Full Suspension for Short Riders: What’s Out There?

Buyers Guide

by 18

If you’re a smaller adult looking for a full suspension bike, it can be tricky to find what you’re looking for outside of the women’s specific market. Some women’s specific bikes come with a shock tune suited to the lighter rider, which doesn’t always suit, while others (though less often than in the past) come with different geometry that’s said to be better suited to the female form.

We’ve trawled the internet looking for the brands that are making unisex full suspension bikes down into XS sizes. If you think we’ve missed a good option, head to the comments section and share your findings. We’re aware that in some instances brands do make XS FS bikes, but the models aren’t available in all territories – it depends on what the distributor thinks the demand is like.

While the list below highlights the XS frames that are available, we haven’t gone into the built kits. If you’re a shorter rider, you may well also want to look out for short reach brakes, bars that aren’t 810mm wide (though, there’s always a hacksaw…) and shorter cranks. Two other things to watch out for: limited dropper insertion (check you can get the dropper you want in there) and space for a water bottle (if you simply can’t bear to ride with pack).

What is ‘short’ anyway?

Recommended frame size for rider height:

  • Under 5ft 2in (1257cm) = Extra Small (XS)
  • 5ft 2in to 5ft 6in (157cm to 167cm) = Small (S)

Recommended maximum seat tube length for rider height:

  • Under 5ft 2in (1257cm) = 400mm max
  • 5ft 2in to 5ft 6in (157cm to 167cm) = 400mm max

Wanna know more about sizing? Read our previous guide called What size mountain bike do I need?

NB:

Specialized operates two sizing systems. There is a lot more choice if you look for ‘S1’ than ‘XS’ on their website, even though both sizes are broadly aimed at the same height of rider. Canyon also offers some 2XS full suspension models, if you’re looking for an even smaller ride.

And another NB:

The retailer links here might take you to vendors without an XS in stock, since the widgets don’t filter by size. Sorry about that. You may have to use your Google-Fu to find an XS model for sale. Thankfully, many online retailers have now added a ‘bike size’ filter to their sites, making it much easier to check if they have anything in stock. If you spot a great deal, put a link in the comments!

Quick links

  1. XC Bikes
  2. Specialized Epic EVO
  3. Trail Bikes
  4. Canyon Neuron
  5. Jamis Dakar
  6. Kona Process 134
  7. Merida One-Forty
  8. Santa Cruz 5010
  9. Santa Cruz Bronson
  10. Specialized Stumpjumper EVO (Size S1)
  11. Trek Fuel EX
  12. Whyte T140 SR
  13. Enduro Bikes
  14. Canyon Spectral
  15. Merida One-Sixty
  16. Specialized Status (Size S1)
  17. E-Bikes
  18. Canyon Neuron:ON
  19. Specialized Turbo Levo (Size S1)
  20. Trek Powerfly FS

XC Bikes

Santa Cruz Tallboy

  • Price: From £5,299
  • Rear travel: 120mm
  • Front travel: 130mm
  • Wheel size: 29 inch
  • Brand site: Santa Cruz Bicycles

View all the measurements of this bike below

Santa Cruz TALLBOY R / Aluminum / 29 – The DATA

Specialized Epic EVO

  • Price: From £4,500
  • Rear travel: 110mm
  • Front travel: 120mm
  • Wheel size: 29 inch
  • Brand site: Specialized

View all the measurements of this bike below

Specialized Epic EVO – The DATA

Trail Bikes

Canyon Neuron

  • Price: From £1,899
  • Rear travel: 140mm
  • Front travel: 130mm
  • Wheel size: 27.5 inch
  • Brand site: Canyon Bikes

View all the measurements of this bike below

Canyon Neuron 5 – The DATA

Jamis Dakar

  • Price: From £1,300
  • Rear travel: 120mm
  • Front travel: 120mm
  • Wheel size: 27.5 inch
  • Brand site: Go Outdoors

View all the measurements of this bike below

Jamis DAKAR A2 – The DATA

Kona Process 134

  • Price: From £1,899
  • Rear travel: 134mm
  • Front travel: 140mm
  • Wheel size: 27.5 inch
  • Brand site: Kona Bikes

View all the measurements of this bike below

Kona Process 134 27.5 – The DATA

Merida One-Forty

  • Price: From £2,250
  • Rear travel: 140mm
  • Front travel: 140mm
  • Wheel size: 29 inch
  • Brand site: Merida Bikes

View all the measurements of this bike below

Merida ONE-FORTY 700 – The DATA

Santa Cruz 5010

  • Price: From £5,299
  • Rear travel: 130mm
  • Front travel: 140mm
  • Wheel size: 27.5/29 MX
  • Brand site: Santa Cruz Bicycles

View all the measurements of this bike below

Santa Cruz 5010 GX AXS / RSV / Carbon C / MX – The DATA

Santa Cruz Bronson

  • Price: From £5,399
  • Rear travel: 150mm
  • Front travel: 160mm
  • Wheel size: 27.5/29 MX
  • Brand site: Santa Cruz Bicycles

View all the measurements of this bike below

Santa Cruz BRONSON – The DATA

Specialized Stumpjumper EVO (Size S1)

  • Price: From £3,900
  • Rear travel: 150mm
  • Front travel: 150mm
  • Wheel size: 29inch
  • Brand site: Specialized

View all the measurements of this bike below

Specialized Stumpjumper EVO Comp Alloy – The DATA

Trek Fuel EX

  • Price: From £2,600
  • Rear travel: 130mm
  • Front travel: 140mm
  • Wheel size: 27.5 inch
  • Brand site: Trek Bikes

View all the measurements of this bike below

Trek Fuel EX 9.7 Gen 5 – The DATA

Whyte T140 SR

  • Price: From £2,850
  • Rear travel: 140mm
  • Front travel: 140mm
  • Wheel size: 27.5 inch
  • Brand site: Whyte Bikes

View all the measurements of this bike below

Whyte T-140 RS 29er – The DATA

Enduro Bikes

Canyon Spectral

  • Price: From £2,249
  • Rear travel: 160mm
  • Front travel: 150mm
  • Wheel size: 27.5 inch
  • Brand site: Canyon Bikes

View all the measurements of this bike below

Canyon Spectral 125 CF 8 – The DATA

Merida One-Sixty

  • Price: From £2,750
  • Rear travel: 170mm
  • Front travel: 160mm
  • Wheel size: 29/27.5 MX
  • Brand site: Merida Bikes

View all the measurements of this bike below

Merida ONE-SIXTY 700 – The DATA

Specialized Status (Size S1)

  • Price: From £2,900
  • Rear travel: 160mm
  • Front travel: 160mm
  • Wheel size: 29/27.5 MX
  • Brand site: Specialized

View all the measurements of this bike below

Specialized Status 160 – The DATA

E-Bikes

Canyon Neuron:ON

  • Price: From £3,349
  • Rear travel: 130mm
  • Front travel: 120mm
  • Wheel size: 27.5 inch
  • Brand site: Canyon Bikes

View all the measurements of this bike below

Canyon Neuron:ON 9 – The DATA

Specialized Turbo Levo (Size S1)

  • Price: From £6,250
  • Rear travel: 150mm
  • Front travel: 160mm
  • Wheel size: 29/27.5 MX
  • Brand site: Specialized

View all the measurements of this bike below

Specialized Turbo Levo Comp – The DATA

Trek Powerfly FS

  • Price: From £4,550
  • Rear travel: 100mm
  • Front travel: 100mm
  • Wheel size: 27.5 inch
  • Brand site: Trek Bikes

View all the measurements of this bike below

Trek Powerfly FS 7 Gen 2 – The DATA

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  • This topic has 18 replies, 16 voices, and was last updated 1 week ago by Bruce.
Viewing 18 posts - 1 through 18 (of 18 total)
  • Full Suspension for Short Riders: What’s Out There?
  • Rubber_Buccaneer
    Full Member

    The headline made this sound like it was going to be useful but it’s just a list of bikes that come in a size called XS. No use at all in my experience of looking for a bike for someone 4’11” as most of those bikes listed will be too big. The only way to know is to be short and try getting on the bikes

    Posted 1 week ago
    mashr
    Full Member

    I really hope you do an E-bike version of. . . oh, handy!

    Posted 1 week ago
    matt_outandabout
    Full Member

    The headline made this sound like it was going to be useful but it’s just a list of bikes that come in a size called XS. No use at all in my experience of looking for a bike for someone 4’11” as most of those bikes listed will be too big. The only way to know is to be short and try getting on the bikes

    I agree.
    Some Specialized XS are as big as Trek Medium in our experience!

    Sorry, that’s not a helpful article.

    Now, if you need a volunteer 5′ tall rider to test them, mrs_oab can help.

    Posted 1 week ago
    mashr
    Full Member

    Just thought I’d click through the adverts for the Levo – 0 from 3 actually stocking the S1. 0 from 6 so far when I’ve checked a few others. Suppose the theory is nice at least

    Posted 1 week ago
    Anne
    Full Member

    Sadly agree not helpful. Any bike with an interrupted seat tube which blocks the dropper post severely restricts shorter riders.

    Posted 1 week ago
    robertajobb
    Full Member

    Blocks of wood on pedals instead, like my dad did for me when I was 8 and I’d inherited my older brother’s bike ?

    Posted 1 week ago
    bikesandboots
    Full Member

    What’s the standover on these bikes?
    What are the seat tube lengths?
    What length is the dropper?
    What length are the cranks?
    Which ones come with a lighter shock tune?
    What changes does the XS geometry bring; are the chainstays shorter?

    I’m afraid this looks like a poor excuse to dump a bunch of affiliate links, yet the links are to brand sites.

    Posted 1 week ago
    Littleman
    Free Member

    As a 5ft 0 (153cm) bloke who’s had to get properly geeky about bike geometry and sizing over the years, even more so since dropper posts, that article was pretty much useless.

    As an aside, I can’t emphasise how much the trend for short seat tubes has been a game changer for me.. at barely 5ft I’ve even been able to ‘size up’ to a size ‘Small’ on my current bike – the brand did do an XS as well but I wanted the extra reach / wheelbase and still fit a dropper (admittedly not as long a dropper as I would like but that’s the compromise I chose).

    Posted 1 week ago
    twonks
    Full Member

    My OH rides a previous generation SC Tallboy CC in XS and at 5 foot 2, the geometry is just about right.
    Can only get a 120mm dropper in though.

    Unfortunately, she has only ridden the damn thing 3 times, which is a separate problem – doh.

    Posted 1 week ago
    snotrag
    Full Member

    Sorry, also in the ‘not helpful’ camp I’m afraid.

    My partner is 5ft 4. She has the same leg length, and thus the same overall BB to saddle requirement as I do at 5ft 10 – I am a mens ‘large’ by the charts on most manufacturers but have stumpy legs that mean I have to choose my frames very carefully to get the right reach/seat-tube ratio, and select my dropper post lengths and crank lengths very carefully.

    ‘This frame comes in extra small’ is not really helpful at all, as its bascially meaningless.

    (For reference, some manufacturers are great at the reach/seat tube ratio thing now as @Littleman pointed out – Santa Cruz, Orange, Ibis… some are terrible, Orbea, older Scotts, Trek etc etc…)

    This needs a much more detailed study of geometry, and peoples body shapes to be useful.

    Posted 1 week ago
    snotrag
    Full Member

    Oh an dont forget, looking at Seat Tube Design, as well as whether the tru seat tube angle matches the theoretical seat tube angle.

    As when theydo not, that does very odd things to the feel of the bike dependent on whether you sit higher, or lower, than the designer intended the theoretical ‘medium sized man or woman’ to sit on the medium size frame

    Posted 1 week ago
    Mark
    Full Member

    Have you clicked through to view the full data on each bike? It includes minimum and maximum rider heights for each bike in all sizes.

    Posted 1 week ago
    chrismac
    Full Member

    @snotrag. Same here my wife is 6 inches shorter than I am but we have the same leg length. She also likes a high front end so it’s hard to find bikes that fit

    Posted 1 week ago
    JefWachowchow
    Free Member

    My 11 year old lad is 4’7″, currently on a Ripcord which he will be grown out of next year I fear. I have already started to research, and save up for, his next bike as I think he will be needing a XS or S in 27.5″ flavour next time around. He does rip and would be a willing test pilot for any feature you would like to do to support this.

    Posted 1 week ago
    LAT
    Full Member

    it is true, XS bikes are far from extra small.

    my wife recently got a chromag minor threat to replace her million year old XXS tutus racer-x. it have 26” wheels, and up to date geometry. it could do with some lighter wheels, but it fits her.

    Posted 1 week ago
    Rubber_Buccaneer
    Full Member

    Have you clicked through to view the full data on each bike? It includes minimum and maximum rider heights for each bike in all sizes

    I haven’t because I’m already aware that reading those specs does not give much if any insight into how that bike will actually size up for a short person. I know this because I have been there with my 4’11” other half. When you are at that end of the size range small differences can be make or break as to whether a bike is usable or not. Standover at the point your crotch is over the top tube for example is critical and there isn’t much jiggle room once you’ve factored in how much of the top tube is shadowed by the saddle for instance. Try working that out from the specs when the top tube meets the seat tube at an unspecified point and may be curved at another unspecified point. Trust me it’s a pain in the arse (or the front bit) to find small bikes.

    Posted 1 week ago
    stevextc
    Free Member

    MARK

    Have you clicked through to view the full data on each bike? It includes minimum and maximum rider heights for each bike in all sizes.

    The point many are making rider height is largely irrelevant at either end of the scale.

    Been through all this and totally agree with others its critical to have a matching bike and body geometry/proportions.

    Posted 1 week ago
    Bruce
    Full Member

    The Specialized Evo XS standover height is nearly 30 inchs!
    All the bikes are weigh 0kg
    Interesting piece of marketing.

    Posted 1 week ago
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