Girlfriend currently has a 2011 kona kula 16" and wants to venture into full suss. The kona has been great but honestly even with a 50mm stem is a tad (and I mean tad) too long. However on this bike there is a lot of seat post showing.
She is 5'5 and 29" inseam ... Would a 14" long five be too short as its obviously another two inch off the seat tube so seat post limit may show, although the reach would be good, or would we get away with a 16" ??
Thanks
I would say a 14" long, but you would be much better off going to an Orange dealer and trying one, or at least asking them before you part with your cash.
My wife is 5ft 4 and had a 14 inch Sub 5 that was too small so we tried a 14' long Diva which was still too small - I'd say a 16 would be a better fit but I wouldn't recommend spending that sort of cash without trying it in person
MrsB is 5'2"and a bit and rides a 14" frame with a 70 mm stem ,
If you search the forum there's plenty of blokes @5'10" ride 16"
frames so they can move about on the bike easier . I think it
depends on the type of riding /rider you are .
5ft 5 bloke, 28 inside leg
I have an old 16 and a newer 14 - both are fine but I can probably manouvere the 14 a bit better (*it is newer), if she's near Readingish and wants a quick play. From what I can recall 5ft 5 is a cusp height for both sizes.
* I run 65 stems and layback post on both bikes but I did fiddle around before coming to this arrangement and on 16 seat is further along post (to front) *edit, sorry I ride the 16 most - for bridleway/path XC map based type work - I suspect if I was a 'stunt' type rider the 14 might win
Good choice of bike ! 
My 5 is size small - 13" centre to centre, the seat tube extends a couple of inches further and I have c.9" of seat post showing. Remember different frames have different bottom bracket heights, and thus different standover heights. (The 5 is quite high, one of the reasons why I bought it, I hate low bottom brackets).
I'm 5'4", my inside leg is 28" (short for my height I think). I have a long stem as I have always ridden 'men's' frames and prefer to have more room in the cockpit.
I absolutely agree with what the others have said - try a couple of different sizes before you buy - so many variables it's not really possible to decide on numbers alone.
Enjoy! x
any orange platinum dealer has access to all the demo bikes that orange run....book a 16 and see how she does on it...
If you search the forum there's plenty of blokes @5'10" ride 16"
I don't think you will, if you do they are riding the wrong size.
I'd say a 14" long (standard men's) would probably be best - but definitely try them both out! I'm 5'4" and demoed a diva (short) and a men's 14" (and even tried a 16" just to be sure!) the 14" was good for me, but I could have gone slightly smaller (though the diva felt too short). Definitely try them out though. My LBS ( cycle surgery) got me both models in - one weekend after the other and let me keep each for 3/4 days so I got a really good chance to try both out (took them to Cwmcarn and Afan) so that I was sure. I just paid £25 deposit on the first weekend, which they then knocked off when I bought the bike (along with a decent discount). It made the purchase a lot nicer knowing I was absolutely sure I'd picked the right bike for me! Oh and I also specified short cranks and a 60mm stem - neither was a problem for Orange/LBS and they delivered the bike to me within days of ordered - I'd highly recommend them both!
5' 7" and ride a 16inch 5 with a shorter stem. I do think A lot is down to personal pref..you really do need to demo them properly. Where do you live, orange do loads of free demo days countrywide!
Great stuff thanks guys !!!
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