gdharries profile

Fun stories. I smile at the idea of a morning fence check.

I’m a little shorter than you at 6’3” but have only owned 27.5” wheeled XL bikes since 2018.

This Norco Torrent hardtail marked my return to the smaller wheel size after nine years on various 29ers. I liked how with the smaller wheels I was closer to the ground.

For some people, like myself who aren’t concerned about all out speed and just want to bounce around having fun, a 27.5” XL is pretty awesome. Sounds like you feel the same way.

So, what you're looking for is an EZ button to press for whether you're in the parking lot or on the trail. Hit the button, and the bike's rear centre auto-lengthens or shortens. Love it.

Can I get the same for quick on the fly adjustments to stack height? Up, down? No problem!

Basically, a dropper post for everywhere else on your bike.

How tall are you, Andrew?

I feel like every time I try to get myself on a fashionable bike, it backfires. The only bike that has ever fit me really well was the one hand-made for me. This one, in 2009.

I look at it now and see the short top tube and high stack. I miss those days.

Shouldn’t crank length choice also be affected by leg length? There’s plenty of taller people with short inseams and long torsos, in which case this would make sense.

Really looking forward to this upcoming article of yours. I'm running maxed out headset spacers and a 35mm rise bar, but my front-end is still too low.

My saddle to bar drop is about 4.5". It's a big gap.

It's interesting that a progressive hardtail like the Chromag Arcturian in size XL has a stack height of 661 mm.

But, more mainstream manufacturers keep lowering their stack heights and head tubes far below this, so people end up seeking out these 50-60 mm riser bars.

Why? Why?!

Huh, maybe I'm one of the people you mention who get twisted up about this.

Hmm, sounds like more modern pads are something I should invest in and wear. I get some pretty good swell-bow at least once a year from one sport or another.

The hardshell knees/shins on the Roach DH pads are hot, uncomfortable and slide down but have saved me many times in the past 20 years. It'd be nice to have some of that, but in a better package.

When I ride the bike park, I break out my old Roach plastic pads and rock those. For everywhere else, I go bare knees.

For those who wear pads, once you start do you always use them?

Trek does in their Fuel EX bikes. Specialized used to, but no longer. Rocky Mountain used to as well, but being Rocky’s their XXL fit like most companies’ XL.

So I guess the answer is, I wish.

When I first got on 35mm bars in 2016, I immediately noticed a difference in stiffness and response but not a significant downgrade in terms of comfort. To me,  35mm is superior.

I am a bigger guy and appreciate the extra strength. Having broken or bent a few handlebars myself in the past 25 years I like the larger diameter stuff.

I know that bars from the early 90s aren't the same as 31.8mm bars now, but I do notice and appreciate the extra chunk.

Haha, yep I hear ya. Short neighbourhood trail rides that used to be easy with gears now completely destroy me on a singlespeed. So. Much. Standing. And Pushing (both on the bars and up hill on foot).

I also took advice from other articles you've written and am running my chainstays as long as possible with the sliding drop-out. That extra length makes a big difference in traction, despite being such a seemingly small change.

That's wild about the tire inserts and long/slack geometry acting as a method of suspension, however simple. Far too many people over-bike. Same with automobiles. And life in general. Me included.

Posted by: Ddean

If I didnt end up with my 29+ forward geo Naked, I was getting an Arcturian. Big rubber on big wheels on a steel hardtail with modern geo, so much to love.

That combo has surprised me a lot over the 4 months Ive had it. On the undulating, back and forth, techy jank that I love to ride - its awesome. Massive grip with 14 psi and cushcore. Great feedback through the pedals. My Naked has made me a better rider - Im working the bike A LOT more. On the bars much more. Banking the bike more. The hardtail has made my stance much more active and dynamic. After riding it 90% of the time this summer I find myself with a mechanical keeping the hardtail in the garage for a bit, so the Slayer is back out in full force. MY GOD.

Once I got settled riding the hardtail it would consistently surprise me with its abilities. I was shocked at how well it shredded janky stuff.

Turns out it wasnt the bike as much as I thought it was; it was how the hardtail forced me to ride.

It sure is nice to have two awesome and different bikes. Moreso than how cool and awesome it is in itself, one of the things I like most about my Naked is that it has forced me to become a better rider. Its about more than choosing better lines - for me it has forced me to have a more dynamic stance and be more active on the bars.

You perfectly describe how to feels to ride a good hardtail. This also makes me miss mine terribly.

I moved to a big dumb enduro bike this summer (Kona Process 153) and while it's totally amazing, I sure do see the difference in how I ride now vs. how I rode before on my steel steed.

Posted by: RAHrider

Posted by: thaaad

NEAT

Is this what your other bikes have turned into? Looks sweet. Can't wait to see it built up....

Coil going on there?

Ooh, that colour combination reminds of the 2016 Norco Torrent.

Did you buy this frame through a dealer or direct from Norco?

@RAHrider Beautiful bike. Love the muted colour!

Have you ridden a Rootdown? I'm just wondering how it compares to the Primer.

After selling my Kona Explosif earlier this month, I bought a 2018 Kona Process 153 CR 27.5 on clearout. The bike is a size XL. A little short in the seat tube (in the photo my dropper post is not fully extended) but overall a really good fit.

I haven't owned a full suspension bike in over three years, so it's been a LOT of fun returning to something with some major squish. I have more confidence, feel safer and am less sore and rattled. Going to the bike park is now actually enjoyable.

Parts are stock except for the TRP G-Spec DH brakes that I swapped from the Explosif, my old Chromag Squarewave XL grips, Specialized Power Arc saddle and a new Race Face SixC 35 handlebar in 35mm rise. Oh, and One Up pedals.

Posted by: RideEverything

Here's mine.

A 2019 Honzo ST size XL.

I got this frame at the end of November last year as a warranty for my 2012 Honzo. I wasn't very keen on the green metallic paint so I diy stripped the frame down to raw and put a rattle can matte finish clear coat on it.

2016 RC2 Float 36 160mm non-boost

Works Components -2 angleset

Chromag cockpit with Sensus Meaty Paws grips

A mix of Sram GX, X0 and SunRace drivetrain

Nobl TR36 rim on an E13 LG1 front and a Spank 359 Vibrocore with steel freehub rear

Saint 200mm/180mm brakes

9point8 175mm

Magic Mary with CushCore F/R

Nice! A proper big person bike. Couple of questions:

1. What’s your saddle height? The Honzo seems to have a matching reasonable stack height for taller people.

2. Did you cut your bars? I have the same ones but yours look narrower.

I really dig the bright orange. Cool to see a bike that isn’t grey or black. This, coming from the guy with a brown bike.

I actually used a dropper post for a couple of years, but went back to a rigid post for simplicity's sake.

Where I live (Whitehorse, Yukon) and what I like to ride has a lot of climbing and descending so I don't feel a dropper post is worth it. I know I'm a weirdo as everyone has droppers these days. I guess my old man mountain bike habits formed after almost 30 years are showing.

If I'm doing a lot of descending, I'll just get off my bike and lower the saddle. I'm not in a rush anymore.

@RAHrider - Interesting. Where are you finding this bike is flexing?

Here is my Kona Explosif, size XL. It's a 2017 model but has taken me a few years to get to this point.

I recently installed a Marzocchi Bomber Z2 and some gorgeous TRP G-Spec DH brakes. Running a 2.8" in the front for maximum fun.

This will be my first season riding the new Bomber fork.

Depending on the length of your legs, an XL hardtail from most of the main manufacturers (like from your initial list above) will probably fit you at 6'4". If you have freakishly long legs - that is, a long inseam - then most will be too small.

I had but recently sold a Norco Torrent HT that was awesome, but turns out it was too short in the seat-tube for me and my saddle was super high out of the frame at full height. That said, the Torrent was about $2,000 brand new and is a solid bike for big guys.

If the Torrent fits you in XL and you can find a used one for sale, it's a great option that won't break the bank.