Medium VS Large Mountain Bikes! Is Bigger Always Better?

Support Your Local Trail Network!

MGM ALTERNATIVE is made up of Miranda (M)iller, Remi (G)auvin and Jesse (M)elamed.

Remi and Jesse ride for the Rocky Mountain Race Face Enduro Team.
They’re supported by:

Miranda Miller rides for the Kona Gravity Team and is supported by:

[rstrakovsky]

Shout out to all the 5'10" people out there forever stuck between sizes.

[markgeard]

Loving the videos !! keep em coming ! I'm the same height and could ride a large, and agree they are more roomy and comfy, but 99% on a Medium.

[khai]

Love it! I suspect that on a long/fast track like the Top of the World to base at the Whistler EWS the large would be a better choice - but for really tight twisty tracks it makes sense that the med is more maneuverable, and thus quicker. For those of us with *slightly* less skill - and particularly because I don't race, I'll skew towards the "comfy/safe/relaxed" sizing option and give up a bit on the overall speed/quickness in the corners.

[ridermtb]

Been having the same debate for two seasons, I echo the extra effort or takes to weight the front on a large. Less forward /rewarded movement seems to help maintain more consistent traction and might help keep you less fatigued over long runs and long days.

Keep doing more vids like this

[bryndrew]

I might not be giving MG enough credit, but the level of science in this video smells of Jesse.... Nice work!

[skipdoyle]

5'9" and purchased a L as a novice. Handled well, but seat tube was too long -- okay in the store, but not the trail. All subsequent bike purchases have been M: more responsive, less weight. Important since I ride gnarly, knurly, undulating trails and not smooth downhills. Recently went from 27.5 to 29 with a similar experience: does seem to glide over obstacles better but feels a bit sluggish in tight turns.

[Aaronime]

I appreciate his comments on the ride, It helps being similar height and build as him!

[timecost]

I am 5'11" and i have a large bike with a top length 645mm and the reach = 571mm. My reach is 550 therefore i felt stretched out on the L which is close to extra large territory. I shorten the stem from 45mm to 35 and move the saddle forward and its a little better its now 559mm reach. I bought a medium and right out the box it felt perfect. It has 620mm top tube and the reach is about 550mm without adjustments. I ride them back to back and could not notice any difference even though the M feels a bit easier to maneuver.

[andyfromthetrailside]

Very interesting. In 2018 I went from a Size Large Norco Range to a Size XL RM Slayer. Ok, the bikes changed quite a bit in those three years. But you summed up quite nicely in words what I felt when swapping bikes. I couldn´t have described it that way.
I might just bookmark this video and send it to friends when we discuss bike sizes and what different sizes do. A friend of mine is thinking of getting a new bike and he also is inbetween sizes. This might make it easier for him to make a decision.

[erinb]

Cool video. As you said, maybe a straighter, steeper track would favour the large. Need a bike quiver ;). I am reminded of the Enduro mag test/ review of bikes last year, they had similar findings of speed on the medium vs large yeti sb150.

[sryforpartiing]

Pretty impressive that your fastest run ended up being the one with a small hickup. Good idea for a video !

[BrettSampson]

Is this channel providing the best mtb content on YouTube? There’s an argument for sure!

[behroozcharmchi]

Probably wouldn’t have slid out in the last run if you did the cornering video properly😂

[bikedude]

As mentionned, bike sizes should be determined in regards of trails and terrains. Obviously, the picked course for this test was for a medium. Repeat the same test in A-Line. I’m curious to see the results. For most riders its about comfort, for racers its about milliseconds.

[TFritz]

This is where I puzzle myself...at 5'10'' with a normal-ish 31" inseam, I'm in that zone where I could stay large or size down to medium. I'm planning my next frame build for later this season or so and am tempted to move to a M...many of the trails and races here locally seem like they'd lend themselves to it. I also make it to the park 10 times or so a year so there's that. It's my main ONE bike to do it all - enduro, park, trails/fun riding so I have to make the purchase $$ count!

[dannygarcia]

great video dude i'm the same heigth as you. I just bought a jeffsy size L and although the bike has not arrived I kind of hoped I went for a medium. However at the least the L is going to stop riding too fast and breaking bones

[pedroamorim]

Can we have a coil vs air shock?! Maybe mullet vs full 29 as well

[thomasshaffer]

Interesting video, entertaining as always. Any reason you're using a steel spring vs the Fox SLS?

[bschmu]

I bought a size Large altitude last year. Now I know why I’m so slow. And I thought it was just skill level.

[alang]

Did you experiment with chainstay length? I'm 5'11" tall, 6'3.5" reach, 36" inseam, TINY torso. I demo'ed a new Large instinct with very similar geo and same travel numbers and the major difference was 1° steeper HA (ride 9 was in steep mode), and 436 CS vs 445 on my current bike. Night and day difference- the shorter chain stay felt so much more balanced and controllable for me- though the quicker steering probably helped.