motobecane ti question

[eatchow]

im gonna buy a motobecane 29er ti this week. im 5,8 with a 30 inch inseam. my question is do i ride there 15.5 or the 17? Does anyone ride a 15.5 or 17 that can give me a comparison?

[crux]

For 5'8" I would go with the 17", but that is just my opinion.

[Zion Rasta]

17", what crux said.

[eatchow]

Ok I was leaning towards the 17 but it has a very long top tube compared to the 15.5. I should compare the 17 to the niner air 9 17? I guess if the top tube is too long I could run a short stem?

[party_wagon]

Why not just purchase the frame/fork combo from bike island & spec it yourself.

[Killroy]

I have near a 30" inseam and the 15.5" is close to a nut cruncher, but then I plan on riding my bike and not standing over it.

[eatchow]

How's the handling of the 15? Do you feel pitched over the frontend at all ? How's desending on it? Thanks for ur help

[bikenut316]

Originally Posted by party_wagon

Why not just purchase the frame/fork combo from bike island & spec it yourself.

I considered purchasing the frame and fork only and specing it myself but wondered, if for $800more, it would be a waste not to purchase the entire bike.

[crux]

Originally Posted by eatchow

Ok I was leaning towards the 17 but it has a very long top tube compared to the 15.5. I should compare the 17 to the niner air 9 17? I guess if the top tube is too long I could run a short stem?

Still the 17. If the reach is a bit to long pick up a shorter stem. Say a 70-90mm should take care of that nicely.

[Killroy]

Originally Posted by eatchow

How's the handling of the 15? Do you feel pitched over the frontend at all ? How's desending on it? Thanks for ur help

On the 15.5" I feel opposite, I feel too laid back for CX, so I am getting a 23 deg, stem to get the handle bars lower. The bars will still be ~0.5" higher then my old 26er with a normal stem flipped down. The big wheel, tall fork, and longish head tube for a small 29er puts flats bars really raised. If you get a 15.5" or 17" you won’t need a riser bar if that is what you normally ride. See the other Fly Ti 29er thread for pics of how high the flat bars are.

[eatchow]

ok so im gonna order the 17 . i have a longer torso so the 17 should work (hopefully). im kinda lost on fitting myself on a 29er. i emailed bikes direct a few times regarding the correct size but no return emails . dang they need to help a brother out

[Killroy]

PM "bikesdirect" on this forum. He posted on the other Motobecain Ti thread.

Again, be sure you are ok with standover on the 17". I have a 15.5" Fly Ti and a 30" inseam and on level ground it is ok, but in technical terrain, strataling the bike could be a issue. I have yet to see. I hope you dont ride with baggies.

I'm glad that the frame configuration is fairly standard. I dont like the drooping top tubes other frame builders have done for small. I think there is room to integrate the headset, and shorten the head tube as much as possible, so that the top tube is less sloped and lower.

[eatchow]

i will email him directly then. this bike seems *****in and a great price!!! i just finished laceing up some arches and hopes, they should looks the ballz on that Ti frame! i hope to make this bike a sub 20 race bike.

[richwolf]

Originally Posted by eatchow

i will email him directly then. this bike seems *****in and a great price!!! i just finished laceing up some arches and hopes, they should looks the ballz on that Ti frame! i hope to make this bike a sub 20 race bike.

Sub 20?? Good luck with that. Unless you have lots of money to throw at it, plan to go rigid etc.

[Killroy]

Originally Posted by richwolf

Sub 20?? Good luck with that. Unless you have lots of money to throw at it, plan to go rigid etc.

I have been doing some calculating and you could get sub-20 lb on a size 15.5" with the following mods:

1X9
Paul Chain keeper
XTR Cranks
Stan's 355/DT240 Custom Wheels
Kenda Karma
Stan's Crow
Formula R1
Easton EC90 Carbon Bar
Trim Seat & Head Tube
Stan's Sealant
SLR Saddle

Some parts are coming off my old bike so the gross cost for me would be $1,800.
Selling the takeoff parts would bring the net to $830.

~19.85 lb -- Keep the Reba Race

[richwolf]

Originally Posted by Killroy

I have been doing some calculating and you could get sub-20 lb on a size 15.5" with the following mods:

1X9
Paul Chain keeper
XTR Cranks
Stan's 355/DT240 Custom Wheels
Kenda Karma
Stan's Crow
Formula R1
Easton EC90 Carbon Bar
Trim Seat & Head Tube
Stan's Sealant
SLR Saddle

Some parts are coming off my old bike so the gross cost for me would be $1,800.
Selling the takeoff parts would bring the net to $830.

~19.85 lb -- Keep the Reba Race

Ya just what I want to do. Take out a hacksaw and trim the headtube on a brand new Ti frame!
Then what part of the seat do you trim? The nose, the tail, the middle?
I just happen to have a 15.5 inch that I am building up. Almost done. It feels light but not crazy light. Not that I have high end parts on it or anything. I would like to see a legitimate sub 20 pound build with a front shock though. And Stans crows don't count!

[eatchow]

what are your measurements on your 15.5? how do you fit it? im struggling on my fit(15.5 or 17). my build should be around 20lb when done. moots seatpost,1x9,ec 90 bar,xo grip shift,carbon cranks,etc . can you post a few pics of your ride? thanx

[Killroy]

Originally Posted by richwolf

Ya just what I want to do. Take out a hacksaw and trim the headtube on a brand new Ti frame!
Then what part of the seat do you trim? The nose, the tail, the middle?
I just happen to have a 15.5 inch that I am building up. Almost done. It feels light but not crazy light. Not that I have high end parts on it or anything. I would like to see a legitimate sub 20 pound build with a front shock though. And Stans crows don't count!

I meant to write trim seat tube and steer tube -- standard no cost weight savings. Some people cut the bars, but I'm not interested.

Stans Crows DO count! I won a lot of races with them last year. They are fast rollers.

[richwolf]

Originally Posted by eatchow

what are your measurements on your 15.5? how do you fit it? im struggling on my fit(15.5 or 17). my build should be around 20lb when done. moots seatpost,1x9,ec 90 bar,xo grip shift,carbon cranks,etc . can you post a few pics of your ride? thanx

17 inch for you in my opinion. I haven't ridden it yet. Still finishing up the build.

[richwolf]

Originally Posted by Killroy

I meant to write trim seat tube and steer tube -- standard no cost weight savings. Some people cut the bars, but I'm not interested.

Stans Crows DO count! I won a lot of races with them last year. They are fast rollers.

I know what you meant. Just kidding. I never tried the crows but for what I do I want a little more tread than that.

[jms]

Originally Posted by richwolf

I know what you meant. Just kidding. I never tried the crows but for what I do I want a little more tread than that.

I doubt you would you like them on Oriflame Rd. Hope your bike is everything you could want.

On topic, my advice is to ride the smallest frame size you're comfortable with.

As to a sub 20lb 29er hardtail build. With a suspension fork other than a Lefty?......That's a place where weight weenie dreams go to die.

[Killroy]

Originally Posted by jms

I doubt you would you like them on Oriflame Rd. Hope you're bike is everything you could want.

On topic, my advice is to ride the smallest frame size you're comfortable with.

As to a sub 20lb 29er hardtail build. With a suspension fork other than a Lefty?......That's a place where weight weenie dreams go to die.

That sounds like a challenge. A expensive one. It's economic stimulus, Right?

My stock Fly29erTi came at 23.0 lb

[richwolf]

Originally Posted by Killroy

That sounds like a challenge. A expensive one. It's economic stimulus, Right?

My stock Fly29erTi came at 23.0 lb

And you are going knock over 3 pounds off it? It's not like it is a heavy build. I would start by drilling out the frame, handlebars, and get a huge loan!

[ZipMTB]

I just finished my build of a 15.5 Ti Fly last night and took it for a shake down today.

I am 5'7" with a 30" inseam. I felt a little cramped initially with the seat about centered on the post and a 100mm stem installed. I moved the seat back and will try out a 110mm stem. This should be about perfect for me. Anyone taller/longer torso than me would definitely feel more comfortable with a 17". I will say the standover is a little snug for me so the 17 would probably be very "touchy". But as another poster stated "I plan on riding not standing"

[richwolf]

Originally Posted by ZipMTB

I just finished my build of a 15.5 Ti Fly last night and took it for a shake down today.

I am 5'7" with a 30" inseam. I felt a little cramped initially with the seat about centered on the post and a 100mm stem installed. I moved the seat back and will try out a 110mm stem. This should be about perfect for me. Anyone taller/longer torso than me would definitely feel more comfortable with a 17". I will say the standover is a little snug for me so the 17 would probably be very "touchy". But as another poster stated "I plan on riding not standing"

I just took mine out for a spin too. I have a straight thompson seatpost and I had to slam the saddle all the way back. I have a 90mm stem and it feels a little cramped compared to my Dambala (larger frame) and my Canzo (16 inch frame. I have different bars on with less sweep and I am not digging that feel. Standover is tight but you can only make the headtube so short and regardless of how much you slope the top tube it still has to go abruptly up to meet the head tube. I have really never worried much about standover height anyways. I think I got the right size for me but anyone any taller than 5'7'' would be probably better served on a larger frame. I have tons of seatpost showing.

[party_wagon]

ditch that wheel set for some stan 355s on any decent hub & you lose a pound. 120 gram cf bars & a deans seat post will shave another 50-100 grams. That right there is 500+grams shaved off w/ a $600 investment.

[richwolf]

Originally Posted by party_wagon

ditch that wheel set for some stan 355s on any decent hub & you lose a pound. 120 gram cf bars & a deans seat post will shave another 50-100 grams. That right there is 500+grams shaved off w/ a $600 investment.

So where are you going to lose the other 2 pounds?