[Ridin'Dirty]

I am ordering a Racer X 100 frame through my kick @ss local bike shop, Black Sheep Cycles in Charlotte, NC.

It looks like the correct frame size for me is a small even though I have always rode medium frames on all my other bikes. The effective top tube length on a small Racer X is essentially the same as my medium Specialized. Does anyone else ride a small around my height? How does it fit? I am 5'9" and my inseam is 30". Thanks.

 

[dulyebr]

I'm also 5'9 and have a Medium Moto-lite, which has basically the same top tube length as a medium RX. I think it's perfectly sized with a 100mm stem. If you wanted to go with a 120mm stem, which might be better for racing and climbing, that would account for the difference and would probably make sense. Still, 5'9 on a small seems weird to me. You should also call Titus and ask what they think.

 

[Ridin'Dirty]

Thanks for the help. This seems weird to me too and is making it difficult to know the proper size frame for me. The effective TT length of my medium Enduro is 584mm (22.99 inches) and for the small Racer X 100 -22.70 inches. The medium frame TT length on a Racer X is 23.38 inches. Also, I use a 90mm stem on my Enduro and like the feel. So, I'm confused to say the least Should I be considering other measurements besides the TT length, or is this the measurement the most important factor for frame sizing?

I did email Titus. Hopefully it will make sense to me soon.

 

[dulyebr]

call Titus, don't email them.

 

[toothpuller]

Say Hi to Ethan (shop owner). Tell him his friends from LI miss him. Hope all is well in NC.

 

[Dude!]

go with the small

I base on my bike purchases around effective top tube. This key - IGNORE bike size. I ride an Ibis which is a small - 22.5 effective top tube, medium stumpjumper 22.5, and a medium intense spider effective top tube is 23 (intense small was too small). BUT that half an inch difference on the spider, requires me to shove my saddle all the way forward for good center of gravity. Try to get a bike so the stem is around 110 (IMO). You can deviate from this (+/-10mm), but I feel anything above this effects steering. I love carving singletrack, so I like my bike dialed in for this. The works great for general biking. Too large a top tune, you limit you saddle fore and aft position.

Now with that said, we do adapt to bike configurations, which we think are great in time. I love my 99 stumpjumper, though no longer used the trails (has slicks and a rigid fork on it now), I felt connected with the bike. I wanted more cushion, so I have been trying various bikes since then (Blur, Spider, Ibis, Fuel). A lot come close and are fun, but when I am bored and switch parts to the stumpjumper and ride it on the trails, and within minutes it just feels natural. This is even after many years of not riding it.

Some buy what fits!!!!

 

[Ridin'Dirty]

It looks like a small is the right size for me so that is what I ordered today. I have a black Racer X 100 in the works

toothpuller - Ethan says hi. I mentioned you guys when you commented on my SS I built up with his self-service stand, tools, and lots of advice...oh yeah, and tasty free coffee that he always has available for his customers. I'm glad we have a shop like his around here.

 

[Asahi]

I've been stressing this same thing for the last couple of months. I will be ordering a Racer X from my LBS and am 5'10" (with shoes on) and have a 31" inseam.

I ride a Klein Attitude currently and it has a 23.4" top tube and I run a 110 mm to 105 mm stem on it. The Racer X medium is 23.38" so it doesn't get much closer. I feel like the small has some benefits while using a 120 mm stem. Basically it seems a 5'8"-5'10" person needs something like a Small and a half sized frame.

I have decided to go with the medium I think but feel your pain as something inbetween a small and medium woudl be perfect.

 

[tsvaughn]

Good choice

I'm 5'8" with a 31" inseam. I test rode a medium RX100 with a 100mm stem. It could have worked but it felt too long and the sales guy didn't think I had enough standover. I ordered a small and am lovin' it. I currently have a 120mm stem, but want to try a 110 to slow the steering (which is fast, even with a 110mm fork!). You'll love the bike.

 

[Asahi]

I'm 5'8" with a 31" inseam. I test rode a medium RX100 with a 100mm stem. It could have worked but it felt too long and the sales guy didn't think I had enough standover. I ordered a small and am lovin' it. I currently have a 120mm stem, but want to try a 110 to slow the steering (which is fast, even with a 110mm fork!). You'll love the bike.

Shouldn't a shorterstem speed up steering by reducing the distance you have to travel with the bars?

 

[tsvaughn]

Shouldn't a shorterstem speed up steering by reducing the distance you have to travel with the bars?

Uhhh, I think you're right. Searching this forum shows differing opinions.

 

[Ridin'Dirty]

Well I just got back from the bike shop and put a down payment on a black ano RX 100 Carbon stays and link -this thing is gonna be sexy. I put my Enduro frame on ebay with a Pushed rear shock and a lot of nice extras. I'll be sad to see that bike go but someone will get a sick deal on that too considering I started the price at 399.

I ended up going with the small frame after talking it over with a few folks. Now I am going to ride the crap out of my road bike and SS for the next month to keep from going crazy while waiting on my RX!

 

[HoJo]

Was on a HH with 23" TT

I used to ride a Hammerhead 100X with a 23" toptube. It is a Titus RacerX made by Titus in Tempe with a little different geometry. I was between sizes for a normal Racer X at 5-81/2 but the 23" toptube on the HH 100X was the right size for me.
I'm kind of sorry I sold that bike, I have moved into longer travel bikes. Maybe I need a HH to go with my new 6.6 Intense. ... um this got me thinking.
HoJo

 

[ORYX]

Well I just got back from the bike shop and put a down payment on a black ano RX 100 Carbon stays and link -this thing is gonna be sexy. I put my Enduro frame on ebay with a Pushed rear shock and a lot of nice extras. I'll be sad to see that bike go but someone will get a sick deal on that too considering I started the price at 399.

I ended up going with the small frame after talking it over with a few folks. Now I am going to ride the crap out of my road bike and SS for the next month to keep from going crazy while waiting on my RX!

How long is the wait time your shop quoted you before you get your frame?

 

[Ridin'Dirty]

How long is the wait time your shop quoted you before you get your frame?

He said it would be around a month but I'm not going to hold my breath. I have other bikes to ride until then. Plus, if I start asking every few days about it I will just end up getting pissed when it doesn't arrive. In fact, I'm just going to forget that I ordered the bike all together

 

[BarkBuster]

Don't hold your breath

He said it would be around a month but I'm not going to hold my breath. I have other bikes to ride until then. Plus, if I start asking every few days about it I will just end up getting pissed when it doesn't arrive. In fact, I'm just going to forget that I ordered the bike all together

I ordered my 05 med ano RX last November to be delivered late December. It arrived late June.Hopefully Titus has improved their productivity since then. In any case I wouldn't be in too big a rush to sell your main MTB if you haven't already.

Even with the wait, I'd do it again. The bike is that good.

Regarding the fit, I am approximately the same size as you; 5' 9" with a 31 street inseam. Cycling inseam (book-in-the-crotch measurement) is a little over 32".

My RX100 replaced a Med Santa Cruz Superlight (22.5" TT) which always felt a bit cramped, even with a 120mm stem. Followed the advice of another helpful same-size poster (TomFl) on this forum, who had owned a both small and medium RX100s.He felt the medium was a far better fit. I ordered a medium frame.

Mine is set up with a Thomson straight post and a Ritchey WCS 110mm stem (6 deg rise) and the fit is spot on for me. I don't think I would have been as happy with a small.

Not trying to cause any sleepless nights, just want you to have the benefit of as many owners opinions as possible.Hope this helps!

 

[Ridin'Dirty]

I ordered my 05 med ano RX last November to be delivered late December. It arrived late June.Hopefully Titus has improved their productivity since then. In any case I wouldn't be in too big a rush to sell your main MTB if you haven't already.

Even with the wait, I'd do it again. The bike is that good.

Regarding the fit, I am approximately the same size as you; 5' 9" with a 31 street inseam. Cycling inseam (book-in-the-crotch measurement) is a little over 32".

My RX100 replaced a Med Santa Cruz Superlight (22.5" TT) which always felt a bit cramped, even with a 120mm stem. Followed the advice of another helpful same-size poster (TomFl) on this forum, who had owned a both small and medium RX100s.He felt the medium was a far better fit. I ordered a medium frame.

Mine is set up with a Thomson straight post and a Ritchey WCS 110mm stem (6 deg rise) and the fit is spot on for me. I don't think I would have been as happy with a small.

Not trying to cause any sleepless nights, just want you to have the benefit of as many owners opinions as possible.Hope this helps!

I'm glad these forums generate the responses they do. Even if a lot of stuff found in here is complete BS we are lucky to also get some pretty good advice and insight fairly quickly.

I decided to go with a small because the effective top tube length is almost identical to my Enduro that I am riding now. I really like the feel of my current set up and I also like running shorter stems. I wouldn't want to run a setm over 100mm if I didn't have to because I don't like the way they feel. If I went with a medium and still felt stretched out with my 90mm stem then I would be out of luck. I raced my friends large Trek Fuel once with a short stem and talk about lower back pain! Now all I can do is cross my fingers and wait! I did already list my other stuff on ebay to generate the money I needed for this frame. That's ok, I was planning on riding my SS and road bike all winter anyway. Hopefully, I won't have to wait as long as you did though. I don't know how you did it 7 months is ridiculous.

Here is the response I got back from Titus in case anyone is looking for information on sizing. Of course, as the posts above indicate, personal preference is a variable when it comes to proper sizing:

Hi Jason,

As you are discovering the top tube length is the most important measurement for determining proper size and not necessarily what size a manufacturer calls their bike. You are correct that a small will fit you best. Titus bikes tend to run a bit large as compared to our competitors, so a small Titus will be close to a medium Specialized.
Hope this helps.

Sincerely,

The staff at Titus Cycles