[Closed] Are BMX brakes meant to be less than great?

Yes they're all rubbish, the wheel makes a much smaller lever than say a 700C wheel.

Is he riding BMX, or riding a BMX?

The former, no don't fit a front brake. The latter yes you legally need one (and reflectors etc etc etc which we all conveniently ignore) to ride in public.

For the skatepark you can scuff up the rim and fit better pads, arms and lever. For racing, just don't brake.

Well set up it should be reasonably powerful - certainly enough to lock the wheel on a nice smooth skatepark. I think gyros can be a bit rubbish though, they add more complexity and places for it to get a bit mushy. I just run a longish cable on mine (not that it going to be doing barspins any time soon). New pads can make a big difference.

If he's using it to get around on a front might not be a bad idea, if it's just for skateparks rear only will be fine (I'd be happy brakeless in parks, but I occasionally ride to get to them so I have a rear).

I thought the cool kids just jammed their shoe into the back tyre for brakes. Unfortunately, I was never a cool kid so just going on what I heard.

i can only opine from my experience with BMX's which is around 20 years ago, but i remember mine and all my mates BMX's having decent brakes that stopped really well, locked the back up when i wanted.

have you changed the brake pads for new ones? possible the rubber has degraded over time, assuming its a u-brake - so fairly simple to set up and adjust - youtube is your friend here.

Agree with the comments about brakes they are pretty useless on a bmx. I used to ride brakeless its actually not that bad once you learn to scrub speed you just get through a few more pairs of shoes.

They require a bit of a knack to set up - shouldn't be rubbish.

However a lot bikes require a big loop of straddle wire around the seat tube which massively reduces the mechanical advantage - worked way better on chain stays with a barrel adjuster in the base of the seat tube and a short straddle wire behind the seat tube. Today's shorter chain stays make that set up impossible in many cases though.

Odyssey Ghost pads are a decent upgrade for BMX brakes

I remember my BMX having pretty good brakes - skids and endo's being the general limit on trick capability

People who say bmx brakes are rubbish just dont know how to set them up properly, i know riders who do some big ballsy rear brake tricks who never have issue with their brakes as they know how to set them up

Ive been setting them up for 30+ years and never have any issue with them not working properly

You say you have fitted a gyro and the brake locks the back wheel with no one on the bike but crap with someone on the bike

First is the gyro set up properly, is it pulling up evenly when the brake is applied and the cables are moving freely?

Next are the brake pads in good condition? what brand and colour are they? (clear pads work better but are noiser)

Next are the brake pads toe'd in correctly, a bank card helps to set this up, are the pads central to the brake track, are the brake pads clean (a light sand can help) is the rim clean, no greasy hand marks etc.. window cleaner works best

Is the brake a U brake? if so is the spring tension set up evenly on both sides, are the brake blocks hitting the rim at the same time?

If the qualtiy of the brake set up is poor (bad brake cailper, cable, brake blocks etc..) then there is only so much you can do

One trick you can do with a bad brake set up is to smear some Coca Cola around the rim and allow it to dry, this makes the rim sticky and the brake will work better, ive not done it in years but it does work well

I've got a Shimano DXR v-brake on my BMX. Works exactly like a nice Shimano v-brake.

Agree with @escrs set up as ever is crucial.

Our BMX's easily lock a wheel but we do run soft pads and keep the rims clean - a different approach to coke (& hookers).

Remove the gyro.
Buy some Odyssey brake pads and brake cable.
Will work great.

If you remove the Gyro then make sure you buy a Linear brake cable not a normal one

Normal outer brake cables are coiled wire which when wrapped around the handlebars (bar spins etc...) will compress and the brake will not work correctly

A linear outer brake cable uses straight strands of wire which wont compress when wrapped around anything

Should lock up fine. As with all cable brakes cable prep and routing is important. Clear pads are very grabby, black more progressive. Clean rims are important.

A gyro doesn't degrade the braking but you need to know how to set it up correctly.

Normal outer brake cables are coiled wire which when wrapped around the handlebars (bar spins etc…) will compress and the brake will not work correctly

A linear outer brake cable uses straight strands of wire which wont compress when wrapped around anything

I thought the point of using coiled outers was that they don't burst if the plastic sheath frays. Gear cables aren't a safety critical item so they can use linear outers to minimize compression.

Yes they’re all rubbish

People who say bmx brakes are rubbish just dont know how to set them up properly,

I agree with both of these points.

Yes they can be made to work but it's so much hassle you'll be pulling your hair out.

I used to ride brakeless. It's like a skateboard. You get used to just hitting things at whatever speed you have and dealing with it. Probably not the best idea for someone just graduating from 16" wheels.

I thought the point of using coiled outers was that they don’t burst if the plastic sheath frays. Gear cables aren’t a safety critical item so they can use linear outers to minimize compression

https://www.gussetcomponents.com/shop/brakes/xl-linear-brake-cable-2/

The latter yes you legally need one (and reflectors etc etc etc which we all conveniently ignore) to ride in public

Alas it's not quite so simple. You need to consider seat height. If the maximum safe saddle height (i.e. with seat post at minimum insertion) is less than 635mm above ground level, then a single brake (operating on either wheel) is legal. Fair point on the reflectors tho 😉

Many thanks, lots of tips. Sounds like a right pain in the arse.

He only uses it BMX/pump tracks (surprised at how many we have locally). Or riding around the park across the road chasing pokemon.

He can use his feet as a backup for now 🙂

I thought the cool kids just jammed their shoe into the back tyre for brakes

I was stopped at some lights yesterday, and some lad (adult male) tried doing just this, and almost went under a bus. I asked him why he had no brakes at all on his BMX bicycle, to which he replied 'oh I don't need them'. I begged to differ...

I would ditch the gyro go back to a single cable. Chrome rear rims work better (in the dry) although you can sand or rub tar on a standard rim to help it a little. Finally a set of soft pads.

If this fails, if it can take it get a v brake on there. Or if you feel flash a Magura rim brake with non evo mounts.

Yes they’re all rubbish

No they're not.

From recent experience Odyssey Springfields are good, so much so
I'd be hard pressed to distinguish them from Vs. Didn't need a ton of buggering about to make work either, simply a case of fitting, setting the blocks and away you go.

I'd have them again on any bike that would take them.

I stuck some phat pads on mine and can stop now

Changed the cable and now bypasses the gyro, it has the same box three pads, and it's still shit 🙂

On cheap BMX's the brakes are only there to tick a H&S box and reassure parents in Halfords. This coupled with the fact that the springs are so strong in cheap brakes most kids can't pull the lever. We used to use pineapple juice on the rim. Plastic mag wheels are the worst.
A £500 BMX will have a decent brake on it.