Originally, post-meteor BMX was released in the early 1970s after it was discovered that kids had been taken to dirt-mimicking motocross racing spots on their bikes, with the line taped up before cycling. Unsurprisingly, competition has become more competitive, demand for equipment has become higher and more specialized, and subcultures have naturally developed around street and freestyle BMX.
Shortly before today, BMX arrived on its own, where BMX was the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale, cycling’s governing body), approved and introduced at the Olympic Games. Freestyle BMX has professional riders and paabs supported by large sponsors who participate in adrenaline events such as the X-Games.
Do you feel your apartment is for BMX? We’re here to clear things up, show the differences, and equip you with the knowledge you need to make sure you buy the best BMX bike that meets your needs.
BMX riding disciplines
Freestyle BMX bikes are designed to meet the requirements of street tricks, jumping, parks and skating. This means that the materials of the frame, wheels and parts must be optimized for both grip strength and ease of handling. BMX racing bikes are optimized for speed and acceleration, often made from lightweight materials, and have different geometries to ensure stability, stiffness, and speed.
Within freestyle BMX, the term “freestyle” is included in several sub-disciplines. With the exception of Flatland, there are many crossovers in these disciplines and it is probably the most versatile option to choose a versatile bike that falls into the freestyle category.
- Park: Park Riding refers to riding in skate parks, which, despite their name, are visited by BMX almost as often as skaters. Riding Park also applies to rider-only BMX-specific indoor parks, often referred to as “riders.”
- Streets – As the name suggests, Street Riders are creative with urban infrastructure such as stairs and railings, and perform highly skilled turns and transformations. Runners will always look for the right places to test new skills.
- Flatland: A complete niche, the flat is performed without external functions and all tricks are performed on the rider’s bike. Pivot Riders, often referred to as “breakdancing” on a bike, balance the bike with a hard, flat surface.
- Earth Tracks / Jumps: Takes place to accumulate land jumps and berms. These jumpers attempt to hit a high shot and connect jumpers to perform tricks.
- Race – stands for BMX motocross bikes, so it’s no wonder BMX bikes are better known for crossing jumps and pulling curbs, rather than for their gas premiums. BMX racing takes place on custom-built tracks made of hard materials, well treated like bituminous dirt, and often outfitted with a combination of rolling terrain and jumps. Because BMX racing bikes are designed with one goal in mind, they are often not suitable for use in other BMX disciplines.
Frames and forks
materials
Racing and freestyle BMX bikes are primarily made from a mix of steel known as Chromoly 4130 (short chrome). Chromium is a steel alloy that offers excellent strength properties than cheaper high-strength steel often found in low-content and thrift stores. Chrome steel can be “supported”, meaning it can be thinner and therefore lighter in the middle of the area, hardened around the ends, and bonded for strength.
Steel is the material these wheels choose because it is very resistant to fatigue (important because of all the shocks these wheels can take!), It is easy to repair and it gives you a little more shape when driving which adds a little more comfort and reduces the pressure on the rider’s body.
The harder and lighter aluminum frames are preferred for BMX racing, which means this is the material of choice. If you are serious about racing and want to get this added benefit, carbon fiber frames are becoming increasingly popular with elite BMX riders as the weight drops further and the vibration damping properties go unused. found in aluminum.
Size
Kids, teens and adults use BMX freestyle bikes; Although the size of the bike remains the same, the frame size can vary discreetly depending on the riding style and the length of the rider. Most freestyle BMX bikes outside the yard have a 21-inch diameter tube that gives riders enough space to swing under air tricks and a shorter, lighter saddle.
Flatland frames are usually the only exception, as they are lighter and have shorter tubes around the perimeter for better balance and control. They also have a much steeper head angle and 3/8 “foot for the smaller rear axles.
On racing bikes, the rider sits on the bike thanks to the tilt of the head and the longer wheelbase, which offers better stability and mobility at high speeds. Race frame sizes are available in a wider range to suit the age group of riders watching BMX racing.
wheel
The ‘standard’ size for a BMX bike is 20 inches, which is a much smaller size than for a mountain bike or a bike. On kids bikes you will find even smaller 16 ” or 18 ” bikes and larger 22 ” or 24 ” bikes can be seen on some BMX bike paths used for dirt. However, it is safe to assume that the term “BMX” is usually a 20-inch wheel.
BMX racing bikes fall into two categories, based on the size of the bikes. The first is 20 inches – the most common, the second is 24 inches or ‘cruiser’. Cruisers are popular with larger or older riders and also offer more stability.
Since BMX racing requires fast acceleration from the starting grid, the wheels are lighter than freestyle BMX.
Rims
The standard rim width is 32 mm for freestyle bikes. For riders who expect to hit a few harder blows in the wheels, they can opt for a larger rim with a diameter of 36 mm. Fields are made of aluminum and can be single, double or triple, with several layers of metal offering better structural support, but at the expense of increased weight. The ideal stand for most runners is a double wall, as it is a good balance between strength and weight.
Advanced racers who are more demanding on their equipment usually decide to have an aftermarket made based on their exact requirements and more picky with fields and spokes.
Balke
The number of spokes is another thing to consider when choosing a BMX or buying new bikes. The wires are “tied” from the hub to the edge and depend on tension to stay tight and strong. The number of spokes contributes to the strength (and also the weight) of the whole wheel. The 36-spoke wheel is sufficient for most riders on a free-riding BMX bike. More advanced riders or heavier riders can opt for a bike with 48 spokes.
Most spokes are made of steel wire and have the same thickness everywhere, but if you see something that refers to “blunt” spokes, such as blunt frames, it means that the spokes are thinner in the middle and thicker at the end, but the weight is lower .
BMX bikes have between 28 and 36 spokes and have alloy wheels designed to reduce weight where possible.
Tie
As the first point of contact with the road, the choice of tire affects the wheel speed (rolling resistance), grip and handling. For street and park driving, a smoother ride and wider tires are more suitable. High-quality BMX tires can handle pressures up to 110 psi, which move faster than a low-profile tire and provide rim protection when loaded after a hard landing.
Dirt jumpers go for something with a wider tread pattern for trapping on dirt and will run their tires at a lower pressure for more trapping. Wider than a treadmill, look for 20in x 2.1 for better stability and more space. The great thing is that the tires are easy to replace and replace so you can replace them if needed.
Treadmills are generally narrower to accommodate the thinner rim profile and to reduce weight while driving faster on the track.
Ammunition
The BMX hub that forms the center of the wheel contains bearings on which
