Raw specs of this bike upfront,
Frame: 100% Chromoly frame tubes
Fork: 100% Chromoly Fork w/ tapered Legs & One-piece Steerer w/ 36.9mm offset
Bars: Stolen 8.0” TIG Welded Chromoly
Grips: Stolen Team Flanged 165mm
Barends: Stolen Vortex Rubber
Stem: Stolen Stratos OEM 50mm
Headset: STLN OE Sealed Integrated
Brake Lever: APSE Alloy w/ Hinged Clamp
Brakes: APSE U25 Alloy U-Brake
Cranks: 48 spline 3pc Tubular Chromoly 175mm
Sprocket: STLN OE Alloy 25T
Bottom Bracket: Sealed MID 19mm-48 spline
Pedals: Stolen Thermalite w/ Chromoly Spindles
Chain: YBN 410 Black
Front Hub: Stolen Rampage sealed 3/8″ axle
Rear Hub: STLN Rampage 100% Sealed Cassette 14mm Axle
Driver: Sealed 10T
Front Rim: Stolen Rampage 36H
Rear Rim: Stolen Rampage 36H
Seat: STLN OE Kushion Pivotal seat
Seat Post: Steel 220mm Pivotal post
Seat Clamp: Integrated In Frame
Front Tire: Stolen Joint OE 2.20″
Rear Tire: Stolen Joint OE 2.20″
Weight: 28.0lbs
Colors: Black w/ Desert Tan tires, or Matte Ammo Can Green
Geometry:
TT: 21.5″ CS: 15.0″ HT: 74.5° ST: 71° SO: 9.25″ BB: 13.80″
Being a taller guy, and now older as well, a 21 inch plus top tube BMX with 24" tires is just a more enjoyable ride for me. Yes, it is a bit tamer than the almost frenzied responsiveness of a good quality 20" wheeled bike. However now as I spend more time on woodland downhill trails and dirt jumps with my move to a forested island, over the all street all the time riding of my youth in Chicago, and as my joints approach forty, body position and avoiding unnecessary strain trumps any performance gains I could expect out of a normal sized freestyle BMX at this point.
Rather than go all in however on a new cruiser at around $500.00, I first got myself a starter low end in the form of a $150.00 24" Tony Hawk 720 from Dynacraft. For a $150.00 complete bike that I just removed a lot of non-essentials from, I can't knock it. In fact it has held up to the daily ten mile commute across Bainbridge Island to the ferry, then up the hills and across the traffic of Seattle's downtown for well over 500 miles through this last winter and now into spring. About the bike's only real issues have been a serial loosening bottom bracket and crank set up, and a touch of spot rusting on some non-essential parts.
Having found my cruiser legs, I'm ready for a new bike that I can look to get some more performance, and life out of. At first I was really interested in the Sunday Bike's Model C, considered the standard for a 24" cruiser. And it is a great bike which I'd also happily buy. However, after getting the random chance to try another rider's Stolen Saint, and looking over reviews and specs, I found the Saint XLT was the BMX for me. Performance wise, materials, quality, etc, the Stolen and Sunday products are on par, but the Saint XLT's slightly lower price tag, lower weight, and aesthetics (love the ammo can green with tan side walls) ultimately just spoke to that kid in me who just wants a cool bike to rip shit on and have fun whether landing a new trick, or picking myself up to try again after eating shit.
I'll be putting in my order for this beautiful ride next month, and am looking forward to continuing to get a lot of joy out of riding BMX on it throughout the upcoming summer. Especially as I'll be riding it a good amount of time as I am teaching my oldest son to ride his first BMX.