general bike fit question

[asylum_inc]

Hey everyone -
I Have my 5500c still as my 'fun' bike but 90% of the time I have a motolite.  Now - here is the problem...I have a size large motolite 24.25" TT. I recently purchased a haro mary (29er fadwagon purchase) in a medium size with a 23.5" TT. The mary (and 5500c) is more comfortable and easier to flick around than the motolite with identical handlebar and 80mm stems. My question - is it worth it to get a medium motolite with a 1" shorter TT or swap the 80mm stem for a 60mm and take the inch out of the top tube that way? Is there truly a best way? Will the shorter TT medium and a longer stem really fit differently than a long TT large with a short stem? Any thoughts?

[kiwi]

try it.I new stem is cheaper than a new bike!

[Colin]

I think you've already put a lot of thought into this, so all I can add is that:
a) different bikes ride differently despite being technically the same size.
b) it's got to be worth trying a shorter stem, but the wheelbase will obviously stay the same.

Col.

[asylum_inc]

I have tried the shorter stem.
1- it looks goofy (to me)
2- it became much quicker steering
3- there seemed to be more 'wandering' on long seated climbs.
4- No hand / back pain!!!! 

I think I will look for a medium or a similar frame in a medium...maybe a 575

[w2zero]

I had similar problems with my 855 medium size bought new.   Originally equipped to force a road racer riding stance.  Advancing age, back pain and such suggested a new approach.  I used some spare parts to decrease the 130mm reach and increase no rise stem situation.  Better, but wandered on climbs because the bars were still roadie narrow.  My present config swapped to a 90mm stem with a lot of rise along with wider riser bars.  Still rotating the bars to find a neutral wrist position but climbs in the saddle are much better than original and the wide bars provide increased leverage out of the saddle climbing in a big gear. 

How it looks doesn't matter to me.  It feels & works better.

[02gf74]

over the past 10 years, I have noticed that mountain bikes have tended to get longer top tubes and shorter stems compared to same sized frmaes e.g. Large that had longer stems and hence shorter top tubes. Along with shorter stems, the handlears have become wider.

Your height is the first rough guide to correct frame size - as you arelooking at 24 inch top, you should be in the region of 6 ft, give or take 2 inches.