I've a got a question that hopefully one of you guys with more experience can help me with. I am interested in building up a BMX bike to mess around on. I'd like to hit some street, dirt and park. I'm an older guy (35, 6'2", 180) and my last BMX was a 03 MOSH Brass 4Star that I sold off a few years ago when I got married.

Anyway, I'm looking at an S&M Dirtbike, the 20" comes with a 21"TT and the 24" crusier comes with a 21.75"TT. I'm guessing I could make either one of these frames work. However, the 20" frame/fork is $100 cheaper and quality 20" parts seem easier to come by.

I guess my question is, being a taller rider, do I go for the 20" or 24" model? I'm thinking with taller bars the 20" plenty big.

Thoughts? Opinions?

Thanks!

You can make a 20" fit just about anyone. Go for it. Plus, the smaller wheels/frame/fork/etc shaves off a few ounces, and because its all tucked a little closer together, is that much easier to throw all over the place.

Thanks Street Rider, that's exactly what I was thinking as I was comparing the 2 frame sets. Gonna most likely go with the 20" for sure.

Sounds good man. S&M makes some really good stuff. And Matt Beringer. I mean c'mooooooon.

I'm about your age (36) and about your weight, although a few inches shorter. I have both a 20" and a 24" BMX, so I'll try to explain some of the differences (in my opinion):


The 20” is a FIT S3.5 set up with a 25mm spacer under the stem, a FIT DLT stem, and Odyssey Lumber Jack handlebar. This gives me a lot of rise and is pretty comfy. Overall, it’s a lot like the BMX bike I rode as a teenager. It's not so comfortable for cruising but I can bunny hop it high and it’s extremely agile.


The 24" is a Sunday Wave C with Odyssey Elementary Stem and Odyssey Space Bar.


The 24", at least the Sunday, feels (almost) just like a 20" with everything slightly scaled up. This feels more compatible with my older body. The 24" feels more stable and feels a lot faster. I can bunny hop it easily, although not as high as I can with the 20".
When riding the bigger bike, I often forget that I'm not riding the 20".


The differences between the two bikes only become very noticeable when executing more technical maneuvers. For example, 360's off curbs were awkward at first on the 24", but once I learned them they actually felt more stable on the bigger bike.


Although I can't imagine not owning a 20", If I could only keep one bike; it would probably be the 24". If I was a couple inches taller, like you are, the decision would be even easier. I do spend a lot more time riding the 24".


The difference in weight is too negligible to make a difference. My 20" weighs a 21 or 22 pounds and the bigger bike weighs 23 or 24.


Being a die hard S&M guy, I considered the 24" Dirt Bike. I ultimately settled on the Sunday Wave C, as I thought the geometry would make it ride most like a 20" which turned out to be true.


Let us know what you decide!

I've got a 20 and a 24 also. I'm 38, 6'0" and weigh 185. I ride trails and my local bmx track just for fun. I also enjoy riding these bikes on the boardwalk and around my neighborhood. The 24 is a lot more stable. I get less fatigue riding the 24 for an afternoon than I do on the 20. It's also a more fun bike to ride. Feels substantial under me.

Worth mentioning is that most 24s come factory set up so that the bars are the exact same height as bars on a 20. What they sell as "cruiser bars" typically have 4 inches or so of rise. Not more. It was not until I put some wide 8 inch rise bars on my cruiser and opened up the cockpit that the bike really became fun and super comfortable. Now it's a very different bike than my 20.

I ride my 20 with the seat slammed and my 24 with about 8 inches of post. I can actually pedal while in the saddle on my 24.

One more thing: buy a 20 inch bike and it's yours until you give it away or throw it away. 24 inch cruisers seem to do much better on the resale market.

So.... My appologies to the OP if this seems like I'm jacking your thread. More experience I have not!
Seems like you have gotten your replies to your question though.
I have NO bmx experience, almost 30 yrs of mtn biking but NO bmx. I am 47.
My boys 7 and 13 are hugely into the bmx jump/freestyle thing.
Anyway, I bought a Stolen Saint in order to spend some quality time with my boys.... even though I have no intention of catching big air or doing any backflips, 360s, (my boys get this) they LOVE the fact that I have enough interest in their sport to join them however lamely I do it.
Anyway, I love my 24" bike.....it is SO much fun to ride!
If you think you want a 24" you should get one. Too much fun!

About a year ago, I got back into BMX after a 20-some odd year layoff. I rebuilt my old race bike (a 1985 Free Agent) and started putzing around on that, but at 6'3" and about 240 it was just too small. I test rode a number of "new-school" 20" bikes, focusing on the long top-tube models which are supposed to be "built for big guys like me", but not a single one of them felt stable under me.

Then I test rode a 24" bike and it was perfect. I wound up getting a Mirraco 20Forty (which I've added Sunday bars, stem, and sprocket, Odyssey tires, and an Amber half-link chain) and it's awesome. That said, I'd rather have a Sunday Model C, Stolen Saint or something along those lines with the more progressive geometry.

All of this is just pissing in the wind, though. You need to go ride a bunch of both size bikes, and get the one which feels best to you.

Forgot to mention that I put an 8.625" rise bar and have also settled on about 8 inches of seatpost with the post/seat I put on my Saint.
Works much better for me than the 7.25" rise bar and slammed seat/post combo it came with.