I am really considering trying out a little kiddies bike... Input, perhaps?

how tall are you? Make sure to get one with a longer tt if you are taller. I made that mistake already, lol. 20"tt + 6'3" tall = FAIL

Hone your ebay and trading skillz.... I put this together for right around $400

I did get extremely lucky on one of the trades I made though.... (wheels)

Craigslist man. The good thing about buying it used on CL is that you can sell it back for what you paid. If it's been awhile since you last rode a 20, prepare for the clown bike feeling! it's fun!

I just sold my S&M for 300 on CL, more parts for the MTB!

But really, the bmx gave me back problems, but 180s and **** are super easy compared to mtb, I learned a lot of my first tricks on a bmx. I just like how smooth my mtb is though.

Screw that!

Fire up the furnace and weld one!

Whatever you do... it's going to feel really wierd at first. I just built and rode a bmx for the first time since I was a kid. The main thing that feels really wierd is the rigid fork. It's been a few weeks now, and I can switch back and forth between the hard tail and the bmx no problem.

But just watch craigslist for awhile. For me, it was a matter of waiting for a bike with a 21" tt to pop up.

I have a bit of input about buying used. If you find a bike with all the parts you want for cheap, you could always strip everything off of it and sell the frame, and then take that money + a little extra(you should have a little extra if you're buying used) for a nice new frame that has all the options that you want.

I'm building myself a new bmx bike after ~3-4 years off. Should be interesting to see how often I crash

here's how it all started for me and da twenties. About 4 or 5 years ago I was riding a LOT of street mtb, on a chameleon no less. I started downloading bmx vids off the web and figured since I was doing similar style'd riding as that, why not build a 20. I found a metal KIZZ (super bomb-proof) frame on ebay for $75 and had some parts I picked up at interbike 03 I threw on it, namely gack bars with about 7" of rise. When I finally got it together, it was grossly heavy AND awkward. I really tried to like the bike but it just wasn't happening. I was hunched over and it strained the crap out of my back, it plain sucked. Fast forward a few years. I was riding a pimped out molly (sounds perverted) at the time and my good ol' buddy Beerz brings his premium complete over to my house for me to check it out. The frame was a 21" with 8" ape hangers, full width. When I hopped on his bike, it was like everything clicked. It was comfortable and super easy to maneuver. I've been hooked ever since. I've stuck with the 21" frame/8" bar combo and couldn't be happier.

i'm 5'11 and i like a 20.75

i don't think you can find a complete in 21". so yeah those 2 would be it.

20.75 is what you need i think. if you go shorter i think you will regret it right away and won't feel comfortable having your bars non-chicago style.(chicago=bars angled way forward). 8" bars make sense for average height and taller people. i'd say that's the reason so many people ride them these days for the most part. kink has a complete right around 450 with a 20.75" TT that mite work out for you i think.

I tested a Fit AM and I am 6', and it was uncomfortable to say the least.

The biggest thing that hurt was my wrists, the just couldn't handle the abuse of no suspension and the angles at which I was riding.

I seriously think you'd be better to move down to a 24", then a rigid 24", then a big 20".

Premium makes a 21" complete as well as a 20.8. As Tiles said that's what got me back into it was a complete from Premium. I'm 5'11" and ride a 21 but I've ridden a 20.75 and felt just as good. I went with the 21" because I ride trails mainly.

I don't think I could ever be happy with a "complete". There is just too much compromise in quality and options. I'm pretty picky though, and I know guys that ride completes and absolutely rip on them. Personally, I just have to have everything on my bike just right.

dang, i'm weird apparently. i am only 5'8" and i like a 21.5tt...

The Fit Am is kind of overpriced for a beginner bike. The DK Six Pack is the same price, but it has better specs. Also a longer TT.