Start with what you want to do
Before thinking about size, think about type. Bikes built for tricks are designed around particular kinds of riding, and the right size for one is not necessarily right for another. A compact, strong frame made for street and park riding behaves differently from a longer, more stable one made for jumps. Choosing a bike with your intended style in mind is often more important than choosing a particular brand or colour, and it avoids buying a bike that works against you.
This is general information. Sizing differs between manufacturers and countries, so use it as a starting point and check with a shop or the maker’s size guide. Whatever bike you ride, wear a helmet and suitable protection and practise in a safe, flat, traffic-free place.
Common trick bike types
BMX bikes. These are small, strong and simple, usually with a single gear and often with 20-inch wheels, although some riders choose larger wheels for comfort or for cruising. The short frame makes them easy to lift, turn and move around, which is why they are so widely used for park, street and flatland riding. Setup details are covered under BMX bike setup, and general technique in BMX bike skills.
Dirt jump bikes. Often built like a stronger, more compact mountain bike, usually with a single gear and sometimes a front suspension fork, and often with larger wheels than a BMX. They are intended for jumps and trails rather than for pedalling over distance. Many riders choose them because the longer frame can feel more stable at speed in the air and on landings.
Mountain bikes. Not designed specifically for tricks, but plenty of people learn basic skills on one. A mountain bike is heavier and longer than a BMX and can suit gentle skills practice such as balance drills; discussion of mountain bike tricks is separate.
Track or fixed-gear bikes. These are very different: light frames, often a fixed gear and, depending on the setup, limited or no brakes. They are not recommended as a first trick bike. Anyone using one should read about fixed-gear tricks carefully and ensure the bike has proper, legal braking for where they ride.
Road and hybrid bikes. Fine for learning balance, braking and cornering, but not built for the shocks of jumps and drops. Using one for hard landings risks damaging the frame or wheels.
If you are unsure what suits you, our notes on bike choice for stunts explain why different bikes handle differently.
How size is usually described
BMX sizing is commonly given by top tube length, which is the length of the tube running between the seat area and the head tube. Mountain and dirt jump frames more often use size labels such as small, medium and large, or frame sizes in inches or centimetres, but these labels vary between makers. Frame size choice depends on your height, arm and leg length and flexibility, as well as how you like to ride.
A few general principles tend to hold:
- Shorter riders and children usually do better on smaller frames, but a bike that is too small can feel cramped.
- A longer frame is often more stable at speed but harder to turn and lift.
- Taller riders may prefer a longer top tube so they have room to move, though what feels right varies widely.
- Standing over the bike and moving around on it tells you more than a chart.
For young riders, see kids bike fit, since growing children outgrow bikes quickly and an oversized bike is not safer, just harder to control.
How a poor fit makes falls more likely
An ill-fitting trick bike can cause problems in several ways:
- Too large: You cannot get your weight back or over the bike easily. Your reach to the bars is long, which can make steering heavy and slow, and standing over the top tube may leave little clearance if you slip off the pedals.
- Too small: Your knees and elbows crowd the bars and frame, leaving little room to absorb landings, and the bike can feel unstable at speed.
- Wrong type: A bike not built for impacts may flex, crack or lose parts under a landing it was never designed for.
- Wrong cockpit: Bars too tall, short or wide for you change leverage and reach, which affects balance and control.
None of these guarantees a fall, but they take away margin that you may need when something unexpected happens.
Buying or borrowing a trick bike
Used bikes are common in this area, and they can be a good, affordable way in. Look closely at frames for cracks or dents near the welds, and check that wheels spin straight, that cranks and bearings are not loose and that brakes work if the bike has them. If you cannot judge this yourself, ask a bike shop or an experienced rider to look it over. Our general advice on the pre-ride routine for trick bikes helps afterwards.
If you borrow a bike, check that the size is close enough for you to ride it safely. Do not try new tricks on a borrowed bike you are not used to.
Let a shop help
A good shop can compare a few sizes with you, check that cranks and bars are set sensibly and advise on whether a particular frame suits the style you have in mind. Tell them what you plan to do, whether park riding, dirt jumps or simple balance skills, so they can suggest something suitable.
Remember that the best-fitting bike still does not make a risky trick safe. Tricks such as flips and tailwhips belong with qualified instruction at a skills park, not at home. For everything else, a bike that suits both you and the riding you do gives you better control and a better chance of progressing in small, safe steps.