[Funoutside]

I am coming from an older geo mtb, which has a higher stack & shorter reach(415mm) & looking to get my first progressive HT. Looking at xc trail market. Have it narrowed down to the Stanton Sherpa & Cotic Solaris Max. I'm 5'8 1/2" so a size medium on the Solaris Max & a 17 on the Sherpa if I follow each brands sizing guide. The thing I am hung up on is the 17 on the Sherpa has a similar stack & reach but longer seat tube vs a small Solaris Max. I'm coming from a bike with 415mm reach & tall stack so the medium Solaris Max might be too long? I've read that the Solaris Max is more of s short travel enduro leaning than downcountry/xc trail bike like the Sherpa is. Would that still apply if I downsized? I ride in the costal desert southwest area & I like that the Cotic will be more stable(long reach+cs) as there is some steep(17%+ down & up) trails here. But, I mostly plan to ride blue & blue-black trails & bikepack, which both bike should be good at.

Compare: 2021 Stanton Bikes Sherpa Elite 17" vs 2021 Cotic SolarisMAX 120mm Fork Small

Find your ideal bike using bike-on-bike geometry comparisons with diagrams, powerful search tools, and category analysis.

bikeinsights.com

The other option would be the Esker Japhy(M), which splits the difference in reach(between a 17 & M), but not as hot on this model as I am on the other two. Thanks.

 

[eb1888]

Height is one factor. Riding(actual) inseam is the other. What's your inseam?
Long legs means shorter torso for your height. That means you need less reach.
And short legs long torso more reach.
The Sherpa has a shorter chainstay. This can help the bike turn and manual. Especially in a medium.
It'll be plenty capable and stable for the terrain you'll ride.

 

[richj8990]

I am coming from an older geo mtb, which has a higher stack & shorter reach(415mm) & looking to get my first progressive HT. Looking at xc trail market. Have it narrowed down to the Stanton Sherpa & Cotic Solaris Max. I'm 5'8 1/2" so a size medium on the Solaris Max & a 17 on the Sherpa if I follow each brands sizing guide. The thing I am hung up on is the 17 on the Sherpa has a similar stack & reach but longer seat tube vs a small Solaris Max. I'm coming from a bike with 415mm reach & tall stack so the medium Solaris Max might be too long? I've read that the Solaris Max is more of s short travel enduro leaning than downcountry/xc trail bike like the Sherpa is. Would that still apply if I downsized? I ride in the costal desert southwest area & I like that the Cotic will be more stable(long reach+cs) as there is some steep(17%+ down & up) trails here. But, I mostly plan to ride blue & blue-black trails & bikepack, which both bike should be good at.

Compare: 2021 Stanton Bikes Sherpa Elite 17" vs 2021 Cotic SolarisMAX 120mm Fork Small

Find your ideal bike using bike-on-bike geometry comparisons with diagrams, powerful search tools, and category analysis.

bikeinsights.com

The other option would be the Esker Japhy(M), which splits the difference in reach(between a 17 & M), but not as hot on this model as I am on the other two. Thanks.

My god these are both expensive for hardtails. Both have really high-end boutique forks, but the Sherpa is going to have significantly more range with 1x12 so I'd personally pick that one. I'm your same height, just got an 18.5 inch HT frame and am really, really, liking it over 17 inches. But...that and so many other things are going to be so different than your previous older bike, you are going to be blown away. Hopefully for the better. I would not worry too much about the fit if you are ordering a box bike, that can be adjusted to a certain extent many different ways by a shop afterwards. As for the longer reach on one of the bikes, a lot of that doesn't matter too much with dropper posts now. Shorter stems are awesome. Plus you can buy the 19 inch frame, have a short stem, best of both worlds. Either bike is probably going to be fine but the drivetrain range looks like the biggest difference. However, they are so much money for HT's that you really should try to test ride something in the same genre at a local bike shop first. For sure.

 

[Funoutside]

What's your inseam?

~31 last I checked. The smallest size a Sherpa comes in is 17, which is what they suggest for someone my height. Not sure if that would be considered medium or not? I know a bit different but on my gravel bike I noticed a 20mm cs difference(440 to 420) to a certain extent; but, didn't notice it enough between 430 & 440. Maybe I would notice a 9mm difference on a ht due to the different geo? My current mtb has a 440mm cs & don't mind it, but it does feel a bit heavy, but that could be the ~6.4lbs frame weight. Kind of surprisingly the Solaris is ~5.8lbs & Sherpa is ~6.05lbs according to their sites.

I'd be going frame only then going mostly used & already owned parts to save on the build.

 

[eb1888]

I'd be going frame only then going mostly used & already owned parts to save on the build.

You can get a good bike doing a build. What fork and travel are you considering?

 

[Funoutside]

I've see that video twice. I'm thinking 120mm if I went either bike that can fit at least 29x2.8(thinking 2.8 front 2.6 rear). I think the small Solaris Max might be out of the running as I've seen some pics of it & frame space is smaller than the Sherpa, which I kind of need as I ride places where water stops aren't common & gets dry hot. The Sherpa in a 17in is about as small I would want in terms of triangle space.

 

[Funoutside]

I think the Cotic is out of the running. But, now also looking at the Switch29er with a 130mm fork. If it can fit 29x2.6, it seems like a good option too & a slightly lower price.