MTB Size Guide: Real-World Test Results

Good breakdown 🚵‍♀️🚵🏽‍♂️

Looks a lot like Powder Mountain. Is that where you are? I have the same problem, 5’9” M or L. I think I prefer L as it just feels faster and more stable. However, I have also been riding a Trek Fuel EX in their unique ML size - nice - not sure why more folks don’t have that size.

Remember the Smith Brothers? Cough drops? They were really good - a root beer flavor, as I recall. The presenters must be their grandchildren.
Is there any help in choosing a mountain bike, not for tearing through what's left of our natural environment but for those who do not want to spend as much as other bike-types now cost, thanks to US war-mongering against Russia in Ukraine and money printing for the arms merchants? The cheapest type online with gears is the MTB. Go to a bike shop and pay over $400 for a bicycle? close to $100 for a safety helmut? the same for a rear carrying rack? Why that's as much as a steak dinner for two! Go help the poor Ukrainians! What I notice is that all bikes in stores have about the same sized frame. The biggest difference is in the label: large, medium, small. All about 68" long, 24" wide (handlebars?), and 48 inches high; an inch difference, here and there. The seats seem perched high on the seat tube, but that it because the horizontal top bar has been replaced by a sloping one that joins the tube down towards the bottom bracket. I think the wheel size is the major choice. The other choices are drive a car, or walk on the sidewalks as the e-bikes whizz past you!

The smaller the bike, the smaller the “sweet spot”. That really made a lot of sense to me, another boring, but happy, average rider. I’ll stick to the XL, thank you very much.

Great . Now I´m even more confused.
Great video. Im 188 cm with a 87 cm inseam and want to buy my first bike. I have tested a few bikes, but I don´t have any experience. Just one day on a Tyee in the Bike park and one Day on a YT Capra. I also tested the canyon Spectral in a parking lot and ilked it a lot. But I dont know if I should go L or XL.

Great insights ty

I really regret that I did not watch this video before going wrong with frame size S. I was right between sizes and I chose the smaller one. Rather expensive mistake! However I did watch videos that recommend exactly the opposite to you - if you are between sizes - go for smaller. The bike is feeling nervous and twitchy and I am rather loosing confidence with it instead of building some. So it is going for sell probably and I will try with bigger bike.

True when you sit on the borders between two sizes. Good one, really helped me feel in ease with the sizing decision I took a few months back when I purchased my bike. Re the comfort though, probably I would recommend anyone who upsizes to consider having a spare shorter stem just incase.

Problem for me is seat tube length. with 1.75m (i guess 5.9") i always on the end of the range of size m. but with my inner leg length of 84cm im sitting very much on the end of the seatpost. I tried different models in size m and then to epics (normal and an evo) in L. That makes a hugh difference.

Your larger frame bikes probably do work well out west. But on the east coast where the majority of trails are tight twists and turns I had trouble with a medium 29er with long reach and long wheelbase. It was nice on the open areas but not so much for the tight twists. I am not a playful rider, i am just trying to have some fun and i think consideration must be given to the trails and where you are riding.

One thing no one is talking about is that with a longer bike you are riding more on your shoulder joints. On long days this will fatigue you when stretched out. And over the long run, it will be detrimental to your shoulder health. A shorter bike works your delts more and saves your joints. For me personally, I don't feel great stretched out especially over time. Not to mention a longer bike is not optimal for climbing because you want your weight to be more forward. Sure it's more stable on the downhills and riding fast on straights, but there is a reason that Richie Rude rides a Yeti medium when the recommended size is a large. The moral of the story is that there is no real rule to bike sizing. Ride what you feel most comfortable with.

Much appreciated opinion piece. My only issue is that shirt being cringe as fuck. And I'm no runner.

I’m 6’3” and have always ridden Large for the past 20 years. But as I get older I’m less confident on squirrelly bikes. Was wondering if I needed to size up. After watching your video, I think it’s time. Thanks.

6'1" XL. Long time rider. I hate to be cramped on any bike.

Lee McCormick is rolling over this. Surprised no comments on RAAD sizing.

My personal testing at 5’9” I prefer medium over large.

Did they mention their own length and weight?

90sec then “playful” filter. Next.

Super helpful video. I'd love to get some advice on the decision I'm making. I'm deciding between a Canyon Spectral 29 medium and large. I'm 5'11", leaner build with longer arms. Canyon's tool recommends medium, but their support team recommended large. Here's the interesting bit, I'm currently riding a 2001 Cannondale Jekyl in medium and haven't ridden any modern mountain bike geometry or technology, so whatever I pick will be a massive change (and improvement). Also, I ride in the southwestern US in very rocky terrain. Given that, any thoughts on which way you would lean?

How tall are u guys.

This is still useful in 2023! I’m on the shorter side and now between XS and S. As an XC and road bike rider, reach and stack mean a lot more to me on the road, as I’ve noticed new mountain bike geo’s just getting longer!

This vid makes me feel good that I bought both my mtn bikes (Epic Evo and Tallboy) in size XL (I'm 6'2.5"). I enjoy riding both on high speed trails with just a few jumps. I do prefer a smaller size for road/gravel bikes (size 58 large feels awesome to me).

What is your estimated reach and RAD and how does that compare to the reach and RAD of the two bikes that you are comparing. It would make the video content more informative if there was some context.

Althought it may be obvius for some people, the point you make, is very solid and logical. Everyone, as you notiecd, advice to force the smaller bike allways. I didnt do that, and got a reasonal size, and i've been mad since them if i made a misteke hehehehe

I’m 6’2 with long legs and a short torso. You recently reviewed x XL SB160. Did you feel that the size was right for you? Or, would the XXL have fit better based on what this vid suggests? I went XL, and have to use significant spacers and riser (35mm) bars to get grips same height as seat. I’m used to this given my body, but I did think about XXL for this reason. The wheelbase numbers made me pick XL.

Thanks. The video makes a lot of sense... I'm on the L/XL fence about sizes for the Norco Optic. In your Optic video from a few year ago you rode a large even though Norco recommends an XL for your height. Given geometry is always going longer, slacker etc... would you buy the L or XL now? Thoughts?

How tall are you guys? I’m 6’3 with longer legs than torso. Trek’s recommendation is XL but I come from a BMX background and that bike looks so big and so heavy lol. Thanks for the video, a lot to think about!

Great vid. Im 6’5 and a large guy and ordered an xl rockhopper expert. Went into specialized and they immediately told me im an xxl. I went with the xxl. We shall see

How tall are these guys? And weight.

What size are these guys? Seems like obvious info to include in the vid??

I'm 5'8 and have been looking for a Large DH bike for a while. I found a great deal on a Kona Operator near me. The only problem is that it's XL. What's your thoughts on someone like me getting an XL bike?

I just started riding and got a Trek Marlin 5 in ML. I'm 5'8 with a 30 inseam. The large felt better for me, the medium for me (as a beginner cyclist in general) felt sketchier. The Trek store said the ML would most likely be perfect. However once the ML got in the Trek store had to actually cut the seat tube a bit because at the lowest position I could not mount the bike. After cutting it though I feel very stable on it even as a newbie and it still feels maneuverable.

I can ride a large frame with 29 inch wheels.
But I prefer a medium with 27.5 inch wheels.
I like to have a ton of control. I'm a playful rider.

Informative...but found the lisp distracting.

If the frame is too small then there's always the chance of catastrophic implosion.
I bought a cube analog in a L and you guys have confirmed this decision! Hi from Australia!

Agility vs stability

How tall are you guy's?

where is that trail at?

Would have been helpful with some geometry numbers on these two bikes, like how much the reach and toptube differed between them. And your height as well.

As a 6'2" person I have always struggled with what size bike to get. Sizing by RAD (spread between the bottom bracket and handlebars) has been the best decision I've ever made and now I almost always ride Large with riser bars.

I went with a small frame with 29 tires instead of a medium frame with 27.5 tires. I think I made the right decision.

Very well said. I noticed the same that there is much more room to maneuver on large bike vs you need to precise or you can go OTB on small bike

Love that shirt 😂

I have a L 2019 instinct and I'm 6'2 and I feel a cramped and not really that comfortable on the bike over the years. Upgrading my bike in the next few weeks and it will be a XL for me. The bike is to small for me as when I'm in the attack position i tend to find my self more over the back side of the bike. Great for going down hill, not so great in the corners as if i don't correct my self it washes out my front which has happened a lot.

Sounds like most people here on the comments have bought bikes too big for them lol

Very helpful video! I finally sprung for a new full suspension (Ripley AF) but wonder if the XL I bought is too big. Im just over 6” but with very long legs, but maybe leg length doesn’t factor in as much as I thought?
What height and inseam are you guys, so I can compare? Thanks for the great content! 😀

Can i ask what are yours heights please?

Im 6 foot, always rode a large forever in the 26er era. My last bike, Giant Trance X 29er, was large and felt too big. My new bike Giant Reign e+ 3 is a medium, and she feels perfect for me. These new geometry bikes changed everything. Being stretched out is not good for back and wrists. I perfer sizing down.

Everything is fine if I am between two sizes, but how advisable is it to choose a larger size, when you fit perfectly in a smaller size?

I went from a small to a medium and I definitely go faster