looking for a tall man's mountain bike

[Paul Richardson]

i'm curious if anyone has suggestions for a bike that might check these boxes:

-rim brake

-step thru / mixte / not level top tube

-accommodates at least 55mm / 2.1" 700c tire

-big, obviously

i'm 6'4" with a 100pbh.  generally ride with a 90cm saddle height.

i'm aware of the rivendell option(s), but that's it.  is there anything else out there, new or vintage, that even comes close?  

thank you

paul

takoma park, md.

[Eric Daume]

Rim brakes severely limit your choices in new bikes. The Crust Wombat has rim brakes, but it's geo is a little funky to my eye (short and tall, when most bikes are going long and low)

If you allow disc brakes--and mechanical discs aren't a whole lot more complex than rim brakes--there's a thousand choices out there. I'm 6'3", and I can ride more modern XLs just fine. Even some Large frames work, since modern mountain bikes are getting so much longer. 

Eric

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[davidfrench]

Agreed with Eric, rim brakes have nothing to do with mountain biking. Disc brakes are far superior for us tall and heavy (even if you don't disclose your weight). 

If you really have specific and unmovable needs, then a custom builder might be your only choice. 

[Paul Richardson]

thanks to you both for responding.

disc brakes are, to me, an unknown quantity, which is part of the reason i'm trying to find a suitable rim brake frame.  i also have a high end wheelset and brakes that are idling in the parts bin, to my great frustration.

maybe if i wait long enough the pendulum will swing back and rim brakes will be all the rage again.  (though i'm not holding my breath).

paul

[davidfrench]

I am sure you can find a usage for your high end wheelset with rim brakes on a touring bike, commuter etc.

Seriously, disc brakes are what you need if you plan on doing MTB riding. There's no coming back to rim brakes on MTB or anything going fast downhill in the dirt or mud etc. 

Also, you don't mention if you want a hardtail or a full suspension, not any budget. This info would hep us help you. 

Cheers

[John Mottl]

I have a Bridgestone  MB6 that has been stored in a barn for 12 years not ridden. It’s in need of loving care but it’s all there. It’s located on Orcas Island in Washington State. I’m in Calgary Alberta and can’t get a picture. I should be back in mid October for a couple days, maybe Oct 16 and 17th. 

It has 26” wheels with rim breaks and was the largest frame they sold. I’m 6’5” tall and it fit. Low sloping top tube and that Grant Peterson Bridgestone ethos. 

I don’t know where you are located but Bike fligjts is a good deal and the LBS would box it for around $70-$90. I would expect there is allot of surface rust on some steel parts that would clean up fairly well. I think the paint is still solid and not too bad.

This would be a ‘Barn Find’ condition.

Let me know if your interested?

I also have allot of other road bicycles that are tall frames, seat tubes 65cm to 68cm  and I need to sell a few because I’m downsizing… but they are NOT what you are asking for.

66-68cm seat tube frames: (MB’s are effective ST)

2014 Bilenkey Tandem (s&S coupled)

1985 Rodriquez Tandem (sorry about spelling)

1984 Specialized Expedition

1972 Holdsworth made Harding (The only small frame here at 25”)

2022 Kona Drew

? Peter Weigle

1968 Rene Herse

1984  Treck 400 Elance

2006 Cargo Bike Bridgestone with Xtracycle and very low gears

[ant ritchey]

Tried to reply privately to the author here but it seems I'm not authorized to do so...

sorry for spamming the group here for my private inquiry BUT

Hey John! Would love to see pics of the Bridgestone MB and ALSO very much interested in the '84 Expedition if it's the 68! Pics would be awesome. No rush and thank you!

[Jeff Schmidt]

I'm in the same boat as Ant. I'd be interested in seeing a photo of the Herse and Weigle, John.

Thanks!

Jeff Schmidt

Minneapolis, MN

[Arthur Strum]

Hi everybody:

I just changed the settings so that all members can see email address of members and reply privately (I'm not exactly a pro at this, so pardon me fixing this after a decade!)

Agree about the Herse and Weigel! Please do post photos, even if you're not selling. I'd be really interested to hear how they ride.

Art Strum

Tacoma, WA

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[John Mottl]

Hi Art,

The Weigle is  a 68cm frame built in 1996. The bicycle has a very quick response to whatever input you body is signalling. Almost too quick for casual cycling. It is designed for fast road rides. The most responsive bicycle I own. It’s a bicycle for experienced road riders and very different from the Herse

The Herse is amazing, it seems to fly over hills with less effort than my other bicycle. On a daily commute there is a 7% grade that I seem to naturally use a higher gear to crest... than on my other bicycles, it’s like it is alive underneath me, The steering is more stable like a touring frame and not quick like the Weigle. But the Herse somehow seems to intuit where you want to go. I can only describe it as magical. 

Then there is the whole nostalgia of ridding a bicycle made in 1968 by one of the masters of the era… I seem to fall back in another time where my experience of the ride is somehow more vibrant and meaningful…. it’s hard for me to express. This would be the one bicycle I would keep to the very end.

I’ll put pictures in the other quiry.

Cheers,

John Mottl

Calgary and Orcas

[John Mottl]

The 1984 Specialized Expedition has a 68cm seat tube. 

Here is a picture from a tour above Banff Alberta that started in Calgary

[John Mottl]

Hi Spok and Art,

I’m having trouble with the file sizes even with 2 or 4 MB images and it seems I can only post one at a time? 

The Herse is also a 68cm frame and here is a picture taken on Orcas at my home there

[John Mottl]

Hi Art and Spok,

I don’t have a good picture of the 68.5cm 1996 Weigle but this will give you and idea

Thanks all for the interest,

John Mottl

Calgary and Orcas

On Thursday, September 26, 2024 at 5:59:05 PM UTC-6 art wrote:

[John Mottl]

I forgot to mention that there is also a 68cm 1975 Jim Merz light touring bicycle that is set up Rinko.

Here is a picture, 

[Geoff Cisler]

John,

You’re killing us! These are all such beautiful big bikes! My eyes are drawn to the correct length of head tube and all the wonderful details on all the bikes.

Thank you for sharing these pictures, and while others might want to know, I’m going to exert some self restraint and not ask which ones you are actually interested in selling.  ;)

All the best, and keep sharing. 

Geoff

Ps, I’m attaching a picture of my 68cm custom Boulder 650b that I’m definitely not selling. 

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On Sep 26, 2024, at 9:28 PM, 'John Mottl' via Large Bicycles <large-b...@googlegroups.com> wrote:

Hi Art,

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[art]

John, thanks so much for all these photos! Wow, what an amazing collection  you have, and it seems like  you've given them great use over the years.

I'm particularly interested in your comments about the Rene Herse. I've reflected before either on this group or on the Bob list about how differently frames ride when they get a bit outside the parameters they were designed for: as the top tubes exceed, say, 60cm....I've ridden many, many large vintage frames, like some, and sold many, keeping the ones which worked best for me. (I'm 6'6"/200, and a fit but no longer very strong rider on the other side of 60) 

You wrote: 

"The Herse is amazing, it seems to fly over hills with less effort than my other bicycle. On a daily commute there is a 7% grade that I seem to naturally use a higher gear to crest... than on my other bicycles, it’s like it is alive underneath me, The steering is more stable like a touring frame and not quick like the Weigle. But the Herse somehow seems to intuit where you want to go. I can only describe it as magical."

Leaving aside your comments about geometry and just focussing on the frame's response: this is exactly what I'm always looking for...these days, it's a mid-range 1980/81 Trek 412 frame (rebuilt with other components) which does this best for me. It's an Ishiwata 022 frame (.9/.6./.9) with cheap, hi-ten chainstays and seatstays. A nearly identical Trek TX500 frame which I have is all Ishiwata -- so more flexible stays. And that one is wonderful and smooth, but doesn't fly over the hills in quite the same way, for me. I read once that Rene Herse tended to use 'speedy' tubing in the stays for large frames...but just can't find that reference, despite trying a few times. 

John, do you mind telling us how tall and heavy you are? If I could bet on two frame builders knowing how to build a large frame, it would be Herse and Peter Weigel!

thanks again

Art

Tacoma, WA