How tall are you ? I am 6'4" and according to the Turner tech. I spoke with he said I was leaning toward a XXL Sultan. The biggest bike I have owned to date has been my XL RFX - I have never owned a bike that was too big. I can get an XL Sultan @ a great price but if it isn't the *optimum* size then money saved doesn't matter. Thanks.
XXL Turner's ? Sizing ?
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I'm 6'3" and more arms/torso than legs (32in inseam). I ran the TNT Sultan in XL with a straight post and 90mm stem quite comfortably. If anything I might say I was a bit stretched out. You really need to be a monkey to ride one of the XXL frames. One of my friends who is 6'6" has the XXL 5-spot and after riding it I can safely say it was too big for me 
Either side of 90mm would be longer or shorter in my opinion. If I didn't have the RFX for nasty stuff, I would have gone XXL on the Sultan as a do-everything bike. I use a 100mm stem for my XL Sultan and a 70mm stem for my RFX.
As far as a comparison, it's not really fair, but the Sultan is a MUCH better climber and overall more balanced bike for trail riding, as it was intended; the DW link is the real deal, no doubt about it. RFX obviously descends better, but you can't compare a 160mm of travel on 36 in stanchions with 120mm and 32 in. Both serve their respective functions well.
As far as a comparison, it's not really fair, but the Sultan is a MUCH better climber and overall more balanced bike for trail riding, as it was intended; the DW link is the real deal, no doubt about it. RFX obviously descends better, but you can't compare a 160mm of travel on 36 in stanchions with 120mm and 32 in. Both serve their respective functions well.
Test Ride Some Bikes
I'm 6'6" and when I rode my 05 XXL Spot I immediately knew I was on a bike that fit me for the first time. At 6'3" I would think an XL would be in the ballpark for you. But the best way to know for sure is to demo as many bikes as possible. Shops and bike companies are dying to sell bikes, put them to the test and make them make you happy. Don't buy into all the b.s. hype, ride some bikes with an open mind and trust yourself more than magazine uber dorks.
I'm 6'6" and when I rode my 05 XXL Spot I immediately knew I was on a bike that fit me for the first time. At 6'3" I would think an XL would be in the ballpark for you. But the best way to know for sure is to demo as many bikes as possible. Shops and bike companies are dying to sell bikes, put them to the test and make them make you happy. Don't buy into all the b.s. hype, ride some bikes with an open mind and trust yourself more than magazine uber dorks.
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i think one of the problems with fitting a bike for a tall guy like me (at 6'4"- 6'5") is the length of the head tube. as you go from XL to XXL, you get a longer HT so you don't have to use lots of spacers to get the handlebars up, but it comes at the price of lengthing the TT. if you like to ride bent over and stretched out like an XC racer, then i think a longish TT is for you. but if you want a more upright ride and compact cockpit like a longer travel 26" bike (nomad, rfx?) then i would go for the shorter XL frame+spacers. another point is that if you choose an XXL, you are increasing the length of an already huge wheelbase making tight technical riding harder. after riding and XL Turner sultan v.1 for 3 years now i would have liked for my fit: the HT of the XXL, the TT of the L and a bit shorter in the CS. at least the length of the ST is spot on! good luck with your new ride!
So true
I was looking @ Turner's geometry spec's and cam accross reach & stack which prompted my call to Turner. We came to the conclusion , based on my current 2.5" riser bars and spacer stack a long HT would be optimal but as you mention the ST & TT grow. I rode my RFX w/ the seat dropped to 23" - too high, I like it slammed down on descents. I guess the XL will have to work though it would be nice w/ a longer HT.starre said:
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i've wondered if Turner would accept a custom order for a longer HT on the XL size. the TT of the DW was reduced a full half inch on the XXL from version 1 but only a 1/4 on the XL - i would have liked to see 25". you're right about the 23" ST - way to high - how would you put in a dropper post? i've had a LOT of time on my v1 sultan and although tempting with sale prices, i don't think this is the incarnation of the sultan i want, for the weight - the tallboy with a 120 fork seems more attractive but that might be same old same old XC stuff. i've got to say the new Intense Tracer 29 looks great.
keen said:
The only way I am going to get into a Sultan is w/ the current mark down @ C.Cyclist. I still don't know if I could recoup any $ from selling my RFX frame. I still think 29ers have a lot of growing needed in the aggressive catagory but I have been waiting a few years now.starre said:
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for regular XC, choosing the right bike with our body size today 29er is really a no-brainer but no question it is a big problem when you make the transition from simpler cross country style riding to chunkier all mountain stuff. i agree that the price of entry to high level 29er is very good with the current CC mark down. anyway half of the bike is in components and you can take the wheels and stuff on to your next frame. cause i know you are going to be doing "chunkier stuff" for your size i strongly recommend getting rear wheel 36 flow with 10mm bolt on hub. i have tried 32 hole salsaDD, duster and flow. flow is by far the best but still not as stiff as i want and sorry i didn't upgrade to a 36 hole hub. flows are so far very good tubeless. i don't know about gordos but i don't think they run tubeless and i have run 29er slime tubes forever that weigh in at a heavy 330 to 390 grams that i have finally dropped. also having an aggressive tire (ardent/rampage) up front with a speedy tire out back really helps keep momentum going which is important in the 29er game. good luck and enjoy!
keen said:
I intend to use the Sultan as a XC trail bike. These days the RFX isn't coming close to it's intended purpose of use. I want AM geometry but don't need the travel. I typically run more travel up front and more rear sag to achieve aggressive geometry even on XC bikes.tstarre said:
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amazing, isn't it? that's what i hear all the time and it seems like santa cruz and banchee are making 26" bikes like that. in the 29er world, lenz i think was the pioneer that brought out the 130mm behemoth with slacker 69+ geometry 3+ years ago and later on with shorter CS. i was dumb back then and didn't know what HA was all about. Turner has taken a more conservative approach with HA and CS in 29er design. never had a chance to ride a Lenz, but i did get a tryout on a new RIP and it didn't impress me as being hugely different from my v1 sultan.
it sounds you'd like to put a 140 mm fork up front on the sultan to slacken things out. not sure but i think that excludes you from the new 140 reba coming out because it is tapered and the sultan isn't.
it sounds you'd like to put a 140 mm fork up front on the sultan to slacken things out. not sure but i think that excludes you from the new 140 reba coming out because it is tapered and the sultan isn't.
keen said:
6'2" here and I have an XL Sultan (CC blowout deal) and I'm running a 65mm stem. Feels perfect and I don't have a 'mile' of seatpost exposed to get proper leg extension like I've had on most Large bikes.
At 6'4" I'd say the XL would work very well for you.
Mike
At 6'4" I'd say the XL would work very well for you.
Mike
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I'm 6'4" and ride a 2009 XL Sultan. Like you, I debated the XL versus XXL. I have really long arms (37" sleeve length in a dress shirt) so I was seriously considering XXL. In the past I rode XL Flux with 130mm stem, so I need long bikes.
I eventually "decided" on an XL Sultan instead of XXL, mostly because I got a good deal (not as good a deal as CC currently has, but hey, this was a year ago so beggars couldn't be choosers).
I haven't had any regrets. I've got the XL set up with a 100mm stem and it feels pretty good. I'm still curious how an XXL would ride, but I've never had a chance to try.
One "surprise" good reason for choosing XL: it barely fits in travel cases. I already have to remove the der hanger and fork to fit the frame in lengthwise on a Crateworks box. The extra inch of the XXL might be a deal breaker.
I eventually "decided" on an XL Sultan instead of XXL, mostly because I got a good deal (not as good a deal as CC currently has, but hey, this was a year ago so beggars couldn't be choosers).
I haven't had any regrets. I've got the XL set up with a 100mm stem and it feels pretty good. I'm still curious how an XXL would ride, but I've never had a chance to try.
One "surprise" good reason for choosing XL: it barely fits in travel cases. I already have to remove the der hanger and fork to fit the frame in lengthwise on a Crateworks box. The extra inch of the XXL might be a deal breaker.
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Turner Sultan fit
I am 6'6" and just got done with a full day of demoing the XXL 2010 Sultan at MBO. It is the first bike that has allowed me to relax my reach and drop the elbows. I felt great on the ups and downs. I ride a 2004 T Burner XL and I never have really felt that it fit me just right. I have changed things around so often I do not even know where I am at, and after riding the XXL Sultan, I think I will be very unhappy. That was a hard thing to say about a Turner.
The bike I rode could of used a shorter stem, something in the 90mm range. I can not remember how many spacers were used, but it was fitted with Raceface Evolve low-rise bars. Maybe a wide set of flats would have felt nice? The stand over felt much safer than the XL Burner, but I have been running a little longer fork than recommended to try and get as much all mountain riding out of the frame as possible. This just puts the top tube a little close to the boys and it feels like a long way down on the tight stuff.
At 6'4" the XL may be a better choice and the deal at CC is a good one right now. The Sultan is pretty sick an I think it can fulfill many of your trail desires.
If anyone is getting rid of any XXL Turners, let me know. I hate to sell my frame since it has been so good to me and will last forever, but .......
I am 6'6" and just got done with a full day of demoing the XXL 2010 Sultan at MBO. It is the first bike that has allowed me to relax my reach and drop the elbows. I felt great on the ups and downs. I ride a 2004 T Burner XL and I never have really felt that it fit me just right. I have changed things around so often I do not even know where I am at, and after riding the XXL Sultan, I think I will be very unhappy. That was a hard thing to say about a Turner.
The bike I rode could of used a shorter stem, something in the 90mm range. I can not remember how many spacers were used, but it was fitted with Raceface Evolve low-rise bars. Maybe a wide set of flats would have felt nice? The stand over felt much safer than the XL Burner, but I have been running a little longer fork than recommended to try and get as much all mountain riding out of the frame as possible. This just puts the top tube a little close to the boys and it feels like a long way down on the tight stuff.
At 6'4" the XL may be a better choice and the deal at CC is a good one right now. The Sultan is pretty sick an I think it can fulfill many of your trail desires.
If anyone is getting rid of any XXL Turners, let me know. I hate to sell my frame since it has been so good to me and will last forever, but .......
I hate to tell you this, but XXL isn't a frame size you'll see much second hand! The XXL Sultan was THE FIRST bike I ever got to test ride. You know the usual situation - walk into a bike store, staff sucks their teeth and tells you 'that'll be special order' or 'nope'. I did have to travel to Little Rock, AR to do it (from England), but I did buy one and will keep it until one of us breaks!chrisrides said:
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