Emz

1st off, I do hope I'm not breaking a rule by doing this.
I captured the image of the 3 Electra bikes I am most interested in and put them on one page.
Then wanted to compare them to see if the frames were the same, if one had a longer wheelbase, shorter wheelbase, greater fork rake etc.
Their website, while wonderful, does not list wheelbase among the specs.
My local dealer doesn't have these models on the floor to compare.

I *think* I have established that the pics are in the same scale. The distance on the frame from where the tube the seat goes into, to the bottom of the frame is the same on all 3 bikes/images.
The steering head, which I copied from the top bike and and "pasted" by that part of the others, also appears to be just the same size....so I think the frame is the same.
ALSO, printed out and laid on a light table, I believe the frames are about the same, although I think the Coaster (middle) has longer forks.

Here's whats getting to me:
according to the specs on Electra's website it says they should all have the same front wheel and tire size.
But in these images, (which I think I have, as I mentioned before, determined to be in scale with each other) show the Sparker (top one) as having a SMALLER diameter wheel than the other 2.
Huh????
Obviously the rear wheel is smaller - and that is born out by the specs. Yep its a 24 in back.

But what's up with the front????
It sure seems to be an odd size.

am I nuts?

I saw in an old thread that one of the Electra guys was reading/posting here in this forum.

If you are reading this, Electra person, could you give me an answer please? My local bike shop, while helpful and good natured, can only seem to give me specs from the printed literature they have onhand, which doesn't address my issue.

What I'd really like to know:
a. is the Sparker a shorter/smaller bike than the Coaster and Deluxe, in some way besides rear tire size?

The wheelbase seems to be considereably shorter, and I can't see where that can all be attributed to the back wheel.

Thanks!
sorry if this seems insane. I feel like I've thought it through and can't figure out why there is this discrepancy.

slowandsteady

The diameter goes by rim size, not tire size. You can have a 26" rim that can hold a fat and knobby tire or a thinner smooth tire. The overall diameter will be greater for the fat knobby tire, but the rim size will be the same. The fork rake may be different. You can figure this out with a protractor. And the top bike has a smaller seat stay, chain stay triangle than the other bikes. This and the smaller wheels may account for the smaller wheelbase.

Your bike shop should really have all of the specs and be able to help you out with fit. If they only have a brochure, they should call their sales rep. If they can't be bothered, find another bike shop.

Doug5150

All three appear to use the same frame.
The top bike appears to have a rear 24" rim, used to run 3"+ wide tires.

The Felt Chief for example runs dual 24" fatties: https://www.feltracing.com/products/p...8,24,38&pid=63
The Felt V12 runs a 26" front and a 24" fatty rear: https://www.feltracing.com/products/p...catid=18,24,38
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I don't have any particular knowledge of Electra's products--but as I've seen cruiser-bike companies,,, they're NOT going to have a whole new frame made for just a 1-2" wheelbase stretch. They tend to take one frame and dress it up a bunch of different ways (just like Felt does). If they bother to sell a different frame, they want it radically different than what they already have.
~

Emz

hi, the website gives the same tire size as well as same rim. It occured to me that maybe some models just have a fatter tire mounted, but the website says they all three have the same tire size.
thx
Em

Emz

hello, thx for your input.
A wheelbase stretch could also be accomplished by using a longer fork, or a fork that curves forward more or less from top to bottom.
My hunch is the frame is the same. I'm just wondering what's up w/ that front wheel?
Too small to be a 26 and not so small as the rear 24 (which the top bike in my diagram has).
Ever hear of a 25 inch bike wheel?
nah..
yes I hope very much to get more info from my LBD.
Em

slowandsteady

If those pics are accurate, that top bike does not have the same frame as the others. The rear triangle is smaller.

Doug5150

When I layer them on top of each other, the top bike's image is slightly smaller than the other two....
~

Emz

its messing with my mind alot. That red line I made that runs along that part of the frame under the seat - I copied that line and pasted it on the next bike down..... didn't draw that line new. So that tube is the same length.
Unless my reality is skewed.
lol...which is possible! Probable even, at this point.

Em