Any recommendations or is it the custom route.
Standover less of an issue really then seat tube length. Wife currently riding 16" small Soda and my Nicolai RC. where the stand over at 28" is manageable but the seat tube length, even on the Cotic is borderline for getting the saddle out the way.
If the Soda fits would a small Hemlock be any good?
Myka FSR in Small has 15.5" seat tube and 26.5" standover?
Not trying to be controversial, but how important is it to "get the saddle out the way"? I used to use a dropper seatpost but just can't be arsed with it any more.
I am not quite sure what you are looking for size-wise as other have already commented on... are you suggesting you want to drop the saddle as much as possible? No real need in my opinion- run the saddle at the proper height are get technique sorted. Standover I can see being more important, especially for smaller riders.
However:
I would suggest looking at the Santa Cruz Superlight and Juliana as they have very short seat tubes and loads of standover height for a given size. Check out their website for geometry comparisons.
I have a SantaCruz Superlight and love it 😀
Lapierres work out quite small.
Kona 120 or Lisa 120 in a 14".
My 5'1" other half has a boys' 120 that fits her petite structure very well indeed, plenty of standover height. It now has a Works Components slackset and a bigger fork as it is required to go down large hills from time to time.
My wife if barely 5ft, and she rides a small Juliana.
Loves it.
thanks for the pointers so far..
I (As does she) find having the saddle out of the way is of huge benefit in cornering as well as steep stuff.
Standover much less of a problem.
Really around the 14" to 15" to the top of the seat tube would be great. Also around 120mm of travel too.
If you looking at second hand, I've got a 07 Trance2 for sale sz small. I'm 5'6 and I'm every much at the top of the size range as I need to run it with a 100mm stem and a layback seatpost. It's in pretty much new condition. Couple of minor upgrades. Looking for £350.
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/mountain/product/review-giant-trance-2-07-11697
pm me if interested
My wife is 5" and has an XXS Titus Racer-X. It has an 11". She had a 13" Specialised before that and it was way too big. I believe Titus are planning a run of the X in XXS in the near future.
She's fine on a 14" Inbred, which is her hack bike and indeed her 16" Soda HT. But she would like a bit of FS action again after returning from her original, unpleasant Specialised Safire experience.
I have found a little gem. we'll have to se if it works out. Thanks for all the replies.
My wife rides a medium 2012 Spec Saffire.... same standover as a small, she is around the same height.