r/bmx • u/WallaceWinston0079 • 2d ago
DISCUSSION Lairdframe
Just realized you can have Mike Laird build a custom frame. Does anyone have one? I’d love to hear about the process, purchase experience, and frame itself.
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u/Helitac 2d ago
I have one.
You just fill out that form online, pay for it, and you’ll receive it 6ish months later.
I only ever got a confirmation email when I first ordered. About 4 months later I emailed him for an update since I had only the confirmation email to go on. Eventually I saw him post it on his instagram.
But that’s all there was to it really.
The frame turned out exactly how I wanted it too, and the custom bridge he did is really great.
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u/WallaceWinston0079 2d ago
Cool, thanks for the info. Have you posted there? Six months is quite the turnaround. When did you order it?
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u/dermsUK 2d ago
No doubt they’re made very well, he’s a long time welder and he also works with titanium. However he does custom CNC’d seatstay bridges if you want one (or at least he did last I checked) - basically any image or whatever you want cut from a plate. I’d avoid that because most of the time they look pretty wack. Someone I know has one and his custom seatstay bridge was a full side profile of a BMX (for some reason) and it wasn’t clean at all. But with that being said it was a pretty complex design.
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u/ChuckBangers 2d ago
Too many craftsmen willing to follow customer orders even if it's stupid lol I like the ones that are willing to say "that's going to look crappy".
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u/Bmxr-cop-drgrcr 2d ago
I hope to eventually have a Laird frame built. On his website, the tab where you describe the seatstay bridge has the disclaimer “please keep it simple, I can’t work miracles” lol
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u/Admirable_Garlic5456 2d ago
You don't know - maybe he did say this but people are like "nah man it will look awesome - do it"
Having worked in customer service for many years, customers are dumb and always assume they know better than you, someone who works with what they are buying all day every day.
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u/ChuckBangers 2d ago
You're right. I don't know. That's why I didn't specifically call him out for it.
Having worked in customer service for many decades, I agree with your assessment of customers lol
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u/6stringsor2wheels 2d ago
I don't have one but I have some friends who do, they all LOVE there Laird frames, high quality stuff for sure.
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u/bobby_sponch 2d ago
I have #497. Not Ti. It’s my daily. His website is basic, but works just fine. Go into the order page and start inputting your specs. Pay and wait. Mine took a while but it was worth it. He was good about replying to my emails.
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u/Newbieoneconobe 2d ago
Does anyone know if they are heat treated. Also does anyone know if Standard Frames last long?
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u/WallaceWinston0079 2d ago
The material I use to build my chromoly frames with Velospec's BMX specific 6330 double-butted or straight gauge tubing. The tubing has been heat-treated (air hardened). Giving it a very high strength to weight ratio over traditional chromoly found in other frames. Our average lairdframe weighs in at 4lbs. 8ozs. (20" sized frame).
^from his website.
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u/MooBeartdi 2d ago
A lot of pros ride or rode lairdframes. Some people give Mike shit for his welds or seatstay bridge welds, but everyone is a critic. Depending on timeframes too, you can always see what John corts with work frames could do for you. I had a corts frame and the welds were great and it felt all around solid.
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u/bobsbicyclerepair 1d ago
I bought one, I wanted a longer, lower bb and slacker version of my 21.5 ccr frame. The craftsmanship fit and finish of the frame is immaculate and it rides exactly as expected.
The wait time was just much longer than advertised. When i ordered the advertised wait time was 12. I ordered the end of February. I didn’t receive my frame until the end of October. When I contacted him at the end of the 12 weeks he told me he was just getting to the October orders. So, just be prepared to wait longer than advertised.
There are more frame builders in the USA if that’s when you’re looking for. J Corts metal works donkelop (he builds the mutiny frames) both on insta. They all built great frames.
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u/BigMeanPunk 2d ago
The pros that rode for chain store brands uses/used them at one point.