You grew up. The sport didn't have to stop. This is the guide to Torker's Big BMX line — 26" and 29" bikes built for adults who never stopped being BMXers — and the new EK 20" complete for the rider who wants it exactly the way it was.
I'll tell you where I stand on this. I was a Torker co-sponsored kid in the early '80s — a big, hard-riding kid who cracked three Torker frames before they told me they couldn't keep replacing them. Forty-some years later I own the brand. So when we build a bike for grown riders, I'm building it for the kid I was, at the size I am now. That's the whole idea behind Big BMX.
What Big BMX Is
A Big BMX bike is a real BMX bike — twin top tube geometry, BMX handling, BMX attitude — scaled to an adult. Not a kid's 20" you fold yourself onto. Not a mountain bike pretending. 26" or 29" wheels, full-size frames, built to be ridden hard at the trails, the pump track, the USA BMX Masters gate, or down the street to get coffee with a grin on your face.
Who buys them: Masters and Cruiser class racers — the fastest-growing classes in BMX racing. Riders who grew up on BMX and want back in on something that fits. Collectors who ride what they collect. And parents who want to roll to the track next to their kid instead of watching from the fence — we wrote a whole guide for that.
26" or 29" — the First Decision
The MX26 and MX29 are the same bike in two answers to one question: how big are you, and how do you ride?
The 26" feels the most like the BMX you remember. Quicker steering, easier to throw around, more snap out of corners — the pick for pump tracks, trails, and Cruiser class racing. The 29" is for taller riders and anyone who wants more stability and rollover — a bigger contact patch, a calmer ride at speed, maximum presence at the gate. If you're six feet or better, or you plan on long sessions rather than short bursts, the 29 makes a strong case. If you want the bike to feel like 1982 felt, take the 26.
Complete or Frame Build?
The MX26 Complete ($1,199.95) and MX29 Complete ($1,195.95) come fully assembled and set up — ready to ride the day the box lands. Our most popular bikes, and the fastest way back into the sport. When a run sells out, the next one is already on the water; the site shows live inventory, so if you can add to cart, it's in stock.
The frame-set route is for the rider who wants to build it their way. The MX26 and MX29 Frame Sets ($599.95) carry the classic twin top tube design with modern race geometry, and the Build Your Bike page walks you through the rest. There's no wrong answer here. Complete if you want to ride this weekend. Frame if the build is half the fun.
The Lineup — and Who Each One Honors
Every Torker frame carries a name from the brand's history, and we think you should know whose.
MX26 / MX29. Named for the original 1976 Torker MX — the frame Kevin McNeal put on the map. This is the founding DNA of the brand, scaled up.
Barbarian-2. Named for Clint Miller — the world's first IBMXF Pro Champion. A 26" chromoly race frame built to race USA BMX Masters and Big BMX classes, not just look the part. The Barbarian GEN II is the retro reissue of the original silhouette in 4130 chromoly. There's even a Barbarian-2 Tandem — one of the only BMX tandem frames in existence.
Diesel. Named for Matt Hadan — The Diesel — built in 6069 T6 aluminum, the only aluminum frame in the Big BMX line. Race it, cruise it, own it.
29" Freestylist. The freestyle side of the family in full adult size, for the big rider who wants to ride park and street on a frame that fits.
2026 50 Year Anniversary Big Bike. Fifty numbered frames for fifty years of Torker — 26 in chrome, 24 painted in the original Dark Blue or Dark Maroon Red — and the serial number you pick decides the color. Each comes with a numbered certificate. When they're gone, they're gone.
The EK 20" Complete — Pure Retro, Ready to Ride
Some riders don't want a bigger bike. They want the bike. The EK 20" Complete carries the initials of Eddy King — the first signature frame Torker ever built — now fully built and ready to ride: real Redline Flight cranks, Dia-Compe brakes, Show Chrome with gold components. If your memory of BMX is a specific bike in a specific driveway in 1981, this is the closest thing to a time machine we sell. Fair warning on sizing: a 20" is the authentic experience, not the roomy one. If you're going to ride hard and often at adult size, the Big BMX line will treat your knees better.
Fit, Gear, and Getting Back On
Three honest notes for the returning rider. First, your gear list is the same one from the track rulebook: helmet (full-face if you're racing or riding trails), gloves, closed shoes, and long sleeves and pants at any sanctioned track. Second, give yourself a few easy sessions before you ride like it's 1984 — the instincts come back fast, the tendons take a little longer. Third, if racing is calling, USA BMX Masters and Cruiser classes will take you at any age, and your local track will welcome you. Find one near you, or find a shop that stocks Torker with the Dealer Locator.
Everything ships same day from Apple Valley, California when ordered before 2PM PST. These are limited edition runs — the site shows live inventory, and when a frame run sells out, that colorway may not come back.
FAQ
Is a 26" or 29" BMX right for me?
Pick by height and riding style. The 26" is quicker-handling and feels most like classic BMX — best for pump tracks, trails, and Cruiser racing. The 29" suits taller riders and anyone who wants more stability and rollover at speed. Around six feet tall is where the 29 starts making the stronger case. Matt at Nostalgic Neighborhood does a great break down -
Can I race a Big BMX bike?
Yes. USA BMX runs Cruiser classes and Masters age classes, and they're among the fastest-growing categories in the sport. The Barbarian-2 was built specifically to race them, and the MX26 and MX29 are raced at tracks every weekend.
Should I buy a complete or build from a frame?
Buy the MX26 or MX29 Complete if you want to ride this weekend — they arrive assembled and set up. Build from a frame set if you want to pick every part; the Build Your Bike page covers the process. The completes are our most popular products for a reason.
What is the EK 20" complete?
A ready-to-ride 20" retro Torker carrying Eddy King's initials — the first signature frame Torker ever built, reissued as the EK GEN II and now offered as a complete bike. It's the pick for the rider who wants the authentic 20" experience rather than an adult-sized frame.
Are Torker frames really limited edition?
Yes. Frames are produced in limited runs, and the site shows live inventory — if you can add it to cart, it's in stock. The 50 Year Anniversary Big Bike is the extreme case: fifty numbered frames — 26 chrome, 24 in the original Dark Blue or Dark Maroon Red, with the serial number deciding the color — each with a certificate.
Do Big BMX bikes work on pump tracks?
They're ideal for it. The 26" and 29" formats carry speed through rollers better than a 20", and adult pump track riding is one of the main reasons riders buy them.
Can I ride one with my kid?
That's half the point. You on an MX26 or MX29, your kid on their 20", same track, same session. We wrote a full guide for BMX parents: Ride BMX With Your Kid.