19" rockhopper frame, the perfect seat height for me leaves 25-30cm of seatpost exposed while the frame has no standover clearance to my crotch (i hope i spelled this correctly). So in one hand i got a very tall frame with zero clearance and on the other hand i have 30cm of seatpost exposed....ANY IDEAS? From a seatpost point of view the frame looks just fine, from a clearance point of view the frame looks big.

I never worry about standover. I make sure the reach (i.e. top tube measurement) is correct for me. Many FR bikes (esp. full suspension ones) have very high bb geometries. Long travel forks and shocks kinda force this to happen. This makes standover w/o touching the "boys" next to impossible. Heck, I have a low slopping top tube and still don't have a lot of room. I'd measure the horizontal length from the center of your headtube to the center of the seat post. My guess, is that your Specialized is about 23.5" (59.7cm). If you're comfortable with that, find a bike with a similar measurement.

L8R

i guess then i should go for a large enduro, 61cm tt, 73cm standover. My current frame is 59cm tt, 78cm standover. Seriously, A2 if an enduro s-works is a very expensive mistake for me to do, please feel free to advice me.

Heck, I want one! Those are very sweet bikes. My only concern is the air shock. How much do you weigh? If you're over 225lbs, I'd suggest another frame. But, from what I remember, you should be fine with this frame. It's a great frame for your intended use. My only other recommendation is to wait a couple of weeks.

Here, this past weekend, was INTERBIKE, the industry's trade show where a lot of new products are debutted. There may be some hot new frame design that may hit the street. Granted, a lot of the new stuff has already been shown somewhere or another, but maybe there is something new and exiting.

Personally, if I were buy a new "trail" bike (aggro XC, long epic's). I'd go for the new Intense 5.5" travel XVP. The MSRP (here stateside) for the S-Works Enduro is $1850, the Intense is $2050. Plus, it has the new Virtual Pivot Point design. I'd spend the extra $200 for the Intense! Of course, I'm biased!

L8R

A2 thanks for the wise advice man, the only concern i have is that i dont want to spend 1500$ (uk price) on a frame and have the following silly concerns "This is fragile/expensive/veryXC/ultralight for rough stuff" .I want a frame that will give me peace of mind and that will hopefully keep me from posting mechanical problem/concerns posts here.... that is why i said i dont want to make another expensive mistake.

The big question is, "do you see yourself hitting drops bigger than 3'?". Or, "are you planning on taking this bike to a dirt jump course? i.e., a lot of jumping with this bike?"

If the answer to these ?'s is, "NO". Then you'll be fine with the Enduro. If the answer is "YES", then get something more FR oriented. You'll sacrifice climbing ability, but will be more confident with durability concerns.

L8R

3ft that is like 1meter? I guess not. Given my current ht bike and skills i dont think i am able of launching that. DJ NEVER! But rocky sections and full-on dh without big jumps is my favourite cup of tea which i cant taste yet as i lack a bit of saddle time and i have a hardtail.

Most frame damage occurs as a result of rider error, not a manufacturing defect. Most often it's when the rider is in the air and lands wrong, and almost always because they're too far forward and endo.

I've seen a lot of broken frames as a result of casing a jump (not getting accross a jump and having the front tire land behind the obstacle i.e., endo) or from landing flat from a drop and having the suspension bottom out, or the rider going OTB hard and snapping a top tube.

For much of the riding that is what I consider aggro XC, you're more likely to taco your wheel, or tweek your forks. The chances of damaging a frame (although always a possibility) is greatly reduced if you don't go "BIG".

L8R

Thanks man. I dont go Big. My riding wishes are for flat out DH over any kind of terrain, with only mild drops (2-3ft). I hope that the S-works will suit me fine and be a reliable frame...given the M5 metal matrix material...

25-30cm of seat post showing on any bike is a lot of seat post, especially on one with a 19" frame!!!

I really don't think so, with many of today's compact geometries, it's not uncommon to see a post that far up. Especially if the rider is long legged, and short torsoed. Although for someone 6'2", a 19" does seem too small, but if that's what you're comfortable on, then by all means that your set-up.

L8R

19" too small? really? And i thought that the large (19) is just the right size supposedly for my height.

Overall height has little to do with sizing a bicycle. The critical measurement is inseam and then reach. IOW the proportion of your legs to your torso. E.G., I'm 6'0" and have short legs, but a very long torso. I can ride either a large or a medium frame. The large makes me feel like I'm straddling the top tube, and the reach is good. The medium feels good leg wise, but I feel more scrunched. Personally, I'm comfortable with the scrunched feeling (due to my BMX background), so I generally ride a Medium.

L8R

math2p14,

I currently own a large Specialized Stumpjumper FSR (21" I believe is what they call it). For a Freeride bike or even for my next XC/Freerider I'm planning on going smaller. I'm 6'2" tall and have plenty of standover height on the large but I think the more compact top tube is easier to throw around and move my weight over when doing tricks. Maybe this info. will help your decision... I rode my wife's Trek 16" the other day and it was the perfect size!

Point taken oxygen.! A2, as far as the frame choice goes, i want a frame that is the brother of my Z1 FR 2003 forks. No more no less, to match the character attitude and more importantly strike ability and durability of my forks. I hope that the enduro sworks is more than enough for being the brother of the Z1, correct me if i am wrong.

I have just contacted Specialized, They strongly advised me not to get the Enduro Sworks because it is a frame better suited to XC rather than more heavy stuff. They told me to get the SX in medium as the best mate to my Z1 forks and the type of riding i do, heavy xc and light FR/DH. The SX medium is 424mm chainstays, 584mm of top tube length and 711mm of standover....looks like spot on since it is similar to my existing rockhopper frame in terms of cockpit room but with lower standover height.

Sounds like a great choice! I really like the Enduro SX too! If I don't like the way the Kona Coiler feels when I test ride it I'm going to just buy the Enduro SX frame in a medium size... Let me know how you like yours!!!

Ok oxygen! I will get the medium as soon as my finance gets ok as well. I really found the right frame for me. FR all the way, although mild :D.