I didn’t gel with my HL spot at first. TBH it still is a complete PITA to ride up any kind of incline and it never feels tight n taut in level singletrack. But it more than repays that when the trail points down, then its just bonkers.

Have you got your saddle higher than on your HT? I can’t understand why the saddle is an issue on the spot?

I’m riding a medium and I’m 5’10” though, with longish legs for my height, so maybe I have better standover.

Mine only ever made sense when I stuck a coil on it. The original shock was reasonably horrible. But it’s always climbed astonishingly well and has been absolutely fine on 100+ mile days.

Re sizing, I suspect that at 5’7″ you’re on the border of the wrong side – if you’ve got the shortest stem you can and have shuffled the saddle as far forward as possible, not much more you can do.

Oh I can pedal it uphill, it pedals reasonably well, the traction is amazing, its just very heavy and nothing like a scandium race HT obviously! Especially with 2.5 super tackys on, its dog slow until the trail points down.

Rusty – considered a dropper ‘post? Its an expense sure, but maybe worth considering?

2.5 Super Tackys front and rear?! No wonders it slower up hill!

Drop your saddle an inch. Just one inch. Try it then. It may feel less efficient, but be patient. It may feel better.

Well, only on the front actually, but they seem to suit the hooligan character of the bike. I have XC’d it up with full XTR and semi slicks, but it always seemed wrong somehow, it’s supposed to smash into stuff.

#5spotlovein

Wouldn’t a longer stem pull your weight further forward and help climbing? And/or maybe experiment pushing the saddle forward a bit?

I’m 5’8″, got an 80mm stem on my medium 2010 5 spot. My first return to FS since the trusty Proflex 855 gave up the ghost c. ’02. Must admit it does feel a bit like your on top of the bike rather than in it, but I don’t feel like the saddle gets in the way. Love it for trail centres and rocky Peak/Lake district stuff, but keep to the hardtail for more undulating cross country rides.

Coming from 6 years on an hl 5spot to a dw it took me best part of 2 months to gel with it. I’d also say that your borderline between a small and medium.

sell it and get something that fits

The second hand price might change your mind 🙁

Try playing around with stem length to vary the cockpit size.

Also how wide is the node of your saddle?

Sorry I can’t see why you want to be off the back of the saddle, unless its super steep? I’ll happily drop the saddle an inch for a known section that needs full on cranking to have the most fun.

I’m 5’6″ on a medium HL,coil shock, Fox Vans up front, 50mm stem and a layback seat post – short legs long arms.
PM if you decide to sell 😆
Hth
Marko

You’ll never get rid of this. My 2010 large felt tall and awkward. I tried angleset and offset bushes. Slight improvement but not the best.

The 2011 is subtly different in every area but is still quite a ‘tall’ feeling bike IMO compared to Specialized Enduro (which actually has a higher BB!).

OP Your headtube is shorter than my large one so you could try a 1.5degree angleheadset (works components) whereas I could only use a 1degree one.

Goodpoint, I was thinking of the on rather than in (affecting the height of the bike).

Look at your shock, is it kicking back on descents? Too much rebound?

I’ve got a 2010 in med , i’m 5’8 and the bike is a great fit and not tall and awkward at all far from it really . i’d say you need to look at set up and not bike fit at all or maybe even a skills course