TIPS
Which cycle size is right for your height? A simple guide
Most people pick a cycle by colour first. Size comes up later, almost as an afterthought.
We'd do it the other way round. A cycle that's the wrong size feels a little wrong every single day. Your knees ache a bit, your back aches a bit, and slowly the cycle moves to the balcony and stays there. Getting the size right is a big part of why people keep riding.
You don't need a fitting studio for this. Your height gets you close. A two-minute check on the bike does the rest.
Start with your height
Every cycle is made for a range of rider heights. If you're in the middle of that range, you're fine. If you're right at the edge (say 5'4" or 5'5" on a bike that changes size at that point), look at your legs. Longer legs for your height usually mean the bigger size. Shorter legs, the smaller one. If you can, sit on both before you pay.
A quick note on wheel size, because people mix it up with frame size. Wheel size (26, 27.5 or 28-inch, for example) is how big the wheel is. Frame size is how long and tall the bike is. On a lot of bikes the two go together, so a Medium frame comes with smaller wheels and a Large frame with bigger ones. But the thing you're really choosing is the frame.
Hornback size chart
Here's every Hornback cycle and the rider height it's made for.
| Cycle | Wheel size | Rider height |
|---|---|---|
| X1 Pro, X1 Pro V2, X1s, X1s V2 (Medium) | 26-inch | 4'11" to 5'4" |
| X1 Pro, X1 Pro V2, X1s, X1s V2 (Large) | 27.5-inch | 5'5" to 6'2" |
| Xpand, Xpand+ (Medium) | 26-inch | 4'11" to 5'4" |
| Xpand, Xpand+ (Large) | 27.5-inch | 5'5" to 6'2" |
| M1s, M1 | 28-inch (700C) | 5'3" to 6'2" |
| Unibyk, Unibyk+ | 27.5-inch | 4'9" to 6'2" |
| Zorq, Zorq+ | 24, 26, 27.5 or 29-inch | 4'5" to 6'3" |
| Zorq EV, Zorq EV+ | 26, 27.5 or 29-inch | 4'5" to 6'3" |
The Zorq range comes in several wheel sizes so it can fit a lot of different people. Smaller wheels suit shorter riders and bigger wheels suit taller riders. Not sure which one is yours? Send us your height on chat and we'll tell you.
The Unibyk has a low, step-through frame. That's why one size covers so many heights. You don't swing a leg over the top, you just step in.
The two-minute check
A size chart is a starting point. Your body has the final say. When you're standing next to the bike, do these four things.
1. Stand over it
Stand over the frame with both feet flat on the ground. There should be a small gap between you and the top tube, about two or three fingers wide. No gap means the frame is too big for you. (Skip this one on a step-through like the Unibyk.)
2. Check your leg on the pedal
Sit on the saddle and put your heel on the pedal at its lowest point. Your leg should be almost straight. When you ride normally, with the front of your foot on the pedal, that leaves a small bend at the knee. That's the height you want.
If your knee is still clearly bent with your heel on the pedal, raise the saddle. If your hips rock from side to side as you pedal, it's too high.
3. Hold the handlebar
Your elbows should be a little bent and your back should feel relaxed. If you have to stretch to reach the grips, the bike is too long for you. If your knees come close to the handlebar, it's too short.
4. Stop and put a foot down
With the saddle at the right height, you won't be able to put both feet flat on the ground while you're sitting. That's normal. You tip the bike slightly and put one foot down.
New riders often like the saddle a bit lower for the first few weeks, and that's fine. Just raise it a little at a time as you get comfortable. A saddle that stays too low is hard on your knees.
Mistakes to avoid
Buying a size up "to grow into it". It makes sense for a child. For an adult, it just means a bike that's too big.
Keeping the saddle low so both feet touch the ground. It feels safe, but your knees end up doing all the work. Most people ride faster and with less effort once the saddle is at the right height.
Choosing by wheel size alone. Bigger wheels roll easily, but only if the frame fits you. Get the frame right first.
Skipping the test ride. Two minutes on a bike tells you more than any chart. This one included.
Still not sure?
Try it before you buy. We have 350+ dealers across India, so find one near you, sit on the bike, do the four checks above and ride it around the block. Or message us your height and we'll suggest a size.
Quick answers
Which cycle size fits a 5'6" person?
On a Hornback X1 or Xpand, the Large frame with 27.5-inch wheels fits riders from 5'5" to 6'2". The M1 and M1s fit riders from 5'3" to 6'2", and the Unibyk fits riders from 4'9" to 6'2".
Which cycle size fits a 5'2" person?
The Medium X1 or Xpand, with 26-inch wheels, fits riders from 4'11" to 5'4". The Unibyk (4'9" to 6'2") and the Zorq range (4'5" to 6'3") fit too.
Is a 28-inch cycle too big for me?
Wheel size alone doesn't decide that. Our M1 and M1s have 28-inch (700C) wheels and fit riders from 5'3" to 6'2". If you're shorter than 5'3", look at a Medium X1 or Xpand, the Unibyk, or a Zorq with smaller wheels.
Can two people of different heights share one cycle?
Often, yes, as long as both heights fall inside the bike's range. Just move the saddle up or down for each rider. A step-through frame like the Unibyk is the easiest one to share.
