The 2022 Subrosa Salvador comes with some chromoly in the frame & forks, along with full chromoly handlebars. This bike has a ton of options but this review is focused on the Salvador and the Salvador XL. You will need to choose between a 20.5″ or a 21″ toptube when buying this bike. The Salvador weighs 26lbs and costs $500.
Is it a good bike for you? Let’s find out.
Everything in 30 Seconds
⚠️ – Tri-moly Frame
⚠️ – Some Chromoly Forks
✅ – Full Chromoly Bars
✅ – Only $500
✅ – Multiple Sizes (20.5″ or 21″ XL)
❌ – 2pc Steerer Tube
⚠️ – 26 lbs
❌ – No Pegs/Hubguards
How it Works
To help you decide if this is the right bike for you, we will break it down into 3 easy to follow sections.
First, we will look at the geometry of the bike to decide how tall you need to be to comfortably shred it. Your riding style, height, and athletic background will play a role here.
Next, we will break down the quality of the bike to decide if this bike is too little, too much, or just enough quality for you. Your budget, weight, and skill level will be taken into consideration.
Finally, we will talk about the utility of this bike because certain bikes are better for certain types of riding. Do you plan to ride skateparks? Dirt jumps? Cruise street sports? After looking at the parts package, geometry, and branding of the bike, you will know what type of riding the bike is for.
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Step 1: Sizing
The Subrosa Salvador has a 20.5″ toptube and a 21″ XL option. This opens it up for a lot more riders than bikes with only one option. If you follow the basic recommendations, you will know if the Salvador is a good fit for your height.
For the average person, the 20.5″ Subrosa Salvador will be a perfect fit for you if you are between 5′ 6″ and 5’9″. The 21″ option will fit anyone who is over 6′.
Style Consideration
If you want to achieve a certain type of “style” on your bike you might want to tweak the toptube size. Since riding a taller/small frame will change how you maneuver it, I’ve updated the sizing recommendation based on the style you might want to achieve.
For a technical style: Get the 20.5″ if you are between 5’9″ and 6′.
For a flowy style: Get the 20.5″ if you are 5’3″ to 5’6″ and the 21″ if you are 5’9″ to 6′
Riding Background
Some people are coming to BMX from an MTB or MX background. If that is the case for you, you will want a BMX bike that fits a little big.
If you have an MTB or MX background: Get the 20.5″ Subrosa Salvador if you are between 5′ 3″ and 5′ 6″.
Subrosa Salvador 20.5″ Sizing
❌ – Under 5‘: The Salvador will NOT fit you.
✅ – 5′ 3″ to 5′ 6“: The Salvador will fit if you are used to riding bigger bikes (MTB/MX) or you want to have flowy style with your riding.
✅ – 5′ 6″ to 5′ 9″: The Subrosa Salvador is the perfect size for you.
✅ – 5′ 9″ to 6′: The Subrosa Salvador will fit you if you want to have a technical style.
❌ – Over 6′: The Subrosa Salvador will NOT fit you.
Subrosa Salvador XL 21″ Sizing
❌ – Under 5‘: The Subrosa Salvador XL will NOT fit you.
❌ – 5′ 3″ to 5′ 6“: Subrosa Salvador XL will NOT fit you.
❌ – 5′ 6″ to 5′ 9″: The Subrosa Salvador XL will NOT fit you.
✅ – 5′ 9″ to 6′: The Subrosa Salvador will fit you if you want to have a mellow style.
✅ – Over 6′: The Subrosa Salvador will fit you perfectly
Subrosa Salvador Geometry
A: Toptube Length: 20.5″, 21″
B: Chainstay Length: 13.2”
C: Head Tube Angle: 75°
D: Seattube Angle: 71°
E: Bottom Bracket Height: 11.6″
F: Standover height: 9″
At a first glance, nothing really stands out on this geometry aside from the 13.2″ chainstay. This is considered long and will make the back end more stable. I like a stable chainstay so that going high and fast will feel more comfortable. I go a lot more in depth about these specs in the review video at the bottom.
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Other Specs
| Fork Offset | 30mm |
| Bar Rise | 9” |
| Crank Length | 170mm |
| Stem Specs | 50mm Reach |
| Gear Ratio | 25/9 |
Step 2: Quality
| Quality Score | 4.2 |
| Weight Limit | Under 160 lbs |
The Subrosa Salvador is sold as a mid-level bike. But in my opinion, the quality is a little low to be considered a mid-level bike. It doesn’t have all of the strong main components that I look for when I’m classifying a bike. Tri-moly frame and 50% chromoly forks are just a couple of the reasons. Here’s how it stacks up against other bikes.
Subrosa Salvador Weight Limit
Sometimes weight is overlooked when buying a BMX bike. I was always close to the 200lb mark and I broke my fair share of bikes. The general recommendation is that if you are a heavier rider, you should go with an 8+ quality. If you are light, you can get away with any quality (for the most part) but you run into toptube size restrictions.
Because of the Salvador’s 4.2 quality score, the weight limit is relatively low. A lof the parts on this bike are built from chromoly meaning that it will not be able to hold up to a heavier rider as long as chromoly would. If budget is an issue and you are over the 160 lb weight limit, plan to make upgrades sooner than later.
✅ – Under 130 lbs – You will not have any issues with the Subrosa Salvador
✅ – 130 lbs to 150 lbs – The Subrosa Salvador is fine for your weight
⚠️ – 150 lbs to 170 lbs – Be careful and expect some parts to break prematurely
❌ – 170 lbs – 200 lbs – Look for a higher quality bmx bike.
❌ – 200 lbs – 250 lbs – Look for a higher quality bmx bike.
❌ – Over 250 lbs – You need a bike with 9-10 quality.
If you are too heavy for this bike, look at the Score Sheet and the Dougsterbob App to find bikes with 9 – 10 quality scores.
Get the App and Score Sheet here
Your Skill
My main concern here is to make sure that the bike you get can withstand your level of riding. The sad reality is that a pro-level rider can not ride a beginner-level bike for a long period of time and expect it to last. So if you are a pro-levle rider.. stop reading.
The Salvador is a step up in quality from the lower-end BMX bikes like the Tiro, Sono, and Altus. However, it’s not a whole lot better for a rider with an average skill level. It’s always best to get a bike that’s above your skill level. This bike is a step up for a brand new rider, but for anyone who has experience on the BMX and knows basic tricks, I think you will progress too fast and end up breaking the bike with your skill level.
The Subrosa Salvador is a beginner/mid-level bike. If you are brand new to the sport, the Salvador will hold up to your level of riding as you get used to the sport.
Main Component Quality
A bike’s main components are the parts that hold everything together. These are generally the most expensive replacements and include the frame, forks, bars, and cranks. Having strong main components will save you money in the long run since it is less likely that they will need to be replaced later on in your BMX journey.
⚠️ – Frame – The Subrosa Salvador frame has some chromoly. The front triangle is made from strong chromoly while the rear end is made from weak hi-tensile steel. Over time the back end of the frame will bend causing the geometry to feel strange.
⚠️ – Forks – The forks are not full chromoly.They are made with a chromoly steer tube and hi-tensile steel legs. They also have a 2 pc. steertube which is weaker and heavier than the 1pc alternative. Hi-tensile steel fork legs bend over time.
✅ – Bars – The bars are full chromoly 🙂
⚠️ – Cranks – The cranks are full chromoly and 3 pc which is pretty standard on most BMX bikes. The 3pc system is 100x better than the 1 pc that you find on department store bikes. The Subrosa Salvador cranks are 8 spline which in my experience is a pain. Aftermarket cranks will be 48 spline and feel lighter and stronger. These 3 pc cranks will be fine, but look at upgrading them within a few years.
Parts Package
A bike’s part package makes up the rest of the bike. What rims, hubs and tires does it come with? What stem is it rocking? The part package can really set a bike aside from the competition. Some companies go cheap and some pour it all on here. Generally, upgrades in this area are less expensive and therefore less important than the main components.
Parts Package Pros
| Rant Trill Plastic Pedals |
| Subrosa Petal Steel 25t |
| Sealed Headset, BB, and Hubs |
| Subrosa Sawtooth Tires |
Parts Package Cons
| 410 Chain |
Aftermarket Parts
✅ – Subrosa Petal 25t Sprocket
Step #3: Utility
Some people get into BMX to ride one thing. If you’re like me, you want to ride a little of everything. Either way, the last step of checking if this is the right bike, is the utility. Each bike is a little different in the way they are designed, built, and marketed. Some bikes are better for certain types of riding than others. What type of riding do you plan to do?
Keep in mind that this section is the least important since you are always able to purchase upgrades and make the bike better for your desired type of riding.
Subrosa Salvador Utility
| Type of Riding | Dirt/Park |
| Street | 2.22 |
| Park | 2.56 |
| Dirt | 4.1 |
The Subrosa Salvador is built to ride dirt jumps and pump tracks. This is a bit odd since it is marketed as a street bike. The bike can be ridden on street or park, but you will need to make upgrades to make it better for one type of riding. As it comes straight out of the box, it’s best for dirt and here is why…
It scores a 4.1 in dirt, which is 2x as much as it scored in street. As the Salvador comes it will be more comfortable on dirt because of the longer geometry of the frame and offset of the forks. It comes with parts that make it a little better for dirt riding.
⚠️ – Street – This is not the strongest choice for the Salvador. If you really want to ride street you will need to make upgrades. Consider buying pegs, hubguards, and a freecoaster for your Subrosa Salvador. Click here to see what pegs I ride.
⚠️ – Park – You will be able to ride skateparks on this bike, but I recommend you make a few changes first. Most park riders will ride a gyro, and higher quality tires with less rolling resistance.
✅ – Dirt – The Salvador is best for dirt riding right out of the box. You can make it even better by buying a bigger sprocket, better tires, and better pedals.
If you are just buying this bike to commute or cruise on, ignore everything I just said. The bike is fine for cruising.
Where to Buy it?
I’ve heard so many horror stories of people buying their brand new bike and realizing later that they bought it from a shady bike shop. There are a few out there so be careful.
If you’ve decided that the Subrosa Salvador is indeed the right bike for you, click this link to see which trusted shop has it in stock at the best price.
Frequently Asked Questions
| How Much Does it Weigh? | Pretty light only weighing 26 lbs. |
| How Much Does it Cost? | As of right now, it will cost you $499. |
| Can I upgrade it? | Yes, you can easily replace parts and upgrade this bike. |
| Does it have any pegs? | No it does not come with any pegs or any hub guards. |
| Does it have Brakes? | Yes, it comes with a standard set of u-brakes, holes drilled for a gyro and non-removable brake mounts. |
| What options does it have? | 20.5 Black | 20.5 Matte Trans Red | 21 Black | 21 Matte Raw | |
How do I assemble my Subrosa Salvador?
If you purchase your bike from Dan’s Comp, it will come partially assembled and you can follow their assembly video to finish it yourself. If you lack mechanical ability, take it to a local bike shop.
Review Video
Similar Quality Options
If this bike is sold out or you just want to check out other bikes that are similar… here they are.
