Mountain Biking - Frame size advice needed quick!

Hi everyone, i just spotted a bike i'd really like to buy on e-bay but think it may be a little too big for me.

The bike frame is 19" (Medium) and i am only 5ft 8.5 and have a 31.5" inside leg.

The auction ends in about an hour and a half so if anyone could let me have their opinions on whether this bike would be too small or if it would fit, please let me know as soon as you can.

Thanks alot in advance

Sounds too big.

That bike is too big.

Thanks alot, i appreciate the quick response.
That is a shame though, looked like a good deal.
Cheers.

I think it would have fit you.

thats what i thought too. The 19" would be a tad big. But it still should fit nicely. Well at least thats what i think........

Well I guess it would depend on function. A 19" bike is almost too big for me and I am 6'5. I just don't like a big bike cause you loose (ok i loose) maneuvering ability. At 5'8 an average 17inch bike would be a xc bike imo :)

XC bikes are supposed to run big. Larger more stretched out geometry. If you're hucky, jumping, jibbing, etc, I prefer a smaller frame. I'm about 6 foot so a 19 inch frame feels just right for me. I ride mostly XC but some jumping and stuff like that too. I have a 21 inch XC hardtail that I ride and it's too big for me. I think with a shorter stem I could fix that, though.

Your total height has little to do with bike fit. Your inseam and torsoe length are critical. Your inseam provides you with your standover height. I think you'll find that a 19" would have been on the BIG end of the scale for your standover. It's nice to have two fingers distance between the toptube and "Da Boys".

The second is your torsoe length. This will determine your reach on the bike. Although this can be adjusted with a shorter or longer stem, and moving your saddle fore and aft on its' rails, you want to be in the "ballpark" as a starting point.

I would probably agree that for "optimum" fit, you should probably be on a 17". However, without knowing all your body dimensions, it's hard to say.

For example, I'm 6'0" and have a 30.5" inseam, but I've got a long torsoe. For XC, I usually ride a Large (19 or 20), because of my torsoe for the proper reach. Now, my "Boyz" are staddling the toptube when I stand.

Now, for all around riding, I prefer a Medium frame.

So, it all depends on the bike and your riding preference!

L8R

depends if it's 19 c-t or c-c. c-t i think it would've fit fine, but c-c it would be more than a tad large.

Hi everyone, i just spotted a bike i'd really like to buy on e-bay but think it may be a little too big for me.

The bike frame is 19" (Medium) and i am only 5ft 8.5 and have a 31.5" inside leg.

The auction ends in about an hour and a half so if anyone could let me have their opinions on whether this bike would be too small or if it would fit, please let me know as soon as you can.

Thanks alot in advance
Depends on the make of frame, I have an inside leg of 29", and 5'6" tall. My bianchi is a 15 1/2" But I have ridden, 16"gt, 17" Kona, 18"trek All of which I could make fit me. Critical bit is Standover height. Too tall makes for High Pitches.

19 inch is too big for you. I made the mistake of finding a killer deal on a 21 inch framed bike and bought it, and it was too big for me. It was too big and not nimble, and wasn't all that fun to ride. I got a 19 inch and its so much better, btw, I'm 6'0.

For someone your height I'd advise a 17 with a longer (120mm-130mm) stem, or a 19 with a shorter (100-110mm) stem.

Be aware that one manufacturers 19" could give you the same ride as anothers 21" or anothers 17".

I'm 6'1" and ride a 21" Giant which has the right reach for the riding I do but limited crotch clearance. The 17" was fine for short and more technical off-road jaunts but too cramped for road or longer less technical off-road rides. The more you fling a bike around the smaller you want, the longer your rides the larger you'll probably want. To be honest you really need to try the bike before you buy.

sounds too big. i'm 6'1" with about a 32 inseam (long torso)

i've had:
* 20" '89 Stumpjumper rigid -- was WAY too big (it was my first MTB and i was used to the "road bike" feel)
* 17 1/2" '97 Norco hardtail -- a tad small, but good so
* L '02 Stumpjumper FSR - perfect
* 18.5" '03 RM Slayer -- a tad small but i wanted it that way - it is PERFECT!

so for ME a 19" would be the larger of 2 sizes that i would fit and b/c of my style i would probably go smaller and i am QUITE a bit shorter at 6'1"

not sure, but i would think you should be in the 17-18" range...

although you say 19" (medium) which strikes me as odd--- a 19" should be more a Large, shouldn't it? my Specialized FSR is supposedly equivalent to a 18-20" if i remember right. and then every bike measures differently, espceially with full suspension...

also: a small bike you can "make" fit with a long seat post, and a long stem and often it gives a fast and agressive handling... a bike that is too big is simply too big and there are few adjustments to make and a too big bike is hard to handle.