Want to verify my frame reach experience

[deanFBM]

I'm 178cm (5ft10), my ape index and legs are above average, so long limbed.

I've tended to choose reach at 450mm to 460mm, this has meant stack has been around 625-635mm, I like the steering of a 30-35mm stem, I've tended to get space from bar height so am currently on 10mm of headset spacers and 65mm rise bars. I have owned bikes around 470mm reach and they've been fine, but didn't notice standouts.

I borrowed a mates bike with 480mm reach, 30mm stem, average bar height, IE 640mm stack, 30mm of headset spacers, 30mm rise bars, I was quite surprised with the resulting handling, wanting to see if others have had a similar experience.

The benefiting traits I found were -
1. Bike felt like I had the space to initiate turns more easily, leaning was easier.
2. Bars remained on front of me on steeps without having to get back, I was in a better position to control the bike.

1. Is surprising, 2. seems kind of obvious in retrospect.

I am a BMXer, my style is to pump, pull for trail gaps, does all the jumps (I'm routinely hitting 35ft+ bike park jumps), hence a couple of reservations over the longer reach.

I'm concerned I'm going to lose too much leverage for pulling, bunny hopping and pumping. I'm also concerned I'm going to run out of arm travel when riding steep and I need to extend my arms over a drop or in a hole.

So who like me is bang on a sizing overlap, with my style, gone for the bigger size? What was your experience?

I'm looking to buy a new orbea wild lt and am more confused on size after borrowing my mates bike.

 

[irie]

Am in-between sizes and 4 years ago found the Medium too cramped so went for the Large (2022 Trek Rail alloy) then over time messed with the cockpit to get it like I wanted it. I'm old guy slowly losing height so ape index slowly increasing.

 

[west]

Am also 5'10 and started MTB on bikes 440-455 reach with riser bars. While they can be fun and easy to maneuver, I eventually moved to 470-485 reach and find them much more comfortable, especially on steep descents. Given your BMX background, the shorter reach would definitely feel more intuitive to begin with, but I see no reason why you wouldn't be able to adjust to the ~20mm longer reach for jumping.

Also given that stem length, bar height/roll, crank lengths, HTA etc can all be relatively easily tweaked, I don't think you would be in a position where you couldn't find a nice middle ground between leverage and comfort/handling.

 

[Diby2000]

I'm also around this height (I have measured from 175-178cm) with a larger than normal ape index. I am currently looking for a new steed so have started looking into sizing. The only bike I have ridden for the last 15 years is a 2020 Kenevo S4 (10 years of not riding prior to getting this bike). I have no issues riding this bike, love steep tec, jumps and have no issues riding enduro or XC either. The reach on this is 495mm and stack is 623mm. I have measured my RAD at 780mm and my bike RAD at 860mm with no stem spacers. Now that I have begun looking into this I realise that this bike might be too big for me. Now I consider myself always learning and have almost zero experience to draw from, hence me searching and finding this thread. So I'm looking at going in the other direction, shorter. I guess what I'm trying to say is that from my perspective I still really enjoy riding my bike, but MAYBE I would enjoy a smaller bike even more? But I have no issues pumping/pulling or bunny hopping, even with this large (both long and 180mm suspension) bike, so I think you will be fine jumping a larger bike. It will come down to if you feel better or worse while doing it.

From my perspective, I have issues getting enough weight over the front end for turns. I realise this is a ME issue, and my technique is probably the main lacking point here, but this may be helped by a shorter reach. I'm concerned that the shorter reach will detract from my confidence on steep technical terrain.

 

[Diby2000]

Are you willing to try a longer stem or even just rotate your bars forward on your current bike and see what the difference feels like?
I realise this is not 'the same' as a longer reach, but it might give you an idea?