Wheels: It's crucial that the wheels meet your needs. Because accelerating out of starting gates is important in BMX, the wheels are much lighter than those found on freestyle or jump bikes. However, that spoke light aluminum wheelset designed for BMX racing won't hold up to dirt jumping or ramping.
So, freestyle bikes come almost exclusively with spoke or mag wheels. This makes them ultra-beefy for maximum rim protection. Dirt jumper's wheels tend to be a bit more varied. Some dirt jumpers are equipped with just 36 super-meaty gauge spokes. Others come with 48 spokes like freestyle bikes, depending on whether the bike is geared more for jumping or dirt riding. Tires: BMX tires straddle the line between pavement and dirt designs.
Although they're used mostly off road, the tracks are often hard-packed dirt where low rolling resistance is important. The tread has to provide optimum speed and traction and grip when you're cornering and accelerating. Freestyle tires are designed for pavement and indoor surfaces. Premium tires often inflate to higher pressures as well, lowering rolling resistance, increasing rim protection and decreasing tire deflection when the sidewalls are placed under high loads such as during landings.
Dirt jumpers are usually designed for maximum traction. Since speed isn't important and the conditions aren't as controlled, their lugs are a bit beefier.
Handlebars: Beside weight and strength differences, there is also a subtle difference in handlebar shape between the BMX bar and the others. Freestyle and jump bars tend to rise steeper from the clamping area to give the rider better freedom of movement while performing flatland and airborne maneuvers.
Also, bars found on inch BMX and jumpers will be slightly shorter in rise than those found on inch bikes. Although a front brake is allowed in racing, it is not necessary with most racers opting for a secure, linear-pull rear brake only, also called V-brake. Helmets for freestyle BMX cover a large proportion of the head and take a more 'bowl' shaped look than the low profile, highly-vented road cycling helmets. These helmets will have minimal vents and can extend to covering the ears as well.
This is to take into account that BMX riders may take a stack while attempting a trick and are at risk of landing in any direction. When racing BMX, there are rules and restrictions around equipment on the racetrack. In training and competition, a full-faced helmet must be worn along with long pants and long-sleeved jersey.
Gloves: Regardless of whether you're riding freestyle, or racing your BMX bikes, full fingered gloves are a must. BMX specific gloves will typically feature grip on the palm of the glove that extends to the tips of the fingers. Shoes: If you are riding with clip-in pedals , look for some mountain bike or BMX specific clip in shoes that offer a good amount of stiffness and comfort.
Pegs: Pegs are metal cylinders or sometimes solid plastic that are fitted to the axles of the BMX bike so the rider can balance on them for tricks in flatland, or perform grinds on rails or ledges in street and park riding. Flatland will usually have pegs on all 4 axles, whereas street riders will have just one side with pegs on the front and rear. Pegs are strictly banned in BMX racing.
Buying a BMX for anyone under the age of 12 is an excellent way to get them on the bike in a fuss-free fashion. No gears and a sturdy frame mean kids can experiment and find their comfort zone with riding a bike along with tackling a range of terrain including footpaths hard packed dirt trails.
Kids BMX bikes are available as scaled-down versions of adult 20in bikes, with some brands offering Chromoly steel 16in and 18in freestyle bikes. Race BMX bikes are available as 'mini-micro' and 'micro' for kids getting into racing. More traditionally, at the lower price point, a high-tensile steel frame will come equipped with a coaster brake, one-piece cranks, training wheels and accessories such as chain guards, a basket or frame pads.
These are suited to younger kids just getting on their first bike but are not designed to take the hits that a freestyle BMX will. If a child is showing interest in finding new limits and trying new things, it might be time to update the equipment to match the skill. For information on what to know about kids bikes, see our comprehensive buyers guide. Most kids bikes will fall into this category, with the lower end offering one-piece cranks, hi-tensile steel frames, and more beginner level gearing.
Sealed bearings might be non-existent or found in the rear hub only. Expect to see single walled rims for the lower end of the spectrum. A Chromoly frame will typically feature at this price point along with, two or three piece cranks and accessories like stunt pegs. The upper end may see Gyro brakes and smaller, lighter chainrings with sealed bearings featuring both in the wheel hubs and the bottom bracket.
BMX bikes of this level will often be custom built, feature the lightest and strongest Chromoly parts. Expect to see luxuries such as lighter hubs, stronger rims and sealed bearings in the hubs, bottom bracket as well as the headset. If BMX has become an all-consuming hobby and the riding is becoming more progressive, the equipment offered on bikes at the top-end of the spectrum is likely the best you can get.
BMX freestyle bikes can be found in most bike shops, although the range may be limited. There also exists BMX only shops who will have expertise specific to BMX and are highly likely to be dedicated BMX riders themselves so will be able to answer your questions authentically. Shopping at a BMX specific store is a good option for custom built bikes or wheels.
The same goes for BMX race bikes because the market is niche, some stores specialise in this discipline and can offer first hand and expert advice on the spot. BikeExchange is the perfect place to find yourself a great deal year-round and here are some tips to help you narrow in on that bargain:.
EOFY: The end of a financial year is a great time to buy a bike. Retailers are looking to clear old stock to make way for new, creating the perfect opportunity to get a great price on the current or last years model. Christmas: Christmas is another good time of year to get a bargain. Christmas is the busiest time of year for retailers, and the bike industry is no exception. Many retailers will try to clear old stock that didn't sell during the end of financial year period or add sweeteners such as a helmet or gloves.
Buying online: Buying online from a manufacturer cuts out the middleman, reducing the overall cost which is then passed on to the consumer. This can be a great way to save money but should be approached with caution. It's a dangerous game unless you know your exact size and specifications. Buying Used: Many BMX race clubs, or online forums will either have a relationship with a BMX dealer or will list bikes for sale within the club, either new or used.
And I'd imagine there's only minimal sarcasm in neilfein's tone. Once you strip the decals off of many bmx bikes, it can be extremely difficult to tell what brand they are. It's akin to trying to determine where a skateboard blank came from, only harder. But this site doesn't have the largest BMX community.
Other stuff that might be helpful to know in a case like this includes how old the frame is, where it was bought, and so on - none of which is known here. Jordan - if you check the bottom bracket , there might be a serial number or other info there etched into the metal. Show 1 more comment. Active Oldest Votes. Hope this helps! Improve this answer. Add a comment. Shop Now. We know the kind of engineering and design that goes into making a BMX capable of the handling punishment we dish out.
Basically, we know not all BMXs are created equal. First things first, size does matter! Like any bike, there are different sizes to suit different size riders. Most complete bikes will sit somewhere in the middle, and will be fairly well setup to take on most things, with the exception of some higher end bikes which are clearly orientated towards a more specific discipline.
We all know that price is important, so let's have a look at some of the key differences you'll see. We know that sizing is important, but when looking at BMX Bikes , what is the first thing you notice? Most of the time, it will be the price. But, what do you get for your money? Most sizes will be under You will start seeing double wall rims, parts based on pro models and sizes will typically run between Full Chromoly frame, fork and bar, some after-market parts and premium quality components.
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