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Looking to replace my 2015 Whyte T130 and been reading about geometry on current bikes. I thought bikes were generally getting longer but it doesn't seem to be the case. Unless I'm missing something.
A few numbers from my 2015 bike:
Reach = 415 (not 100% sure this is correct)
Seat tube = 406
Wheelbase = 1112
Effective Top tube = 574
It's a size small and really can't get away with a longer seat tube. With a 125mm dropper fully inserted the seat is at the correct height. So I'm restricted to a size small.
Each bike I look at seems to be shorter in either reach or Wheelbase. (Orbea Oiz TR, Santa Cruz Blur TR were at the top of my list) Is that not odd when my bike is 7 years old? Or again, am I missing something.
Have a look and compare on geometry geeks
Well comparing like for like, a current t140s in size small is 432 reach, 1168 wheelbase, 406 seat tube, ETT 583.
So it has gotten longer, that's pretty conservative compared to a lot of bikes too.
Also you're comparing a trail bike with 'down country'/XC bikes with a bit more travel. Look at something like a Bird Aether 7 and you'll see similar geo on the small but a 370mm seat tube, meaning you can size up to something longer if you want.
I'm looking for something lighter, sub 11kg, 120mm travel.
I used to size a medium at 5ft 10inch but have moved up to a large SC due to their shorter seat tube (Modern geometry). I was also restricted by the seat tube length and the dropper I could use - I always want to have a 150mm dropper. I also have a whyte 129RS medium and a 150mm dropper just fits for me!
Best bet is to sit on a few bikes but the shorter modern seat tubes does enable you to get a longer reach/longer toptube bike - if that's what you want.
I'm not seeing the shorter modern seat tubes on any of the bikes I like though. Its more the opposite.
Just looked at Canyon's Lux trail and the seat tube on the small is 425. So too big for me.
So does anyone know of brands that make light and small 29er full sus bikes?
Seems we have the same short leg issues.
A OneUp Components dropper offers the shortest stack height offering you the most drop, it can be reduced in travel by 10 or 20mm for fine tuning.
I have a 405mm seat tube but can only run the dropper at 110mm due to the seat tube bend. I'm fine with this as it's an XC up/downcountry bike.
Mines a Carbonda FM936 (Vitus Rapide FS), 110mm SID fork, 110mm dropper and 100mm (and a bit) rear travel. 440mm reach (reduced a bit by increasing the fork to 110mm), the geometry is spot on.
https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/anyone-got-a-2021-vitus-rapide-fs-cr-or-crx/
http://chinertown.com/index.php/topic,2079.0.html
Specialized Epic Evo, Transition Spur, Evil Following, NS Synonym (Carbonda), BMC Four-stroke are all worth a look.
Take a trawl through the bike checks of the pro XCO riders, a large number of them are running 120mm and modern geometry these days, see which brands offer a 405mm or less seat tube.
What are your usual trails like?
PS: don't get all hung up just on the reach and ETT measurements, if your a short arse like me consider the stack height - particularly as your going from a 27.5" bike to a 29er. My 27.5" 120mm hard tail had a 110mm head tube and I used a flat bar, on a 110mm forked 29er with a 95mm head tube I'm running a -5mm (ofset rise) handlebar to find a sweet spot between saddle height and handlebar height.
For me, a steeper seat tube angle @ 77' on the new bike is also a massive improvement given the amount of steep climbs on my doorstep rides.
My sweet spot numbers seem to be around 66.5' HA, 76.5' SA, reach is around 435mm, stack must be around 590mm.
Trek Top Fuel seems to fit your criteria. 395mm seat tube on the 15 inch.
As mentioned above, you’re comparing a trail bike with down country type bikes so the reach will usually be longer on a trail bike anyway. Plus Whyte were way ahead of everyone else when it came to front end length, so no surprise you’re finding little difference even though it’s 7 years old.
Out of interest what height are you folks?
@vicksplace I'm 5'7" with a 30" inside leg. On a 15.5" hard tail I can run a 120mm BrandX dropper with 10mm of post extended, on a 410mm full suss a can only get away with a 110mm OneUp dropper due to the frames seat tube bend.
Interesting. I'm similar but I run a 180mm one up dropper on my medium Aeris (405mm st) and a 150mm on my medium Trance (430mm st)
As you say seat tube kinks (or lack of) make a difference also.