Understanding Bicycle Frame Handle Sizes: Regular vs Large

Through years of design modifications, we have created the Bicycle Frame Handle to fit the widest range of bicycle geometries with two sizes. So, which size do you choose for your bike? 

Our sizes, Regular and Large, have end belts, which are sized to fit around the tubes of your bicycle frame. The tubes can be differently-sized on each section of the frame, which are labeled below. 

The bicycle "triangle" is composed of 3 main tubes: the top tube, the seat tube, and the down tube. 

The Bicycle Frame handle usually* installs on the seat tube and the down tube. (*Check out our blog post for creative ways customers have used the Bicycle Frame Handle on their unique frame geometry, including mixte/step-through/women's frames, folding bicycles like Brompton, cargo bikes...)

The difference between the two sizes of Bicycle Frame Handle is the "end belts". The main grip part of the handle is the same for both sizes. 

End belts can be simply removed and exchanged, so the same Bicycle Frame Handle can be switched between Regular and Large bikes by using different end belts (we can also sell just the end belt separately upon request).

• The "Regular" size Frame Handle will fit most bikes and comes with two regular end belts. It fits tube circumferences approximately 3.15" - 5.75".
• The "Large" size comes with one regular belt to fit the standard seat tube, and one large belt to fit a larger down tube, usually mountain bikes and e-bikes. The large belt fits tube circumferences approximately 3.75" - 8.25".
• The "Large x2" size has two Large end belts. This can be useful for bikes such as Brompton folding bikes where the handle is attached to only the top tube.

If the measurements seem close, or if in doubt, order the size Large.

There's only one way to know for sure: measure it! Here's how:

The easiest way to measure your tube diameter is to use a caliper measure (for diameter) or a flexible fabric tape measure (for circumference), like the kind used in sewing. 

If you don't have one of those measuring tools, here's a quick hack: 

1. Take a scrap piece of paper, and wrap it around the tube until it overlaps. Mark with a pen/pencil where the paper overlaps. 
2. Spread the paper out on a table and measure the marks against a ruler.

If your bike geometry is too small or too large for our Bicycle Frame Handle (or if you want to add a leather handle to some other kind of tube or rod!), ask us about making a custom size end belt.

With electric bikes hitting the market in all kinds of shapes and sizes, some have large batteries on or inside the down tube that are much larger than our Large belt.

E-bikes are highly variable and we can't know the structural integrity of the battery casing. If your battery is outside the down tube and you want to wrap around the battery casing, we recommend contacting the bicycle manufacturer to make sure it won't interfere with battery function.

We launched the Bicycle Frame Handle as a Kickstarter project in 2012, and through that design process, we were able to get feedback from hundreds of people on hundreds of different bicycles, which led us to the design we have today. In 2014, the Museum of Modern Art in NYC selected our design as of one of the 24 "Best of Kickstarter" projects and was featured in the MoMA Design Store.

Based on our Kickstarter backer feedback, we created two different sizes of end belts, which are sized differently by down tube circumference.

Bikes come in all shapes and sizes, now more than ever, with e-bikes and folding bikes included. It's impossible to design a universal bike product that fits every bicycle perfectly but by swapping out one or two end belt sizes, you can get the right combination for your bike.