Cheap BMX Bikes Buying Guide

Cheap BMX Bikes

Bmx Bikes or sometimes shortened to BMX is short for ‘Bicycle Moto-X’ so its roots rest with the kind of the sport that involves racing around a restricted circuit with banked turns and leaps. BMX originates back in the late 70′s but peaked in popularity in the early eighties. Originally the human powered form of Moto-Cross where instead of a motorbike, riders would tear round a circuit of bumps and jumps on a small wheeled bike with a single gear. BMX (Bicycle Moto Cross) gradually developed and manufacturers began to make bikes which suited the circuits. They were fitted with 20″ wheels, much scaled-down than the 26 inch wheels identified on mountain bikes and the 700C or 27 inch wheels identified on regular road bikes, had a relatively small frame and high bars. Some of the professional bikes would run on 20″x1 3/8″ wheels whereas the majority of bikes were fitted with 20″ x 1.75 or 2.125 wheels.

BMX frames normally are built from sometimes high tensile material or chromoly, generally for their toughness and longevity. Of the two materials, high tensile steel is cheaper, so will be found on mainly entry level bikes. Even further up the selection as the requirements of the rider raises, the lighter and just as robust chromoly steel is the component of choice. They have a fixed frame size, with no frame sizing options being available for a given wheel size. The style of bike became very popular with the younger rider, particularly teenagers who adopted this new “style” of bike as their own. As with many types of bikes, the BMX evolved into more than just a race circuit bike.
BMX bikes tend to be stronger, due largely to their small frames, and because they have only a single gear, they tend to need less maintenance.
Although BMX faded away in popularity when Mountain Bikes really began to catch on, a core of riders and enthusiasts has kept the “style” alive. More recently BMX has seen a resurgence in popularity.

BMX bikes are available with other wheel sizes, although these smaller wheeled (12″, 14″ 16″ and 18″) bikes are purely children’s bikes.

Type of Cheap BMX Bikes

There are a number of different styles of bike available for you to buy currently. Sometimes, knowing which one will best suit your individual requirements is the biggest problem facing a potential buyer, and unless you are given realistic information about what each style is designed for you can easily end up with a bike which is largely unsuitable for your style of riding. Purchasing a cheap BMX bike does not have to be difficult.

Race;  The original. No Frills, just a machine built for speed around a dirt covered track with humps. Typically fitted with frame pads to protect the rider.

Freestyle; The first evolution of BMX. Designed to be ridden purely to perform tricks and stunts. Smooth tires instead of knobby ones are fitted, and they usually have some form of mechanism to allow the steering to be rotated fully through 360º without entangling the brake cables.
Freestyle is generally split into 2 main types; Ramps and Street (Flatland). Freestyle bikes for ramps tend to be slightly longer in the frame than Flatland bikes. Ramps are built in the form of an elongated semi-circle where the rider goes back and forth between the 2 ramps performing aerial tricks after leaving the ramp at the top (Half Pipe) or a single ramp where there is just a long run up (Quarter Pipe). Flatland bikes are shorter, and riders perform a series of tricks, moving the bike around on one wheel and many others without allowing their feet to touch the ground.

Dirt Jump;  The latest evolution. In many cases this is freestyle taken onto the dirt. Riders build ramps from piles of earth and then jump over the ramps, performing aerial tricks whilst off the ground.

Pros;  Most BMX bikes are very solid and robust. They tend to be more durable than other equivalently priced bikes. Less maintenance due to less individual components.

Cons;  Not suitable for riding any long distances, due to lack of gears and small frame/wheel size. Not as indestructible as they appear. One key factor to remember with a BMX is that it can only be as capable as the rider. As with any style of bike, there are “imitations” ie bikes which look like a BMX but which are not suited to any form of extreme riding.

Deciding for whom you might buy Cheap BMX bikes

There are a few requirements to keep in mind, when shopping for a bike. Deciding on which bike to buy can be daunting at first glance or to someone that is new to BMX bike shopping. The bikes are produced in various styles, frames and uses for all kinds of bike riders – for kids, novices, intermediates, and seasoned pros. The prices of each individual bike are also a factor based on the aforementioned list.

Do keep in mind a budget, features and purpose for the purchase of your bike. Bike shopping for a first time riding child is much different than shopping for a new bike to surprise your boyfriend with, for example. Kids have different requirements than an adults. The good news is that no matter what you’re looking for, BMX has tons to offer for everyone on the market today.

Cheap BMX Bikes For Kids

Kids needs a sturdy bike that can grow with them, and there are several different varieties that will work for you. The best way to shop for a kid is to determine the height of the child, purpose of the bike and rigidness of the bike. The height of the child determines the wheel size; a size 20 model is good for ages 7 -10 both male and female.

The purpose of the bike is very important, will the child perform stunts or race. The styles include dirt racing, trick bikes, freestyle and the regular ones. The Sims Torch bike is an example of a laid-back ride for kids. This bike is 20 inch model, one speed and with a vertical seat.

The rigidness of the bike determines the overall quality from the welds to the material used in the frame. The material used in bikes cross all types of bike riders. These materials vary and include steel, aluminum alloy, titanium and carbon fiber. A kid’s bike such as the 20 inch Micargi Dragon features a y-steel frame and steel components that may not be found on a boy’s 20-inch model. The recommended sizes by age are 3 -5 years recommends a 12 inch frame, 5-8 years recommends a 16 inch frame, 7-10 years old recommends a 20 inch, 9-12 recommends a 24 inches and 12 and up recommends 26 inches or better.

Cheap BMX Bikes For Teens

The various styles of BMX bikes available for teens and above are racing, jumping and freestyle. However, other forms fall into the primary categories. A bike is not just a bike but has a design purpose and some of the styles may not be acceptable for a utility bike. The freestyle bike is more of a utility bike for teens than the jumping or racing. Each bike can be specialized or downgraded for a single purpose. The Premium Bike Deathtrap is a 20-inch street racing bike with a chrome frame and customized gear set.

The requirements for teens and adults are different than for kids. A bike can last a teen for years, if properly maintained. The Redline Bike FlightPro 24 is a 24-inch on a BMX aluminum-racing frame. The rest of the bike is either chrome or aluminum. This bike is made for flat line racing and light stunts. This bike is suitable for ages 13 and up, teens need a durable bike for stunts, racing or going to school. The Mirraco Bike No. 7 is 20-inch dirt racing bike designed by Dave Mirra. The frame is made from chrome molybdenum steel to reduce weight and to increase responsiveness for the rider.

Cheap BMX Bikes For Adults

The bikes for adults range from 24, up, and come in various styles. The pro bikes are usually found here but teens have crossed over into the professional side. The choices made by the adult in a bike may include price, style, color and ability. The Haro 124 is a 24-inch hi-tensile steel frame and is used for mountain biking or dirt bike racing. This bike is a general use and can be upgraded for a specialization. The adults may prefer higher quality bikes to the generalized manufactured ones. Custom-built bikes can run into the thousands of dollars. Signature bikes from professional riders are made for collectors and expert riders but features some of the best bike parts available.

The Haro 118 is an 18 inch on a high tensile steel frame. The 118 is designed for dirt, street and jumping. Professional riders use this bike and other models for the X games and Mt. Dew Cup series. The adults can customize the general parts and braking packages that comes standard with the 118. The GT Power Series Expert is a sweet bike for the serious BMX racer. The GT is a 20-inch on an aluminum frame with chromyl forks. The GT is perfect for street racing and is adjustable for adult use.

Finding a Good Bike Shop.

There are various signs that can help you find a good shop for cheap BMX bikes, and some things you should think about asking:

1. Find out about services, maintenance and repairs; Bike components bed in after the first few weeks of riding, and a good bike shop will readjust  everything which needs doing after this for free. Many will also offer reduced rates on maintenance and repairs for longer periods – a year or two, or even the lifetime of the bike.
2. Talk to the salesperson; Salespeople who are keen cyclists themselves will have a wealth of useful knowledge – good ones won’t try to force it down your neck! A salesperson who does not cycle will not really know what they are talking about.
3. Ask about customization;  If you are buying a new bike, most good bike shops will not charge you for fitting the accessories at the time of purchase. Most good shops will also allow you to change things that aren’t quite right on the bike, if you want to swap the saddle for example – though they’ll probably ask you to pay the difference if you are getting a more expensive one!
4. Organizations and certificates;  Many shops may display signs or certificates mentioning one or more of the following :

-   Association of Cycle Traders (ACT); The Association of Cycle Traders is the only national trade organization for specialist independent cycle shops. ACT has over 850 members representing bike shops of all shapes and sizes right across the country. Through ACT membership bike shops are investing in their businesses by gaining access to information, legal support, promotion, business services and campaigning; all of which can help them offer a better level of service to their customers.
-   Cytech; Cytech is the bicycle industry’s only recognised training and accreditation scheme for cycle mechanics and bike technicians. Cytech Accredited cycle shops will employ staff who have undergone professional training and accreditation to recognised standards. There are 3 levels of Cytech accreditations, as well as a distance learning module, which cover everything from the basics of bike maintenance up to the most complex bike builds and servicing. Look out for Cytech certificates on display in your local shop.
-   XXXX Authorized Dealer; Many shops display signs or stickers saying that they are Authorized Dealers for a brand of bikes or components. It is very hard to work out what these mean – some companies require shops to send their mechanics on special courses to become authorized, others just insist that the shop buys enough from them.
-   Bike Hub; Bike Hub is a Cycle Industry levy fund which was initially set up by the Bicycle Association (BA) and the Association of Cycle Traders (ACT). Participating retailers and suppliers donate of proportion of the value of each sale they make toward the fund which is then used to help deliver schemes like Bike Week and Bike It (delivered through Sustrans). Retailers who contribute to this fund are investing a little back into cycling in the UK.

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