Top Tube length.

Was running 20.5 for a year and bought a new frame with a 20.6 top tube and I just love it.

Pretty much always had 21", considering going to 21.25" on my next frame.

I'm 6' 2" and have always felt comfy on a 20.75

20.7-20.8 with a shorter back end. 20.5 with a longer back end. I prefer the longer top tube paired with the short back end gives me some room for certain tricks. That being said i have rode a 20.4 short back end frame and it felt good as well.

I'm 6.1' and I ride a 21.5" frame (69° seat tube, so it feels 21.25") because I am tall and I like a roomy bike, so I feel more solid and stable on tricks and everything, for a quick feel, I look for short chainstays (tall guy short chainstays like 13.5" or 13.25") or high BB. (even I have never ride anything else than 11.5")

My old frame was the same geo but with a 21" top tube, I was feeling cramped and bars too far forward (to earn room) nosedive like shit, it can be scary.
For my next one I'll go a bit bigger.

I'm running 20.75 currently, I had a 20.6 BSD Frame and normally ran the Chainstay on that full slammed at 12.8, I've also owned a 20.8 United Mothership v2, before my mothership frame was a 20.75 Fit Wifi

I've tried a 21 inch top tube frame before, I owned my mothership v2 but also got a 21 inch Eastern Codec Frame as well, I sold the Codec after a short while because the 21 was a bit too long for me with the chainstay length it had.

Loving my 21.25 makes Moto whips and turndowns feel nice

Almost anything 21.5"+

Daniel Dhers wrote:

What's your favorite top tube length and why? I use 20.25 because I like to be able to have a quicker whip and spin. How about ...more

Daniel Dhers wrote:

What's your favorite top tube length and why? I use 20.25 because I like to be able to have a quicker whip and spin. How about you guys?

Just curious, how tall are you Dhers? Isn't a 20.25 really small?



Currently I am 6 ft 1 and am running a 20.9 but getting a new frame soon which is most likely going to be a 21 inch soundwave v2.

Of course, I have tried riding smaller and bigger frames on other peoples bikes, but I think smaller frames are too cramped for me and feel too unstable.

For me anything close to 21 is just a perfect balance of responsiveness, a stable bike and space.

I am 6 ft 1 by the way.

IMO, top tube length isn't as important as overall geo.
Anyways, I ride a Verde with a 20.5. Love Verde geo.

I think the real question here is how is Daniel Dhers going to respond to Ryan Taylor's washed up video , I still watch the Daniel Dhers video of him mocking nyquist in the foam pit , that videos gold

20.7 is good for me, always felt comfy and have a nice short backend and steep headtube with a low standover. But as long as a frame has a nice low standover and steeper headtube, it usually works fine. I recently went from a 13.75 backend to a 12.8 which is a huge change and I really dig the shorter feel.

I'm more into jumps and airs and flow, so to me it's 21 but I'm considering moving up a notch, maybe 21.25 ou even 21.5 with a somewhat medium rear, like a 13.75.

This is for all the kids who never have a laugh
Daniel Dhersquist

eskimojay wrote:

This is for all the kids who never have a laugh
Daniel Dhersquist

eskimojay wrote:

This is for all the kids who never have a laugh
Daniel Dhersquist

Dude, this is my one of my favorite videos in BMX! Daniel's a legend, hahah.

I run 20.5" and I'll be on it for a long time. Short, but not too small. I love it! Ride park like 90% of the time.

#WashedUp

Im 5' 11" and I've always been more of a "jumper", so I've liked long and tall geometry on my frames (21"TT 13.875" CS 9"SO). That said, I bent my dropouts this summer and ground them down to get a 13.375" CS (slammed) and I like it. So...yeah, 21".

Seck wrote:

Just curious, how tall are you Dhers? Isn't a 20.25 really small?



Currently I am 6 ft 1 and am running a 20.9 but getting a ...more

Seck wrote:

Just curious, how tall are you Dhers? Isn't a 20.25 really small?



Currently I am 6 ft 1 and am running a 20.9 but getting a new frame soon which is most likely going to be a 21 inch soundwave v2.

Of course, I have tried riding smaller and bigger frames on other peoples bikes, but I think smaller frames are too cramped for me and feel too unstable.

For me anything close to 21 is just a perfect balance of responsiveness, a stable bike and space.

I am 6 ft 1 by the way.

Im 5'7 and I used to ride a 20.5, one day I saw John Heaton used to ride a 20" and he was an average side dude so I tried it and it made my life easier in an era bikes were 30-40 pounds to whip around. Later on I needed a bit more room so I jumped to 20.25 and now I have just played with the back end size. However, I tried every size up to 21 and although it felt good for certain things it made it harder for me to do certain things in my style of riding.

You are a really tall dude though, I can see 21 being your answer. I was just curious if anybody rode small frames anymore.

eskimojay wrote:

I think the real question here is how is Daniel Dhers going to respond to Ryan Taylor's washed up video , I still watch the ...more

eskimojay wrote:

I think the real question here is how is Daniel Dhers going to respond to Ryan Taylor's washed up video , I still watch the Daniel Dhers video of him mocking nyquist in the foam pit , that videos gold

Ooooohhhhh, just wait I have a few more weeks of traveling until I can film but retaliation is due.

Daniel Dhers wrote:

What's your favorite top tube length and why? I use 20.25 because I like to be able to have a quicker whip and spin. How about ...more

Daniel Dhers wrote:

What's your favorite top tube length and why? I use 20.25 because I like to be able to have a quicker whip and spin. How about you guys?

Hay que tener mucho cuidado al responder y especificar en cuanto al tamaño de un tubo, no vaya a salir un chinazo por ahi

I'm riding a 19.75 it's perfect for me riding park and flatland. Makes me feel in control and ready to zip around. May go back to a 20 though.

I'm 5'11.

5' 10" and ride a 20.5 currently with 75 ht 13.5 rear end but currently waiting on a new frame that will come in 20.5tt with 75.75 ht 12.75 rear. Love a short frame haven't really ran into any issues riding one and they are far more responsive

adamnmexican wrote:

I'm riding a 19.75 it's perfect for me riding park and flatland. Makes me feel in control and ready to zip around. May go back ...more

adamnmexican wrote:

I'm riding a 19.75 it's perfect for me riding park and flatland. Makes me feel in control and ready to zip around. May go back to a 20 though.

I'm 5'11.

Wow that's short for how tall you are but I guess doing flatland as well would feel good to be tighter. I think If I rode flatland I would go with a 19.5

Swonder wrote:

5' 10" and ride a 20.5 currently with 75 ht 13.5 rear end but currently waiting on a new frame that will come in 20.5tt with ...more

Swonder wrote:

5' 10" and ride a 20.5 currently with 75 ht 13.5 rear end but currently waiting on a new frame that will come in 20.5tt with 75.75 ht 12.75 rear. Love a short frame haven't really ran into any issues riding one and they are far more responsive

I feel like for your height that's pretty close to what I ride. I have a 76 HT and 12.75 backend.

adamnmexican wrote:

I'm riding a 19.75 it's perfect for me riding park and flatland. Makes me feel in control and ready to zip around. May go back ...more

adamnmexican wrote:

I'm riding a 19.75 it's perfect for me riding park and flatland. Makes me feel in control and ready to zip around. May go back to a 20 though.

I'm 5'11.

Daniel Dhers wrote:

Wow that's short for how tall you are but I guess doing flatland as well would feel good to be tighter. I think If I rode ...more

Daniel Dhers wrote:

Wow that's short for how tall you are but I guess doing flatland as well would feel good to be tighter. I think If I rode flatland I would go with a 19.5

I occasionally ride ramps with it too.

Have you considered front brakes?

20.75 currently, prefer 21, 6 feet tall.

Dhersquist video is awesome!

I'm 5'8 or 5'9 and ride a 20.7 and switch off from a 20.5 sometimes with a 45mm stem and small bars (frontload 8.25x28.5) which I find makes whips and bars a lot easier. I do have a 20.2 with a 74.5 ht and 13.1 cs it spun so fast. I've tried about every size out of the main ones and 20.6 to 20.7 has been my favorite. But generally I still ride a small bike with a low seat and try to keep it fairly light especially the wheels.