How much different can frames with the same geometry feel?

[coomber]

Re:

I'll be laughed at for saying it but I think I preferred my backwoods with less feel than my zaskar. Zaskar was notably harsher, actually a bit too harsh for me. Maybe I built it up as being a wonder bike in my head, but I was disappointed. Did 10 x more riding on the backwoods and didnt keep the zaskar long.

 

[PurpleFrog]

Re: Re:

I'll be laughed at for saying it but I think I preferred my backwoods with less feel than my zaskar. Zaskar was notably harsher, actually a bit too harsh for me. Maybe I built it up as being a wonder bike in my head, but I was disappointed. Did 10 x more riding on the backwoods and didnt keep the zaskar long.

There's going to be a big interaction between frame, tyres, rider weight and strength, preferred pedaling frequency and frame size - they'll all alter perceived springiness. A 16" Zkr feels like a taut spring to me, but it's possible that I'd have been "meh" about an 18. And tube profile altered during production life, which alter springiness too - not to mention the eventual change to 7005. Someone made the brilliant point that joins have an affect on frame feel: there are a lot of variables. It's very possible that for you a Backwoods was right and a Zaskar was wrong.

This is possibly why the bike industry has never tried to sell planing as a feature - it gets too messy and rider particular.

 

[FluffyChicken]

Frame size is also why any decent frame maker will alter angles and even select different tubing, butt lengths and quite possibly a different style of tube between frame sizes. But a different mix of tubes (and not just butt lengths or wall thickness of the same brand/model) would probably be to your custom builders.


Anyway, so you going to test it, buy three bikes. (you only really need the frames so you can swap between them).

 

[coomber]

Re:

Yeah my zaskar was 19, backwoods a 16" so not really comparable