frame length (wheelbase) preference post

[joeymc]

I just took my size small(230mm) fifty-50 balance cores out for a rip. Even though i'm a size 9 I love the feel of super small frames. I had a very enjoyable session and found that turns, cesses and grinds felt especially responsive. The only problem was I had to adjust my balance on take offs and landings. I also got that feeling where the frame is so small that my weight goes way towards the front wheels when rolling fakie(needed to really crouch to not kick back). Although this setup is really fun I found it to be a tad too short for my liking. Which is too bad because the frames I usually use are size medium(240mm). I think 235 would be my preference or a 230 with wheels rockered out. I was thinking of experimenting with a 55 57 57 55 setup on my size mediums to get that quick feeling of the 230s but the stability of 240s.

I know the small Salomon frames are 235 but can't order them to Canada from E-Bay. But i'm happy with the fifty-50's. They just need to release an all black frame dammit! And more sidewalls!

Also, does anyone know how long the 'size 1' 2nd Gen Ground Control frames were? I always rode those with the inside wheels rockered out and the outside wheels rockered in. The setup rode really nice for me.

I enjoy thinking about specific skating styles and frame sizes. Comparing Bradon Campbells Salomon era small frame style to Walt Austin huge frames on small skater style. I can't imagine what Walt's skating would have been like on a tiny frame.

So what is everyones frame size preferences? I know a lot of people swore by the 235mm Salomon frames but I also know people who love the solid feel of a longer frame.

[joeymc]

Sorry I think my frame sizes are all wrong now.

What is a size small fifty-50 and what is a size medium?

[joeymc]

I think it's:

small- 254

medium-266

Where the hell did I get this 230 and 240 jazz?

[zacharias]

I have never had skates large enough to dwarf any frames I have ridden so I cannot say anything about that.

Mid sized frames that I always ride are perfect for me. Perfect for grinds flat and amazing control while rolling.

I have tried longer frames and they feel ridiculous. They always feel like ski's and turn seems harder in them. Toe and heel rolls also become a bother with longer frames. One exception would be my Switch frames. I had amazing control in them mainly cause the wheel size.

I like the feeling of having forward pushed frames when skating. Where the back wheel is right under your heel and the front is passed your toe. Like non-ufs 50/50's and Remedy stock frames. It makes rolling feel more agile.


I am currently skating my favorite set-up: '00 Remedyz with Valo frames and 56mm flat. So much control. Not sure what mm a size Small Valo frame is.

[s.]

I am currently skating my favorite set-up: '00 Remedyz with Valo frames and 56mm flat. So much control. Not sure what mm a size Small Valo frame is.
Id lke to see some pics of that :o

[Mudhut Jollyrancher]

since i ride size 10-11 nimhs my frames are usually too small but i just got some lrg 50/50s that fit pretty well, i hear you on the less controll parrt but landings and jumping feels alot more stable, i'm still not sure whether i like this or not

[portrait of a gentleman]

Definitely prefer frames on the larger size. Loved size large Fluid 3s on the Genesys boot flat, and size small Fluid 3s/5050 Balances on my Farmers. I just set up the 5050s flat with some random wheels I found (probably all around 55mm) and it's so quick and turny, I love it. I just wish they were a TINY bit longer, so my front wheel stuck out more.

[!!!]

235mm = the best!

small salos are great, i have about 5 pairs, small mooks are the same size but my freestyle days are long gone...

230mm 50/50 cores are nice but once again, mine are freestyle ones and i cant pull the trigger on getting new balance sidewalls because i'm just too in love with the salo uhmw sliders.

i really liked the small gc2's, i wish gc would make a 235mm frame in an fl2/f1 because i like their plastic and groove pretty well, but every time i try them they feel like boats.

bahaha there are like 40 spell corrections in this message, my computer isnt down with skate nerd lingo

[justinthursday]

Joey, PM me if you want me to help you out with getting those salomon frames from ebay.
I was gonna order a pair and if I order 2 I could send you the 1.
I also already have 3 used pairs if you wanna buy any of those
I'm hooked on my 230mm(small) 5050s now so i wouldnt mind giving them up.

[jakeordie]

I'm a US9 and my ideal wheelbase is right around 250mm, but I'm not too picky and can go +/- 15mm. I've experimented with extra-long frames too, but this closes more doors than it opens.

I often wonder why more skaters don't set up a slightly shorter pair of frames for street, and a longer pair for park.....maybe flat & metal the park frames too. :idea:

[!!!]

^^^i want in on this ebay deal, and i'll take your used salos too haha^^^. i made a wtb thread a little while back but got no love. lemme know.

joey, ill be in town next friday evening until sunday sometime... i think we're gonna get sloppy at a campsite, you should abandon your apartment for the weekend in favor of drinking, roasted marshmallows, swimming, and conversing with friends from all over .

[justinthursday]

sure
theyre all for sale
throw me a PM anyone who is interested

[Alex Coe]

I think it largely depends on how the boot fits, too. I have always preferred smaller frames but it might just be a cosmetic thing because it makes the whole skate look smaller then. Lately I've been thinking about trying frames a little longer than my small GC's. But I skate a 9 razors boot which is large on me. When I skated 8 TRS the small frames were centered on my foot better. I'm sure when skating the Carbons people would be more comfortable sizing their frames down, what do you think?

[jakeordie]

I think there are two important factors for frame length;

1. Your centre of gravity, and your ability to balance it over the skates on various surfaces.
2. Keeping the outer wheels tucked in so as not to clip when jumping onto ledges & rails.

To take full advantage of the shorter krbz boot for grinding, skaters might want to size down the frame.....but it's gonna be harder to balance rolling.

[d15]

throw me a PM anyone who is interested


the salo frames $4 on ebay. and how much to ship to canada? also is 255 the medium?

[joeymc]

The medium balance cores did feel a bit bigger on the Carbon boot compared to my remz. The small would have felt ultra responsive on the Carbon. I'm going to rock the smalls for a couple more sessions to see if I get used to the weight distribution on them. I found they force better habits with lowering your stance. Launching and landing still felt a bit awkward though.

PM'ed about Salo frames from Ebay. Just got the last set from skates.com but I would love to get a couple of black pairs.

Josh where are you guys planning on camping? Is everyone going to the same site? I will pay a visit and get swimmers itch.

[Davengo]

Personally I'm a size 7 boot on all skates. I've always used longer/large frames. Let it be ground control, kizer, xsjado, or 50/50 frames, I've always like the solid feeling with wheels infront and outback of my boot. It makes me feel way stable.

I'm not too concerned about the turning and carving aspect because I lean a lot and when the situation calls for it, do that leg thing where you cross over to turn.

Right now I have a size 9 carbons which fit like a really small 8.
And I have ordered size medium 50/50s with JC Rowe wheels flat which I believe are 55. Hopefully this feels good and the flat will balance out.

Does anyone know the length of medium 5050s and large mooks?

[Village Idiot]

the perfect frame length for me was size L fiziks, that was anti rocker on salomons.

I skate size EU 45/UK 10/US 11 skates and those felt perfect.

I'm on size L featherlights now and I like those too.

For a brief period I skated small size xsjado shells with small frames, and liked those too, weird.

but when I got large size xsjados with big xsjado frames, I couldn't grind properly in them no way. Go figure.

[Elk]

If anyone wants to know frame length, aggressivemall usually lists the length of any and all frame sizes on the page of each frame. But it's in INCHES, OH NO!

[!!!]

...except that amall's sizing doesn't go axle to axle, it measures the outermost edges of the frame (which is pointless).

[Dielawn]

I have been 7/8 in all skates, and my frames are usually around 250mm. I like having my wheels stick out a bit, keeps me more grounded. I recently picked up a pair of Size 3 GC's (something like 270mm) and they felt super smooth for rolling, but for striding and turning felt like shit.

[al dolega]

I wear a size 9 skate and 255mm has always felt right to me. I rode medium Slimlines for a few weeks which are 263mm or so and they felt ok, that was with flat though.

We should start a petition or something to get all the frame companies to start labeling their sizes by wheelbase instead of something arbitrary like "small" or "size 1".

[Alex Coe]

We should start a petition or something to get all the frame companies to start labeling their sizes by wheelbase instead of something arbitrary like "small" or "size 1".

That's revolutionary thinking. How is it that two size 9 shoes don't fit the same? How can a woman be a double zero waist size? Why is my dick only four inches long?

[Alex Coe]

...except that amall's sizing doesn't go axle to axle, it measures the outermost edges of the frame (which is pointless).

Not necessarily. It would certainly be helpful to know both measurements.

[ryanmatthewdaily]

I choose to ride smaller frames because it makes toe rolls easier and those have a special spot in my heart.