Frame sizing Kona vs Marin / others

[RadNomad]

I'm visiting UK soon and need to get a bike to join a ride. I guess best bet will be from ebay but with no test ride i need a feel for sizing. I ride 19" Kona (centre-to-top) but i might try something different like a retro hardtail Marin (.. or any other suggestions?). Would i need a 19" of another brand? It would seem logical that any MTB with 19" centre-to-top would be OK, or are there any pitfalls i should watch out for?
Thanks for any advice!

 

[wookiee]

...Marin measure from centre to centre so a 19" Kona would be the same as a 17.5" Marin...

 

[RadNomad]

...Marin measure from centre to centre so a 19" Kona would be the same as a 17.5" Marin...

Thanks Wookiee i really appreciate your help. I have not quite got my head around it yet though. According to mid-90s catalogues most steel Konas came in five size graduations 14/16/18/19/20 and Marins also in five sizes 14/15.5/17.5/19/20.5 so i'm thinking across a range of 5 sizes i'd probably need the 4th size up in both ranges (i.e. 19" Kona = 19" Marin). OK so the Marin is measured c-t-c but the top tube slopes less and comes closer to the top of the seat tube than a Kona. This one is on ebay, what do you reckon the size is? i guess it's either a 17.5 or a 19. I can visually tell Kona sizes from the headtube joint area area but i'm not familar with Marins. Thanks!

 

[wookiee]

Ha had my eye on that Pine Mountain myself...looks to me like a 19"...How tall are you and what is your inside leg? Another thing to take into consideration is the height that the BB is from the ground...that may make the difference...

As a guide I have had both a 17.5" Marin Eldridge (bit too small) and a 19" which was a bit too big lol but better than the 17.5" I have a 17.5" Team Marin and that fits just right! Confused? Yeah so am I! I am about 6ft 4 and have an inside leg of about 33"...

 

[RadNomad]

How tall are you and what is your inside leg?quote]

I'm 6' tall with 33" inside leg. I always felt my body size was on the upper limit for the 19" Kona (i.e. i wouldn't want the bike to be smaller, say 18" Kona), which is why i'm a bit nervous about going 17.5" on a Marin. However you're taller than me and found the 19" a bit too big :? Unfortunately i cannot sample any retro Marins before buying due to my location, so i have to take a flyer on it. I suppose either 17.5" or 19" would do the job and maybe not much chance of being sure unless i try both! Hmm.. Thanks for your input, it's very helpful to get feedback from someone who has good experience with the brand. Are they any good by the way? Oh hang on silly question i think i know your answer already!
By the way this one is up North and no postage offered :x

 

[wookiee]

From what you are saying I think a 19" would suit...have you asked if the Marin seller might post? Quite often people say they won't post but then when you offer to sort out a courier if they just put it in a box then they seem happier to do that....Oh yeah and I am a bit biased to Marins!

 

[RadNomad]

Yeah i've asked the seller to confirm frame sizing and postage but no reply yet. We'll see.. There are quite a few Marins coming up on ebay so plenty more fish in the sea if that one falls through.. Thanks!

 

[SantaHul]

Just for reference:

I used to have a 1998 Kona Hahanna (bought new) and it was a 17-17.5" frame. I now have a 1994 Marin Bear Valley SE which is an 18" frame (measured by the seller I presume). Both bikes fitted me well and I don't recall any sizing issues.

 

[FluffyChicken]

1995
Bear Valley SE
Seattube ctc
17.5" TT 22.5" HT 12cm
19". TT 23 HT 15cm

If they measure horizontally then that is like a 17 & 18" Kona in length but with longer head tubes. Odd really. If not then it maybe half in longer and so comparable to 18 and 19" Kona.

I have both to ride but don't know what size the Marin is to judge.

It should be noted that the Team series have half inch longer toptubes so 23 and 23.5 inch (18/19 inch Kona length if they are effective lengths)

 

[wookiee]

1995
Bear Valley SE
Seattube ctc
17.5" TT 22.5" HT 12cm
19". TT 23 HT 15cm

If they measure horizontally then that is like a 17 & 18" Kona in length but with longer head tubes. Odd really. If not then it maybe half in longer and so comparable to 18 and 19" Kona.

I have both to ride but don't know what size the Marin is to judge.

It should be noted that the Team series have half inch longer toptubes so 23 and 23.5 inch (18/19 inch Kona length if they are effective lengths)

True the Team does have a longer toptube...but to add to the confusion my Team, just measured seat tube C2C is 18" !!