Looking at a Priority 600 when I move to the states. Their website indicates 3 sizes. S M and L

in my limited experience buying bikes, there have been 4 sizes S M L XL represented by measurements and using height and inseam as a basis. I have bought all L or 56

Priority emphasizes inseam only and as I am 32” I fall right at the tipping point

Medium: Inseam 30" - 32"
Large: Inseam 32”-35”

I'd usually err on the shorter side in a situation like that. Top tubes can't be shortened.

I'm sure they offer the bike in the sizes they want to offer it in. I suppose it's a shame they didn't consult you first. <grin>

If a bike model doesn't come in a size that is appropriate for you, you don't have to buy it.

Top tubes also can’t be lengthened.

sure, but the problem is that they offer 2 sizes that they claim are appropriate

What would you do if you were in the OP's position - on the cusp between two bike sizes of a flat bar bike?

Just taking my usual WAG Wild ass Guess:
If close between two sizes, I would look at my preferred riding positions and purpose of the bike?
What fine tuning adjustments like saddle position, stem length and type of flat bar would best suit me and my purpose?

I'm still in the mode where I wouldn't buy a bike I can't try on first. If you have to order the bike blind, then realize that the smaller size will have less stack height, They didn't give the detailed geometry on their site that I could find with a casual look, but on Geometry Geeks, they show a 2021 Priority 600 as having a 3.8 cm difference between the larger two sizes of frame. So that means, assuming a equal amount of spacers under the stem, your bars will be 3.8cm or about 1½ inches lower on the smaller frame, Yet your saddle height will still be the same.

However the smaller frame is also going to be the more maneuverable handling bike when riding with a group of people or on twisty roads. While the larger might feel more like a luxury sedan when on the open road with no sharp turns.

We don't know which would fit you better. The Priority bike company is in New York City. Email them or give them a call for advice.

Let us know what they say.

using their configuration tool they recommend M unless I want a longer reach to bar so M is likely the safe bet. They are in NYC and offer tours so may just drop in next time I am there.

So when they came in 4 sizes, where you recommended three of those sizes or just two?

I’m often on the cusp between 2 sizes and then it becomes a choice of stack height and reach.

What's so special about the Priority bike that's got you focused on it? Any other bicycle options out there that would be suitable for the same purpose, and that you could actually try out at a brick-and-mortar bike shop?

Did some thread clean up here.

If you can't offer help to the OP, just move on to a different thread.

And now for the helpful part, I would error on too small a frame rather than too large. You can always get a longer stem if but with a large frame, there is little you can do to shrink it to fit. FME (from my experience) I bought a friend’s road bike which was one size too small, but it was a great bike at a price I couldn’t deny. A longer stem and judicious seat positioning made it perfect - plus it is just a bit lighter than the correct sized frame.

pinion 12 speed on alum frame commuter

Is 32” the inseam of your pants, or the distance to the spine of a book pushed up as far between your legs as it will go? I wear 32” inseam pants but have a standover height over 33” My classic plus Gotham is a Large with a recommended inseam of 33”+. There’s not much standover room, but enough, and I’m confident the medium would be too small. It has a more horizontal top tube than the 600, so my suggestion is get the L. I’m confident they will give you the standover height of both if that will help you decide. They tend to respond to emails quickly and I’ve even gotten people on the phone.

edit: I might be wrong about the top tube angle, but my conclusion remains the same pending your actual standover height.

You have to look at what you intend to use it for. When I bought my Long Haul Trucker, I could have used a 54 or a 56. I went with the 56 because I wanted to be able to stretch out more on a tour. Both can be made to fit very easily when you are on the cusp. IT also had the added benefit of being more stable, which is very nice on long descents at high speeds. THe combination of the slightly longer effective top tube length, and 26 inch rims, also helped eliminate toe overlap. For that reson alone, I prefer the longer top tube length.

The larger frame also allowed me to be more upright without stacking tons of spacers.

It sounds like this may be your answer. It is all based on preference, and here you state it pretty well. It seems you don't want a longer reach to the bars. All of this comes down to personal preference, and only you know what you prefer.

commuter bike with pinion, gates drive, fenders, 650b tires, has a dynamo generator, hydraulic disc

seems pretty purpose built for needs and preferences (based on OP's previous posts )

smaller vs larger if you are on the cusp

https://www.prioritybicycles.com/pro...QaAnySEALw_wcB

This was an interesting video and came to a different conclusion than I typically come to

I have always been between a 56 and 58. Initially I went with the smaller of the two because it is what was advised, and it was a mistake. Should have gone with the larger of the two. After that I went with a 58 until I built my own frame. Then I made the frame a 57.5 seat tube with a 57 top tube. The fit is still perfect some 20+ years later.

The book method puts me in an L. Using their sizing tool I can flip back to an M by going down .5".

There is no XL and I am at the lowest end of L. My concern is that Priority may be trying to accommodate too large a range.

I should be able to detour to their office in NYC at some point to clear it up.

In the old days of level top tubes, a 56cm frame (22") would be on the small side of medium in a typical 21", 23", 25" offering. OTOH, you say a modern L has worked well for you before, in other models, and it seems unlikely that an L in a three-size scheme would be as big as XL in a four-size scheme, to me.

So, it comes down to a wild-ass guess as to which would actually suit you better. That Priority 600 seems like a really, really nice bike, and exactly what I would want if I could only have one bike. If I were you, I would want to ride both sizes before deciding, if at all possible.

Could it be that they are discriminating against XL sized folks?

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