Flatland
Browse used flatland BMX frames for sale from riders across the UK. Flatland frames are the shortest geometry in BMX — top tubes of about 18.5in to 19.5in, chainstays near 12.5in to 13in, a head angle around 75 degrees and a bottom bracket raised to roughly 11.8in to 12.2in for pedal clearance during spins. They are bought by riders building a dedicated flatland bike around parts they already run.
What makes a flatland frame different?
The whole frame is compressed so it turns under a standing rider rather than tracking forward. The short top tube keeps the bars close during pivots, the high bottom bracket stops the pedals catching the ground, and the steep seat tube keeps the seat out of the way. Many are shaped with flat surfaces on the top tube and stays because riders stand on them.
Flatland or park frame?
The difference is around two inches of top tube and roughly half an inch of bottom bracket height, and it changes everything. A freestyle park frame rolls straight and lands from height; a flatland frame feels twitchy at speed and is not designed for ramp impacts. Riders who do both keep two bikes rather than split the difference.
What parts do I need to fit a flatland frame?
Check the bottom bracket shell — Mid, Spanish or American — against the cranks you already own, since a short frame does not change that compatibility. Most flatland builds use 160mm to 165mm cranks for pedal clearance, a pivotal seat, and front and rear brakes routed through a detangler, so confirm the frame has the cable guides and brake mounts your setup needs.
What should I check on a used flatland frame?
Look at the peg mounting areas and the dropout faces, where standing loads and pivots leave the frame worn and marked. Check the top tube and stays for dents from footwear and dropped bikes, feel the headset cups for the notching left by hundreds of spins, and check the rear end is straight, since flatland frames get twisted more often than they get cracked.
What is a used flatland frame worth?
Because so few are made, a straight frame from a maker like Ares Bikes or KHE holds value far better than the specification alone would suggest, and cosmetic wear is normal and priced in. New flatland frames are hard to source in the UK without importing, so used is often the practical route. Compare what else is listed across BMX frames before committing to a size, since a wrong top tube here is more noticeable than in any other discipline.