[darkside]

Not as short as my old planet x mind you, but...

Got my Levelboss 1100 in July and I was loving it. Rode it with a 100x15 degree stem until switching to a 110x15 in december. Last week I switched to my friends old Levelboss 1065 (really a 1080) with that same 110mm stem. I thought I wanted a shorter frame to ease my wedge-up attempts and it does help. But damn if it doesn't feel cramped on everything else. Touch-ups and sidehops seem especially more difficult.

Granted I've only been riding on it for a little bit, but I wonder if I should even bother.

I'm 6'1" 190lbs, expert/pro level rider. My friends say the 1080 looks small on me, but that I seem more versitile on it (cause I can manual and bunnyhop it). But I go for a more UCI riding style and bunnyhops, while fun, are not a big priority for me anymore. I really just wanted the shorter frame because I want to get better at wedging up to front wheel, but if my sidehops and touch-ups suffer, then I'm gonna be mad. So far it feels awkward, like I am too hunched over the bars to get a good preload.

...trying to reassure myself by watching TRA look all cramped on his echo but still go big...anyway...

I'm going to give it a couple more rides, but I kinda just wanted to rant and see some others opinions on the proper lenght for a taller rider.

 

[WhiteRavenKS]

a local here mike snyder runs an echo 1080 and he is about 6'1" or 2"... he runs the same stem he had on his zoo- a thompson 140x5deg. he looks like he is finally on a bike that fits him though so i guess so matter how goofy sounding the set up is on paper it looks good for him in real life. try a longer stem on the 1080 for now i would say. the 1100 is really nice for some things but in all reality i feel that it is just too long at times and gets to be a little impracticle. the 1080 has the same ride nenifits as the 1100 for the most part but it fits a lot fo places the 1100 wouldnt. try a longer stem if you have one for a few rides and see if you like it any more. ANYthing will feel short after being on the 1100 though- thats for sure.

 

[Elan]

i am 6'0 and ride a zoo, with 1040.. i rode a friend's 1100, and they seem just a little too long, i think ill go for the 1065 (really 1080) LB for my next bike.

 

[Faction Bike]

he runs the same stem he had on his zoo- a thompson 140x5deg.

....that stem is crazy for trials..... I don't get the long and low thing.....who thought of this junk, just look at all average size UCI riders. They have med length/med rise stems.

Anyway, I wanted to give this a try, especially after watching the PF Directors Cut. So last week I threw a 105x15 (from a 105x5) on my 1065 with an extra spacer underneth and it's tasty. :yum: The bike is so much easier to get the front wheel up and taps, wedges, front wheel moves, manuels, gaps, sidehops, balance, roll ups, etc have all seemed to increase. I guess different strokes for different folks. Any thoughts?

Hey Darkside, try and measure your wheelbase. The old, older one (first generation) was actually 1065mm. I betcha that's why it feels all short and schtuff.

 

[darkside]

No I measured it tonight and it came in at 1080 (almost 1085 actually). And no way am i going to throw a 140mm stem on there. I used a 120 once on my planet x, but I'm always much happier around the 100mm mark.

As per stem height, I've only found low to help when you've got your front wheel elevated in a static maneuver. Otherwise, I've always been happier with a decent rise (i'm on a 110mm 15 degree thomson stem, no spacer, tryall bar... and a koxx forx if it matters).

Like I said, i'm gonna give it a little more time, but right now I'm still leaning towards going back to the 1100.

...unless anyone makes a 1090-1000?

 

[Bloodhound]

I really love my Brisa combo, 120x15, I love the pivoting advantage of long stems.
I agree with the last two posts completely (Tryall America & darkside)

 

[AndyT]

It's all personal preference dictated by the length of your arms, legs, size of hands etc... Kenny won't run anything but monty bar and stem on his koxx, and that stem is fucking HUGE while the coos brothers both have these medium length med. rise bars...

 

[afrobot]

I too am blessed with an extremely large koxx.I too am having issues with
stem length.I was doing fine with my 90-15% stem until I changed my fork which raised me up 1 1/2 ,shortened my rake ,and made me
go kookoo for bootay.

It's nice that I'm finally to the level that I can notice things as minute as
a few MM on a stem making a difference.

But I still suck! :yum:

 

[Bloodhound]

My WB is 1065 with a 120 stem, and I know I could easily handle a 1100. Add another three inches and I would probably feel stretched. I dunno why, i'm only 6' and 160 lbs, I do have long legs though. Maybe i'm just not good enough to notice such small details. I mean, 35mm is not that big of a difference to me, but maybe to a very expirienced rider who has also tried several different bikes it is.

 

[Fast Fashion]

i can't ride anything shorter than 1100 now. it feels awkward. I have no idea what size stem etc. i have.

 

[afrobot]

I just put a 100mm/+6% stem on my 1100 .I Will let ya know cuz I'm
sure you really give poo!
I saved even more weight too. Soon I will ride and look like
Karen Carpenter :greddy2: