I am 5ft 1.5 and currenty have a 7 year old Santa Cruz Juliana and would like to get a new bike/frame with more travel. I have looked at a new Juliana, but would like something a bit different. Trek 14.5 WSD EX 8 and Fuels stand over is too tall. I think the Orange 5 Diva a Titus or a Moots may fit, it there any other very small long travel F/S bikes out there that may fit?
Hi Gilly C,
Have you got long legs and a short body (most females) or short legs and long body (most males)? If the latter, maybe you want to think about looking at 'men's' bikes.
I used to have a Juliana SL FS, sold it because for me it was too short and BB too low. Have an Orange 5 now (I'm 5'4", short legs, long body). No probs with standover.
Sorry, not a definitive answer, but a little more information in the mix.
I'm only 5'2" and ride a Specialized Saffire (small) and used to ride a small Giant Trance - loved both.
How about a Giant Cypher, the female specific version of the Trance X...
[url] http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b4s24p2383&tbv=GIANT_CYPHER_2_WOMENS_Mountain_Bikes_Womens [/url]
[url] http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b4s24p2384&tbv=GIANT_CYPHER_1_WOMENS_Mountain_Bikes_Womens [/url]
[url] http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b4s24p2716&tbv=GIANT_Cypher_Mountain_Bikes_Womens [/url]
Chumba XCL in size extra small
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just fyi - not saying it's any good.
My wife is 5'5" but with short legs. I checked stand-over height for lots of bikes and found that the Spec Safire was one of the lowest available, along with the Orange bikes.
Trance & Cyphur was one of the worst, she hardly had any stand-over clearance, even on the small frames.
[Geek]
Here's my ladies bike list of standover height (inches) in ascending order, made it about 12months ago:
Titus Motolite XS 26.3
Orange Five 14" Small 26.8
Orange Five Diva 14" Short 26.8
Specialized 2009 Safire S 27.2
Titus Motolite S 27.3
Rocky Mountain Altitutude 27.3
Transition Covert Medium 27.5
Titus FTM 27.6
Specialized 2009 Safire M 27.6
Transition Covert Small 27.6
Specialized Stumpjumper S 27.8
Orange Five 16" Medium 28.2
Santa Cruz Juliana 28.7
Santa Cruz Heckler Small 07 29.0
Intense 5.5 Small 29.0
Yeti 575 (08) Small 29.0
Orange Five Diva 14" Long 29.1
Titus Motolite M 29.3
Santa Cruz Heckler Medium 07 29.5
Norco Fluid LT M 29.7
Giant Trance X S 16" 30.9
Rocky Mountain Slayer SXC 16" Med 31.1
Giant Trance X M 31.4
Giant Cyphur M 18" 31.8
[/Geek]
She ended up with a Safire and loves it, very capable.
Whats your budget ??
May have a small 09 titus motolite frame for sale
only been ridden twice .. bought feb 2010
email in profile if interested ?
Berts is correct, I also did a nerdy chart! And spent hours driving trying to test bikes. I am only 5 feet tall and had a right nightmare finding a Dinky full sus. I bought my Titus motolite xs 2 years ago and it still puts a smile on my face. It is fantastic.
Everything else I tried except the juliana was too big, forget gary fisher, trek etc. Specialised prob would have been ok, if I could have found one to try, but personally I am not keen on bendy tubes.
Gilly, where are you based? Just wondered if you were close to see my motolite if you want?
I found frame size on the websites confusing. Standing over them is much better. Titus has quite a high bottom bracket height compared to the others.
Fat treads in avimore has a cheap x racer xs frame, I seem to remember the standover is similar.
My partner bought a giant cypher off the classifieds here, she's 5"2 (xs 13.5"frame) and it fits her perfectly, plenty of standover height (as you can see!). Cracking bike as well. [img] 
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Wow thank you all for your info. Burt's that chart is amazing! Jamiedodger I am not too far away in N. Yorks.
My Little friend toni is just over 5ft and rides a 5. She has done a few event ie Strathpuffer.
Mate @ 6.4in has a 5 and both think they are ace.
Marin Mount Vision 5.8 WFG 15" (more like a 13.5 - 14"). We've had two 5' girlies out on it and they both love it. 120mm travel. Or what about this [url= http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/first-look-look-996-full-suspension-mountain-bike-17833 ]beast[/url] in a 15"?! I need to get this in the shop!
Gilly, let me know if you want to pop over and give the Titus a go for sizing if that helps.
I think my short list is the Orange 5 Diva or the Titus. I am a bit concerned abot the weight of the Orange. I cannot find a local Titus stockist, Biketreks in Ambleside don't have them any anymore so it would be great to pop over and get an idea on size Jammiedodger?
Gilly C ... email sent
Ventana X5 standover on my 15" is about 27.4".
the XS (13") is 27.1
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I'm only 5ft 4" on a good day.
Sherwood who owns and runs Ventana can also do custom bikes like this El Ciclons for not much more money
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Sent you an email.
If you are selling your old juliana give me a shout.
Transition Syren is an Enduro / Freeride femail specific bike that is suitable for 5'0" upwards. 160mm travel. Might be more travel than you need though. [url= http://www.noahsark.co.uk/transition-bikes-syren-womens-p-4238.html ]Transition Syren[/url]