The 26" wheeled K or W Mart special is the biggest size of bike cast off around here although in the coming years maybe I can scrounge a 29er. I do have a nice 27" wheeled/27" framed Fuji road bike that fits well and I've put about 100,000 miles on it since 1982, but 1) I won't ride that through the salt and 2) I've gotten spoiled by the cushy ride of these suspended MTBs, even if they are of the lowest quality. The heavy weight and even the pedal bounce aren't that bad since I go such short distances to cover this flat town. I try to tune them up to the max to get out of them what I can (actually I just came in from doing that). It sure would be nice to have some more length between seat post and headset- stoppies are too easy- but oh well, I've adapted. I could sure use a heavier spring on the rear arm too- or else just call me Bobby when I'm pedaling.
BTW nothing has been hurt by the seat brace yet!
P.S. I don't know how much of it is placebo, but the seat feels rock solid now... it was swaying in the breeze before to some extent; had to have been for the post to bend back.