Deciding on what bike size is required can be tough, especially when you are new to the sport. This guide will help beginner bikers choose the right BMX bike size for them.
Once you have decided on what style of BMX bike you want (dirt, street) this article will help in choosing your first BMX Size.
Contents
What Size BMX Do You Need?
See below what size is appropriate for your height:
4′ 6″ – 4′ 9″: 12″ or 14″ Wheel Bike
5′ 0″ – 5′ 3″: 16″ Wheel Bike
5′ 4″ – 5′ 7″: 20″ Wheel Bike
5′ 8″- 6ft: 24″ sized bikes with 2 pegs (20″) or 26″ with 1 peg (24″)
What To Look For When Buying a BMX
Bikes of any kind can be expensive. Buying a BMX bike for an adult will likely cost even more than most other bikes on the market because they are mostly customized specifically to an individual’s height and weight.
When buying a BMX bike, there are some things you should consider before making your purchase. The three main factors to consider when purchasing a BMX for adults would include:
1) Your own comfort
2) The materials used in building or assembling the bike
3) The price or value of the bike
Comfort
Comfort is key when selecting any type of product but especially something that you will use regularly like a bicycle.
Make sure that this is something that you want to buy, and purchase it from somewhere where you can return it if you decide you don’t like it or if the price is too high.
Ensure to check out a few different stores or websites that offer BMX bikes for sale.
Materials
The second thing to consider is the materials that go into making the bike.
You want something that will last and be strong enough to withstand impacts (even though they aren’t as severe as those experienced in motocross riding). It should handle well, look good, and have good brakes so you can stop on a dime when needed.
Aluminum alloy makes for a great frame material because of its lightweight yet durable qualities. And steel allows for a smoother ride but weighs more than aluminum alloy.
Also, keep in mind that some other metals used are cheaper so be wary of these because they will not last as long.
Price
The third thing to consider is the price of the bike. As mentioned, this type of bicycle can be very expensive so do your research before you buy it.
Make sure it has all the features that you want and see if any deals or discounts are being offered on certain models or from specific sellers.
In order for a BMX bike for adults to be considered a good purchase, all three factors should match up in terms of positive attributes.
The buyer needs to feel comfortable with their selection based on their likes and dislikes. The materials used in building the bike have to be strong and durable enough for regular use but lightweight enough to allow agility for tricks etc,
Finally, your price range for purchasing the bike should be respected so you can still get all of the features you want without breaking the bank.
How Much To Spend On A BMX As A Beginner
When looking for a BMX bike for a beginner, it is important to consider how much you are willing to spend. A good bike can be expensive, but there are also some affordable options available. In general, you should expect to spend at least $200 on a quality BMX bike. However, there are some less expensive bikes available for around $100 or less (second hand). If you are looking for a higher-end bike, you may want to consider spending closer to $500 or more.
Top BMX Brands
There are several top BMX brands for adult riders. Some of the most popular brands include Haro, Fit Bike Co., Sunday Bikes, and Redline. Each brand offers its own unique set of features and benefits, so it’s important to research which brand is best for you.
Haro
Haro is a well-known brand that offers high-quality bikes for all types of riders. Their bikes are designed to be durable and lightweight, making them perfect for adults who want to ride hard and fast.
The Haro BMX bicycle brand was founded by Bob Haro in Whittier California in 1977. There is now a subsidiary in Taiwan.
The bikes are made out of aluminum alloy which is strong, lightweight and rust-resistant. The handlebars are generally wider than other biking brands.
Factory-built BMX’s (built by large bike companies) can be bought directly, or custom built in a bike shop. Haro has its factory-branded bikes, called ‘Pro’ and ‘Master’.
The customer can choose from several options to customize the bike. These include different sized bars, a swept or straight BMX stem, front load or top load stem, different tires and grips, chain tensioners, etc.
Different components have different benefits for different purposes. For example, flip-flop hubs allow riders to switch the number of gears on their bike.
Haro also produces a dirt jump-specific model, which can be fitted with a front brake and a rear disc brake. Having a front brake means that it is possible to pull extra tricks – because having two brakes makes stopping easier!
The Haro BMX brand has spawned many pro riders, including Kevin Jones, Brian Lopes, Dave Mirra, and Rick Thorne.
Fit
Fit Bike Co. is also a popular choice among adult riders. Their bikes are known for their high performance and affordability.
They were established in 1999 by April Foster, who is currently the president of the company. She had a dream to create a company that was different from what is currently in the industry.
She wanted to create a brand that would produce innovative products with an approachable price tag. Furthermore, she has made it her mission to work with top athletes and great minds in the industry to make this happen for them and their brands.
The company is celebrating its’ 15th anniversary by reaching back into the past for some of its most popular graphics. April says, “The collection will be available exclusively through our website.”
Fit Bike Co is based out of North Bonneville, Washington which is located west of Seattle on I-5. They are one of four bike companies owned by Dorel Industries Inc., based out of Montreal, Canada. Their team consists of a wide variety of riders who have a great deal of experience competing in the freeride, downhill, and dirt jumping world.
The team consists of Ricky Carmichael, Joe Rich, Jack Fogelquist, Kyle Strait, Adam Hauck, and Chris Van Dine.
The company’s bikes are used by top riders throughout the world including, Kevin Windham, Adam Hauck, Kyle Strait, and Dave Watson. Some events that the team has been involved in include: Crankworx Whistler 2012, 2013 and 2014; Red Bull Rampage 2011 to present; Downieville Classic 2012, 2013 and 2014; Cape Fear Games 2011, 2012 and 2013; Mint 400 2012, 2013 and 2014; Teva Mountain Games 2012, 2013 and 2014; Summer X-Games 2007 to present.
Sunday Bikes
Sunday Bikes is another great option, especially if you’re looking for a bike that’s built to last.
Over the past few decades, Sunday Bikes has developed a cult-like following among biking enthusiasts.
This unique and enduring company was founded in 2000 by Joe Krol and John Castellano and quickly won over skaters and cyclists alike with its first line of BMX bikes: the “Bone Deth” series.
Joe Krol got his start as a professional skateboarder before turning to BMX bikes full time; he became enamored with the sport after purchasing his bike from a friend, pro rider Rick Thorne.
Krol’s passion for BMX propelled him to organize “Team Spooky” – his amateur team – which would go on to compete in several international competitions. During that era, Sunday Bikes was born as a brand under the umbrella of B.U.M. Equipment, which originally stood for “Bicycle United Motocross.”
Its first team rider was an up-and-coming young skater by the name of John Sampson; he would go on to become one of Sunday’s now most recognizable faces, along with his now-legendary signature shoe named after him – “The Sampson” (which is still in production today).
From early on, Sunday Bikes has made quality BMX bikes accessible to all sorts of riders through online sales and affordable retail prices.
Also integral to success is their commitment to collaborative partnerships with other like-minded brands; once such partnership has resulted in several collaborations between Sunday and Oakley, leading to the development of entirely new designs and styles.
In recent years, Sunday Bikes has expanded its line of bikes to include a “Long-Travel” Freeride series called “MILF,” as well as street bikes – offering an array of bike styles at a range of price points for all sorts of riders to enjoy.
Redline
Redline is a well-known BMX brand that has been in business for over four decades. Their bikes are known to be extremely reliable and durable, so they’re a great choice if you want to avoid expensive repairs or maintenance.
The Redline BMX brand was founded by four friends in 1977. This group of friends had a common vision to create the best BMX bikes possible. They started the company by importing lesser expensive BMX parts, so they could sell customizable bikes to the youth of America who were quickly picking up this new sport.
One way redline built a name for themselves was by sponsoring amateur riders throughout their early years in the BMX industry. This strategy caught on with manufacturers and became one of the best ways to gain exposure in the market. It didn’t take long before redline had an international presence with dealers all around the world.
The first product that Redline made under their own brand name was a 20″ freestyle BMX bike called “the Ripper”. The Ripper’s popularity reached unparalleled levels, even today it still has dedicated followers who like to restore vintage models.
Another popular Redline BMX model was the “Redline Pro”, this bike was the first freestyle BMX brand to come with a tubular chromoly frame. The company continued making advancements in their products and by the early eighties, they had an entire line of bikes ranging from 18″ to 20″ wheel sizes, as well as unicycles for children.
In 1984, the company took an interesting turn when they introduced one of the first dirt jumping BMX bikes. Another new release was a BMX racing frame called “the Reactor”. This frame had a steeper seat tube angle which made it suitable for competition purposes.
Three years later redline unveiled another new frame design that ended up becoming very popular for street riding. It was called “the Messenger” and it featured a slacker seat tube angle in order to lower the rider’s center of gravity making it comfortable for long periods.
The Messenger design changed the way that many people rode their BMX bikes, before this model most freestyle bikes had a steeper seat tube angle which made them more suitable for the vertical and horizontal tricks that were popular at the time.
After a few years, redline decided to branch out into other BMX-related sports, including motorcycle trials and mountain biking. The company made some great progress in both of these areas but they were not able to get them up to the level of success that they had with BMX.
Last Updated on February 28, 2022