Author Topic: BMX bikes purchase advice  (Read 3371 times)

velosam

  • '.....you used to be an apple on a stick.'
BMX bikes purchase advice
« on: 08 August, 2016, 08:56:13 am »
I would like to get one for the boy. Actually not quite true, he would like one and given that we have a skate/ bmx park nearby I may as well.

However I have know nothing about them so any advice is appreciated. The boy is 6 but small so I suspect a 16/18 inch wheel one is best

thanks

Re: BMX bikes purchase advice
« Reply #1 on: 08 August, 2016, 09:39:16 am »
It's really hard to know what is right. I don't think anyone makes ramp bikes that are light enough for a six year old to enjoy. A Cnoc 16 will do, but even they are heavy as hell. If he was riding dirt, a jr race bmx would at least be light enough for him to manhandle in a way that is fun. Ramp bikes are so heavy, they make the kid a passenger.

My 10 year old has a Islabike Beinn (sub 8kg with cheap carbon bits), a WTP BMX, and a Grit stunt scooter. In terms of making use of the skatepark, it's the scooter that's taught him the most.





And the scooter skills have transferred to the bikes.


velosam

  • '.....you used to be an apple on a stick.'
Re: BMX bikes purchase advice
« Reply #2 on: 08 August, 2016, 09:54:58 am »
Thanks Dr M. It was a toss up between a scooter and bike, so will get the former. I suspect he will use it more as well


Re: BMX bikes purchase advice
« Reply #3 on: 08 August, 2016, 10:16:24 am »
One tip - get one with an aheadset and a triple clamp. The traditional headsets seem to really struggle to stay tight, and it's a ball ache having to lug headset spanners about. Also, flex brakes run silent - the racket the spring loaded ones make is annoying. We've had a couple of Slamms and a Grit, and his mates have had MGPs. We've got ours from skates.co.uk (no connection, but they are cheap and give freebies away).

Something like this http://www.skates.co.uk/scooters/grit-fluxx-2015-complete-stunt-scooter-black-b-stock.html

or this https://www.skatehut.co.uk/brands/grit/grit_elite_2015_complete_scooter_purple_gold_speckle.htm?currency=GBPproductid=49067&gclid=CjwKEAjw26C9BRCOrKeYgJH17kcSJACb-HNA3V8JTXV_txBwMFOSX-em1XpvM3-t4cBWXCLGFuXVdhoCZVXw_wcB

would be ace fun without going nuts.

Re: BMX bikes purchase advice
« Reply #4 on: 14 August, 2016, 06:58:25 pm »
Check the skatepark. Our local one has banned scooters (essentially because the scooter riders were causing problems for the boarders and BMXers).
Our local one also has a project that offers coaching and lets you try out bikes http://www.owp.org.uk/ . It's definitely worth seeing if you can borrow a bike - would help with sizing and also with whether your child is going to enjoy BMX. My daughter loves the idea, but is too timid and risk averse on her bike to actually ride any of the skatepark. Hence a bike with gears for riding MTB is much more suitable than a BMX...
Cheers
Duncan

Re: BMX bikes purchase advice
« Reply #5 on: 28 January, 2022, 12:36:26 pm »
Mini BMX's are getting more popular near us

https://www.skates.co.uk/mini-bmx-bikes/?model=5684