I ordered a Duo Sport 2 Gen 5 in a size Large from a local bike shop that helped with the fit. I'm 5'11", and since placing the order, I checked out the same bike at two other shops—both initially said Large was the right size.
But then things got confusing:
One shop (an official Trek store) said based on how my knees bent while pedaling, I should actually be on an XL.
The other said these bikes run small and I looked better on the XL.
I’ve attached two pics for reference:
Lava Red bike is the Large—one shop mentioned the seat looked too high.
Second pic is an XL—you’ll notice the seat post is actually lower than on the red bike.
Now I’m just not sure what to go with. The shop I ordered from is fine with switching the size if needed, so no stress there—I just want to make the right call. Any advice or insight from fellow riders would be super appreciated!
by userX97ee2ska11qa
6 Comments
At 5’11, you should be on a size L, not an XL. If your knees are too bent when pedalling, your seat needs to come up. Seat height does not necessarily correlate with size. IMO, seat looks very low on the XL green bike and if I saw someone come in with that, I’d think to myself “they bought a size too big.”
Also, I’m being *super* nitpicky, but it’s “Dual Sport” not “Duo Sport.” I would want to know.
I think I recognize that shop, would trust Bob and his crew over the local TREK official stores
I am at that weird height where it is either M or L. With previous bikes I went L. With my new DS 3 I went M. Feels more nimble and more in control when I am in the tight spots. Seat post can still go high enough that my knees don’t bend too much. It could be that it feels better because the new bike IS a better bike, and the size thing is just a coincidence
Ask me about my god awful – ongoing experience with purchasing a new Trek bike from a local Trek store
Yes
I just got a new DS3 G5. Im just a little taller at 6’. I rode both a L and an XL. Barely any difference in ride for me and seats were basically set at the same height. Unbeknownst to me, on the Large, i was at the seat post limit the Trek sales guy told me. I ended up going XL because i didn’t like the idea of maxing out my seat post. I later read in the specs the seat post is a little on the short side at 300mm rather than 350mm. If it was 350mm I would have gone Large. Im happy with the XL. All done at an official Trek store.