21 Inch frame - too big?

[twain]

changed the topic of this thread as the bike i was asking about has been sold.
anyway,
i'm just a touch under 6ft. generally speaking, would a 21" frame be too big?
or is this too general to comment on?

 

[Thunderchief]

It's hard to say. I'm 6'2" with a 34" inside leg and I ride a 18.5" Hard tail Rocky Mountain, and a 17.5" Full sus Marin. both of which are perhaps an maximum of an inch too small for me to be perfect. If your under 6' I would say that 21" is likely to be significantly too big, certainly I have tried a 20" and that was too big for me. It does depend a bit on how it is measured though.

What size bikes have you had in the past? and what types?

 

[RobMac]

changed the topic of this thread as the bike i was asking about has been sold.
anyway,
i'm just a touch under 6ft. generally speaking, would a 21" frame be too big?
or is this too general to comment on?

Yes!
You havent given enough info to say what size you need but I'd make a guess at a 19" depending on what make or model.
The number of wrongly sized bikes ridden on this site is shocking.
I wish I had a £1 for every time Ive read "Im 5'6" and Ive been riding a 20" for years and its fits me perfectly" or such likes :x


Rant over :shock:

 

[Danone]

I8" and 19" frames are average size. Therefore, i thought my 21" would be too large a frame for me and that's without taking my own height into consideration, (I'm 5'7"). I was simply used to riding a smaller 18" bike.

I'd recommend you lower the seatpost and move the saddle forward but you may find yourself raising the seatpost after frequent riding as you become more comfortable. I've grown accustomed to my 21" frame literally i've gained an inch in height since riding it!

 

[RobMac]

I rest my case :?

 

[RobMac]

If I had size 8 feet and I bought size 10 shoes eventually I'd get used to them but they still wouldn't be the right size :?

 

[Whatleymeister]

Well, I am 6'2" and i would say that a 21 would be too big for me, so I wouldnt suggest it would fit you to be honest. I have 19" frames that are just right. I would stick around the 18-19 region.

 

[lrh]

i'm just a touch under 6ft. generally speaking, would a 21" frame be too big?

Depends on the age/design of the bike.

Older MTBs, especially 80s, are tall/short and have longer seat tubes so look/sound massive when they're really not. Once you get into the 90s, seat tubes got shorter, top tubes got longer/lower.

 

[Danone]

Maybe my frame isn't 21". I'll double check...

 

[oldave]

Impossible to say on basis of info given, but 21" SOUNDS too big for 6'. Relative leg/torso length an important factor, plus your preferred riding position and the frame itself (especially top tube length relative to seat tube/"size" (and where the latter is measured!)).

A very broad guide is inside leg length (NOT trouser size!) less 10-11 inches for a road frame or 12-13 inches for an mtb. For example, my son is at least 5" taller than I am, but his inside leg is only 1" greater. With a small adjustment to saddle height what I ride is easily TALL enough for him, but the top tubes are way too short.

Fashion and fad also plays a part. When I was young, "everyone" rode a 23" road frame - if you were an adult, then that was what you rode! Loads of folk had the seat post and stems jammed as low as possible!