[Closed] New to BMXs - what do I need to know?

To start with, dont fit 140mm forks to them.

i'm interested too, my hard tail isnt meant for the bmx track 😀

Hi CGG. What prompted the idea of weeny wheels?

Something like the we the people bmxs are good value for money have a look at them! Popular bikes because they have a decent spec for the money!

Be careful. I also used to ride BMX back in the eighties. I started riding again in my early forties. I bought a cheap 24 inch cruiser to start thinking it would be fun to just cruise around the streets on. It's pretty much taken over my riding life since.
I still can't believe how much I got back into it. I spend way more time in the local skatepark then I do on the hardtail. Maybe a kind of mid life crisis thing, but hell of a lot of fun.
The bikes have changed a lot, and are a lot better. Decide what kind of geo you need for what you'd like to do, more race orientated or more into what we used to call freestyle.
BMX is cheap compared to MTB. Have a look at the 24 inch cruisers. There are good deals on e bay. Quite a few buy for run arounds and sell after not really using. They are much more comfortable than a 20, and give you that feeling you had of riding a BMX when you were a kid. I ride a 22 inch now, from a small company in the U.K. called Faction. Suits me, as I was getting more into the actual jumping and riding skateparks rather than just cruising around. But not serious enough for a 20.
The dirtjump forum on ridemonkey is good for info, bit older crowd, so you are not baffled by a bunch of teenage lingo.
One thing I changed a lot , starting riding again, is my approach to learning tricks or jumping. There is no more 'just go for it' , and more a gentle , build up by keeping it smooth. I've fallen off a few times but no serious injures , touch wood. I wear a helmet. Elbow pads to start , but now just knee pads sometimes.
I've found the BMX crowd very friendly too. More so than the Mountain bikers ( present company excepted).

@P7rich: Well I spend half my commute to work balancing on kerbs and sprinting and hopping and the other half wheelieing, and half the commute home manualling and the other half going over jumps with the odd diversion to some more jumps, so it seems the ideal low maintenance singlespeed commuter! And apparently getting good on a 20 makes you much better on a 26. Plus I'd rather take a £200 bike to the shops than a £2000 one...

Thanks Biker, I'm not planning on doing tricksy things, just want to get comfier in the air and better at trialsy moves (especially those that help on the trail). There's a load of beginnery jumps on my commute built by the local kids over the last few decades and I've been riding them on my hardtail but I just seem to flatten them - like my lack of skill plus the steep angles and lack of space means I can't throw a MTB around quickly enough - once I can ride them with some style I may dare to visit the skate parks (and maybe the big scary dirt jumps?) I'm 5'10 so presumably a middling sized BMX with middling geometry will suit me?

Lower your forks to 100mm! 🙂

21" top tube would be about right for the jump stuff. Get some big bars n all.

I'm always surprised that people find BMX bikes more comfortable that a Hard Tail DJ mountain bike for jumping etc.

I would love to get into BMX but everytime I've had a go of one I immediately feel out of my comfort zone and desperate for bigger wheels, frame and suspension forks.

I would love to get into BMX but everytime I've had a go of one I immediately feel out of my comfort zone and desperate for bigger wheels, frame and suspension forks.

Well yes, if you are used to riding a bent bike for dirt jumps, then a bmx will feel strange due to the fact its got correct sized wheels, forks and angles.

You'd have to give it a bit of time to get used to it.

Well yes, if you are used to riding a bent bike for dirt jumps, then a bmx will feel strange due to the fact its got correct sized wheels, forks and angles.

It wasn't a criticism. Everytime I've tried jumping something on a BMX I gain more respect for BMXers. I'm just surprised that the stability of a longer, bigger, 'softer' bike doesn't win out over a small, rigid, twitchy wrist breaker.

@P7rich: Well I spend half my commute to work balancing on kerbs and sprinting and hopping and the other half wheelieing, and half the commute home manualling and the other half going over jumps with the odd diversion to some more jumps, so it seems the ideal low maintenance singlespeed commuter! And apparently getting good on a 20 makes you much better on a 26. Plus I'd rather take a £200 bike to the shops than a £2000 one..

Sounds perfectly reasonable! Not convinced you need a strategy for MTB improvement though, you're pretty handy already. 🙂

Mr Taylforth, the forks are great at 140 for MTBing, uphill, downhill, round corners and straight over all the rough - it isn't a DJ bike! 😉 However I'm aware that riding a smaller steeper bike for other stuff will make me a better rider - hence the 20" idea - something hard and quick and nervy without (hopefully) being scary or dangerous.

I've just bought a bmx that was going to scrap for £40.

Took the brakes off.

Put a new chain on.

Best P.O.S I ever laid my eyes on. It's Hi- Ten steel and I look forward to breaking it in two.

Then I can get a proper one.

Used to ride and race box I'm now 43 and have two kids,would love a cruiser but I would like daft on one,has I'm 6ft and feel has though I'm trying to live my youth,I see se racing did a 29er pk ripper but they are mega money,anybody on here over 6ft ride a BMW cruiser?if so what model pleas?

If you already have a BMX how do you tell if its designed for the track or jumps?

I have a very old one that is apparently an S&M, I got is second hand and havn't used it much. I have been to the BMX track on my BFe (with the forks at 95) but am thinking about taking the bmx.

Mr Taylforth, the forks are great at 140 for MTBing, uphill, downhill, round corners and straight over all the rough - it isn't a DJ bike! However I'm aware that riding a smaller steeper bike for other stuff will make me a better rider - hence the 20" idea - something hard and quick and nervy without (hopefully) being scary or dangerous.

Well, good luck. You definitely wont regret buying one.

I bought a BMX recently. Ended up with a Blackeye Parkpro. Seems ok. Dropping into 1/4s ok and just about jumping stuff I'd do on my LT HT. Just getting used to it really. It's good fun.

I see some BMXs only have a rear brake and then the lever is on the right - how does that feel when you're used to UK brakes? Have any of you switched it to the left? (I'm ignoring the brakeless ones, I'm not that young or stupid!)

I had a 24" dj and then a 20". No comparison. If you want to ride bmx, go for it, but make sure you get one that is big enough. Mine has a 21" tt, 54mm stem and 8.5" bars.

I actually considered selling it today as I want a small hardtail again. One lap round the village and remembered how much fun it is.

I would love to get into BMX but everytime I've had a go of one I immediately feel out of my comfort zone and desperate for bigger wheels, frame and suspension forks.

It takes a few minutes to get used to it but I don't really like DJing on my 26" now, the saddle constantly feels in the way and the whole bike feels big, cumbersome and flimsy. I think 20" wheels are better on transitions especially if they're smaller tighter take offs. Also having no suspension makes it easier to jump as you carry all your momentum through. Jumping on a bmx is awesome, the lack of gears or anything bouncing around makes it feel so smooth and quiet.

i ride a 24" cruiser suit my lower back much better..

i do have a faction w.22" wheels for sale (cheap) FYI..

cheers

I see some BMXs only have a rear brake and then the lever is on the right - how does that feel when you're used to UK brakes? Have any of you switched it to the left? (I'm ignoring the brakeless ones, I'm not that young or stupid!)

I'm not sure there is actually any legitimate reason for this apart from that's just how bmx'ers run their brakes. Americanism maybe? I have my rear brake on the right too , maybe just because the cool kids do.

I would say don't mess about getting cruisers and enlarged bmx''s and all that, get a 20" and just ride it. Great fun. I wear my jeans halfway down my butt too , the kids say I'm 'all that! ', at least I think that's what they're shouting .... 😉

A gearing question:

Another old codger here thinking about buying a BMX so that I can [s]break myself[/s] improve my skillz...seems they either come with a mahoosive chainring for racing, or a teeny chainring for tricks 'n' stuff.

What should I be looking for for general larking around...mostly (but not exclusively) to practice pumping, jumping, manualing on a track, but definitely not racing!

ta,

The actual gearing isn't all that different between a racebike and a DJ/park bike. Park/street bikes have smalller chainrings for clearance but have micro sized rear sprockets to make up for the smaller chainring.
Both are swappable cheaply if you don't get on with the standard gearing.
Biggest difference going to a pure race bike will be weight, nice light race bmx's accelerate soooo faaaast! (But don't expect one to last too long dirtjumping if you're a beginner)

Kayak - it is indeed a US thing to run your rear lever on the right. But if you only ride one brake it also makes sense to use your stronger hand.
I run just a rear brake on both my bmxs but as I ride much more mtb/road than bmx I run the lever on the left.

Cheers GW

But if you only ride one brake it also makes sense to use your stronger hand.

You don't really need the strength. Peiople run them on that side as an affectation. You can't do hand signals and slow at the same time. 🙂

What should I be looking for for general larking around...mostly (but not exclusively) to practice pumping, jumping, manualing on a track, but definitely not racing!

I found the biggest thing was top tube length. Try to find something with a 21 inch top tube. You might be fine on a 20.5 but being a bit taller than most I find a longer frame much more stable in the air. However, horses for courses - I only really ride tracks and don't go to the skate parks much.

21" TT feels right to me. As for the brake thing I have mine on the right so I can still have my comfort blanket of covering the brake whilst I try to do tabletops (need to be able to twist my left hand round the grip).

Excuse the crap photo but this is what I got for my 40th and where I take it some lunchtimes... not during the school holidays though 😥

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I was advised by friends who I used to BMX with back in the day (and who still ride and own the local specialist BMX shop [url= http://www.20twentystore.com/ ]20twenty[/url]) that the best way to choose a BMX is by colour or brand/rider allegiance. Top tube length becomes an issue if your very tall but at 6ft I as advised not to bother with a longer one... you'll get used to whatever you get.

Mine's a FIT Brian Foster... Brian is a hero of mine and we share the first name 😉

Agree'd on the top tube. I'm 6'1" and have has bikes from 19.5 to 21.5

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With new nicer chain
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anyone tell me if this is a good deal?

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=70482

seems like a lot of money off, any idea why?

i'm tall, and want a bike good for the bmx track/pump track. unlikely to end up on the vert ram or anything similar.

My last BMX cost £30 secondhand - first thing I remember buying with my own (pocket) money. All I remember is that it was white with a red plastic saddle and had two brakes (and possibly red tyres). It's predecessor was a red and yellow tiny Raleigh which I got for my fifth birthday - a v big day! Have spotted an orange Mongoose Logo locally for £85...

I've often thought of getting a BMX. Trouble is that a mid 30's bloke hanging around the local skate park is pro'ly gonna end up on a database.

Still, as I'm under 6', it sounds like 20" top tube is the thing?

And as for gearing, is the tiny cogs and giant cogs choice really more about a clearance/wear-rate trade off than actual gearing...?

(Used to have a raleigh super burner in gold and black. It was my first mountain bike. Cos there weren't actual mountain bikes in Surrey back then...)

Unless you are going to be hitting 50ft doubles on a supercross bmx track I wouldn't worry too much about exact gear ratios.

Apparently you're not spinning until you hit 180rpm according to Greg Romero - so if you can hit that cadence you'll be going plenty fast! 😉

Still, as I'm under 6', it sounds like 20" top tube is the thing?

Depends how muc under 6' and what sort of riding you're doing.

But of my friends that still ride trails and park, most run between a 20.7 to 21" TT.

I'd go for a 21" personally

I'm 5'9" and my bike has a 21" top tube. I used to ride a different Sunday that had a 20.5" TT and smaller bars and I didn't get on with it at all. Too small and twitchy. Not sure if its the TT, bars or other geometry thats made my current one feel so much better though.. here's mine, I love it 😀

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Love that green tom.

chiefgrooveguru - Member
I see some BMXs only have a rear brake and then the lever is on the right - how does that feel when you're used to UK brakes?

I rode bmx from '82 - '05 and always had the rear brake on the right. Took a while to get used to mtbs with their weird brakes when I started. Thought i'd made the switch successfully until a recent trip to inners when my foot slipped off on a jump and instinctively dabbed the rear brake to stop the cranks spinning. Sadly for me, i'd pulled the front brake. I crashed, herniating a couple of discs in my neck. Shouldn't be a problem if you only have one lever though. 😆

I think I'll swap the lever to the left - my left hand's stronger than my right (from years of bass playing I have only one weak finger, the rest are digital ninjas 😉 ) and according to bike brake logic your dominant (only!) brake lever should be operated by the hand which you don't use to indicate when turning across the lane of oncoming traffic.

Another big fan of the BMX here... I too am way too old to be trying to mix it with yoofs at the skate parks but I'm past caring now I have the bug. Not really ridden the Mtb for a few months now. Having a 10 year old that likes scootering is a pretty good excuse to get out on the bike. I'm currently riding his Norco bmx which is ok but I'm after something a little bigger with slightly higher bars. Always ride with a back brake and it's fitted on the left as they should be... Lots of respect for the kids who ride brakeless and still manage to hold manuals all around the skatepark.

Somebody post a Bmx for dads on the forum,sounds great thread is awesome

I ran the rear only brake lever on the right since I broke my left hand. The two smallest digits never felt strong enough when I needed the brake on hard. I now have a dx v brake on the old bmx on the right hand side as the cable runs better to the noodle along the left side of the top tube.

I also have a Haro similar to the one questioned above. Its a team issue from 2009. the cable guides are on the left of the top tube and it came with a carbon/alloy right hand lever. You don't really need to get used to it. You rip around a bmx track and know that there's only one brake to scrub off speed with so there's nothing to actually get into yer head!

The stability of the haro with the 21" top tube is very confidence inspiring compared to the 20.5" bike at the track.The Haro alloy frame with chainstays nearly 3 times as deep as the chromoly S&M stays feels like a rocket ship when you put the power down.Fine if you plan on doing a bit of racing or blasting around the track.
Don't think mountainbikes re: stiff/uncomfy or flexy/more comfortable. It's not going to come into it! Its a strength/weight/stiffness thing that will be your choice with whatever type of riding you plan to do.. and if you plan on messing about jumping all the time or never leaving a skatepark,then go with a steel frame.If you want to go fast and like the idea of a light bike,then its probably going to be an alloy race bike you'll end up with,although many riders still race steel (and kick arse on them too)

Don't think that the bike will always feel completely alien with 20" wheels. It takes me around 3-4 days to get back into it at the track coming off 26" wheels so at least give it time. To jump onto one for a few mins,you would think its near impossible.. but stick at it. Like the others have said,consider a cruiser.

So the main difference between track and park BMXs is the tt length and at 6ft I want a tt of about 21" for a track bike. Are there other important geometry differances that I should think about?

What about tyres, should they be knobblys or have a more cut slick type tread?

Lots of respect for the kids who ride brakeless and still manage to hold manuals all around the skatepark.

This is the (ex)owner of Fit. Robbie morales would amaze you on a bike. I have seen him rider super smooth around Livi skatepark with no brakes,easily managing to manual around both bowls. Can't stress how smooth he rides, he could probably ride skinnies and never buckle them! (20x1&3/8ths rim width)As you can see,it doesn't matter how big you are,if you can ride well you can't blame your weight for not being able to do it.

Got one! 🙂

Love that green tom.

cheers 🙂 It wasn't my first choice as the copper one looked so good, but was out of stock. The green has grown on me, and it's a limited edition so makes me feel special 😆 The cranks will be rawed whenever I can be bothered though, since all the green paint is rubbing off and looking crap anyway.

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Budha smiles when I have any of my bikes in the garden 8)

And here's the new acquisition:

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Really tempted to pick up another BMX and give it another crack... Anyone know of anywhere good to ride around Hull? Dunno if we have any tracks, and I'm more into that than park I think.

Nice, my wee boy has a Mongoose 8)

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the best way to choose a BMX is by colour or brand/rider allegiance

Colour: Orange like my Soul and the hoody I'm wearing right now. Tick!
Brand: Mongoose - sponsors of Chris Akrigg, my favourite rider. Tick!

I'm guessing the previous owner was an adult who didn't take to it because there is almost zero wear on the tyres, not even the rear tyre skidz by kidz evidence. Bearings all feel brand new. And it has two brakes - happy non-tricksy MTBer. Tried pumping some figure of eights on the rooftop carpark here - I'm so rubbish... But I will get better!

This thing is awesome: Feels (and looks) like my Cotic Soul and Brompton had a baby!

Ok, I'm in my 40s and am considering getting a BMX to ride a bit, mainly to improve my bike handling skills on the mountain bike. There is one of those concrete skate/bike parks near me which would probably be my main riding place; no dirt jumps or pump track in the area. I have no illusions about doing stunts or anything!

Would something like this [url= http://store.intensebmx.com/products/productdetail/RACE+PRO+XL+BLACK/part_number=IBK1RPX-1/9303.2.1.1.107102.29117.107106.0.0?pp=12& ]Intense BMX[/url] suit my needs? No illusions that its XTR quality or anything...

Edit - no issues with the brake lever being on the right here. I'm American, and that's what I'm used to. I'm not saying that its better or anything; some in the US switch them around and run them moto style.

You'd probably be better off getting a bike more suited for park riding, the intense looks like a race bike so not sure how good it'd be for what you're after.

i started back up in BMX last October at the great age of 31 (packed in riding when I was 19) never looked back, I ride with guys of my age so no problems with look like a sex pest, we tent to ride trails and i'm luck that I have two fantastic private wood stops within 10 mins of my house. I purchased a complete FIT Brian foster signature (last years model as it was £475 instead of £720), i love every time I ride and we are all off down south for a week in August to ride BMX every day :-).

my little girl chilling on mine 🙂

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this is the last one in our 12 pack

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Had some fun on my local jumps - v small air was had. I'd forgotten how bumpy BMXs are offroad though - that and having to stand up all the time will add some physical challenge to my commute! Have requested a copy of Pro BMX Skills for my birthday in the hope of avoiding injury through poor technique...

Tom - thanks. I really don't know anything about BMX, and don't want to do the equivalent of buying an XC full suspension bike when I need a downhill bike!

Other than the presence or absence of pegs, how do you tell a park bike from a race bike?

That's quite a big jump... We have some similar man size jumps here and they are so far beyond my skill level it's like a learner driver considering an F1 race!

Joe, from what I've gathered geometry doesn't vary more than about 0.5" or 1 degree in most directions - nothing like the vast difference between an XC and DH bike. Posh race bikes are v light. My little Mongoose cost £85 secondhand (feels and looks like new bar the odd scratch) and weighs ~26lbs. I think it's more a beginner BMX than a proper park or race version, which suits me fine!

Anyone know what the mechanical trail on a standard BMX is? Seems a Brompton is 24mm. Wonder what my Soul is...

21.25" TT, spot on for my 5'10" with long arms.
Top tube length makes a big difference. 21" would be fine for me for street/park, 20.5" feels tiny.

[img][url= http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5163/5328515506_8576fefcda.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5163/5328515506_8576fefcda.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/bikes_and_stuff/5328515506/ ]brew1[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/bikes_and_stuff/ ]bmclynskey1[/url], on Flickr[/img]

ANYBODY post me a photo or info on some nice bmx cruisers please,ive got to get 1,like the look of the se big ripper

It looks alrite, get your seat put down though. I used to have an Orange one

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Ive got a chance of a haro f1 at £70, how do I measure the tt? Is it likely to be much use to me at 6'2 ish
what else should I check for?

Take a look at www.sourcebmx.com

We the People are a popular brand with cred. Fit Verde and United (British) are also up there. All the top bikes (£400 plus) should be full cromoly ie light...personally im 38, ive got a Verde that was on a deal that my early midlife crisin ie didnt have a bmx in the 80's had a grifter instead..meant i had to buy...

i would like to get a bmx for riding to the shops,messing around on (i have non existent bike skills though/am 37 😳
i did have a hoffman 900 back in 2005 that i liked (sold it unfortunately).
this time i plan on buying a more "racy" bmx (as i cannot do tricks/get air e.t.c)
although i do like those flatland bmx's (they are awesome looking bikes 😀

raceface 90 43 here same here,let me no what you buy,had a go on a 20inch being 6ft i felt a right tit on it

have just looked at the mongoose site.man i love the look of this beauty 😀 [img] [/img]
as the shop i go to stocks mongoose (i think they do we the people also).
i just love the colour of it (reminds me of my old raleigh elan road bike from back in the day)
will only be using it as a runaround/for messing about on.maybe if i feel brave,to try out some of the small jumps at the skatepark near to the shop (as long as no one is there 😳
anyhoo it's a new bike what's not to like 😀

SourceBMX were a client of mine in my corporate days - their shop and indoor bike park is amazing! I would say the best thing in Hastings but that rather undersells it...

The BMX saddle height thing - is it put it all the way down because it's always too low for pedalling and gets in the way when higher? Part of me thinks I should leave it up so I don't come to hate my MTB saddle being in the way when jumping...

i just have bike lust (for a bmx 😳 after seeing this on wethepeople site [img] [/img] 😀
by the gods i would love to be able to afford one of those bad boys (but i would be too embarrassed to ride it (as i really do not have any bike skills to do it justice).
i'll shut up now 😉

[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8164/7570678356_4c5da81aa5.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8164/7570678356_4c5da81aa5.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/61640649@N03/7570678356/ ]bmx[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/61640649@N03/ ]mk_dorsoduro[/url], on Flickr

Here's my 20" race bike. I'm 6ft, it has a 21" top tube and is plenty big enough for me!

Here is my flatland bike
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Stripped it down for a lick of paint. It's a heavy old thing though, I'd like a lighter one and some 3 piece cranks.

there all to small for me, looks like a brompton

The BMX saddle height thing - is it put it all the way down because it's always too low for pedalling and gets in the way when higher?

Pretty much. There's no point in sitting down to pedal on a bmx so get it out of the way. And a high seat looks shit. I do hate my mtb saddle being in the way even when its at its lowest now though, takes ages to get used to.

I'm taller than you.

I have a Fly Pantera with a 21.4 inch top tube. Perfect for me and Im over 6'2".

Its currently unused and is covered in rust, want to buy it?