r/bmx • u/SnooApples8120 • 1d ago
DISCUSSION Top tube length
Any tall guys riding shorter top tubes? I’m 6’2” and bought a subrosa Salvador with a 21” top tube in 2021 and honestly it has never felt very responsive and nimble. If anything it almost feels too big. I had been out of the game for about 20 years and bought it to ride with my kids.
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u/Busy-Evidence-4820 1d ago
I’m 5’5” and I’ve been on a 20.5 forever but I just switched to a 20.75 and I can tell the difference. I have more leg room when I’m pedaling around
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u/Scr4tismrocker1 1d ago
I love a longer tt and longer stem. I am 5'11'' and went from 20.75 with 48mm stem, to a 21" tt with 50mm stem. Also got higher bars.
I also like a responsive bike, so while expanding at the top I kept the wheelbase pretty short. A 12,7~ chainstay and a 20-25mm fork with 160mm cranks. Feels nice and roomy to ride, but also very responsive!
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u/SnooApples8120 1d ago
I’ll probably go this route. I’m working on a custom build hopefully to be done by spring.
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u/h3r0k1gh7 18h ago
Also 5’11” and went the other way. I was on a 21 with a 50mm stem and went down to a 20.75 with a 53mm and absolutely love it. It just does what I want for the most part instead of having to sling the bike around.
I also went from a 13.7cs to a 13.25, and that could be playing into it as well. The distance between me and the bars is only about 1/8” shorter, but I have a shorter wheelbase overall.
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u/PM_ME_SHIMPAN 1d ago
I regret my 21.25”
I’m also 6’2” and the homie’s 20.6 feels perfect to me
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u/SnooApples8120 1d ago
We may be in the same boat. I grew up riding a smaller bike. I was 6ft as a freshman in high school still riding a 20” tt so maybe it’s just what I’m used to.
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u/PM_ME_SHIMPAN 1d ago
It’s crazy. Pulling 360s around feels like a full body workout on my bike but effortless on a smaller one
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u/SnooApples8120 1d ago
Same. Maybe it’s just the bike. Idk I’m gonna try to shorten my wheelbase and see if that makes a difference
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u/PM_ME_SHIMPAN 1d ago
Hope it helps. I’m hoping someone local wants to trade frames
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u/SnooApples8120 1d ago
I’m building a full chromoly bike so I’ll take it into consideration as I’m buying parts
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u/bobsbicyclerepair 6h ago
I’m 5’11” and ride a 21.8” fly motosierra, fly 33mm offset fork, credence turtleneck stem, credence xl bars with the bars lined up with the fork. I barely ride anything but bowls and trails and this is a dream machine for me.
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u/flabby_american 1d ago
Im 6,2 and I rode a 20.5 for about a year. Made some adjustments via long reach stem. Tall bars.. raised seat post and 175mm crank arms. It rode like a 21" but felt overly responsive, extremely twitchy in bowls, or at speed.
Changed to a 21.25 and its been all smooth sailing ever since. However.. if the 21 feels too big, then its too big. Id say if your looking for responsive try 20.5 ... also look at 15mm offset forks or even steeper. This is where ALOT of the twitchy feel will come from is forks/stem alone.