Selecting The Right Size Mountain Bike
Mountain bikes come in all sizes and configurations just as us humans do. Matching mountain bike riders, whether beginners or seasoned riders, can be bewildering and sometimes, tricky.
Different Configurations of Mountain Bikes
There are multiple types of mountain bikes: hardtail, softail, rigid; the different wheels sizes: 20 inches all the way to 29 inches and there are the frames that come in different sizes and forms such as mens, womens, unisex and youth (just to name a few).
Human Element
On the human side, there beginners and experienced riders; occasional weekend forest trails; weekend hard core mountain bike parks and the competitors, downhillers and jumpers. There’s also tall people, short people, “lithe” people and “rotund” people. All kinds that wish to experience the freedom and enjoyment that a mountain bike represents.
MTB Sizing and Selection Guide Intent
This Mountain Bike Sizing and Selecting guide is aimed at beginner to intermediate riders. There are websites and calculators that take just about everything into account including rider ability and type of mountain bike riding. I have given the URLs of some of these more specific calculators at the end of this article.
The intent here is to give an indication of the size of frame most applicable to the beginner to intermediate riders for the majority of general road, forest and trail riding with some dedicated park riding as well.
Simple Human Measurements Needed Before We Start
Your Height measured from the floor to top of your head
Inseam Height measured from the floor to your upper inside leg/pelvis
What Mountain Bike Components Our Human Shape Influence
Mountain Bike Frame
The frame is a key component influenced by body sizes. It is also partially influenced whether you choose hardtail or soft tail, full mountain bike or hybrid and other choices so it doesn’t always mean you need to always follow any chart verbatim.
The line between mens, womens and unisex frames is becoming somewhat blurred. It is best is to have an idea of your riding intent and try a few of the different frame and wheel size combinations (including whether you choose soft and hardtail suspensions too).
Mountain Bike Wheel Diameter
Rolling resistance is lower with the larger diameter wheels. Mounting effort is higher for shorter people; especially with a larger frame and wheel size combinations. Tall people will feel vulnerable in the gnarly stuff if on a mountain bike with small wheels (say 26”) and a large frame (say 20” or above). This is from personal experience (see below) !
Mountain Bike Seat Height
Most mountain bikes these days have generous seat adjustment. This makes frame size selection slightly less critical than it once was. For most power riding, set your seat so that there is a slight angle at your knee in the pedal fully down position. You may need a second person to look side on for you while you lean against a wall. You may need to adjust this on the run depending on the (steepness of the) terrain and the power you need.
Mountain Bike Frame Selection Table
| Your Height | Your Inseam | Mountain Bike Frame Size |
| 4’11” to 5’3” | Less than 29.5” | 13 to 15 inch frame |
| 5’3” to 5’7” | 29.5” to 31.5” | 15 to 17 inch frame |
| 5’7” to 5’11” | 31.5” to 33” | 17 to 19 inch frame |
| 5’11” to 6’2” | 33” to 35” | 19 to 21 inch frame |
| 6’2” to 6”4” | 35” to 37” | 21 to 23 inch frame |
| Over 6’4” | Over 37” | 23 inch frame larger |
Hacks To Use The MTB Selection Table
Depending on wheel size and your height to leg relative sizes, you may need to go up or down a frame size or 2. For larger wheel diameters, go down a frame size. For smaller wheel diameters, go up a frame size. The numbers given are not hard and fast. Your intended type of mountain bike riding also influences frame selection. There is some overlap. As already mentioned, most mountain bikes today have plenty of adjustment on seat height so frame size is not as critical these days.
As an illustration, I’m a bit over 5’11” tall with a 33” inseam and do a combination of forestry trails and dedicated mountain bike park obstacles. For 2 of my hardtail bikes, I have a 20-inch frame for my 26” wheeled MTB and an 18-inch frame for my 29er. My softail 29er is also an 18 inch frame but a 17” frame would have worked just as well.
More Advice On Selecting your Mountain Bike
More information can be found at Amazon’s Bike Buying Guide
There are many other great guides selecting frame sizes:
- Evans Cycling: Evans Cycles: Mountain Bike Sizing
- Jensen USA: Jenson USA Bike Fit Calculator
- The Competitive Cyclist Bike Fit Calculator: The Competitive Cyclist Bike Fit Calculator
For more Mountain Bikes: Search for Mountain Bikes on Amazon
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Happy reading and MTB riding, Chris and the Mountain Bike Advice Team