[Jeremy_D]

for a guy thats 5'10" or so? I can get a good deal on a bike but its a 19.5. Say I buy it and it is a little to big can I "shrink"it with a different riser and bars?

I know everybody is going to say just ride it but when I ride it around the parking lot it feels alright. I won really know until I get it on the trail a couple times.

 

[Berkeley Mike]

What is your inseam?

 

[Jeremy_D]

my pant inseam is 32

 

[mullen119]

Its a little on the big side.

 

[Itchiee]

You can maybe get a shorter stem perhaps...
Do you feel too stretched out on it when riding?

 

[mullen119]

Using a short stem to make a bike fit is not a good way to try to solve a fit problem. That being said, Frame size (15, 17, 19.5. exc.) is not the only indicator of true frame size. The effective top tube length is much more important. Ride the bike and see how it feels to you. If it feels way to big(you will know in a parking lot), I would pass. If it feels like comfortable and the bike is a good deal, I would say go for it. I think the biggest problem you may have is standover height. 19.5'' frame with a 32'' inseam seem like a tall frame for fairly average length legs.

 

[manabiker]

You may have to wear a cup to ride it..

 

[Jeremy_D]

Thanks guys. I had a 19 and I thought that was a little big. I was planing on going to a 18.5 this time but this is just a good deal it sucks this wont work out.

 

[mullen119]

Thanks guys. I had a 19 and I thought that was a little big. I was planing on going to a 18.5 this time but this is just a good deal it sucks this wont work out.

I'm 5'9'' with a 32'' inseam and I ride a 17.5'' frame.....

Like I said, there is more to a frame size then a seat tube measurement(thats what the frame size numbers are)..... but sounds like you should be 17-18'' range.

 

[bwheelin]

You may have to wear a cup to ride it..

:lol:

 

[Jeremy_D]

maybe thats why I could never get my Cobia to be comfortable. It was a 19 but it was my first bike so I didnt know what I was really looking for in a bike. FWIW it was a 2010 EX5

 

[Itchiee]

In relation I'm almost 6ft and I tested a Fuel 5 19.5 and it felt to big for me as well.
I settled on a 18.5 Fuel 8 instead.... :madmax:

 

[Jeremy_D]

I would LOVE an 8 but I just cant justify it.

 

[lew242]

19.5 is just too big IMO. I'm 6 foot and got a 20inch, it was just too big, if you ride steep technical tails or want to jump and have a fun factor it's a bad idea. 18-19 inch is perfect for me for XC, and jumping and AM I and happy with 17-17.5 inch.

If you are going to commute or ride moderately easy XC then changing the cockpit size by sliding the seat forward and shortening the stem will work.

 

[Itchiee]

I would LOVE an 8 but I just cant justify it.

I hear ya!

I was set on the 5, but then tried the 6, then the 7, and then the 8 and said why kid myself... Lets do it right and buy the best lol. The better parts justified the price difference in my case. Actually my girlfriend picks up her 5 this weekend... She couldn't justify the 8 either but it would be overkill for her.... And her purchase was based primarily on color....women. Although the EX 5 is a great choice so I didn't disagree.

 

[AndrwSwitch]

I'd think you'd be on the border between a 17" and 19" frame. Usually the .5 can be disregarded, IME. If you have shortish legs and longish arms and torso, go bigger.

When you say you had a 19" - same or different model? The sizes are really only sequential within a model.

Some things to watch for that can tell you if your bike is too big, if you aren't getting a good sense of it...

Weight on the hands, locked elbows, wanting to sit up and take your hands off the bar. When you lift your butt off the saddle, you might shift forward a lot. You need to actually be riding at your normal pace for this stuff to count, though.

You can change stem size to change cockpit size, but I think that only a fairly narrow range of stem sizes rides well. Maybe 70-100mm for general XC. People who emphasize descending often prefer something shorter.