What quality XXS hardtail bikes are out there?

[mixie]

I would look at Jamis bikes. I am 5' tall and just bought a 13" Durango 2. It's probably too heavy for your gf, but I didn't have quite the budget you did!

Jamis makes a LOT of mtbs in 13" size which I find fits me great! I also have a Jamis road bike and I gotta hand it to them, they know how to make small bikes for small riders. Jenson USA has a lot of last years models on sale.

http://www.jensonusa.com/store/sub/1...&pricemax=5000

I live local to them so I was able to test ride a bike. They have awesome customer service.

(nope, I do not work for either Jamis or Jenson, just a happy customer!)

[eofelis]

I have a 13" steel hardtail Jamis Dragon. Not FS, but a nice tiny bike.
The Dakar might come in XXS size.

[Catrin]

I have a 13" steel hardtail Jamis Dragon. Not FS, but a nice tiny bike.
The Dakar might come in XXS size.

I've a 13" Jamis Dakar XC Comp - it is a soft-tail but am very happy with it. The Durango Femme comes in a 12" size. I don't know how that would compare with my 13", but my LBS noted the Durango 15 inch has the same dimensions as my 13" inch FS Dakar - so this is what I test rode before purchasing my lovely Dakar. My 13" Dakar XC is about 27 pounds, but it IS a soft-tail.

[indysteel]

I've a 13" Jamis Dakar XC Comp - it is a soft-tail but am very happy with it. The Durango Femme comes in a 12" size. I don't know how that would compare with my 13", but my LBS noted the Durango 15 inch has the same dimensions as my 13" inch FS Dakar - so this is what I test rode before purchasing my lovely Dakar. My 13" Dakar XC is about 27 pounds, but it IS a soft-tail.

The Dakar is a FS bike, no? That's not the same thing as a soft tail.

[Catrin]

The Dakar is a FS bike, no? That's not the same thing as a soft tail.

Yes, it is a FS, and I've mtb friends who refer to full suspension as a soft-tail. So if a soft-tail isn't a full suspension, then what IS it?

[Becky]

I've heard the terms "full suspension" and "soft tail" used interchangeably, but I've also heard them used to mean different things. To me, a "soft tail" is something like a Moots YBB or a Salsa Dos Niner, with a tiny ~1"-travel shock mounted at the top of seat stays. A 'full suspension" has 3"+ of rear wheel travel, IMO, and the shock is placed elsewhere in the frame, depending on the style of suspension.

I don't think that either variation is right or wrong...just the different ways that different people use the terms...

[Catrin]

Thanks Becky! I was wondering if there were perhaps regional differences in how the term is used, but Indy and I are in the same area. Of course it doesn't mean that our respective MTB friends are