Mountain Biking - mtb's with low standover height (<26")

jamis trail xr (12")
http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/thebikes/hardtails/trailx/09_trailxr.html

giant boulder (2xs 12.5")
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/bikes/mountain/2282/32070/

gary fischer mako (xs 13")
http://fisherbikes.com/bike/model/mako

gt transeo 5.0 (x-small)
http://www.gtbicycles.com/usa/eng/Products/Road/Fitness-Commuter/#5840

trek 3500 (xs 13")
http://www.trekbikes.com/uk/en/bikes/mountain_hardtail/3_series/3500e/

others?
these are the only five i've found after MUCH clicking on manufacturer's online catalogs.
(that are $450-ish or less, hardtail, preferably rigid fork, not 24" wheels)

Why is standover such a key criteria for you?

Why is standover such a key criteria for you?

27" (26"?) inseam. to get that 1" recommended clearance i need a 25" or 24" standover. period.

while most people say me and my 4'11" height belong on a 24" bike,
my arms and legs are disproportionately long (scoliosis survivor)
so reach to the cranks and handlebars are not as much of a problem for me.
but yeah, the standover - critical.

the 5 bikes i posted up there ^ are the culmination of a TON of research.
i went with the jamis trail xr 12".
will have a full report once it's built and i've ridden it.
i am excited!

Pics!!! :D

hi Rekall,
at 5'1 I have a fairly short inseam as well, 28" or so.
I see most of the bikes you have linked are "men's" or unisex. I'm not sure if you are a guy or girl, but have you considered looking at a Women's bikes? They are usually designed with an angled top tube, accomodating for a lower standover height. Some women's bikes are designed without the scrolling or flowers you probably don't want.

Couple quick examples:

Trek (http://www.trekbikes.com/uk/en/bikes/women/mountain/3500wsde/)
GT (http://www.gtbicycles.com/usa/eng/Products/Womens/Mountain/#5721) (just bought this one! little high on your price range, but many of the bikes they have come in a couple different colors)
Specialized (http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=40596&eid=215)

i'm a short dude, but yes i did actually consider WSD frames from a variety of manufacturers... it wouldn't be that big a deal for me to ride a woman's bike since my daily ride these days is a step-thru motobecane folder that looks "gay" (not my verbiage but an outburst i often hear in my neighborhood.)

in fact last night i actually clicked just about every link from here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Cycle_manufacturers to still-active mfr's online catalogues and looked at the standover heights of Every mtb/atb/fitness model, women's frames and men's.

but it all brought me right back to the jamis trail xr 12"
i've already put in a back order and it's coming from the plant at the end of the month.
with a 24.5" standover and other geometry similar to a 24"-wheel fuji dynamite i recently rode,
i think it's a match.
not to mention, every detail tickles my minimalist sensibilities.


http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/thebikes/hardtails/trailx/images/09_trailxr_bk.jpg

that gt avalanche 2.0 disc sure is nice!

http://www.gtbicycles.com/usa/eng/GTFiles/ProductImages/5721_4014_medium.jpg

just confirmed what i said about the geometry of the jamis trail xr 12" compared to the fuji dynamite 1.0 boys' bike i rode recently...

http://fujibikes.com/Kids/Mountain/Dynamite10.aspx
http://jamisbikes.com/usa/thebikes/hardtails/trailx/09_trailxr_geo.html

the standover on the jamis is actually considerably less (by a full 2") but with 26" wheels - now i'm really stoked. is it june 30th yet?

it's good to have one's research Confirmed by experts in the field.
here's one bike shop in atlanta georgia who Only sell the jamis trail xr 12" due to its geometry being suited for smaller riders.
http://www.intownbicycles.com/products/bicycles/mountain-bikes


The XR is our offering for that little guy (or girl) that's too big for a childrens bike, but not quite tall enough for an adult bike. We carry the XR in only the 12" frame size, although we can order any size. Think of it as an extra small adult bike.

picked up my jamis trail xr (12" frame) today and it rides like a dream!
so worth the extensive research.

Excellent. You can thank all of us now.:thumb: