Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Buying Used Fuji Obey: Concerned about Frame Size

First off, before you all heckle me, im purchasing the bike for a solid $500 with all the original parts, and a set of smaller handlebars. Still has the Brooks seat on it, so the deal is pretty good.

This is not what im concerned about however. The frame for this bike is a 52cm. I am 5'8-9ish with a 30.5 inch inseam (measured with a book, so who knows) but the current owner of the bike sent me a picture of his 6'0 buddy standing on it, and hes only an inch over the top tube.

Im going to test ride it, so ill know if it is a decent size or not this weekend. Heres where my question comes in.

if it is slightly small for me, is there any difference between the 52cm and the 56cm Obey at all? or is the Frame the only different thing, because i may be able to just buy a larger frame and sell off the smaller one. I have no experience actually building bikes so i apologize for the amateurish question.

EDIT: people are saying its fine, but even for my height (5'8/5'9) the bike has slight angle changes, and different tube lengths, these arent going to matter?

52 cm has a 54 top tube 72 head angle 74 seat angle and 95 mm head tube.

54 cm has a 55 top tube 73.5 head angle 73 seat angle and a 105 mm head tube.

56 cm has a 56 top tube 73.5 head angle 73 seat angle and a 125 mm head tube.

58 cm has a 57 top tube 73.5 head angle 73 seat angle and a 145 mm head tube.

60 cm has a 59 top tube 74 head angle 72.5 seat angle and a 170 mm head tube.

A 56 would be too big for a 30.5" inseam...stay with the 52. He probably has short inseam.

A 56 would be too big for a 30.5" inseam...stay with the 52. He probably has short inseam.

the reason he is getting rid of it is because he is a short person, and hes going to move to frames in the 40's as the 52 is causing him some strain.

But you're betting that ill feel just fine on it?

Im about the same size as you (little less inseam i have short legs) and I have a 54cm frame that comes right up to my crotch. I would rather have a 52cm, and 56cm would be way to big for you.

Im about the same size as you (little less inseam i have short legs) and I have a 54cm frame that comes right up to my crotch. I would rather have a 52cm, and 56cm would be way to big for you.

ok, feeling a lot more comfortable about this now.

for an extra 200, hes offering to throw in a set of 2 month old B43's (which are on there now, otherwise he is removing them and adding the stock wheelset, and some new cones)

again, im new to custom bikes, but im fairly sure this is a very very good deal, can somebody confirm this?

i'd snag it if it were my size and in decent shape.

make sure to check around for dings/dents and the like...

the main issue i have is with the frame specs, the 52cm should be fine according to some of you, but the specs of the 52 are different from the 54cm and up

52 cm has a 54 top tube 72 head angle 74 seat angle and 95 mm head tube.

54 cm has a 55 top tube 73.5 head angle 73 seat angle and a 105 mm head tube.

56 cm has a 56 top tube 73.5 head angle 73 seat angle and a 125 mm head tube.

58 cm has a 57 top tube 73.5 head angle 73 seat angle and a 145 mm head tube.

60 cm has a 59 top tube 74 head angle 72.5 seat angle and a 170 mm head tube.

I'm the same size as you (inseam ~31) and have this frame in a 54. It fits me fine but a 60mm stem did help with the longer TT because I ride bullhorns and any longer and I'd feel stretched out. I could see myself riding a 52.

I'm the same size as you (inseam ~31) and have this frame in a 54. It fits me fine but a 60mm stem did help with the longer TT because I ride bullhorns and any longer and I'd feel stretched out. I could see myself riding a 52.

Whats your height?

Anyways, if i did need a bigger frame, like a 54, could i swap out the frame? or do i need to further replace other things also

5'8. Not sure if you could swap to a bigger frame with the 52 fork. Since the steerer is cut to fit the 52 it will probably be too short for a bigger frame.

5'8. Not sure if you could swap to a bigger frame with the 52 fork. Since the steerer is cut to fit the 52 it will probably be too short for a bigger frame.

im sorta nervous, i really want this bike, the deal im getting is so good, im just gonna be pissed if its small haha, but we'll see.

heres a picture of somebody thats 5'11 standing over the bike

the reason the seat is so low is because the current rider is about 5'2

heres a picture of somebody whos 5'11 standing over the bike: http://i.imgur.com/Gciqj.jpg

of course i will raise the seat, but it is currently set for somebody who is about 5'2 (who, incidentally, is too small for the bike anyways)

but im just a bit confused as to why people are saying that 56 is too big for me, but charts are saying its perfect

I'm 5'11" with 32" inseam, and 56 is a good size for me. Get the 52, but try the 54 if you are able to.

If it doesn't fit perfectly, you're not going to die. You might have to ride the seat a little low or a little high, but on a street bike with riser bars, having the perfect fit isn't quite as crucial. I knew a guy who would ride anything from a 50 to a 62.
Ride it or a similar sized bike first if you can, but it should fit okay.

Personally, I like to ride around a 60, but my bike got wrecked in a car crash. Currently riding my old 64 conversion daily, and spent some time these past few weeks riding a 52, a 58, and a BMX bike as loaners.

Standover doesn't mean much for fit as in real life you'll never going to stand over the bike flatfooted like that(french fit completely disregards standover btw).Toptube lenght is way more important as it will determine how you'll be streched out when riding.My ideal size is 57/58 but i have bikes ranging from 52 - 62 and they are all fine because the toptube on them is within 1.5 cm .However, the Lemond formula is inseam x 0.65 = seattube c-c.
A lot of people will say that one should choose the smaller size if in doubt,but that will increase saddle to bar drop which may be unwanted for someone not looking for a super aggressive position.Using a online fit calculator is not a bad way to get an idea for what frame dimensions to look for.

Im going to leave to test it out soon
The thing is, i've ridden everything from an old Fuji road bike, to compact BMX bikes my entire life, so im comfortable with any position really

thanks for all your help guys, when i get back ill let y'all know how it worked out.

Yep, standover doesn't mean much. TT is going to matter a lot more in regards to comfort especially for those with gorilla or t-rex arms.

I tried it out, frame is perfect, sits just under me, And i rode it around, there is a toe overlap, but that shouldnt be a problem. Maybe the TT could be a bit longer, but i honestly have no idea, it felt great, i think the only reason it felt different is because ove never been on tires that thin before, and the toe clips are gonna take getting used to. But this is a definite buy for me, so thanks for all your help.

Buy it yet? Show some pics

I'm buying it next weekend, ill have the cash then, and ill be done with exams, so i wont procrastinate by riding it all the time.

Here are two photos that he sent me, these have different handlebars, he threw on the golden stock ones, and i can get the ones in the photos too if i want em.

http://imgur.com/GV2fd.jpg
http://imgur.com/1YzM7.jpg

oh man
im so giddy, cant wait to take it on its first long ride!

500 bucks for a complete Obey isn't too shabby. Good find!

Thanks Man!
heres another pic for you guys:
http://img532.imageshack.us/img532/5264/img0210x.jpg

500 bucks for a complete Obey isn't too shabby. Good find!

oh yeah
Pedals were never used.
Handlebars Barely Used

Its in pristine condition, minus the tires, they look like they might need to be replaced sometime soon, but we'll see.

Stock tires on the Obey are bunk anyway, you'll probably want to switch em out if you ride a lot.

any suggestions?