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DH bike for a really tall rider

Nagaredama

Turbo Monkey
Nov 15, 2004
1,596
2
Manhattan Beach, CA USA
After hitting Mammoth on closing weekend I decided I want a DH bike. The bottom bracket on my AS-X is too high and the HA is too steep. I want something lower and slacker.

My large AS-X fits great. I'm 6'5" and the 24" top tube is perfect.

When it comes to suspension systems it doesn't matter to me. FSR, single, VPP whatever.

My ideal geo numbers would be 14" bb height, 65 head angle, 24 top tube, and around 8inches of travel.

I really like the Turner DHR and Morewood but I'm scared they'll be too small.

Recommend me a DH bike!
 

Transcend

My Nuts Are Flat
Apr 18, 2002
18,040
3
Towing the party line.
If you like the turner and morewood, you may want to look for a large 224? They were designed around Peaty and are pretty damn big. I think he tops out at 6'4"?

Not sure ont he sizing of the morewood and turner, but the larger yeti may fit the bill as well. Last i remember, the large giant glory's were pretty damn big too.

edit: 224 geo #s are here: http://www.orangebikes.co.uk/2006bikes/224.php
I believe the top tube is around 25" or so?
 

blt2ride

Turbo Monkey
May 25, 2005
2,333
0
Chatsworth
This would probably have to be a “pre-owned” bike, but the large Giant DH Team/Comps are very big bikes. I don’t know the exact specs, but I’m pretty sure it is probably what you’re looking for...
 

JacobDW

Monkey
Feb 22, 2005
271
0
Manassas, VA
Im 6'5" as well and I ride a large Transition Dirtbag. Granted this is my everything rig, but I am more than pleased with the fit and performance of the bike.
 

Nagaredama

Turbo Monkey
Nov 15, 2004
1,596
2
Manhattan Beach, CA USA
If you like the turner and morewood, you may want to look for a large 224? They were designed around Peaty and are pretty damn big. I think he tops out at 6'4"?

Not sure ont he sizing of the morewood and turner, but the larger yeti may fit the bill as well. Last i remember, the large giant glory's were pretty damn big too.

edit: 224 geo #s are here: http://www.orangebikes.co.uk/2006bikes/224.php
I believe the top tube is around 25" or so?
The Morewood and Orange have similar geometry.

The Orange is awesome but is pretty expensive and tought to find here in the States.

I'm thinking a DHR or Sunday.
 

dropmachine

Turbo Monkey
Sep 7, 2001
2,922
10
Your face.
ROTEC, hands down. KIller suspension, and the damn things are HUGE! My medium is perfect for me at 6'3, its super comfortable. I'd be terrified of the large!

That said, the rear is 17"s or so, so its not a limo of a bike at all.
 

bdamschen

Turbo Monkey
Nov 28, 2005
3,377
156
Spreckels, CA
(random thought) i can see big guys being perfect candidates for 29'er dh sleds; seems proportionally better suited than 26's.
I hear that. The only problem with it is that the HA has to be really slack or our big ass feet are always hitting the back of the front tire. (I darn near kill my self every time I ride my buddy's xc 29er) :rant:

as for bike size, I dig my large faith, but it still manages to look a little small under me w/ the seat down. The large glory has about a 2 inch longer top tube than mine.
 

Full Trucker

Frikkin newb!!!
Feb 26, 2003
10,484
7,531
Exit, CO
I ride a large Yeti 303 and it fits me perfect at 6'2" - and I don't think they make a production XL so unless you can get a hold of Houseman's race bike...

If you could find a large Yeti DH9 that might work for sure. I rode a medium and it was LOOONNNNG. Also an interesting thought, the DH9's were way huge, and now people are saying the Rotec's are huge as well? Is it something about Lawwill suspension that lends itself to being gigantic?
 

buildyourown

Turbo Monkey
Feb 9, 2004
4,832
0
South Seattle
If you want big, look at the 04-06 Large DHR. I'm 6'1" and the large is a bit big for me and I like larger bikes. It feels great until I get into the tighter woods and all my friends on mediums are killing me (they are all tall too)
Next years large will be a smaller.


[spam] I have one for sale [\spam]
 

thevan

Chimp
Jan 5, 2002
23
0
seattle/boulder?
I'm 6'8" and can ride a 19" sunday, and it feels pretty good....
i've ridden my buddy zeb's and he is about 6'5" and it is set for a tall guy and i got to really ride some DH on it....it's pretty sweet it fits me as well as my custom sized lenzsport ....the glory feels really short ,and the turner well they pretty much just weld another seat mast on for the large.....it's pretty ugly.....the demo is a little short but not to bad and i'm taller than everyone so....as for the yeti lawill bikes they are super long....but so is the wheelbase.....Foes bikes are big.....but they have "foes shocks" soo.......best thing i've seen is a sunday....


just trying to help my fellow freaks......
...never expected to here Transend giving advice on this topic.....:biggrin:
 

Dog Welder

Turbo Monkey
Sep 7, 2001
1,123
0
Pasadena, CA
I'm 6.4 and I ride a Large Foes Mono. Fits me pretty well. I actually bought Rich Houseman's Yellow Turner a couple years ago and it was still too short on top of having a geometry that I couldn't get along with.
 
Feb 13, 2002
1,087
17
Seattle, WA
Have you tried the asx in the 6 inch setting? It's not a DH bike, but it's an excellent mini-DH bike. My ASX has a 14 inch BB, spot on. The head angle is a bit steeper than 65, though.

I'm going to continue pimping yeti and suggest that if you really need a full-on DH bike, the DH9s were huge. A large would fit you like a glove.
 
Feb 13, 2002
1,087
17
Seattle, WA
Have you tried the asx in the 6 inch setting?


hmm. I see you HAVE tried it in the 6 inch setting... What is your BB height like that? Fork travel? Head angle?

Too many people roll on full DH bikes that don't need to be.

If you want to get better, get a hardtail. If you want to make your bad habbits worse, go for a DH bike. If you are faster than I am, then disregard my advice and do what you please.
 

NeilBey

Chimp
Feb 3, 2006
43
0
Hey Nagaredama. I'm about 6'4". While I may not be quite as tall as you, I do have a very long lower body (ie. My legs are HUGE). I've been riding the Morewood Izimu DH for a number of years and I haven't had problems with scuffing my knees (unless I crash).

I feel your pain man, my recomendations would be the Morewood Izimu or, if you can afford the price, the Orange 224
 

Nagaredama

Turbo Monkey
Nov 15, 2004
1,596
2
Manhattan Beach, CA USA
I ride a large Yeti 303 and it fits me perfect at 6'2" - and I don't think they make a production XL so unless you can get a hold of Houseman's race bike...

If you could find a large Yeti DH9 that might work for sure. I rode a medium and it was LOOONNNNG. Also an interesting thought, the DH9's were way huge, and now people are saying the Rotec's are huge as well? Is it something about Lawwill suspension that lends itself to being gigantic?
Funny I've actually sat on Houseman's racebike while working on a promo video with him.

Bike felt good and he has a stiff set-up.

Super nice guy.
 

Nagaredama

Turbo Monkey
Nov 15, 2004
1,596
2
Manhattan Beach, CA USA
hmm. I see you HAVE tried it in the 6 inch setting... What is your BB height like that? Fork travel? Head angle?

Too many people roll on full DH bikes that don't need to be.

If you want to get better, get a hardtail. If you want to make your bad habbits worse, go for a DH bike. If you are faster than I am, then disregard my advice and do what you please.
In 6.3 inch mode the AS-X geo is 66 head angle and 14" bottom bracket. The Sherman has 170mm travel. I'm now rocking a 66RC2X.

I agree with you on the hard tail thing. I'm currently building a short travel 4x-ish bike in hopes it will improve my line selection.

After riding a Demo 8 at Mammoth I realized how much fun all that travel is.

Looks like a Sunday maybe the winner.
 

RJM

Monkey
May 18, 2005
258
0
on the rocks
The 07' DHR has a much cleaner look, check out the cad drawing that was posted recently.

A dh bike should be smaller than your all mtn/freeride/xc rig anyway...that way you can tear it up better:)

Heres the numbers for the Large:
HA 64degrees
Chainstay 17.4"
BB: 14.4"
STube 17"
TT 22.4"
Headtube 4.7"
Wheelbase 46.8"
Reccd height >5'11
Standover 31"


Sick
 
Sep 10, 2001
162
0
Seattle,WA
Hi guys sully here.....heres the specs on the RL9.

Its actually smaller then the Schwinn or Yeti versions. Closer to the Tomic lawwill...but with the correct concentric bb postion...as the Lawwill was intended to be.

So I wouldn actually say that huge is the right term to use when describing how they feel. Thought i'd try to set the record straight.....

TT + (Effective) 21: (22.5") 22.0" (23.5") 23 " ( 24.5")
CS 17.18"
SS 16.25"
BB 14.5"
WB 45.5" 46.5" 47.5"
HT 5"
HA 66 deg with a 7 inch fork (aprox 22.0 inch axle to crown)
65 deg with an 8 inch fork (aprox 23.0 axle to crown)
DT 24" 25" 26"
 

Atomic Dog

doesn't have a custom title yet.
Oct 22, 2002
1,207
1,340
In the basement at Weekly World News
Is riding smaller bikes something that you just get used to?

I'm 6'6" and I ride an XL bullit. Much larger than what most of you taller guys are on. I've always figured I would feel cramped on a smaller bike, especially on a ride with a fair amount of pedalling and climbing.

I was offered a really good deal on a large Knolly V-Tach. I can't seem to find any frame specs on the bullit (a 2001) online any more, but from memory I think the V-Tach is roughly 3/4 inch shorter in the top tube and around an inch shorter in the seat tube than the bullit.

If I can come up with the cash I'll most likely pick up the V-Tach and try it out. I can always sell it if I can't get used to it.