Wrong size frame all my life?

[Harryburgundy]

As my 18" Kilauea is off the road at the moment having my new HuGi wheels
re-tension/trued I've been riding the 16" Koa I recently bought.
Maybe its just a 'honeymoon' period but I'm having a whole lot of fun on it.
More upright with riser bars and a tiny frame under me I feel so much more confident in chucking the thing about. I don't feel cramped or anything either.
Mmmm...always bought 18" bikes....I'm 5'10, but comedy stumpy legs at 30".
Think I may have been riding the wrong size frame all my life :?:
Carl
PS Koa nice frame...not as 'hard' as I expected...I'm impressed

 

[Little Bob]

I really want to try a 16" Kona for the same reason.

Is the Koa from the longer top tube years - I presume it is.

Is there somewhere that shows rider height vs frame size for Kona's?

 

[Anthony]

I have a 16, a 17, an 18 and a 19. They're all the same size - with stems of 105, 90, 70 and 60. In fact if I fit a 120 to the 16, it becomes the biggest. Admittedly, the 16 is lower at the front, but again you can dial that out if desired (and personally I like low at the front, which is the main thing I have against the 19)

So basically my riding position is the same in each case, aside from the high-front 19. I do like the short stem, but like you say the small chuckable frame is confidence-inspiring.

The top tubes are 22, 22.5, 23 and 23.5 (horizontal). The head tubes are 9, 11, 11, 13cm.

This is a sweet little 16 http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/96-Kona-Lova-Dome ... dZViewItem

 

[Agency_Scum]

I know the feeling. In the OTHER direction ( large ). After my first ride on a 29er I knew my Bonty's days were numbered.

 

[orange71]

I'm waiting for 29ers to come down in price as that's where I am heading for sure...

 

[monsterfatuk]

my yo-eddy is giving me back problems that why i`m selling it,it`s a small/medium and my monster was a medium,it`s a lot more chuckable but my back comes first, my american is a 18" and feels great

 

[Harryburgundy]

I'm waiting for 29ers to come down in price as that's where I am heading for sure...

I'm thinking that way too.

 

[Geoff]

If you are 5'10" (same as me) and with stumpy legs (same as me) do you find the 16" roomy enough? I have a 100mm stem on my 18" and I don't think I'd want anything shorter...

 

[Pickle]

I'm 6' and have always only ever had 18" frames.

I once tried a 16" frame on a 'dream' bike my sponsor let me have, but I gave it back after only a few miles because it just didnt handle right.

I guess its what your used to though, and finding that happy balance between 'chuckable' handling and day long comfort

 

[Iwasgoodonce]

You think you have problems? I'm 6' with a long family history of Duck's Disease, (arse too close to the ground). My woes are compounded by having a reach of around 6'8". This was good for boxing but bad for biking. I ride 19" or 19.5 with a long stem and a short seat post.