Hi,

My wife is 5’2” tall and is looking for her first proper MTB. The last one she had was a Raleigh Amazon about 15 years ago.

I am looking to spend no more than £700 and want something that is fairly nice, and most importantly available as I want to get her using it whilst she is keen.

So what’s good?

Thanks
Nick.

So what’s good?

You may have to take what you can find….

Fit is also the challenge for the vertically challenged – a few mm here and there transforms the fit, whereas 6′ me needs a cm here or there to make the difference.

That said…

5’1″ Mrs_oab has/had an 2017 xs Trek Superfly – really good fit, handled well, a touch to stiff in the rear for comfort. At 5’2″ I think your wife would be a small frame.

When we sold it https://www.google.com/amp/s/singletrackworld.com/classifieds/advert/trek-superfly-6-2017-rare-xs-13-5-4/%3famp

Shes now on a Liv Lust full suspension £700 second hand – more comfortable, but doesn’t handle as well. More nervous.

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/vitus-nucleus-27-vrw-womens-mountain-bike-2021/rp-prod195569

Small is instock and 5’2″ looks to be between XS/S sizes. I have the 2019 unisex version and couldn’t be happier.

https://www.halfords.com/bikes/mountain-bikes/boardman-mht-8.6-mens-mountain-bike-2021—red—s-m-l-frames-365950.html

If the small will do it looks to have Deore 1×10, hydraulic brakes and air forks.

Scott Contessa Active 30 or 40.

Great bikes with good sizing and geo for smaller riders and stock is about at the moment.

If you can still find one in the Sale, I bought my gf a Lapierre Edge AM 827 plus. It’s not the lightest, but it’s nippy as ****, especially on the rangers on fireroads/forest trails. Rolls over everything, good gear range and spec and sensible bar width. Only thing we changed was the saddle!

I’ve just bought one of those Boardmans for my wife who is 5’3″, it’s great but TBH I think the small is a little large for her.

My mrs got the Boardman MHT 8.6 a few months back, sure it was only £600 back then.

Seems like a decent bike so far.

https://www.boardmanbikes.com/gb_en/products/2350-mht-8.6-womens-2021.html

My Mrs got a kona mohala and it’s absolutely brilliant. I’m riding it at the moment because my forks are in the LBS and I love riding it.

Hi, Nick

My wife is also 5’2″ and has an XS Whyte 802 ‘Compact’ (size-proportionate geometry/components – defo. helps).

Brilliant bike: light, nimble, fits perfectly. Never put a foot (or, wheel?!) wrong. Unfortunately, not selling it but I’d buy one again.

Have also PM’d you.

Phil

If the small will do it looks to have Deore 1×10

Beware ! I bought my daughter one and the supplied crank & BB wasn’t Shimano (‘Prowheel’ instead !) They didn’t tell me and it was a few weeks before I spotted they’d swapped it out. Eventually got a bit of cash back as compensation but they said it wasn’t possible to supply me with the Deore crank and a replacement bike would probably have the same downgraded crank.