Dammit’s adventures in mountain biking

Santa Cruz would have me on a bike with a 47.5cm Reach:

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Although top tube length on the XL Santa Cruz is identical to the XL Scalpel.

nah, way off. You should just bin it. I'll come over and take it to the skip for you.

You're too tall for it. Possibly.

That's a risk I'm willing to take

Is there a rule of thumb concerning whether the handlebar should obscure the front axle, be in front of or behind it?

Maybe when you had your Giant. Not anymore :-)

Things were easier in my day.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/3ru3vGR8nck
Skip to 6:55

Looks fine to me.

It'll be far shorter that a "equally sized" more trail-geo bike. Generally you'll not run a 50 or 75mm stem on a cross country bike like you would on a trail bike. Also the HT will be far steeper. So don't concern yourself with those comparisons.

Just get some better tyres and ride it.

Have you actually tried to ride it yet? Long shot here, but it might tell you more about the fit than your tape measure

If I ride it I can't send it back - well, other than cruising up and down by the garages, which I have done and felt fine.

Don't worry about the fit. It's not a road bike, it's going to feel different. As long as it doesn't feel totally awful
you're within a changed stem/ bars of getting it to fit nicely.

Pretty much this. If it is too small for you it'll take quite some time on the bike to realise that. But it should fit.

I think the Marin and the SC are designed for super short stems whereas the Scalpel, being the XCO race bike frame, is shorter and designed for slightly longer stems (70mm or so?).

(The Scalpel SE frame is the same as the race frame - the rear triangle is like 3mm longer and the rocker link is different to provide the extra 15mm of travel)

I'd be inclined to say move the saddle back to better match the Klein and pop a flipped 70mm stem on for more appropriate reach and handling to that frame, and you'd be a-ok

#internetbiekfit

Also, dibs.

MTBs are like all other bikes really. You buy a general purpose one, then realise you actually want three different specialised ones.

ftfy

Ok, so the conclusion from the assembled Internet Bike Fitters is that everything is fine?

The Scalpel does indeed have a longer stem than the Rift Zone, @Howard

How long is it out of asking? My F-SI in medium has a bonkers 100mm

Habit has 70mm iirc

Everything is fine. In terms of handling though, don't be afraid to keep the cockpit reasonably short as you'll find the steering difference of a shorter stem will make a much bigger difference than it would on a roadie. The way I would always approach it with mountain bike setup is to sacrifice a bit of pedalling comfort/ climbing comfort for better descending control. You're not going to crash and break any bones on a climb...

If you do then second dibs on the Scalpel ;)

I crashed my Slackline going up hill at Afan - pulled such an alimghty wheelie that I nearly looped out, ended up kinda flopping sideways and off the trail.

Well if you will insist on 160mm travel and a 45mm stem...

I know the feeling! 40mm stem and 180mm travel on the Capra. Still climbs astonishingly well but it will be interesting to see what it's like with loaded luggage on it too!

How long is it out of asking? My F-SI in medium has a bonkers 100mm

Habit has 70mm iirc

60mm from the look of it.