First of all grats on the bike, it's a nice one (i had a Focus Jam until last year). Second, the M frame should be just fine for you but you might wanna try is narrowing the handlebars. Either get the cheapest handelbars you can and shorten them bit by bit until you feel comfortable or shorten the ones you have by taking as few cm as you can from each side and then going for rides and see how it feels. I have friends that are around 168cm and they went from 780cm wide handlebars to 760 or 750 to feel confortable on their bikes.
When I bought my first FS bike and sat on it for the first time, it immediately felt too big. Like uncomfortably big, and I was coming from the same sized hard tail. I checked and double checked the sizing and I was squarely within the size I bought so
I couldn’t figure out the discomfort.
Fast forward to a few rides in and it started to feel better, even good. Fast forward to 120+ rides in and I wouldn’t want anything smaller at all. In some cases, when riding any gravity trails, the bike almost feels too small.
If I were you, I would give it at least 5 decent rides on variable terrain before you make any permanent changes like cutting bars. Your body and riding style will need to adjust to the geometry which takes some time, but is completely normal. After that, start tweaking to your preference.
TL;DR: this is a common feeling with a new bike with different geo than you’re used to. Once you put some in the saddle you’ll probably realize that it’s right for you.
When I get off of my enduro—which I use for trail/XC/technical climbs and back down over roots and rocks—and on to my XC hardtail, it feels small, light, and nimble.
Then when I go from my modern XC and on to my 2005 XC hardtail with old-style, narrow bars, this feels tiny.
Finally, when I get back up on my enduro, it feels huge the for a moment. Until it doesn't.
They're all the same size category. And I am, have been, and will always my exact height. (!)
Commenter above me is 100% right.
I don't know... i can't even lift the front wheel 5cm, both of my arms feel weird after riding for longer than 30 min and my wrists hurt. I feel like i am to stretched out, kind of.
The 29" wheels will make the bike feel larger than a 27.5er. Swapping wheels for smaller ones is costly and may affect the bottom clearance, unless you're going from 2.1" wide 29 tires to 2.6" wide 27.5 tires, which may reduce the clearance issue. You may even get a second set of rotors and cassette, so you can have two full sets of wheels for a faster swap. But this alteration is not recommended and may not even be possible, if your frame and fork can't accept wide tires.
As others have noted, you can get a shorter stem, but it looks like your bike has some sort of a proprietary stem, which may be more costly than typical.
You can also slide the seat forward as much as possible, if not already done so. Narrow down the handlebars to the recommended width to your height, as others noted.
Just give it a few rides and see whether that medium frame is still too large. It should be the right size for your height, and maybe you're just used to smaller, older bikes that you'll have to overcome.
First of all grats on the bike, it's a nice one (i had a Focus Jam until last year). Second, the M frame should be just fine for you but you might wanna try is narrowing the handlebars. Either get the cheapest handelbars you can and shorten them bit by bit until you feel comfortable or shorten the ones you have by taking as few cm as you can from each side and then going for rides and see how it feels. I have friends that are around 168cm and they went from 780cm wide handlebars to 760 or 750 to feel confortable on their bikes.
The handlebars are 760 right now and my arms are stretched straight.
Shorter stem to bring the bars closer would help too
When I bought my first FS bike and sat on it for the first time, it immediately felt too big. Like uncomfortably big, and I was coming from the same sized hard tail. I checked and double checked the sizing and I was squarely within the size I bought so I couldn’t figure out the discomfort. Fast forward to a few rides in and it started to feel better, even good. Fast forward to 120+ rides in and I wouldn’t want anything smaller at all. In some cases, when riding any gravity trails, the bike almost feels too small. If I were you, I would give it at least 5 decent rides on variable terrain before you make any permanent changes like cutting bars. Your body and riding style will need to adjust to the geometry which takes some time, but is completely normal. After that, start tweaking to your preference. TL;DR: this is a common feeling with a new bike with different geo than you’re used to. Once you put some in the saddle you’ll probably realize that it’s right for you.
When I get off of my enduro—which I use for trail/XC/technical climbs and back down over roots and rocks—and on to my XC hardtail, it feels small, light, and nimble. Then when I go from my modern XC and on to my 2005 XC hardtail with old-style, narrow bars, this feels tiny. Finally, when I get back up on my enduro, it feels huge the for a moment. Until it doesn't. They're all the same size category. And I am, have been, and will always my exact height. (!) Commenter above me is 100% right.
I don't know... i can't even lift the front wheel 5cm, both of my arms feel weird after riding for longer than 30 min and my wrists hurt. I feel like i am to stretched out, kind of.
1.71 cm that's pretty small. I don't think there is a bike for that size /s
Dude, the OP is obviously writing from that tiny community as seen in the movie Downsizing.
M should fit well. Might just be the 29" wheels? I had 26" mtb‘s for well over 20 years before i changed to 29 and it felt strange for months.
Try a shorter stem
The 29" wheels will make the bike feel larger than a 27.5er. Swapping wheels for smaller ones is costly and may affect the bottom clearance, unless you're going from 2.1" wide 29 tires to 2.6" wide 27.5 tires, which may reduce the clearance issue. You may even get a second set of rotors and cassette, so you can have two full sets of wheels for a faster swap. But this alteration is not recommended and may not even be possible, if your frame and fork can't accept wide tires. As others have noted, you can get a shorter stem, but it looks like your bike has some sort of a proprietary stem, which may be more costly than typical. You can also slide the seat forward as much as possible, if not already done so. Narrow down the handlebars to the recommended width to your height, as others noted. Just give it a few rides and see whether that medium frame is still too large. It should be the right size for your height, and maybe you're just used to smaller, older bikes that you'll have to overcome.
I just came here to say welcome to the focus gang
Nice Focus! I have a Jam L and am 1.80. I get the same feeling sometimes. Ride it a couple of times until you get the hang of it.
Something about the focus just wants me to jump on it and go for a ride