[surfkayakers]

I need your help - does anyone make a mountain bike for small women (5'4") that can perform like a specialized enduro or Intense 5.5 without the heavy weight and high standover? I'm not talking about a xc racing bike style...i want something that can take punishment in the big rocks....Suggestions ladies?

 

[dirtcrab]

I need your help - does anyone make a mountain bike for small women (5'4") that can perform like a specialized enduro or Intense 5.5 without the heavy weight and high standover? I'm not talking about a xc racing bike style...i want something that can take punishment in the big rocks....Suggestions ladies?

Perhaps the Ellsworth Moment. I hear it has a fairly low top tube length, the frame is a little burly (I believe it is ~7 lbs) but a light rider could spend boucoup bucks and put some lighter componentry on it to lessen that weight penalty. I wanted so badly to test ride one of these at Women's only Weekend, but for some odd reason, Ellsworth didn't have any small Moments up there (or perhaps they did and someone had already taken it out on the mountain).

 

[connie]

I need your help - does anyone make a mountain bike for small women (5'4") that can perform like a specialized enduro or Intense 5.5 without the heavy weight and high standover? I'm not talking about a xc racing bike style...i want something that can take punishment in the big rocks....Suggestions ladies?

I love my Yeti 575. To me (considering that the guys I ride with ride AS-X's and Bullit's and AC1's), it's an XC bike. But I know when I've gone riding with XC racer types some of them actually asked if it was my DH bike. It's only 27 lbs, climbs very well, has excellent standover clearance, and enough travel to handle technical terrain. I love it.

 

[papajohn]

Titus Switchblade?

I need your help - does anyone make a mountain bike for small women (5'4") that can perform like a specialized enduro or Intense 5.5 without the heavy weight and high standover? I'm not talking about a xc racing bike style...i want something that can take punishment in the big rocks....Suggestions ladies?

My riding partner is a woman who is 5' 5"/134lb and generally rides XC on a small Titus Racer-X.

Because we wanted to do the kind of riding you seem to be talking about, we recently worked together building up a small 2002 Titus Switchblade with the long rear travel kit (5.75inches travel) a bash-guard protected Race Face Turbine crankset, AVID mech disc brakes (203mm front/160mm rear) and a Marz DJ1 130mm fork with 20mm thru-axle.

The bike weights 28+lbs, has nice standover clearance, and it handles virtually any kind of downhill terrain from rocky/technical to fast forest single-track with great ease. She is also able to climb well because of the nice balance and the modest weight penalty.

It seems to be a great solution for the situation you are describing.

John W.

 

[SprungShoulders]

Most "all-mountain" or "aggressive xc" type bikes can handle a decent amount of trail punishment. If you're going to be dropping big stuff or gapping/jumping, you need something burlier. However, put a set of RhynoXL's on an Enduro or 575, along with a sturdy 5" trail fork, and you can pound away until you can't take anymore. The real issue is geometry. If you're going to be headed down steeps like you'll find on a DH course, an XC-ish ~71deg head angle will pitch you over the bars long before you can break anything (besides your body), regardless of the amount of travel the frame has.

My GF (she's 5'3") has a small LenzSport Bouldervore, which will withstand any punishment she'll most likely be able to dish out. Good standover, and a highly progressive linkage for a bottomless suspension feel. Monocoque mainframe for stiffness and weight savings. Very nice ride.

...Oh, and it's just a personal opinion, but run (don't walk) from any Ellsworth product. Just do a forum search and you'll find a wealth of information concerning why.

Good luck!

 

[SinglePivot]

Ventana X5

The Ventana has the X-top tube for more clearance and a low(er) bottom bracket (than my bullit with same fork).

-Sp

I need your help - does anyone make a mountain bike for small women (5'4") that can perform like a specialized enduro or Intense 5.5 without the heavy weight and high standover? I'm not talking about a xc racing bike style...i want something that can take punishment in the big rocks....Suggestions ladies?

 

[Lucky]

The Ventana has the X-top tube for more clearance and a low(er) bottom bracket (than my bullit with same fork).

-Sp

The Titus Locomoto is a similar design as well.

Kathy :^)

 

[CraigH]

A few women of that size here in Vancouver are riding Norco Fluid series bikes.

https://www.norco.com/bikes/2004bikes/allmountain.htm

 

[Gnarlene]

Hey!

I was just gonna say that....but I was gonna post this pic instead. (Wish I had a better pic, because Penny's known for mighty crazy (IMO) riding!)

Penny (the rider in the pic) is about my height -- 5'1", and I got to ride her Fluid at Nelson -- very fun! Very, very fun!

 

[SinglePivot]

thats a good one too!

-Sp :-D

The Titus Locomoto is a similar design as well.

Kathy :^)

 

[surfkayakers]

Norco looks very sweet. What is the Standover on the bike? I can find all the relevant specs except that.

I hadn't heard of it before, but lo and behold, there's even a bike shop that carries that brind here in the Northeast!

 

[CraigH]

Sorry, I don't know. The only thing I can suggest is either contacting Norco and asking, or contacting a LBS that sells Norco.

 

[Gnarlene]

Don't know for sure...

Norco looks very sweet. What is the Standover on the bike? I can find all the relevant specs except that.

I hadn't heard of it before, but lo and behold, there's even a bike shop that carries that brind here in the Northeast!

But I am 5'1", and I had plenty of standover clearance on the Norco.

 

[SSINGA]

Perhaps the Ellsworth Moment. I hear it has a fairly low top tube length, the frame is a little burly (I believe it is ~7 lbs) but a light rider could spend boucoup bucks and put some lighter componentry on it to lessen that weight penalty. I wanted so badly to test ride one of these at Women's only Weekend, but for some odd reason, Ellsworth didn't have any small Moments up there (or perhaps they did and someone had already taken it out on the mountain).

Small Moment info:

weight with Fox vanilla RC 7.875x2.25 and 600lb spring was 8lbs even.
Top tube length 22.25"
Stand over: Measured with no sag, Fox Vanilla 125 fork, 2.5/2.35 Kenda BG tires on XM321 rims:
- at the seat tube 28.5"
- at the nose of the saddle 29.5"
- in line with the pedal spindle with the crank arms in the forward position horizontal to the ground 30.5"

 

[surfkayakers]

My short-list comprises
Ellsworth Moment
Giant VT1
Jamis XLT
Norco Fluid
Ventana X5

I've not gotten good feedback from the stores that support Norco, and the Ventana is sounding very good....think I will be pursuing that one...anyone have any experience with the Ventana X5?

 

[chad1433]

Larry at Mountain High Cyclery can help. He deals Ventanas and has a lot of ride time on them as well...

http://www.mtnhighcyclery.com

My short-list comprises
Ellsworth Moment
Giant VT1
Jamis XLT
Norco Fluid
Ventana X5

I've not gotten good feedback from the stores that support Norco, and the Ventana is sounding very good....think I will be pursuing that one...anyone have any experience with the Ventana X5?

 

[DeeEight]

you might add a Diamondback XTS to that list... 5" rear travel, standover's pretty good.

 

[jennyfresh]

Turner 5 spot

I love my Turner...5" its just enough for me, it is great for XC riding and if i want to do something to impress the boys, its perfect! I am 5'3" and i have it at about 28lbs.

I need your help - does anyone make a mountain bike for small women (5'4") that can perform like a specialized enduro or Intense 5.5 without the heavy weight and high standover? I'm not talking about a xc racing bike style...i want something that can take punishment in the big rocks....Suggestions ladies?

 

[surfkayakers]

Was also just told that Cannondale is coming out with a new bike called the Prophet...anyone know anything about it?

 

[CraigH]

Gregg from MTBR was riding one at the Whistler Crankworx festival. See the thread on Passion for a pic. He was going to post a review it but I don't if he has yet. Maybe email him and ask?