Wrong size frame all my life?

[Little Bob]

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

Anthony - What height/inside leg are you?

 

[mattbrown]

i thought a 19" was good for me - 5.10 and 32" inside leg, but a large Cannondale, was too big for me, i thought a large Klein was a perfect fit, but have been riding a 16" (albiet 18") GT and it seems good with a 130mm stem, so been building up my other RTS, with some cheap parts just to see if an 18" GT would be too big

 

[letmetalktomark]

Different horses for different courses.

I'm 6'2'' and ride a 18'' and 19'' and a 23'' and apart from running a 130mm stem on the 18'' they all fit and ride very much alike :?

Sorry no help here......... :roll:

 

[DM]

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.

You want a Fisher 29er, mate. (Or maybe all Fishers have long top tubes?).
My Medium Rig and X-Cal are 17.5 inch with something like 24 inch top tube.
Should suit your "Duck arse; Monkey arms" physique a treat.
(personally, I'm the reverse - all legs, no reach, so the Fisher is a stretch without raising the front quite a lot - But still a revelation after riding 26ers)

 

[one-eyed_jim]

Think I may have been riding the wrong size frame all my life :?:

From the pictures of your bikes I've often thought you might be better off with a smaller frame. Hard to say though without having seen you...

Jones too.

 

[Harryburgundy]

Well, had a bit of a ride this afternoon.....one section was long..not very steep but fast downhill single track..loose gravel, hardpack, horse-shit.
Don't think I have ever ridden with so much confidence before...was throwing the bike all over the place...great fun.
Yup, my 18"er is going.
Carl

 

[dbmtb]

I'm 5'10, but comedy stumpy legs at 30".

You just made my day. I thought my 30" inside leg was a problem at 172cm....

My MTBs are 16 or 17. Last one I bought was a medium (equivalent to 18") and it's the best fit I ever had.

Basically you need to get your knees aligned properly with your pedals first and adjust the rest with stem height and length (under 130mm if possible).

 

[Anthony]

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.

yes

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

Kona Sizing Chart
size / s-o / height / inseam / arm / stem / cranks
14 / 25.75 / 57-63 / 26.25-28.75 / 16.5-20.0 / 80 / 170
16 / 28.25 / 60-67 / 28.75-31.75 / 19.5-21.0 / 80 / 170
17 / 29.0 / 64-70 / 29.5-32.0 / 20.5-22.5 / 100 / 175
18 / 29.75 / 66-72 / 30.5-32.75 / 22.0-24.5 / 110 / 175
19 / 30.5 / 68-75 / 31.0-34.5 / 22.5-25.0 / 110 / 175
20 / 31.25 / 72-76 / 33.0-36.0 / 23.5-26.0 / 110 / 175
21 / 32.0 / 74-79 / 35.0-39.0 / 25.0-27.5 / 120 / 175

 

[Jones]

Well I'm a right shorty at 5' 8" but find a 16" far too cramped for long rides :shock:

I can have a laugh on one in the woods or on a short ride but for racing and long rides I just don't feel like I've got enough breathing room

I think its because I come from a roadie background so I like a really stretched out position its what suits your riding style at the end of the day and for all day XC rides an 18" feels spot on for me

 

[utahdog2003]

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.

Roger that. I'm 6'2" with a 30" inseam. Explains my love for EWRs!