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6'6 and really confused with the whole sizing thing.Help plz!

2K views 26 replies 13 participants last post by  benevis66 
#1 ·
Hi all,

Newbie here, haven't ridden a bike in 15 years and that was a BMX.

I've been wanting to get a hardtail 29er for a long time now and only just managed to get the funds together...anyway.

I'd been looking at the xxl specialized rockhopper/carve bikes which are available here in europe but then ran into canyon bikes and in my 1000 EU/1300$ budget they offer so much more component wise, but after reading a lot of other posts here i'm worried it might be too small.

The Canyon Yellowstone 29er XL says it's 22" SP but is actually 21.5 and TT is 24.81".

So i'm thinking should i go for a better bike and risk the fitting or get a worse one that is bound to fit.

My inseam is 38.5"(98cm)

Trunk is 27.5" (70cm) and shoulder to wrist is the same if it helps.

I also weigh 247 pounds and wear a size 17 shoe, i'm sure that's irrelevant though, just for the whole clyde thing ;)

Thanks in advance,

Ben
 
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#2 ·
I'd say go for the larger bike but it's up to you. Yes, better components are nice but not if you're not going to be comfortable on it. You have a long inseam which makes me think you really need to be on a XXL size bike. Best is give it a test run and have a guy give you a proper fitting with actual knowledge of fitting large guys to bikes.
I'm 6'6" with a longer torso ratio and wouldn't go back to an XL after being on an XXL.
Good luck!
 
#3 ·
At 6'6" I can't see how you could ride a bike with a 24.5" ETT, heck for me that's too short and I'm only 6'2", but with really long arms. There's a saying I learned early on in this bike game and that is, "If it doesn't fit, no matter the deal, it's really no deal at all."
 
#6 ·
Yep. 24" will feel a lot like your BMX bike. For reference, my dirt jumper has a 24.1" TT, my old XC bike had a 25.6" top tube, and my new trail bike has a 25.4" top tube.

You can only do so much with setback seatposts and really long stems before the bike stops performing the way it was designed. There's a thread a little farther down with a list of brands that offer XXL models. Maybe take a look in there and look at some other options? Specialized bikes always seem specced pretty cheap relative to the cost.
 
#4 · (Edited)
Great input guys, i really appreciate it...unfortunately here in Greece there are no bikes in my size that i could try out or people that specialise in us 1%ers for measurements...i have noticed on the specialized geometry that it is a lot bigger than the Canyon...just thought it was a great deal( apparently not;)) but i'll have go with the Carve or Rockhopper then.

Thanks again
 
#7 ·
Specialised seem to be a rip off when you really get into all this MTB stuff...i mean for the price of a Carve expert i could get a used top notch frame in my size from ebay US plus the Canyon just for it's components and stick them on the frame.
I've checked out all the companies that make XXLs off the shelf and they're all pretty much the same, Merida,Trek,Cube etc. component wise.

Of course i'm only talking about bikes that are available here in Europe, if i could afford it i'd get a Ventana or some other nice US made beauty
 
#8 ·
I have a 38" inseam and I love my 23" Carve. This is the first bike that really fit me right. I have the 2012 so the TT is a bit longer and my body fits this bike. If you get a chance you need to get on a 23" to see how you like it. My son have a 21" RH comp and while I can ride it fine I like the 23" better. BTW both bikes are 2012.

Mark
 
#10 ·
The seatpost is adjustable, and unless you've got somewhat out-of-the-ordinary proportions, the seat tube length on a bike that has an appropriate length top tube will be fine for you. In other words, don't worry about the number or letter designation on the size (sux, but that's the way it is), and shop based on top tube length to get the appropriate size. At 6'6", I'd estimate you'll need something with at least 650mm ETT.

Although, with a size 17 shoe, you might have to worry about something else. . . . toe overlap ;~) j/k
 
#11 ·
I think the fact that i have very long legs is my main worry and i've also never been on a MTB to know what's what, i like the idea of bashing around a small bike but that's a totally different story...i just want to avoid any back pains or unwanted stress that would tire me down...if you guys have any other recommendations bike wise i'd like to hear them...just found a dealer in the UK that has the Banshee Paradox frame, would that be any good in XL? i dont mind going the extra mile $ wise as long as it's worth it, 2K is probably my max

Cheers

P.S i'll be taking all breaks off as my feet will be doing all the work ;)
 
#12 ·
Take Jeffj's advise, shop by the ETT. I figure you definitely need an ETT over 25">, probably somewhere in the 26" range would probably be ideal, all depends on your body's flexibility and what/how you like riding. I own an XL Paradox and the ETT is the claimed 25.4",which could be a bit small/short for you, best thing would be to see if that dealer has an XL in stock you can swing a leg over and at least ride around in the parking lot on. I run my Paradox with a 90mm stem and 750mm wide bar and that's comfortable for me. Paradox is a fantastic frame, very fun, very confidence inspiring, actually pretty much any of the newer geometry short stay HTs would be fun. Great thing I know for sure about the Paradox is it is stiff and strong as hell, so at your size you wouldn't have to worry about that, just get strong components to match.
 
#13 ·
IMO, you should start by looking at the reach measurement if it is available. With many bikes have slacker, steeper and/or curved seat tubes these days the ETT can be misleading. Reach lets you know the horizontal distance between the bb and top/center of the head tube and is the only true way to know how long a frame is (you also need to make sure that the head tubes are somewhat the same length). Once you find a frame with reach that is good (450 - 480mm) then you can set up your saddle to be the correct distance behind the bottom bracket.

If you go strictly on ETT you'll find that a frame with a 73 deg seat tube angle will look artificially shorter than a bike with a 71 deg seat tube angle and might actually have a shorter reach. Once you get your saddle in the correct location in respect to the bb you may find that the bike is too short.
 
#14 ·
I am just about the same measurements as you (6'6", 38.8" inseam-14 feet though!), and it took me a while to figure out bike fit. Your height as you know is in your legs, so you really need a frame with a nice tall head tube in addition to a decent sized top tube. I prefer a TT of between 25.25" (using a 90mm stem) up to my current ride which has a TT of 25.9" (XXL Tallboy) using a 70mm stem. I usually run a high rise handle bar and a few spacers to get the bar within a half inch or so of the saddle height. I would try and find an XL with a TT of 25.25" to 25.5" give or take. If I were the same height, but all torso instead of legs, I would definitely want a longer TT. Good luck, big bike test rides are very hard if not impossible to come by.
 
#15 ·
I am 6'5 and have a Scott Scale in XL that fits me perfect. Everyone will have a different opinion on what's best for you and I think it depends on your riding style more than actual size? 10 years ago I had a Trek mtb in xxl that I rode for a long time but it always felt way too big on the trail. It did however feel nice when I was riding 30-40 miles on the pavement for conditioning. So if you plan to strictly use the bike for technical off road use then a slightly shorter frame (to me) works better especially a 29er.
 
#18 ·
With a 38.5" inseam, and the seat tube on the bike you're ordering that comes out to 21.25", you're going to have a LOT of seatpost showing. Even with a 410mm post, it's going to be interesting to see if you need to exceed the minimum insertion point of the seatpost.
 
#19 · (Edited)
According to their frame geo i'm at the minimum recommended inseam length for ST...it's just such a killer bike!:)

Ok, i'm taking a big risk, i know, but i really don't want my money going to Specialized, for the price of the Rose i can get a Rockhopper with Tektro brakes and RS Recon fork...just doesn't make sense...i'll risk looking like Big Bird on a BMX
 
#20 ·
According to their frame geo i'm at the minimum recommended inseam length for ST...it's just such a killer bike!:)

Ok, i'm taking a big risk, i know, but i really don't want my money going to Specialized, for the price of the Rose i can get a Rockhopper with Tektro brakes and RS Recon fork...just doesn't make sense...i'll risk looking like Big Bird on a BMX
Don't cut the steerer tube on the fork too short. An ideal HT length for you would have been at least 145mm - 160mm, but the Rose is only 140mm. So you'll need to "get it up". With plumbing (spacers, stem angle, riser bars) you'll be able to get the bars up to the height you'll need. The longer steerer tube required to get things up for you will, in effect, shorten the top tube from the 25" to less than that, but you should be able to make it "fit". Not ideal for a guy your height (I'm 2 inches shorter than you and ride a longer TT than the Rose), but a longer stem to account for more length to stretch you out will help. 120 - 130mm wouldn't be a bad place to start. Get the saddle to pedal relationship set first, then dial in the cockpit length and height via plumbing choices.

Here's a fun read for you (with pictures) of what another 6'6" rider did to get a frame that fit...

http://forums.mtbr.com/29er-bikes/anyone-inquiring-about-new-bike-i-know-i-did-234854.html

Check out the HT length on that frame!!!!:thumbsup:
 
#21 ·
I'm a bit shorter than you and that Rose would be too small for me without an awkwardly long stem and seatpost. If that were a bike with long travel suspension that was meant to be short i would say go for it but not on an XC hardtail. Good deal or not, fit is most important and should not be compromised. You can upgrade parts cheaply and easily but you can't upgrade a frame so easily.

Would you buy size 13 shoes just because they were cheap?
 
#22 ·
That Quiring is the sh!t!
wish i could afford something like that...

I hear you guys, i'll give it some more thought...i'm totally out of my depth with all this sizing game as you've realised, i got on a friends XL Kona Dr Dew and it seemed ok...then again i have no experience with riding "real" bikes...i guess it's back o the drawing board...aren't any of you fellow biguns selling a bike or frame in my size?
just asking
 
#23 ·
All my XL's are too small for you. The industry doesn't really build stock bikes for the 6'6" and above crowd. That's why Leonard Zinn exists, the super size from Ventana, custom frames such as Quiring (and others will do), the super size on a couple of the Specialized and Trek frames. The picken's get slim and the cost rises. But if you have ever purchased a business suit - you know what the cost is to get a true fit. Off the rack clothes and bikes simply are not targeted for tall folks.

Personally, I would hate to see you just try and "get by" on a bike that may be too small, but there are things available in your frame size (Specialized, Trek, Zinn, Quiring, etc...) if you're willing to take the leap. You can imagine and understand that a tall rider who has gone through the process of actually finding one of those frames that really fits is not going to be so quick to sell it off used....
 
#24 ·
Thanks again!
Yes i know i wouldn't want to sell "my" bike anytime soon after alla this...i understand.
It's just that i've noticed some people go through bikes like socks here but i guess not that many clydes.
I'll probably go for a mid range rockhopper which is relatively inexpensive and upgrade as i go along.
 
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