BMX Pro XL

BMX Pro XL: reach without losing agility

The Pro XL answers one precise need: the tall, lean rider between 172 and 183 cm who feels cramped on a Pro frame but does not want the bulk of an XXL. Half an inch more top tube, chainstays a touch longer, and the bike finds its balance again out of the gate and on landing.

Where the line runs with the neighbouring sizes

All of these sizes run 20 inch wheels on 406 rims. The bands overlap on purpose: measure your reach with the arms out and the torso low rather than going by height alone. Below 172 cm with a short torso, the BMX Pro stays sharper; past 183 cm, or as soon as the saddle ends up right at the back of its rails, look at the BMX Pro XXL.

Why length on its own is not enough

Stretching a frame moves the centre of gravity rearward: the front wheel lifts more readily and the bike grows lazy turning into a berm. Makers answer by closing the head angle slightly and raising the shell. That balancing act, particular to each brand, is why two frames with the same top tube do not ride the same. When comparing models, write down bottom bracket height and chainstay length: those two numbers describe the character of a bike far better than the top tube alone.

The markers of a Pro XL frame

• Top tube of 21" to 21.25", varying with the model year
• 20 inch wheel on a 406 rim, tyre from 20x1.50 to 20x1.75
• Cranks of 175 to 177.5 mm on a three-piece crankset
• Euro, Mid or Spanish shell, to check before buying any crankset
• Rear axle of 10 or 20 mm, hub in 28 or 36 holes
• Chainstays a little longer, to keep the rear wheel pinned to the ground

Stability or drive: setting the balance

A rider racing fast tracks with long straights benefits from generous chainstays and a settled wheelbase. One who links tight corners and short sprints prefers a compact rear triangle, livelier off the mark. The same trade-off returns on the cranks: 177.5 mm add torque at low speed, 175 mm let the legs spin faster once past the hill.

Setting up the cockpit

Once the frame is chosen, the stem becomes the fine adjustment: 45 mm to bring the torso back, 55 mm to open the reach out. The handlebar, between 720 and 737 mm — 73.7 cm being the UCI maximum (rule 6.1.075) —, follows shoulder width and rarely transfers from one rider to another; trimming is for aluminium only, a carbon bar is never cut down. More rise lifts the back and eases the lower spine over long gate sessions.

The brands in Pro XL

Meybo carries its Dutch geometries across the whole range, from learning model to race build. Chase builds its frames in triple-butted 6061-T6 aluminium. Inspyre develops and tests in France, with several finish levels in this size. Supercross concentrates on gate-start behaviour, while Pride and Stay Strong hold the top segment. Reading the geometry sheets brand by brand remains the only way to decide.

The BMX RACING advice

Send us your height, your inside leg and the kind of tracks you race: we arbitrate between the three neighbouring sizes and confirm cranks, bar width and stem length before shipping. Every size is grouped in the BMX bikes and frames section. Dispatched within 24 to 72 hours, you can spread the cost over 2 or 3 payments.

Three neighbouring sizes compete for taller riders; our guide to BMX race sizing shows how to separate them from two measurements.