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Ok...not MTB but there are gravel and road discussions so hope this is permissible! My son who will be 8 at Xmas has asked for a BMX.
Some of them seem to weigh more than my Cotic Solaris!
It's the one discipline I have absolutely no knowledge of as have been out of the game since 1986. Where does one start?
What is a good weight? What should I look for? Any recommendations? What do you need to pay to get a good value / reasonable performance and weight?
I think he largely wants it for the skate park and doing a few tricks.
Thanks
Even a half decent BMX will weigh a lot especially in comparison to a half decent MTB, they're built to get thrown around and not break. Avoid anything high tensile steel as that is the cheap rubbish. I think you can get something reasonable for £300 ish but I haven't been up to speed for a few years so it might have changed given supply and demand issues.
Why... why did I click this thread... I knew where it'd end up... blooming well shopping for a new bmx now aren't I? My 40 year old wrists decided it was too much 4 years ago...
Anyway, I always defer to custom riders:
https://www.customriders.com/bmx/bikes/bmx-freestyle-bikes/20-inch
How tall is he? I'm guessing at age 8, 16" wheels will be the right size, but if he's tiny maybe 14", if he's dead tall maybe 18".
You'll need to spend £250+ for a non-Halfords special I'm afraid, if you're looking new. Something like this:
https://wallerbmx.co.uk/collections/16-bmx-bikes/products/sunday-blueprint-16-bmx-bike-2022
Hi-ten steel is probably unavoidable these days unless you go very high budget, but age 8 he's not going to be ripping the headtube off anything (I assume 😀 ).
There’s a split between race bmx (mostly alloy) and general mucking about / skate park Bmx. The latter are generally steel. If you can find one with a 4130 frame rather than hi tensile that’s for the best. I bought a cheap old Haro 24” wheel bmx that’s unfortunately hi tensile and it weighs about 27lbs. Fun when it’s not trying to kill you (I’m 40).
For your lad it’ll be a 20” wheel bmx - buying a ‘complete’ I’d have thought. Loads of brands out there now - I’d find a decent local bmx shop and go down there and ask for some advice.
For your lad it’ll be a 20” wheel bmx
20" wheels age 8 will be setting him up to never learn any tricks on it IMO.
How tall is he? I’m guessing at age 8, 16″ wheels will be the right size, but if he’s tiny maybe 14″.
He's 135cm
My bad, maybe I’m over estimating how big an 8 year old is!
Local bmx shop will sort you out
Where are you @mccraque ? I have a GT Performer 18 I should really sell on but I’m bad at postage and getting round to selling things!
As above, although Cr-Mo/4130 steel tends to not feature too much until you get to higher price points. You tend to get things like CrMo forks (or just the blades) on an otherwise basic frame, or maybe just key tubes like the headtube and downtube on the frame.
Have a look 2nd hand, there's lots of half decent stuff sold by parents who realised their kid wasn't the next Hoffman and wanted a PlayStation instead. Mines a 20" Commencal (helps it's not a cool BMX brand I suppose), full 4130 frame, forks, crank, bars and cost me the pricy sum of £20! It's clearly passed through the hands of several kids (and big kids) before me, but still has the sipes on the tyres!
Where are you @mccraque ? I have a GT Performer 18 I should really sell on but I’m bad at postage and getting round to selling things!
Near to Brighton, @STWHannah.
Bmx is great fun, i brought two, one for me and one for my son.
On is a Sunday Scout the other is a we the people both in great nick apart from covered in dust.
Suppose i should sell them on.
Keep an eye out for a used Wethepeople Arcade on ebay. I got an emaculate 18" for my daughter last Christmas for £150, liked it so much I bought a used Wethepeople Versus about a week later for myself for the same price. you can get a really good BMX if you go for a used one.
@mccraque oh well. Singletrack Towers is very far away from Brighton! But down there you should have plenty of choice of 2nd hand bikes - there are loads more BMX and skate parks down there so there’s a decent scene.
Brighton?
Good excuse for an oldie.
If it helps for size reference, my shorter than average 4 year old is about to move onto a 14" wheel bmx, my almost 7 year old of average height is on an 18" wheel, and freakishly tall 10 year old eldest has been comfortable jumping a 20" wheel bmx since he was about 8 1/2. You're best off at a local shop and sizing up right.
Have a morning at source BMX down in Hastings. Big indoor skate park (with massive BMX bike shop) and they do kids sessions then, pretty sure they'll hire one for you too.
Then you'll get a good idea and be able to buy the right one.
Have a morning at source BMX down in Hastings. Big indoor skate park (with massive BMX bike shop) and they do kids sessions then, pretty sure they’ll hire one for you too.
Then you’ll get a good idea and be able to buy the right one.
I'd echo this, Source is in Hastings which must be a hour from you, worth giving them a call to see what they have built up to swing a leg over, they stock a few diff brands which cover the price points, usual caveats that the more you spend generally the better and longer lasting it will be, also potentially retaining good value.