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I'm pegged somewhere between a Medium and Large MB frame size, any advice on sizing recommendations or do any of you Evil Following MB owners have a medium I could try briefly for size?
Essentially I need to ride up a hill / inline to see if it fits well for seated climbing.
Fingers crossed!
What I want to know is if the seated reach between a V1 and MB frame (with the same stem length) will make the MB feel like it's 2cm longer?
Have you asked on MTBR? It's an absolute wealth of information there. The view seems to be that despite what the geo charts say the seat angle on the MB seems to be a touch steeper so it may not feel as much as 2cm longer. Have your ridden a v1?
What height are you? Evils sizing charts are quite a bit off in my opinion. I'm 6'3 and the sizing chart recommends L at my height - the XL V1 felt a bit cramped but the XL MB is a good fit. I couldn't imagine being on the L size Evil recommend - it would be way too small. I went from the V1 to the MB and yes you can feel the increased reach while seated if you use the same stem length. I had a 50mm on the V1 but happy with 40mm on the MB.
+1 to the sizing charts being a bit under. I'm 6'1" on an XL v1 and with a 45mm stem it's a shade shorter than I'd prefer. Pondering an MB, how you finding it Neil?
I'm 5'9" barefoot, have previously owned a Large V1 which ran a 40mm stem and 130mm Pike.
My thinking is that the ETT length will give me my seated 'climbing' reach, where as the published Reach will determine my of the saddle movement and general fit.
The V1 Large has a Reach of 439mm vs MB Medium 435mm. Running a 45mm or 50mm stem would cover the reach difference on a medium MB frame, yet the seated ETT dimension is shorter on the MB. Having tried a V1 Medium with 50mm stem it felt far too cramped for anything remotely steep on the climbs.
Keeping the wheel base in check and having a shorter seat tube length are of interest to me, yet I absolutely have to get a decent climbing reach when seated. Hence my uncertainty due not not being able to try out a medium MB. I'm concerned that the Large will loose it's playful pop being longer.
totally Agee that the Evil sizing guide is off / errs on the small side.
Need to keep it in context though, the wheelbase of these are still short compared to most comparable 29ers.
My XL is definitely "playful" enough for my liking, and moreso than any other comparable bike I have ridden from other manufacturers.
I think the medium MB will feel pretty much the same sizing and handling wise as your large V1 although you may need to use a 50mm stem which may slow down the steering a bit. Have a look at the comments on Evil Bikes Instagram as there is a discussion about sizing there by people around your height with recommendations from Evil:
Pondering an MB, how you finding it Neil?
Hi Doug,
Yes the MB is a great bike but then again so is the V1! The MB is a bit more stable with the longer wheelbase and you can run a 140mm fork without mucking up the handling too much so it is a bit more capable. The longer reach is good, the back end is much stiffer and it carries momentum through rocky terrain better. The differences aren't huge though.
The differences aren’t huge though.
Enough to warrant the price of a new frame?
In what way do you reckon the 140mm fork doesn't mess with the handling as much? I was ponder a 140 on my v1. but given I am on the limit in terms of reach currently, I am concerned that the extra fork length will reduce reach too much.
I have brand new 140mm Pike air shaft if that works / helps you try it out?
What size frame are you running Neil?
What size frame are you running Neil?
I went bigger than the size chart recommended for both the V1 and MB - XL at 6'3.
Enough to warrant the price of a new frame?
In what way do you reckon the 140mm fork doesn’t mess with the handling as much? I was ponder a 140 on my v1. but given I am on the limit in terms of reach currently, I am concerned that the extra fork length will reduce reach too much.
I don't know if it would be worth the cost of a new frame if you're happy with the sizing on the V1. I really wanted a longer reach and wheelbase for a bit more stability so when the MB was released I didn't have to think twice about it.
It was mostly the slackening of the seat tube angle I didn't like on the V1 with the 140mm fork. The seat tube angle feels steeper in comparison on the MB with the 140mm fork but the slightly longer front triangle may also affect this? I think both bikes are most balanced with a 130mm fork.
Hi
I’m 6ft with a Large V1 with a 40mm stem and 800 mm bars and it’s about bang on.
I run it with a Fox 36 TALAS set at 135mm most of the time and 150mm for steep stuff.
Best of both worlds and absolutely love it
Cheers
Steve