LeeG

a fit aquaintance is looking for a not expensive (<$1000) multipurpose around town bike and I was thinking of helping him build up a simple around town bike with bars about 1" below the seat . It seems that most 62cm production frames have 24" top tubes, is that long enough for you tall folks? I was thinking something like a Surly Karate Monkey because it's sturdy and the high bb would be good for 180 cranks and the effective tt is almost 25". Setting it up initially as a one speed to keep cost down. Are there 62cm bikes/frames you very tall people have found are big enough?

Daspydyr 

I would think that Craigslist would be a draw out affair as you would need to shop for a couple of months. But I like getting a used bike. More bike for the bucks.

I am 6'3" with a 34 inseam. I ride a 58cm frame on a Roubaix and a 21" frame on my MTB. They fits me very well. I recently rode a 115 mile century and no complaints. I would think that a 62 would be comfortable for your friend. Surly is a great bike. You are on the right track.

chasm54

I'd check that inseam measurement if I were you. I am 6'3", do not have long legs for my height and have a 35" inseam, so 36" at 6'6" seems as if it might be short. A cyclists inseam is measured crotch to floor, wearing shoes, not the trouser inseam. Is your friend aware of that?

Anyway, if the measurement is correct he'll have a long torso, so don't worry about the long top tube. My own bikes range from a 58cm frame to a 61cm - their geometries, and my riding position, vary but they all fit. I'd be surprised if you couldn't make a 62 cm fit him, but it's extremely dangerous to give bike fitting advice over the internet. People's proportions, and their suppleness, vary too much to size bikes on inseam measurement alone.

LarDasse74

I am 6'4" and I have considered the Karate Monkey and pretty much ruled it out. THe top tube is long, but the head tube is short, so with a 22" frame I am likely to have the seapost ~10" out of the frame, which would put the bars ~6-8" below the saddle... and that is not how I want my bike to fit.

I was considering, however, getting a Kona UNit... long top tube and long head tube for a really big fit.

Edit: the XL size Kona also comes with 180mm cranks.

Kobe 

Hey, are you building this bike for me. Those are my measurements exactly.

This is my most modern bike. A 2001 Jamis Nova.



It has exactly the same measurements as you described, 62cm st and 61cm tt. It also has a higher bottom bracket. I did have to add the ugly stem riser and use a 140mm stem. When I first got it I felt a bit cramped, but I find it very comfortable with those additions to the stem.

I think your friend will be fine on the Surly, you almost have to be, because not much is made in larger sizes that are not custom.

Mazama

Trek had a hybrid (7200) with a 25" frame back in 2007. I'm not sure if it, or something similar, is still in production.