women specific bikes

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flag napguy
FL
Posted: Mar 16, 2012 at 16:00 Quote
I have been researching Women / Girl specific bikes for my GF and thought this information would be useful here. A list of offerings from some of the top brands. This is not an exhaustive list but a good start anyway. Feel free to add your own. *Edit: The prices listed are just from the manufacturer's websites, approx inUS dollars. I have found better prices for some of these bikes in-store.

Giant Trance X2 W -$2250+
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/bikes/model/trance.x.2.w/9058/48960/

Giant Anthem -$1800+
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/bikes/model/anthem.x2.w/9057/48958/

Santa Cruz Juliana -$1800-$2300
http://www.santacruzmtb.com/juliana/

Trek Lush WSD -$2260-$2860 as pictured is $2860
http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/mountain/singletrack_trail/lush/lush_sl/#

Specialized Safire -$2400+
http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=33455&menuItemId=0

Kona Lele -$2700
http://www.konaworld.com/womens.cfm?content=lele

Ghost Miss AMR -$2000 (Sold at MEC in Canada)
http://www.ghost-bikes.com/bikes-2012/bike-detail/miss-amr-5700/
flag Kootenaycycle
Posted: Mar 16, 2012 at 21:47 Quote
Here are a few options from Norco as well starting a $2700
Unsecure image, only https images allowed: http://www.norco.com/img/bikes/sight-3-forma-1.jpghttp://www.norco.com/bikes/mountain/trail/sight-forma/
I have also had good luck with the Ibis Mojo HD 140 for shorter women.
http://www.ibiscycles.com/bikes/mojo_hd_140/
flag Gayle
Posted: Mar 17, 2012 at 13:11 Quote
Being of female gender and short, don't restrict your search to WSD bikes, some manufactures make seat tube angles steeper to shorten the top tube length which also makes the bikes seem more secure on rolling trails but on anything technical and steep it feels terrible, like your going over the handle bars..

Look at small and extra small bikes, changing stems etc to perfect the fit. The one WSD item I do swear by is a good saddle which I found do make a difference.
flag tpiini
Posted: Mar 17, 2012 at 17:03 Quote
You left out the Specialized Safire Pro. I bought it for my wife last month and she LOVES it. She was riding a Santa Cruz Juliana prior to that and calls the Safire Pro a HUGE improvement over her Juliana.
flag napguy
FL
Posted: Mar 18, 2012 at 9:46 Quote
Gayle wrote:
Being of female gender and short, don't restrict your search to WSD bikes, some manufactures make seat tube angles steeper to shorten the top tube length which also makes the bikes seem more secure on rolling trails but on anything technical and steep it feels terrible, like your going over the handle bars..

Look at small and extra small bikes, changing stems etc to perfect the fit. The one WSD item I do swear by is a good saddle which I found do make a difference.

Yes she has ridden mens or "unisex" bikes for years, notably the Giant Trance and Santa Cruz Nomad with the low top tubes. Fortunately the new womens bikes go beyond the geometry changes and typical widening of the seat, shortening of the handlebars. Now the suspension is tuned with a range of women specific weights in mind (not a mens weight which normally results in super stiff, minimal compliance when ridden by women). The bikes are built lighter for more control and handling and and in my GF's case, being able to lift the bike above her head to mount on the cars roof racks! haha
flag napguy
FL
Posted: Mar 18, 2012 at 9:48 Quote
tpiini wrote:
You left out the Specialized Safire Pro. I bought it for my wife last month and she LOVES it. She was riding a Santa Cruz Juliana prior to that and calls the Safire Pro a HUGE improvement over her Juliana.

The Safire series is listed in the first post starting at $2400.
flag shortstuffs
Posted: Mar 18, 2012 at 11:58 Quote
I have been looking for womens bikes for a while and couldn find any nice 1s....thank you so much!
flag Gayle
Posted: Mar 19, 2012 at 15:40 Quote
K-D-M wrote:

Fortunately the new womens bikes go beyond the geometry changes and typical widening of the seat, shortening of the handlebars. Now the suspension is tuned with a range of women specific weights in mind (not a mens weight which normally results in super stiff, minimal compliance when ridden by women). The bikes are built lighter for more control and handling and and in my GF's case, being able to lift the bike above her head to mount on the cars roof racks! haha

What you have posted sounds more like manufactures blurb. I personally dislike the majority of women's specific Mountain Bikes, I've tried a few and find the geometry great on rolling trails but try steep and technical and the geometry really lets the bikes down. Maybe it's because I've become so used to riding unisex bikes but having recently gone through the whole trying to find a new bike hassle I ended up with an XS Yeti ASR 5.

I have never noticed WSD bikes being built lighter, normally if they are it's purely because the frame is smaller, and I've never really though that lighter means more control and handling, if that is the case then my Super 8 that weighs a ton should be crap, but I built it up because it handles really well on the steep technical stuff that I get scared on. In addition, most suspension is tunable, you just increase or decrease air, when OH rides my bike he just pumps the shocks up!!!!

I'm not saying WSD bikes don't have their place and if women get on with them then great, but having spent a year looking for a replacement for my 'Unisex' Giant Trance, I would of been really stuck if I'd only looked at WSD bikes. If anyone is looking for a bike for a female then I wouldn't restrict your search to WSD bikes, but search for bikes that fit YOU and meet your needs..
flag napguy
FL
Posted: Mar 19, 2012 at 19:09 Quote
Ok. Thanks for your opinion, you have clearly found what works for you.

Gayle wrote:
What you have posted sounds more like manufactures blurb.
flag Kootenaycycle
Posted: Mar 20, 2012 at 7:01 Quote
Yes women's specific bikes are pure marketing. Research has shown that on average women are more likely to buy a product if they think it is tailored to their unique needs. Having fit bikes for ever, I can honestly say that women are not different then men in most ways. Some men have long legs and short upper bodies, and some women have short legs and long upper body. To go and tell the guy that he is built like a girl, or the female that she is built like a man is wrong. The only thing that really matters about WSD is the ladies saddles and smaller grips. On the lower price models they do often come with one spring softer, but really that is not a big deal. Very few companies have ever actually used thinner drawn tubbing. Marketing a bike to women, but then putting on a restrictive weight limit, would be marketing suicide. Now you can market and sell Race only bikes with rider weight limits, but they are generally not marketed as women only.

All that being said, if the bike fits ride it. If the seat sucks change it.
flag amelia7788
Posted: Mar 20, 2012 at 9:59 Quote
thank you so much! Unsecure image, only https images allowed: http://www.prettygirlsphoto.com/img/V/d.gif
flag napguy
FL
Posted: Mar 29, 2012 at 20:45 Quote
The GF has decided on this:
Decent component spec at a purchase price of $2000 cdn. Pretty good bang for the buck.
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/bikes/model/trance.x.2.w/9058/48960/
Unsecure image, only https images allowed: http://www.giant-bicycles.com/_generated/_generated_us/bikes/models/images/2000/2012/Trance_X_2_W.jpg
flag cdnrocki
Posted: Sep 4, 2013 at 21:07 Quote
K-D-M,

wondering if you might have an update on your GF's Trance X2 W? Considering the 2013 model now for the wife and curious to hear any feedback...
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