Will I be okay with a men's small Moto Lite?

[trail_mommy]

We have a chance to get a awesome price on 06 Moto Lites for dh and I and this is so minor but they only have powder blue in small...and that's the color I want I have a ton of measurements I can list and I may call Titus in the morning. It's either silver or anodized black if I need a medium.
Measurements
-------------------------------------------
Inseam: 32
Trunk: 25.5
Forearm: 13
Arm: 24
Thigh: 23
Lower Leg: 21
Sternal Notch: 58
Total Body Height: 68.5


The Offroad Fit
-------------------------------------------
Hardtail Standover Height: 29.4 - 30.1 inches
Full Suspension Standover Height: 30.4 - 31.1 inches
Virtual Top Tube: 23.1 - 23.5 inches
Stem Length: 11.2 - 11.8 cm
BB-Saddle Position: 72.4 - 74.4 cm
Saddle-Handlebar: 54.1 - 54.7 cm


Here's a link to the Titus Moto Lite Aluminum page with specs http://www.titusti.com/moto_al.html


Dh is getting a small. I know I can get a angled seat post if need be but wanted to get input from you Ladies on this. The thing is...they don't have the women's specific frames...we weren't planning on making this purchase until next year but this will save us $1200 if we buy now Dh will get his no doubt....it's me I don't know about....HELP!

[tattiefritter]

What height are you ? I worked it out at about 5ft 7?

I'm 5ft 4 and have the XS, I personally would have thought the Small was the correct size for you tbh. Its got quite a long top tube.

I'd only get a layback (I assume that's what you mean by angled) if you need it to make your placement on the pedals good, I wouldn't use it to adjust your overall reach as that's what the stem is for.

Sorry if my maths is rubbish and your 5ft 10 or something!

[rocknrollgirl]

Just my 2 cents, but I would not buy it without riding one, good deal or not, and just remember, that the standover height which is very important, will be higher once you get it.

I have an extra small Racer X, and it was higher than the standover said it would be, and higher than the one I test drove.

I have read on this site that is not uncommon.

Personally, I did not really care about WSD, and I am small.

[tattiefritter]

The geometry chart on the "womens" motolite page is the same as on the "mans" motolite page, in fact the 2007 website doesn't list a "women's motolite". The only potential difference would be in tubing - my XS has a narrower diameter down tube than the bigger frames, all the other tubing is the same.

I don't think there is a problem with standover measurement on my XS but I can check its accuracy if you like. I have quite a bit of standover on my XS - I have a 30" inseam and have 130mm forks on it so I think you'll be ok on that score, the longer your forks and bigger your tyres are the less standover you will have. The MotoLite has a kink in the top tube to help clearance that the racer x does not have.

Titus have always been really helpful when I've had to ask them anything.

[spokewench]

I ride a men's specialized and actually a men's giant tcr roadbike as well. Do you have a mountain bike now? The major limiters are your top tube length and the stand over height. If you will be able to stand over the bike easily with plenty of room to spare (this is not usually a problem with full suspension bikes) and your top tube is not too long - you will be able to make the bike fit.

Is there anywhere near you that you can go ride the bike at a store to see how it feels? Otherwise, just take a look at the bike you have now and measure the top tube length and standover height that should give you a good idea

[madisongrrl]

We have a chance to get a awesome price on 06 Moto Lites for dh and I and this is so minor but they only have powder blue in small...and that's the color I want I have a ton of measurements I can list and I may call Titus in the morning. It's either silver or anodized black if I need a medium.
Measurements
-------------------------------------------
Inseam: 32
Trunk: 25.5
Forearm: 13
Arm: 24
Thigh: 23
Lower Leg: 21
Sternal Notch: 58
Total Body Height: 68.5


The Offroad Fit
-------------------------------------------
Hardtail Standover Height: 29.4 - 30.1 inches
Full Suspension Standover Height: 30.4 - 31.1 inches
Virtual Top Tube: 23.1 - 23.5 inches
Stem Length: 11.2 - 11.8 cm
BB-Saddle Position: 72.4 - 74.4 cm
Saddle-Handlebar: 54.1 - 54.7 cm

It looks like you will be fine on the standover height, but it depends on how they measured it (and also how sloped it is).

Unless you've been fit and know your reach, you really might need to sit on that bike or a bike with similar geometry. I can tell you that a 23 inch top tube would personally be way too much for me. You also need to consider the seat tube angle along with the top tube length which can change the effective top tube length once you figure out where the saddle belongs.

[SalsaMTB]

The Offroad Fit
-------------------------------------------
Hardtail Standover Height: 29.4 - 30.1 inches
Full Suspension Standover Height: 30.4 - 31.1 inches
Virtual Top Tube: 23.1 - 23.5 inches
Stem Length: 11.2 - 11.8 cm
BB-Saddle Position: 72.4 - 74.4 cm
Saddle-Handlebar: 54.1 - 54.7 cm

What are these measurements? Is this what you are currently riding and feel comfortable with? If so, I say go with the medium. I wouldn't sacrifice fit for color. If you think you need the medium, get the black frame and put some colorful accents on it as you build/upgrade. For a bike of that price, you should definitely go for fit. If you need to do a lot of changes to make it fit, it just won't ride the way it's supposed to.

Also, talk with Titus and see what they recommend based on your measurements. They design the bikes, they should have really good input.

[trail_mommy]

Ok I spent about an hour on the phone with EJ at Titus this morning and I ended up with a small. According to him the small is not men's or women's...he said he himself is 5'11 and rides a medium but with a lot of adjutments. He also said most of the talk about lighter this and that is specifically targeted and made for women 5'5 and under and I'm obviously not in that catagory. So both mine and dh's moto-lites have shipped and now were shopping for the build kit. Titus highly reccomended the Fox Talus Fork...I think the 32's are what were getting...but my LBS quoted me some insane amount for these Shimano Wheels...the Full XT Group O Cross Max and that's WAYYY over my spending limit..I think my priorities right now are nive disc brakes, a nice saddle and the Talus fork...I was reccomended the WTB Rocket V, Deva, the Flight saddle, the maxim, t railed and of course the Terry Butterfly seems to be a popular one....any input is great you Laides have been awesome! BTW, I'm 5'8.5" and we have a Trek right now...it's a 16 inch...me and dh both ride it

[Pebble]

I'm 169cm tall and I'm comfortable on a small (16") giant Trance (non wsd) which has a 22" top tube (virtual) and I run a 90mm stem.

By the sound of it the small should be pretty good for you.

[tattiefritter]

Thought you'd be a small - have fun its an awesome bike! I have Fox TALAS 32 forks on mine and I really like them, I think they are as good as the Revelations I have on my hardtail.

I have Mavic 717 rims on mine, front on a Chris King and rear on a DT Swiss, I know Shimano kit is relatively expensive in the US as is Mavic I think. I know this because I bought my Titus frame, Fox Fork, Thomson stem/post and CK headset from the states 18 months ago as the exchange rate was favourable (as it is now) as even with the import duty it was still way cheaper than buying here. Things like Hope brakes, Mavic and Shimano were priced about the same as the UK.

American/Canadian made goods were much more competitively priced: SRAM, RaceFace, Chris King, Fox etc

[fatbottomedgurl]

I ride a WTB Rocket Stealth saddle. It is not a wsd. I really like it, very comfortable, I never notice a sore butt after 4 hour rides. It is a narrow saddle, and I am able to get off and behind it for those steep downhills. Everyone I know who rides a WTB loves it.

I have Hayes brakes. I just replaced the pads and adjusted the calipers, a very easy process. A friend has Juicy sevens and she said replacing pads is a real pain in the behind.

Bontrager makes a nice wheelset - Race Lite- for much less than the Mavics. Their Race X Lites are closer to the Mavic price, but still about 100 less. (I have Mavics Crossmax and they LOOK awesome, but $$$!!!! They came stock on my Trance 1.)

http://www.treknology3.com/accessori...trager.mtb.htm

For component reviews from real people go to mtbr.com reviews if you haven't already.

[fatbottomedgurl]

BTW, I'm 5'8.5" and we have a Trek right now...it's a 16 inch...me and dh both ride it

Must be a little crowded.