Tag Archives: 22″ BMX

11.29.18
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Framed Bikes’ new 22″ Defendant priced to fly

Framed Bikes, out of Minnesota, is focused on making fun bikes that aren’t expensive.

This past weekend, they dropped the news on social media that they were going to be adding a 22″ BMX bike called the “Defendant” to their lineup.

The Defendant is available in two trim levels, an entry level high-ten (frame/fork) version and a Pro version with a full cro-mo frame and fork.

The crazy thing is that even though it is dubbed the “Pro” version –and is full cro-mo with sealed components (minus the looseball headset)..it currently retails for the decidely non-pro price of just under $320 US.

Wow.

That is very a good price for a full cro-mo complete.

Now the full geo hasn’t been posted yet (most notably the head angle and seat angle) but what has been posted is looking pretty promising:

  • Top Tube: 22″
  • Seat Tube: 10.5″
  • Chain Stay: 14.5″
  • Bottom Bracket Height: 12.5″

Not too shabby.

In the clip below, Brandon (from Framed Bikes) does a walk through of the 22″ Defendant, showcasing some of the key features and explaining some of the thinking behind the bike.

Keep in mind, Framed Bikes is a direct-to-consumer outfit so you won’t be able to hit up your regular bike shop or mail order for one of these. They are only available via framedbikes.com or the-house.com.

 

At this price-point, I think we’re going to see even more people taking the plunge and experimenting with 22″ bikes…and that’s a good thing in my books.

 

10.29.18
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Another 22″ convert

Chris Rantell is another convert to the 22″ movement.

Chris is a BMXer from way back and has done his time with 20″, 24″ and 26″ bikes.

Sunday even featured him on their site doing a Wallride on a Sunday Model C during the 420 Jam a few years back.

Despite being able to shred on all those sizes of bikes…apparently something was still missing.

According to Chris:

  26 was more cruiser based but the 24 was meant to be a bmx bike and it just never felt like it to me. 

The 22 on the other hand?

  First time I got on it it 180’d perfect. 24 hop stuff is hard. Top tubes on most [22s] are also around 22 which gives more foot clearance. Honestly it really truly felt like just a scaled-up bmx and I just felt like my back is straighter. 

Chris documented some of his first session of really riding his 22″ at Joyride 150 bike park (see below) a few days ago.

As the clips show it looks like the 22″ hits the right spot for his height and riding style.

Hope to see more 22″ clips from this guy.

07.18.18
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Did Lew foresee the 22″ phenomenon?

In a recent Instagram post talking about the R&D on the 2019 Verde Spectrum 22 (photo below), Scott Towne dropped an interesting tidbit/soundbite.

Apparently, Mark “Lew” Lewman (of Freestylin’ magazine fame) floated the idea of a 22″ bike to Chris Moeller (of S&M) more than 20 years ago!

Back then, Lew was a lanky magazine editor that rode one of the larger 20″ bikes of the time, the Redline RL-20II.

According to Scott:

It should be noted that Mark Lewman, AKA Lew AKA @superlewman proposed the idea for an “in-between” sized bike with “maybe 22-inch wheels” as a new concept to Chris Moeller in the mid-1990s, but it just wasn’t yet the time. Lew was always ahead of the curve.

I guess the BMX world wasn’t ready then.

We sure are now.

10.30.17
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OS20 tires mounted on 22″ rims

Ever since Chris Moeller dropped word (in July of last year) that a 22″X1.95 tire from S&M was in the works, I’ve been waiting in eager anticipation for it to drop.

Well, it’s been more than a year and we’re still waiting.

No doubt when these hit the market they’ll be a hot item for riders wanting a slimmer tire for racing, lower rotational weight or smaller size (if only to slip under the wheel height race rules).

But in the meantime…you could follow the lead of Rickard at ORP BMX.

He’s experimenting with mounting OS20 tires onto 22″Revenge rims.

According to ORP, “ it’s hard, real hard” to mount OS20 tires on the Revenge rims.

But as you can see from the pictures, definitely do-able.

Wonder how many racers are going to try out this mod…