I used to run a 20.5 top tube and am 5' 7" tall. I more recently started riding a 21-inch top tube and noticed the difference. Since I ride many mountain bikes, I wanted a BMX bike that didn't take me as long to adjust to.
sure, the tt matters, but i'd say not as much as we make it to matter. according to the frame size charts, many pros don't follow the sizing, some go up some go down. i personally prefer larger tt frames even as a street rider. besides the tt, another essential spec is the cs length because that makes an even bigger impact on how the bmx feels that the tt. also the steepness of the ht angle (a 75 degree feels completely different than a 75.5 degree). but in the end, the size of a tt is more of a personal thing than anything else.
i think for street it wont matter much, but for flatland it can change everything and some tricks are almost impossible with a longer 21"+ frame. But then again, depends on your height
1:55 top load stem and bigger bars also make a massive difference. I say top tube does matter, but some other things on the frame make huge differences too like head tube angle, bottom bracket height, and chain stay length. Or maybe you like to do more tailwhips/tricks that involve stepping over the bike, seat tube length makes a big difference too. I'm not too familiar with your BMX skillset as I've been watching your other videos about retro MTBs, so this was a surprise. haha
Back when I only rode BMX, I rode a 21.25" TT and my friend was on a 20.5" TT. The few times I tried his bike, I was almost too cramped to do anything. It was a crazy feeling. That said, he was the same height as me, and he rode it all day without complaint.
I was actually curious what size top tube you were riding (not that I know your height)... I finished my BMX life on a 2-Hip Chromoly Pork which I was actually racing and winning with. I picked up a cheap racing bike from Source last year to try racing with my son and got him a used We The People, funny how different they feel from just a few geomotry changes. I don't know how they stand up today but I kinda wanna search out an old S&M or Standard from back in the day.
I didn't believe tt length made as much difference as it did until I went from a tiny little 20.3 to my HUGE 21.15 with a 13.7 CS. Now I'm Ordering a new frame for street and likely going to a 20.75 with a 12.7 so I can relearn spins a little easier and spend this whole season looping out at Mt. Edward lolol
As a shorter dude that rode bmx bikes a long time: Yep. It matters a ton. 20.5" vs 20.75" was enough that it messed with me. I ended up preferring 20.25". Glad to see you back in bmx action!
@@TheSasquatchNation I'm 5'6" but with a longer torso so shorter arms/legs. I've always preferred a shorter bike; back when I started bmx and when I had to stop around 8 years ago. I was a ramp and street guy, too, so I wanted the agility. If my body were more proportional or any taller overall I'd have probably preferred something a little larger...especially if I were into going faster and boosting more. I liked to go high and I liked tables/turndowns/flowy lines but I was just as interested in jibby tricks so I went with and ended up preferring the little shorter frame.
If I plan to use both a bmx bike and a full suspension bike, will transferring over skill and technique from the full suspension to the bmx be too different?
Just saw a Sunday Scout 20.75" on Offerup for $200 and debating if I should buy it. I don't ride much, but I want one to learn basics as I can't bunny hop my hard tail and figured it's a good way to learn. Plus, it's a pretty green color. 😁
I have a 20.5 and a little short maybe but I share with the kids so it seems fine. They built a new skate park close enough to go and ride on my lunch break and still have time to eat food 🥑
does ANY frame size matter.. I ride whatever.. having a small 29er beside a large 700c and a large 26" vintage MTB.. the 29er being the tallest of the crew. recently sold my small norco indie 4... I ran a longer seatpost and stem. big bike. sized it back down to sell it... liked the BMX feel of the low top tube.
I just built up a 26" bmx/ rigid dj but, coming from mtb I'm getting rocked. Headaches and such from, presumably, continuous, mild head or neck trauma. How the hell do you ride these things smoothly at all. I get that there's a time commitment necessary to adapt, but Jesus. My full squish is looking damn good right now haha
Without front suspension you are probably taking all the shocks. In a rough section of track, I’ve got virtually no weight forward on the bars, holding the bars pretty loose, letting them vibrate. If you deathgrip or lock your elbows on a rigid it’s going to hurt. Decent lock on grips and gloves help with confidence. Maybe try banging up and down road kerbs to feel out unweighting the bars, shifting your weight back, and using your arms and knees to become one with your bike.
This is the most honest and accurate video on the topic of top tube size. Does it matter? "Yes. Until it doesn't"
I used to run a 20.5 top tube and am 5' 7" tall. I more recently started riding a 21-inch top tube and noticed the difference. Since I ride many mountain bikes, I wanted a BMX bike that didn't take me as long to adjust to.
Is the difference was very bad ? I am same tall of you and thinking to get kink frame 21" inch
Now i am on 20.5" frame
sure, the tt matters, but i'd say not as much as we make it to matter. according to the frame size charts, many pros don't follow the sizing, some go up some go down. i personally prefer larger tt frames even as a street rider. besides the tt, another essential spec is the cs length because that makes an even bigger impact on how the bmx feels that the tt. also the steepness of the ht angle (a 75 degree feels completely different than a 75.5 degree). but in the end, the size of a tt is more of a personal thing than anything else.
i think for street it wont matter much, but for flatland it can change everything and some tricks are almost impossible with a longer 21"+ frame. But then again, depends on your height
1:55 top load stem and bigger bars also make a massive difference. I say top tube does matter, but some other things on the frame make huge differences too like head tube angle, bottom bracket height, and chain stay length. Or maybe you like to do more tailwhips/tricks that involve stepping over the bike, seat tube length makes a big difference too. I'm not too familiar with your BMX skillset as I've been watching your other videos about retro MTBs, so this was a surprise. haha
I checked your instagram. You rip. That's sick
I like BMX bikes.
Bike geometry always makes my head spin. I hope that means I’m learning.
Back when I only rode BMX, I rode a 21.25" TT and my friend was on a 20.5" TT. The few times I tried his bike, I was almost too cramped to do anything. It was a crazy feeling. That said, he was the same height as me, and he rode it all day without complaint.
I was actually curious what size top tube you were riding (not that I know your height)... I finished my BMX life on a 2-Hip Chromoly Pork which I was actually racing and winning with. I picked up a cheap racing bike from Source last year to try racing with my son and got him a used We The People, funny how different they feel from just a few geomotry changes. I don't know how they stand up today but I kinda wanna search out an old S&M or Standard from back in the day.
Thank you for answering my questions
I didn't believe tt length made as much difference as it did until I went from a tiny little 20.3 to my HUGE 21.15 with a 13.7 CS. Now I'm Ordering a new frame for street and likely going to a 20.75 with a 12.7 so I can relearn spins a little easier and spend this whole season looping out at Mt. Edward lolol
As someone with little interest in bmx this was actually very interesting. I’m almost finished the gt, hope to see you at mt edwards soon
As a shorter dude that rode bmx bikes a long time:
Yep. It matters a ton.
20.5" vs 20.75" was enough that it messed with me. I ended up preferring 20.25".
Glad to see you back in bmx action!
How tall are you? I’m 5’8 and I’m considering a 20.25.
@@TheSasquatchNation I'm 5'6" but with a longer torso so shorter arms/legs.
I've always preferred a shorter bike; back when I started bmx and when I had to stop around 8 years ago. I was a ramp and street guy, too, so I wanted the agility.
If my body were more proportional or any taller overall I'd have probably preferred something a little larger...especially if I were into going faster and boosting more. I liked to go high and I liked tables/turndowns/flowy lines but I was just as interested in jibby tricks so I went with and ended up preferring the little shorter frame.
@@DontWorryImAPilot awesome bro, thanks for the reply. Food for thought. 🤙
yup, the better I got over the years the smaller my frame got as well
Your green bike probably also feels smaller because of the front load stem and noticeably smaller rise bars. Just throwing that out there.
The American in me had to suppress shouting at the screen when I heard an apology for switching back to inches. Lol.
Hey! Are you okay? You were putting out so many videos, now it's been so long. I miss your show!
If I plan to use both a bmx bike and a full suspension bike, will transferring over skill and technique from the full suspension to the bmx be too different?
I'm on a full size dirt bike and a bmx with 21 top tube and it is a good combo. It may take a minute to find your groove.
100% yes! But, so does the headtube angle, bb height and back end length
Just saw a Sunday Scout 20.75" on Offerup for $200 and debating if I should buy it. I don't ride much, but I want one to learn basics as I can't bunny hop my hard tail and figured it's a good way to learn.
Plus, it's a pretty green color. 😁
Does BMX frame size even matter?
YES.
I have a 20.5 and a little short maybe but I share with the kids so it seems fine. They built a new skate park close enough to go and ride on my lunch break and still have time to eat food 🥑
does ANY frame size matter..
I ride whatever.. having a small 29er beside a large 700c and a large 26" vintage MTB.. the 29er being the tallest of the crew.
recently sold my small norco indie 4... I ran a longer seatpost and stem. big bike. sized it back down to sell it... liked the BMX feel of the low top tube.
What happened to your Sunday BMX?
I just built up a 26" bmx/ rigid dj but, coming from mtb I'm getting rocked. Headaches and such from, presumably, continuous, mild head or neck trauma. How the hell do you ride these things smoothly at all. I get that there's a time commitment necessary to adapt, but Jesus. My full squish is looking damn good right now haha
Without front suspension you are probably taking all the shocks. In a rough section of track, I’ve got virtually no weight forward on the bars, holding the bars pretty loose, letting them vibrate. If you deathgrip or lock your elbows on a rigid it’s going to hurt. Decent lock on grips and gloves help with confidence. Maybe try banging up and down road kerbs to feel out unweighting the bars, shifting your weight back, and using your arms and knees to become one with your bike.