New posts

make or break

Sept. 8, 2019, 9:24 a.m.
Posts: 3154
Joined: Nov. 23, 2002

bumping to see if people's thoughts have changed much and if the current crop of bikes comes closer to what people want.

Sept. 9, 2019, 10:16 a.m.
Posts: 9282
Joined: Nov. 19, 2002

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.

Sept. 9, 2019, 11:58 a.m.
Posts: 1774
Joined: July 11, 2014

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.

Sept. 10, 2019, 1:25 a.m.
Posts: 1455
Joined: March 18, 2017

^502mm Reach is a M in my frame. My 175mm Dropper is bottomed out against the post collar. ¯\(ツ)

Sept. 10, 2019, 7:52 a.m.
Posts: 2412
Joined: Sept. 5, 2012

Closer to what I want . Last year has been the most progressive IMO. More companies adding updated GEO.  And little things like more travel , water bottle in the frame. Coil overs with climb switches!!!

Sept. 10, 2019, 7:54 a.m.
Posts: 444
Joined: Feb. 24, 2017

Long chain stays. Anything longer than 430. Long reach with long chain stays just make the bike too numb. Long reach and short CS keep the bike playful. Just my 2 cents

Sept. 10, 2019, 10:22 a.m.
Posts: 9282
Joined: Nov. 19, 2002

Posted by: grambo

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.

Yeah, I even saw one manufacturer have all the same ST lengths across their whole range of sizes...just made no sense to me. Maybe it's hard to design a frame the works for short and for tall people...but I think it's more of a cost saver to try and reuse as many tubes as possible across the size range, stupid and lazy IMO.

Sept. 13, 2019, 1:22 p.m.
Posts: 13216
Joined: Nov. 24, 2002

In 2021...I am probabl going to buy a new hardtail and am really curious what is going tohappen until then. I read the article/feature/paid ad by Cotic about their new BFe - and I would love to testride one as well as a Stanton Switchback (frame size 18" and long), and compare these two with the current Stylus. I still ride my old-ish 26" Stylus and it feel slike a BMX.

Sept. 13, 2019, 2:07 p.m.
Posts: 1455
Joined: March 18, 2017

Make:

Steep STA

Good BB drop

Short seat tube length 

Break:

Reach # from 2012 on 2019 bikes 

Full extension saddle heights closer to being over the rear axle than bb  

MY Bold New Graphic “upgrades”

650b 😂

Sept. 14, 2019, 11:05 a.m.
Posts: 2124
Joined: Nov. 8, 2003

Hmm, this is sort of related to that Future Of MTB's thread.

Actually yeah, there have been a few changes to the "make" list:

-Solid pedalling platform,

-If short travel 29 ; long travel 27,

-Reach would be about a cm longer than my old "long reach" number,

-Stack height & BB spot on,

-Aluminum frame might be preference as long as spec is high end.

Not that concerned about the seat angle, I've found moving the saddle forward a cm works.

Break list: Manufacturer is pushing e-bikes hard on mountain bikers.

Sept. 15, 2019, 12:17 a.m.
Posts: 1286
Joined: Nov. 21, 2002

Posted by: Mic

In 2021...I am probabl going to buy a new hardtail and am really curious what is going tohappen until then. I read the article/feature/paid ad by Cotic about their new BFe - and I would love to testride one as well as a Stanton Switchback (frame size 18" and long), and compare these two with the current Stylus. I still ride my old-ish 26" Stylus and it feel slike a BMX.

29 and sorted geometry have made the whole class sooo versatile and capable without giving much if any playfulness. No reason to not go 29 on a hardtail IMO unless it is predominantly for dirtjumps.

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