Posted by: pedalhound
Short ST's on an XL or XXL bike kill me! I am running a full 21" ST on my Chromag now and am still needing to get a 200mm dropper, shorter ST's will not only look stupid but put a TON of extra strain on the frame and the seat post. This extra leverage equals broken frames and posts.
I do realize I am on the fringe with my height and size, but bike designers should know that users buying these larger frames are going to weigh more than their smaller counterparts and the frames should be designed with that in mind. I find a lot of companies design around a medium and make things a little longer for the bigger sizes. Forbidden looks to be doing things right, but still don't make a bike big enough for me...and I am not a freak..just 6'4"...but with long arms and legs. I guess this is why I have broken every full suspension bike I have ever ridden...my Banshee did last the longest though, very happy with that bike.
That and slack seat tubes...ugh....I'd love to ride a Knolly but I would be way too far over the rear wheel while climbing.
Oh...also, water bottles are awesome and I won't buy another bike without at least the possibility to mount one inside the frame.
Contrary to this is short legged dudes like myself who in the past had to deal with long seat tubes and run shorter droppers to fit a bike with appropriate reach. I'm 5'10" but 31" actual inseam, on my last bike with 460mm reach it had a 485mm seat tube. Had to swap the stock 150mm to a 125mm. New bike (same model but updated frame design) 462mm each 435mm seat tube - 50mm shorter! Still running the stock 150mm on it but could easily fit a 180 if not 200 OneUp.
That same bike in XXL is 502mm reach and 485mm seat tube (same as my old large) which I agree does seem too short for a guy like you. Maybe they have gone too far on the bigger frame sizes.
