Finding a new enduro bike that fits

Hi Lee,

Because I am looking for a new bike I just got a copy of your book Dialed.

While the RAD concept fits to my current short list I see no way to get near to the recommended RAAD numbers. My current bike is a Radon Slide 160, a light Enduro. It has a RAAD of about 55.5° and I am happily riding it for 4.5 years now.

Now taking the measures of a Norco Range XL as an example would give me a perfect RAD, but the RAAD would be 53.7°. To get to an enduro RAAD of 60° I need shorten the reach from 475 to 402 mm and expand the stack from 621 to 670mm for the same RAD. Any other bike I am looking at has similar numbers.

What’s your thought?

Cheers,
Christoph

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Christoph,

Thanks for reaching out. This is a great question, and it points to an issue a lot of riders are having.

For those folks who aren’t familiar with the Dialed bike setup method:

RAD is the distance between your bottom bracket and handlebars. In my experience, this is the most important measurement on your bike. It determines your range of motion and peak pumping/pedaling power.

RAAD is the angle of your RAD compared to level. This has a big effect on how you an handle your bike. XC bikes tend to have low RAADs, around 55°. Trail bikes tend to be in the 58° range. Enduro and downhill bikes tend to be in the 60°+ range. Those are rough numbers. You’ll find lots of variation.

As bikes get more “enduro,” frame reaches are getting longer and longer. If your bike has a long reach, you need a short stem to create a perfect RAD, and that tends to pull the RAAD lower. For people who are less tall than you, the bike RADs are impossibly long, and the bikes never feel right.

Suggestions:

If you can make a low RAAD work, work it! This requires extra mobility and skill. Great riders can make low RAADs work very well. So-so riders feel like they’re being pulled along by the bike.

Consider a handlebar with extra setback, like the SQlab 30X. This shortens your cockpit, which lets you run a higher RAAD. Personally I also like the additional backsweep.

Look at a smaller frame size. At lot of riders should consider this option. I’ve always ridden a medium. On some modern bikes I’m now a small, or even an extra small. You might consider a large instead of the XL. Check the frame reach guidelines in the Dialed book, and model the large frame in the rider/bike calculator.

I hope this helps. Rip it up!

Lee

To learn more:

Check out the Dialed book which includes access to the online calculator.