Women's MTBs?

[Wonderman]

Anyone have any experience with these? On the hunt for one but there isn't exactly the same number of reviews, much more choice of "unisex" bikes at smaller size secondhand. Would be more enduro/trails than XC, so although heavier probably FS over HT.

[P-Jay]

There was a couple of reviews / tests a couple of years ago that concluded they were a bit pointless. Women don't benefit from different frame geometry and even if they did it wasn't being offered. Typically female specific MTBs were of the "shrink it and pink it" variety - they labelled a Small 'Men's' Frame a Medium and painted it Purple / Pink / Pale Blue etc.

Juliana probably make the best Female specific bikes, the frames are identical to Santa Cruz (made by the same people etc) but they have narrower bars and yes 'girly' colours. They're very nice (as are Santa Cruz) but even though they have the same rrp as the SC versions, they tend to cost more in the shops due to lack of supply and if you decide to sell it on in a couple of years or whatever a smaller market means they'e worth less.

With the only contact point that matters being the bar width (assuming the Women in question has narrower shoulders than an average man) you're usually better of just buying am MTB that suits and trimming the bars, or ask the shop to do it.

[trails]

Brought my wife a 2016 Liv Intruige from that auction site for circa £700 around two years ago; the female specific arm of Giant.

Few choice upgrades and it's a very nice bike...I believe it is female centric geometry, so low stand over and stack height. Wife loves it.

[dreamer75]

As a female who mountain bikes, I've had 2 - neither were woman specific, although I think my road bike is, although I can't remember. A Trek and last year I bought a Whyte. Trying it out for fit is the most important thing in my mind - women aren't one single shape and size or dimension. It's like saying what bike fits a man best. Well it depends on each particular person.

See if you can find somewhere that stocks some to try, or go to a trial day or something like that. Or do what my OH does, and buy one blind online and hope for the best . To be fair I spend ages making my decision, he buys almost blind, and both of us are happy with what we have (Whyte & Canyon). I would agree with the poster above though - the Whyte bars are waaayyyy too wide, especially with the current trend of bars as wide as buses. In fact this post has reminded me to shorten them before I ride tomorrow

[Wonderman]

Just to update, took eldest out to try a couple bikes and the extra standover room worked best. Due the wonders of internet searching a new "old" 2019 Embolden 2 has been purchased for not much more than a used one / plus delivery included so pretty much no difference in real terms. It's light and loves it ,and upgradable if she has more bottle than me!

Cheers for the input.

[dhutch]

Women are typically slightly smaller, and therefore also slightly lighter, slightly difference saddle is good i believe, beyond that however they are fundamentally similar. Standover height would be the same as that of the equiv size male or child surely? Unless they are wearing a dress...? If the shocks are air-shocks they can be tuned to lighter weights. Sadly as said, what is branded as women's appears to be basically just smaller 'unsex' bikes anyway. I have heard talk of differently valved shocks, but no first had evidence of this.


Daniel