Most new BMX riders think that there is one BMX brand is better for a new rider than the others. The reality is that there are dozens of BMX brands and they are all manufacturing parts and bikes with different colors and different branding. But does that make one brand better than the others?
There is not a specific bmx brand that is better than the others. Most BMX brands are very similar in the products that they create. Most brands have an entry-level BMX option, an upgraded fork option, and so on. As a new rider, it’s important to find a bike that checks all the boxes described below.
Here are the 5 things you need to look for when buying a beginner BMX bike.
Disregard the brand of the bike, and look for a bike that fits these characteristics.
Size
First, you need to determine what size of bike is right for you. A smaller rider will need a bike with a smaller toptube and a tall rider will need a longer toptube bike.
Toptube sizes range from 20.00″ to 21″ on average and I’ve created a handy size guide to help you find the correct toptube for yourself. Click the link below to see the size guide.
Knowing what size is right for you, will narrow down your search a ton since most bikes are only available in certain sizes. To filter bikes by size, go to the Dougsterbob App and use the “filter” function to narrow down your search.
Quality
I recommend buying the highest quality BMX bike that you can afford. It’s best to get a full chromoly BMX bike but some people do not have a high budget. In that case, get what you can. The Dougsterbob App makes this extra easy by having a scoring system and assigning a quality score to each bike from 1-10.
Generally, beginner riders do not need a quality score that is over 3 unless they plan to eventually progress to a mid-level of riding.
Style
BMX bikes have multiple different styles. Since BMX is such a broad niche, I’ll break down the different options below. You should know what style of riding you plan to do and this will guide your decision on what bike to look for.
Flatland
Flatland-style bmx bikes have low crossbar handlebars, low standover heights, 4 pegs, steep forks, and front + rear brakes.
Racing
Racing BMX bikes are extremely lightweight and made from chromoly and carbon fiber. They have a higher gear ratio and are designed for speed.
Freestyle
Freestyle BMX bikes are traditional-looking BMX bikes. With an average weight, these bikes are designed to do tricks on.
Utility
Each bike has minor geometry variations that will have an impact on how the bike handles. For example, some riders will ride a really responsive bike because it compliments their style. But the same responsiveness that helps one style, can hurt another.
Responsive Bikes
A responsive bmx is designed to react quickly to weight shift and steering. These bikes have steep forks, a steep headtube angle, and a short chain stay. These geometries will give the bike a responsive feel.
Stable Bikes
Stable BMX bikes have long mellow angles that make the bike slow to react. This gives the bike a more stable feeling at high speed. A mellow offset, headtube angle, and chain stay length are a few of the things that make a bike stable.
Color
Everyone is always obsessed with color. Getting a BMX bike that you like to look at is obviously important. However, this should be considered last. Do not base your choice solely on color. You will end up on a bike that is all wrong for you.
Narrow down your search based on the above items and if you are faced with multiple similar options, pick based on color.
Conclusion
Obviously, there are a ton of different things to consider when buying a BMX bike, but brand should not be considered. Buy a bike that fits right, with the right quality and you will not go wrong.
