Why BMX Crank Length Matters!

[@sandy_knight]

The main advantages of short cranks in DH and enduro MTB are that 1) it helps with clearance while trying to pedal through rock gardens, 2) a shorter stance with feet closer together means your legs are a bit straighter and can absorb bumps more easily, 3) you can spin faster when you're turning smaller circles and being gravity assisted means you don't need so much torque.

[@djvillan]

Still running my 40 year old 175mm Redline 401 Flight cranks today.

[@makopolosilaulo]

this BMX shop is a paradise to me 😍

[@Camenow]

For real

[@Camenow]

For real

[@tall_times]

I went from 160 to 165 recently and the feeling is WAY different. So much smoother of a pedal too.

[@rabbithole8592]

You riding a 170 now? Is it even smoother? Lol

[@badcommentbot8349]

Lol noob pedo

[@BlowinLoud8799]

How long are your legs

[@fabianlubben216]

4:13 yes you feel the difference i went from 175 to 165 and you feel it, now it feels weird to ride bikes of friends because they al have 175 and it feels like rowing a boat or something

[@romancordova7226]

I've been to all the bmx shops around so cal and the one that knows his shit is phu vu. Epic bmx.....the ones that are giving thumbs down are crappy comments are just haters.if u want your bike done the right way or know the right info trust phu vu he's the only one who gave me the right info about everything! The man knows his shit for real

[@cfmechanic]

Those are digital dial calipers. Micrometer look more like a small clamp with number scales. Both do same job. Maybe premium would be better than aftermarket. Great vid some info I have never considered.

[@kimoarmstrong3519]

That's a Vernier Caliper. Not a micrometer.

[@tonyconrad2895]

There dial calipers. Vernier Calipers are very similar but do not have a dial indicator

[@CNYKnifeNerd]

@@tonyconrad2895 The harbor freight caliper he used, that does not have a dial, isn't a vernier caliper because vernier calipers don't have dials... That's what you're saying, correct?

[@Nick_CF]

Digital automotive calipers

[@WoodResinCustoms]

Those are digital calipers. Dial have a round face and not digital. Vernier have a scaled rule. Machinist of 26 years.

[@leethancarroll5259]

Some parts of the country call calipers micrometers. And they are. To be exact it is a Digital Micrometer Caliper!

[@hollywoodplumbkra8zysrt]

I used 185mm with a 44T upfront and 14T in the rear when I raced, that would give you more top end speed down the straight.

[@davidmaerz2756]

And zero torque off the gate, especially in a short track lol. And the launch is 9/10 of the race. You would be struggling off the line big time with that gearing on a shorter track. You would never top out in time for the first berm. You must have been on a LONG track bud. Biggest I ever raced with was a 46/16. And even on longer tracks that was enough. Your gearing is 62.8 gear inches. 46/16 is 57.5. 44/16 is 55. Like I said, you must have been on a hella long ass track. Cause on the tighter berms , I'd spin over you with my 175s with 46/16, while you are "choppin wood" with 185s with 44/14. With my "smaller" gearing, I'd be running around you. You may have an advantage on the straights if they are long enough. You must have a long leg inseam as well to run 185s. I was choppin wood all day with 185s, even with smaller gearing. No offence. Bitd longer cranks meant better speed, ya top end, but not lower. Longer isn't necessarily better when it comes to cranks. You wanna spin not chop bud.

[@hollywoodplumbkra8zysrt]

@@davidmaerz2756 LOL 😆 Learn how to time a gate drop bro, then you can jump the gate legally and you'll get better starts ...

[@bmxriderforlife1234]

​@@hollywoodplumbkra8zysrt some tracks get pissy at the legal gate jumps. Good plan though. Never understood the light gearing on race bikes.

[@kirstenspencer3630]

The trials folks often use cranks as short as 155mm. For my bikes I find 165 /167.5 mm to be near Ideal for me ( 5'4" ) when our kids were little my husband used shorter cranks on the bmx bikes, they did well and as the kids grew up they then used the 170's / 172.5mm length. Being able to pefay through the corner is a huge help......

[@x88868]

My cranks are 88mm. Good for rock clearance.

[@jeremybayes8730]

Your bike set up and parts size is all preference what you like and how you want your individual bike to feel you don't need to run whatever size of this or that because someone else dose don't be afraid to experiment and try out new parts or a buddy's bike to see if you like how something feels.

[@DirtDigglerDetecting]

Now its no Meter LOL. I thought the glass Broke. GOT ME lmao

[@DirtySk8RatStaney]

I run Profile Racing 3 piece in 160mm, it’s on a dirt jumper so I’m not worried about leverage or speed. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE my cranks too, like hands down my favorite part I’ve bought (close second is my Cult Dak guard sprocket) But what I’ve noticed is it’s easier to spin, and I feel more nimble lol n the bike. Plus you can’t hate on classic Profile cranks!!

[@badcommentbot8349]

Lol noob

[@LuluBejot]

Wow! It is actually a great video 😃, You got a new sub.

[@fathihbmx1330]

Hey bro

[@ioteqkoioi9999]

Crazy how in cycling even a 10mm difference it feels/rides different

[@whitefrost6434]

10mm makes super different

[@klemc7480]

Thank you .i am french and i don't speak engligh but i leasten and yours explications are very good

[@Danny-br3tu]

I feel I have more leverage to bunnyhop higher when I ride a longer frame and longer cranks. I would love to hear Phu and Fredo's thoughts on this, Max and Ethan too. I'm midschool old and got back into street. Bought a Hoder frame and 165 cranks (super light), but couldn't jump high like I used to. Then went up to 170, felt a little better. Just got a longer frame (CULT Walsh) and 175's and it just feels right, I think my feet spaced farther helps with leveraging the backend to snap up. And the longer frame helps to lift up higher and I don't feel like I'm gonna loop out. It's probably different with younger riders since they're used to shorter frames/cranks. I just feel like I'm working harder to bunnyhop on a short frame/cranks.

[@Simon_Lado]

Same, longer cranks gives me more leverage.

[@daynniteism]

That’s interesting, because it’s been said that shorter cranks will let you bunnyhop higher. Try jumping with one foot in front of the other, (without a bike) and the closer together your feet are, the higher you can spring. But maybe it’s different for different people.

[@bmxriderforlife1234]

It's probably just the cranks. Shorter rear end would be easier to scoop up faster. Albeit you need to balance it out cause you can only hop as high as you can get your bars up along with that initial pop. So however high the bars go(which rear end can affect) and then how many inches of vertical pop you get. Perfect scoop and tuck and you get your wheels leveled out maybe rear a bit higher. Too short on the rear end and ir gets hard to pull up as high.

[@bmxriderforlife1234]

​@AndrewBMX there's a trade off. In theory longer crank arms can help with leveraging the rear up. But can hurt you ability to pop vertically before the tuck and scoop. So there's like a sweet spot. Or run a brake and cheat if you run a cassette hub. Although in theory you can hurt your ability to hop and do tricks if you get yourself into bad habits with it.

[@Turtless0875]

Great explanations. It is always nice to listen to Phu talking about specs.

[@mikehagen3785]

Man, I'll do 20 miles on a ride, and since I dont do pegs anymore, I've gotta get away from 170s, get back to 180s like the old days

[@coltc1588]

On some 26' dirt jump frames 170 or 175 can also be too long for doing barspins because of the front foot blocking the rotation. On downhill bikes they use 165 to reduce the chance of hitting a rock or root with your crank/pedal when going at high speeds to prevent going over the bars -> shorter cranks=less material sticking out=more ground clearance

[@eyeseayew189]

I gotta try this for my trail BMX. I currently run 170mm.

[@trickswithjp]

These are my favorite kind of videos

[@HondaVlogs]

When you're at the track, you're locked into the pedals and putting pressure into the gate to stay upright. When the gate drops you have to get to speed from a standstill and sometimes you choose to pull up a bit because your flat to balance. So, the longer your cranks your can get the speed faster because the downhill isn't that long before hitting the first jump. Gearing is also different I think, if you're running a 44/14 or 15 you wanna crank them things.

[@thehomiejuan1306]

What’s your opinion on 44/20 With some mountain bike cranks

[@eyeseayew189]

@@thehomiejuan1306 slow AF

[@keam210tx]

Foo hair so slick he cranked this vid out with the quickness

[@AlfredoMancuso]

you caught that!

[@keam210tx]

Man…been watching steadily for a min and comment when I can…if you know you know

[@GeeCee-rr5hk]

...And in pretty much any cycling discipline other than freestyle bmx and downhill Mtb, I’m pretty sure crank length should be determined by the length of the rider’s femur (knee directly above the pedal;seated)

[@BlackDog1248]

Do a video on brake adjustments 👍

[@Destructiful]

Tell Brandonand dem to come back to vloggin bro fr

[@ReaperRed55]

160mm on Enduro MTB for a more balanced and smooth snappy crank feel. 180mm on BMX for larger stance for locked in feel and long crank stroke. 6ft tall L/XL MTB, 20.75” BMX. +10mm has a noticeable feel in my experience. Confidence in your stance is confidence in your performance

[@OfficialMouaStar]

Size always matters!

[@lukeboehmer5790]

No it’s the Motion in the ocean😂

[@sickofthebs93]

I'm more like motion with lotion lol

[@johnjachens7103]

😂😂

[@johnjachens7103]

Both of you are right

[@slickone777]

Pause

[@faisalroslss7144]

Its a vernier caliper not micrometer. Anyway, what pros or cons does one spindle diameter have over another?

[@1mKritical]

Brett Banasiewicz was running 170mm on the front and 165mm on the back to help with whips

[@General_Loco]

Aftermarket parts are parts not readily found on stock models from the factory.

[@gr3m777]

First of all, not a micrometer, that’s just a digital caliper, second, as a fat old guy who hasn’t rode a bike in five years, I 1000%support going to shorter cranks for my knees sake, my crap ass stock cranks are 175s, I recently bought the fit blunt 160s, there is a night and day difference in comfort. If I could find some adult strength 150s I would totally buy them. And it makes sense, take your feet and stand with them comfortably in a normal bike position, or even just take a normal length step, when you look at it it’s not like a running stride where it’s a long distance, it’s probably less than 30 inches, when we’re talking about a small distance like that taking 15 mm off each arm is 30 mm off your entire step, and comparatively speaking we’re talking about 5 to 10% of a change which is huge it just doesn’t seem like it because we’re talking about such a small number

[@wenndann5708]

My problem with the length of my crank, is my height. I am a tall guy and have some big feets, so I am touching my pegs with my heels. Shorter cranks are fixing it, at least I hope. Looking for 160mm crank right now.

[@tylerdonald2034]

Long cranks are less tiring to pedal with because there is more leverage every pedal stroke so more power is put into every crank so you need to pedal less

[@mambocowboy]

Phu dropping knowledge!

[@scottb553]

for racing the cranks go by the riders inseam

[@revvolutionz]

So excite

[@jalex472]

Alfredo You gotta do a tutorial on vader slides or vader jams. Such a sick trick but not much good tutorials for it. We need a in depth version

[@hafablake3599]

Gosh I need that primo biscuit seat in tan sooooo bad.

[@Softballcrazy]

Is there a relationship between crank length and tire size? As it pertains to bmx racing: cruisers, dirt jumpers w/26” wheels

[@AlfredoMancuso]

There’s no direct correlation we can think of

[@eyeseayew189]

Crank length, sprocket teeth number, and tire size all have an effect altogether.

[@Michael-ri2eh]

It's it called a stride because its like a longer step

[@88sstraight]

Shorter cranks are easier on my old knees, not a BMX rider but I run 165s on all my bikes and I’m over 5’10”

[@x88868]

I run 88mm cranks. Good for clearance.

[@mambocowboy]

125 mm on my Flatland. Big feet plus short back end requires short cranks

[@myloopooping]

You told me to unsubscribe so I subscribed. Fight the system!!! Thanks for the great vids

[@AlfredoMancuso]

👍🏻👍🏻

[@brucemcelroy3186]

3:52 is a caliper, holmes.

[@Junior-fd8ux]

Veira caliber is what you were using an does the job

[@joshsaeedi1005]

The measuring tool is called a vernier or calliper lol x

[@localdude2979]

Im a shorty, 175mm is too big for me and it makes it hard to do the backwards movement on a cassete hub so I figured out a 165mm could be my perfect size, I bought 170mm cranks to try and see if they are more confortable or if they still feel too long for mw

[@soots-stayingoutofthespotl5495]

What was your conclusion?

[@cecilhunnicutt7053]

What about 165 though for someone that likes to ride street park and trail? Is that still a recommendation you would make

[@cglasford1]

Standard MTB has gone from 175 standard to 170 standard and DH is running 165 because there isn't much pedaling but Road Cyclists have also gone to 165 because it has been shown that seated pedaling aka spinning is more efficient with shorter cranks. I personally cannot tell a difference on the BMX bike while pedaling because you are standing and pedaling. I can tell if the bike has pegs or you are doing X ups or bar spins, if the frame is shorter. I think that more trail riders run the longer cranks because that is the more common size for BMX racing and most of us come from a BMX race background and don't run pegs, have longer top tubes and longer rear ends so we are not having issues with our foot hitting the peg or tire hitting our foot. As I said earlier its not easy to tell the crank length when standing an pedaling. That said I do think it all plays a factor in general stability and balance when going fast as well as your ability to do spins.

[@nickrulli7378]

I had a problems back in the day with 175mm doing bar spins off jumps tire would hit the tip of my shoe. I also rode left foot forward and grind on my right side. Maybe that was the problem? Lol I dunno

[@dethgripco]

i've noticed that frames from WTP rear end are getting shorter that some riders are going down to 160 cranks. also, that their new frames have higher head tube height that they are going back to frontload to compensate for that rise in head tube. one reason that i can't switch to a WTP frame because i've slammed and cut my steerer tube already and just bought a new bar and stem. switching to a WTP frame will mess up my current preferred front geometry. that will force me to buy a new fork, and either a new bar or a new stem or both.

[@RoachDogggJR]

Fit shortcut frame features a 12.4 back end. Straight fuckery. I thought my og wifi with a 13.1 was short in its day

[@dethgripco]

@@RoachDogggJR yeah. Shortcut kept it pushing shorter. Just wondering how short they are going to push it even more. If i remember right, when fly tiera came out, everybody thought it was too short. Now look where were at now.

[@smokedogg421420]

is the tune in the back round iphone alarm ??????? lol

[@hellosergioa]

Epic Bmx is my go to spot 🤙

[@phuongv5944]

WHERE IS THE SHOP AT STOLEN PART . ?

[@pauljames1978]

Over the years I’ve gone from 180s on my race bike to 175 on my s&m pbr to 165s on the Bmx I’ve got now backends have got shorter over the years 🙌🚲💨👍

[@kylehalub2197]

The old pbr frames are bitchin. S&m should do an updated version like the classic dirtbike. I guess the ccr is the closest to it

[@pauljames1978]

@@kylehalub2197 my black PBR frame back in the day only lasted me a year it snapped where the seat stay joins the dropout 😞

[@kylehalub2197]

@@pauljames1978 Thats a bummer. Still a cool frame, it's like the predecessor of the current ccr and old stricker frame. I'm running the tallboy, it's alright. My gut instinct was the ccr mod though.

[@simaorocha6005]

Do a review on forks

[@brokenbearings6349]

Short cranks help my knees and back. Can't run long cranks and tall gears anymore, knees get blown out just riding to the spot.

[@Pix_Moto]

I wanna do wheelies and jumps what shoul I get

[@AlfredoMancuso]

A Subrosa BMX bike

[@CNYKnifeNerd]

So you're all about high end bike parts/tools but use a harbor freight vernier caliper?

[@yfitzmorris]

Phu, you da man

[@hardtailheaven4060]

With the shorter cranks you can accelerate faster and put the same amount of power out in a shorter time period.

[@MorbidThrasher666]

Its still all peference period!

[@michaelperez9294]

I run 180’s on my big ripper and I’m always the fastest plus I use big pedals

[@davidlindberg8863]

Digital caliper, not micrometer, that’s for measuring round stuff

[@bigjobby7115]

Nah man micrometers are used to measure thickness vernier clamps can be used for thickness and inside diameter of tubing or outside diameter of tubing

[@santiagoortiz3643]

Intresting 🧐

[@AlfredoMancuso]

🤓🤓

[@Jdigger4130]

dial indicator

[@m00nk7d]

thrust

[@flyinsaucer138]

Phu is Epic! Phu! Phu! Phu!

[@stebensbobby]

Gotta question I'm 5'8 should I get a 24inch bmx I'm just gonna be cruising jumping curbes stuff like nothing major someone one told me like 24 or 26 so is that a good bike size for me

[@eyeseayew189]

24" is perfect. 26" is literally for cruising, but if you want that traditional 20" style, get a 22".

[@stebensbobby]

Also i weigh about 190

[@eyeseayew189]

@@stebensbobby if you want to do minimal stuff, get the 24". If you simply want to ride sitting down and pedal, get the 26" or 29".

[@randellkim2230]

Panda was the first bmx with a 6 inch cranks

[@algorhythminc]

Not sure if you guys covered this but curious to hear about gearing ratios and what would be ideal for certain types of rides. Does wheel size and crank size matter when deciding what size sprocket / chainring vs freewheel / cassette to get?

[@matthubbard904]

What’s going on with the volume can’t hear 🥴

[@FunkyWalker3k]

The tool is a "Caliper"...

[@jonasang9676]

47 years old, shorter cranks save my knees.

[@adamballadarez]

🔥🔥

[@AlfredoMancuso]

🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@hairlessharescrambler56]

Not micrometer,calipers lol

[@enriquealvarado8894]

I'm 5'7 and I have a 24 Free Agent with a "21" topt tube currently it has 175mm crank on it . I'm thinking on switching to a 180mm crank. I need some opinions on this ?

[@vynla_o4283]

where is stevie???

[@AlfredoMancuso]

🤷🏻‍♂️

[@ghost_boy8162]

he went down the sugar tunnel.....some say hes still lost in that terrifying jungle

[@nogoogle6349]

Damn Right! If the company says it aftermarket in the fkn description, then you should fkn refer to it as the same and not make up your own fkn terminology. So, The Phu is right. ✅️

[@joninfiction]

So... size does matter 😭😭!!?? I’m riding 175, I think I need 165. My bike came with the cranks that big. I should mention I’m SHORT!!!

[@Monk2296]

Yo

[@AlfredoMancuso]

Yeeeee

[@AsianRedneck239]

There is a shortage on bicycle everything.

[@sikisusa9340]

That's a digital "caliper "

[@stevencase3289]

its no different than a 25 vrs 28 on your sprocket between a coaster and cassette if you run a coaster you definetly feel the difference i run a 170 arms and 28th on a coaster and 175 and 28 on a cassette the difference is night and day you get more torgue and it's easier to pedal with 175 which makes coasters feel undergeared. newbs i guess wouldn't know the difference but there is a big fucking difference and once you ride it you can tell, i personally used to ride 165 for my back foot and 175 on my front foot, it gave more clearence on the peg and put your knees closer to my seat without giving up leverage when i rode cassette

[@connorlamarsh9339]

I have 170 lol where do I stand

[@owen687]

Yo yo yo!

[@jacobjames1171]

That is a digital caliper.

[@Sunny_valley_22]

Primo jj pedals review on my page brochachis 🤙🏽

[@jackofalltrades5904]

That's a caliper hahaha

[@4AMFISHING]

🤙🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀

[@Darkstartsb]

🤟🤟

[@skylarsoper241]

So phu your actually saying that size matters lol 😂

[@dj41510]

Shorter cranks = getting tired quick Longer cranks = less tiredness And not the other way around... tested it out for myself and I even thought it would be the other way around just as Phu .......WRONG !!!

[@vladdjomin5766]

Сел ёжик на пенёк и задохнулся

[@sevenmarbles]

Did I just watch this guy @ 3:19 struggle to work out the actual difference between the number 165 and the number 175. And then concludes by telling us that 165 cranks are shorter than 175 cranks but only professionals can tell. Ok thanks guy. Couldn’t have worked that out without you.🙄

[@roodaley]

This is crank shaming. Dislike. Lol

[@robbuchanan4870]

So. Many. Commercials.

[@isaac-ww7fd]

No mejor justice for foo alf justice for me I'm riding one piece cranks I'm riding mf Walmart ass cranks 😢😢😢 justice for me donate me some cranks alf😢😢😢😭😭😭

[@dave_stunts]

The dislikes are the guy Phu karate chopped