Forum menu
I own a 2009 Trek Session, in Medium, but I'm 6 foot 2. I'm finding a bit small so am after a new DH bike. When looking around the reach on most DH bikes seems a bit short. My friend tells me this is normal - that DH bikes need a smaller reach so you can get your weight right over the back wheel when needed. Does anyone know...is this correct?
In looking what to replace it with, the YT Tues CF looks temping. Its got a reach of 450mm on the large which I would have thought would be ok for someone who's 6 foot 2. Yet again I read a Dirt review where Steve Jones says its a bit short for 6 footers. I'm a bit confused...has anyone of a similar size got one?
I've got a 2012 Session 88 in Large.
My son has a 2011 Session 8 in small.
There's a noticeable difference between the two, including the total length, mines about 2 to 3 inches longer overall, so I'm guessing most of that is in the top tube / reach.
I'm 6'1" ish and the large is spot on.
My Large Tues feels longer than my Large Session did but I don't know the numbers. I'm 6'2" and I like it.
Go to your local DH track or uplift day and politely ask for a sit on other peoples bikes. Fastest way to try a lot of frames and see what's what. When I was looking a Large Demo was about as long as it got.
Don't worry about Steve Jones he can't find anything big enough, ever.
where Steve Jones says its a bit short for 6 footers
I think he says that about every bike...
That said reach has more to do with where your height is as in arms or legs than just one number, reach of a giant or T-rex?
Nu-skool geometry would say to go for the longest reach you are comfortable with. Old DH bikes used to be tiny, and you would need to get further back in order to not be ejected over the handlebars. These days the theory says that you have a long reach with short stem and short chainstays. This keeps the steering sharp, yet the bike stable over the rough bits at speed. You can also keep your body weight 'within' the bike more, thus weighting the front wheel for better grip.
Steve Jones is a super subscriber to this, hence his love of the Mondraker Summon, the longest bike in the world. Other people are happier with slightly shorter bikes, but it's personal preference.
Taking a quick look at the geometry charts, a L session is 43cm while an XL is 45, so if you were sticking with a session, go for the XL. You can always put a 35mm stem on it if you want.
I'm 6ft and ride a Large Makulu (435mm reach, 450mm chainstay, 1272mm wheelbase). I could probably ride something a little bit longer (but I certainly wouldn't ride anything shorter), but would be concerned about loading up the front wheel (I don't ride over the front, which is required when you start pushing the reach)
I've been in the position to play about with different bike sizes and I've found the longest dh bike you can handle is best due to the different riding style. I'm 6ft1 and rode a large session for years and now have an xl session in the the new model, so it's even longer than an older xl session.
I ride a 'large' (19.5") slash and find that for that kind of bike, the slightly short reach works really well. When I'm riding well and zoned into my dh bike, I find manoeuvrability of a smaller bike is irrelevant as the advantage of being able to place my weight more centrally on a bike with more travel makes for a more confidence inspiring ride.
Steve Jones always moans about bike length, he has a point but only for the small percentage of riders over 6ft. Buy a large, the angles on a DH bike and the fact you wont be sitting down make paper based geometry comparisons very hard.
Mikew - it's tough to know - think for length of arms I'm definitely not T. rex so probably just average for my height.
Raisinhat- you're right about the new XL session. I'd already clocked that the large is way too small so it would have to be XL for me if I got one. The fact that the Tues CF in large has the same reach and is cheaper with a great spec, I think its a good option.
Thanks all for the input. Looks like the consensus is it's ok for my height. Much appreciated as you obviously can't try these!
EDIT - try!