Foldable Bikes Party: Best BMX bikes: We put 5 through their paces

Tuesday, 22 November 2016

Best BMX bikes: We put 5 through their paces

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BMX bikes offer a unique riding experience that’s every bit as rewarding as it is raw. Add to this the no-nonsense simplicity of the bikes themselves and the culture of BMX as a sport and it’s not hard to see why BMX still has such an appeal.

We’ve spent the last few weeks trying out a selection of BMX bikes that are ideal for the newcomer. Capping our budget at £400 / $500 / AU$700, we’ve chosen five different bikes from various different brands. Each model has been ridden by our resident BMX tester Jonny Ashelford.

General observations

Those familiar with BMX won’t be surprised to learn that all of the bikes we’ve featured use steel frames, 20in wheels and singlespeed drivetrains. All of the bikes feature three-piece cranks that rotate on mid-style bottom brackets, and none of the bikes use chain tugs or tensioners.

Bikes that are sold with pedals or stunt pegs will have been photographed with them in place, and those that aren’t will not feature them. The bikes are all sold with two brakes, but most riders will opt to use only the rear.

The bikes we have chosen are fairly versatile in that they’ve been built to tackle everything from skate parks to street riding or dirt jumps.