[rbsride365]

Hello! I was looking for thoughts on sizing. I'm right in between. When I call Pivot I get the usual "depends on your riding style". Was hoping to see what others have purchased. I'm coming from a long ling of XC style bikes and haven't had a new bike in 5+ years. My current bike has a 24.5" TT w/ an 80mm stem so even w/ the Large Switchblade having a 25" TT by the time you figure in the steeper seat tube angle and the short stem we're under what I'm used to by quite a bit. I did purchase a Large SB but it just feels short lengthwise in anything but super technical rocky slow stuff. It came with Pivots shortest stem and I installed what I think is the next size up. They don't label things well but I'm pretty sure its about a 50mm. I'm not inclined to install anything longer on it because I really don't think modern bikes are designed around long stems so... Even w/ the stem swap this bike is .75"+ shorter from seat to bar than ANY of my other bikes. I like the pedaling position and don't want the seat back any further and really don't want a longer stem. I have about 100 miles on it in all kinds of terrain. When it's slow it's fine but when it's fast and technical I just feel like I'm trying to push myself back constantly. I haven't had an OTB moment yet which I assume is due to the slacker head tube angle but... Wondering if anyone here has been in a similar situation and chose the XL. Really thinking about selling this and trying to get my hands on an XL. Thoughts? (Kind ones anyways...) Thanks!

Pic of my bike in it's current setup so you can see seat post insertion, etc. 175mm Fox Dropper. Stock XT / XTR bike w/ i9 Enduro S Hydra wheel set.

 

[dan23]

Check this thread. Lot's of folks talking about sizing and fit here...

Switchblade V2 Pictures & Tech Talk

 

[LegionX]

I'm 6ft, ride a Large and have a similar feel when riding fast down technical terrain. I think this is due to the short wheelbase of the large. It makes it very nimble going through slow rocky sections or trails with lots of turns, but a little more exciting down fast, wide open descents. Perfect for East Coast rock trails but not ideal for West Coast more wide open trails. Love the large because I have a bigger bike for bike park and enduro race weekends. XL fit me pretty well and has a longer wheelbase. If you are riding fast all the time, you may try an XL or a Large Firebird.

Hope it works out for you.

 

[spicolli1976]

I am just a hair under 6'1" with long arms and legs. I have the XL SB and absolutely love it!!! I test rode the L and would be too small for me. I ride lots of single track with lots of steep and tech descent. The XL is a perfect fit for me.

 

[Stroganof]

6' 1" - XL fits well, L would be cramped.

 

[dan23]

I'm 6'1" as well, and the XL would be far to long and stretched out for me. I've owned a Large for each version. I even had a 35mm stem on mine, and it was perfect.

 

[rbsride365]

I am just a hair under 6'1" with long arms and legs. I have the XL SB and absolutely love it!!! I test rode the L and would be too small for me. I ride lots of single track with lots of steep and tech descent. The XL is a perfect fit for me.

I'm 6ft, ride a Large and have a similar feel when riding fast down technical terrain. I think this is due to the short wheelbase of the large. It makes it very nimble going through slow rocky sections or trails with lots of turns, but a little more exciting down fast, wide open descents. Perfect for East Coast rock trails but not ideal for West Coast more wide open trails. Love the large because I have a bigger bike for bike park and enduro race weekends. XL fit me pretty well and has a longer wheelbase. If you are riding fast all the time, you may try an XL or a Large Firebird.

Hope it works out for you.

Thanks for the reply! I'm glad to hear someone else has had the same general experience w/ the feel of things. I will end up trying the XL I think. Right now I have my Ergon seat slid as far back as it can go per the marks on the rail and am running a 55mm stem which is the longest I would choose to run on a modern bike. The bike is still the shortest bike I have by at least 3/4". I actually enjoy it when the going is slow but most of our local trails are flow trails that allow for some pretty good speed and don't have technical climbing. I do notice that the front end wants to lift a bit when climbing steep technical stuff. I'm sure that's due to the short stays and the fact that I have my seat quite far back. When I travel out of state to areas that have lots of technical, rocky trails they also tend to have high speed rocky downhills which is where the trouble is. I frequently surpass the point of where I am comfortable with the small size. If I was doing jump lines all the time then maybe it would be good. The XL would allow me to go back to the shorter stem size I prefer and move my seat forward a cm and still have some room to adjust if I wanted. I could retain the shorter reach but be more centered on the bike. Right now I'm about at the limit length wise w/ nowhere to go and feel too far over the front. Thanks for the input!

 

[rbsride365]

Update. So... Thanks to my son's persistence we took some actual measurements of myself. He's 6'3" and kept telling me he didn't think I'm 6'1". Pretty sure I used to be but I'm 50 years old now and have been jumping off things my whole life so... So after we measured. 33" inseam, 6'.125". So yes, just a squeak over 6'. We'll just call it 72" even and be done with it. What we did discover was the whole "Ape" measurement thing which I had never heard of until the other day. Turns out I measure 75", so +3". Maybe this is why bikes that seem like they should fit me all feel short? The articles I found about bike fit did seem to agree that if you are in between sizes AND had a positive Ape measurement that you should most likely consider the larger size. Does any of this make sense to anyone? I have the opportunity to trade for an XL. Just want to make sure it seems like I'm making the right decision. I feel relatively good about it but haven't had the opportunity to ride the XL. Again, the only real difference it will make for me is .9" in reach.

 

[LegionX]

have the opportunity to trade for an XL. Just want to make sure it seems like I'm making the right decision. I feel relatively good about it but haven't had the opportunity to ride the XL. Again, the only real difference it will make for me is .9" in reach.

Similar situation. Same age, 5' 11" 7/8 th as my older son always reminds me. Ape Index +4.5. XL fits better, went with a Large to have a more nimble bike and something my younger son can ride in a year or two. If it was my only bike, would have definitely gone XL.

 

[spicolli1976]

Update. So... Thanks to my son's persistence we took some actual measurements of myself. He's 6'3" and kept telling me he didn't think I'm 6'1". Pretty sure I used to be but I'm 50 years old now and have been jumping off things my whole life so... So after we measured. 33" inseam, 6'.125". So yes, just a squeak over 6'. We'll just call it 72" even and be done with it. What we did discover was the whole "Ape" measurement thing which I had never heard of until the other day. Turns out I measure 75", so +3". Maybe this is why bikes that seem like they should fit me all feel short? The articles I found about bike fit did seem to agree that if you are in between sizes AND had a positive Ape measurement that you should most likely consider the larger size. Does any of this make sense to anyone? I have the opportunity to trade for an XL. Just want to make sure it seems like I'm making the right decision. I feel relatively good about it but haven't had the opportunity to ride the XL. Again, the only real difference it will make for me is .9" in reach.

In my opinion, get the XL and don't look back. I speak from experience on this exact bike and same size as you.

 

[rbsride365]

In my opinion, get the XL and don't look back. I speak from experience on this exact bike and same size as you.

Thanks for all of your input man! I'll post a pic when my new bike (frame) shows up.

 

[therollex]

Hi, how did you get on with the XL?

 

[desertwheeler]

This is an interesting thread. I too am about 6ft with a +4 ape index. I ride an xl Mojo 3 which is shorter than a large SB and trying to figure out if I should go XL. I tested a xl and it felt big but I didn’t try to make any adjustments like saddle position or stem length. I feel like I constantly have hand/wrist pain and wonder if the longer reach is the way to go for me.

 

[rbsride365]

This is an interesting thread. I too am about 6ft with a +4 ape index. I ride an xl Mojo 3 which is shorter than a large SB and trying to figure out if I should go XL. I tested a xl and it felt big but I didn’t try to make any adjustments like saddle position or stem length. I feel like I constantly have hand/wrist pain and wonder if the longer reach is the way to go for me.

I agree. I just checked out the specs on your Mojo. Seems like the Large would be fine but... It's hard to tell by geometry charts these days. My previous bike was a 2015 so still had pretty standard seat tube angles by yesterdays standards. New bikes have steeper angles and I'm lead to believe that every degree steeper requires a CM or so in reach to accommodate the same cockpit dimensions are previous. Not only have I gone from an 80mm stem to a 55mm stem but my seat tube angle has gotten almost 2.5 degrees steeper. My new bike is .75" shorter than any bike I have. I feel like I'm sitting bolt upright. It's not super uncomfortable but when climbing steep hills the front end doesn't want to stay planted and I feel like I'm way over the front when standing on technical downhills. I still have not received my XL frame so have not been riding the L. It's winter here still so not a big deal. Am waiting for a new bike to show up. My thought is that the XL frame is only 2cm longer. Right now I have my seat slammed back as far as it should go and a 55mm stem which is the longest I want to run on a modern bike. If I add the 2cm I would be able to put my seat on the center of the rails and run a 40 or 45mm stem. I would still have the shorter reach but would feel more centered on the bike. Right now I feel like I'm off the back on a bike with extremely short seat stays and it is super twitchy. I will say that I've ridden it enough that I could get used to it but feel like the longer bike would allow me to have some adjustment room which right not I do not and I would still be centered on the bike. The bike is so quick handling that I don't feel like the extra 2cm of wheelbase will effect it much, at least not in a bad way. Hoping I make the right decision but I rode an Ibis Ripmo AF in an XL for a couple of days and the dimensions are similar to the SB and it felt fine to me. Whenever I get on my bike it just feels small. Hoping the switch to the XL won't be a mistake but unfortunately I still don't yet know.

 

[rbsride365]

Hi, how did you get on with the XL?

Unfortunately I have yet to receive my XL. The shop owner assures me that I will have it "soon". Luckily it is not quite riding season here and I had knee surgery a few months ago so I've been sticking to my fat bike and the trainer. I could have had a green frame a month or two ago but decided to stick it out and wait for another sand colored one like the one I originally bought. I think it's the best color and just didn't care for the green too much. I see the 2022 bikes showing up here and there in new colors so we'll see what I get. Just didn't like the matte finishes of the green or even the blue. Hoping to get the same one I originally chose but may not be able to be that picky. Time will tell. Hopefully I can report back soon!

 

[rbsride365]

Quick update. Was finally able to get a replacement bike in an XL. My local shop was really great to me. Was a bummer to have to wait almost 8 months to make this happen but it was worth the wait. Really wanted an Electric Lime one but they haven't even shipped any of them in the larger sizes and Pivot was not giving an ETA despite my dealer asking every other day for months so we took the blue. Really happy with it. I think I'll like the extra 20mm of reach that it allows me. Hopefully we'll finish setting it up this week and take it for a spin in the dirt this weekend. I know it seems like it'd be hard to wait to ride it but after waiting all these months to get it another few days won't kill me to do it right. Will update again after I get a few rides in. Thanks to everyone who gave their thoughts on this. 🤙