Surley Karate Monkey: Anybody Over 6'5" Riding One?

[(PeteCresswell)]

Anybody Over 6'5" Riding Surley Karate Monkey?

If so, which size?... and how is the fit?
--
PeteCresswell

 

[Anthony DeLorenzo]

On Mar 16, 2:44 pm, "(PeteCresswell)" <[email protected]> wrote:
> Anybody Over 6'5" Riding Surley Karate Monkey?
>
> If so, which size?... and how is the fit?
> --
> PeteCresswell

6'6" riding an XL, my inseam is 92.5 cm (36.4 in). The standover and
TT length are good. I used a short high-rise stem to get the bars up
high enough and a setback post to keep my weight off the front wheel.

 

[(PeteCresswell)]

Per Anthony DeLorenzo:
>6'6" riding an XL, my inseam is 92.5 cm (36.4 in). The standover and
>TT length are good. I used a short high-rise stem to get the bars up
>high enough and a setback post to keep my weight off the front wheel.

*Exactly* what I wound up doing with my 21" Ellsworth Isis.

Do you have your bars below seat level? If so, how many inches
below... and do you think you could get them up to approximately
seat level or an inch below without doing anything radical?


What's your satisfaction level with the bike? Is 29" doing
anything for you that 26 wasn't?
--
PeteCresswell

 

[Anthony DeLorenzo]

On Mar 18, 4:39 pm, "(PeteCresswell)" <[email protected]> wrote:

> Do you have your bars below seat level? If so, how many inches
> below... and do you think you could get them up to approximately
> seat level or an inch below without doing anything radical?

I have 5 cm of spacers on the stock fork (uncut) and an 80 mm Salsa
stem with 40 degree rise. That would put a flat bar about 3 inches
below the saddle, I figure. I run a Mary bar so I get about half of
that back with the rise of the bar. Using a longer stem with a 2"
riser bar would easily get the bars up to seat level.

Here is a picture of my old setup. I was running a longer stem,
straight seatpost, gears, different wheels.... but it will give you
some idea.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/delorenzo/331290705/

> What's your satisfaction level with the bike? Is 29" doing
> anything for you that 26 wasn't?

This was only my second MTB and first 29er, so I don't have a lot to
compare it to, but I totally love this bike. The steel frame feels
great and the rigid fork soaks up a lot under my 250+ lbs. My
confidence and skill improved instantly with the big wheels. There are
plenty of arguments for both wheel sizes, but as a big rider I'm
totally sold on the big wheels.

I'm running Phil Wood hubs with 36-hole Rhyno Lite rims. I love the
Rhyno LItes, they're cheap, strong, wide and work great with a wide
(2.3) tire.

Regards,
Anthony

 

[Crescentius Vespasianus]

(PeteCresswell) wrote:
> Per Anthony DeLorenzo:
>> 6'6" riding an XL, my inseam is 92.5 cm (36.4 in). The standover and
>> TT length are good. I used a short high-rise stem to get the bars up
>> high enough and a setback post to keep my weight off the front wheel.
>
> *Exactly* what I wound up doing with my 21" Ellsworth Isis.
>
> Do you have your bars below seat level? If so, how many inches
> below... and do you think you could get them up to approximately
> seat level or an inch below without doing anything radical?
>
>
> What's your satisfaction level with the bike? Is 29" doing
> anything for you that 26 wasn't?
---------
I gave up on mtb a long time ago,
because I just didn't like the 26"
wheel. When I got my 29er, being a
roadie, all of sudden I felt like I had
a real bike to play with. A lot of
obstacles that frustrated me to no end
on the 26, I simply roll over now with a
29er. It actually feels more stable
than a 26. The downside, is that they
do seem quite heavy, but that's because
I think I am so use to road bikes, any
mtb feels like a tank to me. Another
downside, is it felt too big to commute
on, on the road, but stick it into the
wild, and it fits perfect. For some
strange reason, the 26 felt better, to
dink around on city roads.