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I've got an Intense Tracer which I previously loved, but now I'm riding my DH bike regularly, I can no longer get on with. Obviously I'm comparing very different bikes, but the trail bike is 165mm travel with coil and DD tyres etc so is more than capable of riding the same terrain.
I now feel like the trail bike is far too short, and the front end too low. It feels sketchy and unpredicatable. My current thinking is that it was always too small but now I've got used to a bike that fits it has become apparent?
Both 27.5. Theres a big difference in head angle (63.5 v 65.5) and wheel base (1278 v 1235), but other measurements don't look worlds apart. Trail bike has lower BB and longer reach which surprised me.
DH: Reach 474, stack 621, top tube 659
Trail: Reach 483, stack 614, top tube 649
Can anyone help me with my puzzling please? I'm going to try playing with stem length and bar height but would be good to try and understand what I'm feeling.
-40mm or so (based on a 440 chainstay length) difference in front centre between the two bikes (distance from the BB to the front axle) which will be noticeable.
-Static bb heights will be different, but you need to look at the sagged height to get a better understanding. Guessing the dh bike will be a bit lower, giving the sitting in feeling.
-Bar height, again, with a tall fork on the dh bike, the trail bike may need raising.
-Stem length, this is a tricky one, with the dh bike having a longer front centre, you are further from the axle on the dh bike and closer on the trail bike. You could go shorter on the trail bike, but then you are shortening the reach.
I'd also be running the same bars/grips/pedals on both bikes, even down to crank length.
Perhaps look at the setup too, at 165mm travel, you have scope for setting it up close to the dh bike. Down at 130mm you are going to be stiffer.