What BMX?
cat_with_no_tail
Posts: 12,981
So, as title.
We see very little about BMXs on this site (I realize it's a MTB site not a BMX site).
I know for a fact I'm not the only person here who has toyed with the idea of getting a clown bike to play on. I'm also sure I'm not the only person who is completely baffled by BMX sizing, materials, components, styles, brands etc.
So, here is a rather general thread for BMX buying advice and general info (mods please feel free to move this to general if you feel it'd be better placed there).
I'll go first.
I'm 6ft, and have a budget of up-to £350.
Am I just simply too tall for a BMX? Would I be better going for a 24" rigid DJ bike instead perhaps?
If not, I've seen several, all very different bikes, and would like some advice as to what to go for.
To start with, we've got the Haro Team Issue bike on CRC
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=70478
It's got a 21" TT, which seems bigger than "regular" BMXs, and should be better suited to a taller rider. It also seems to have a bigger ring than most. Presumably because its designed as a race bike. Does this make it unsuitable for general mucking about on?
The one I'm really drawn to though is the Subrosa Salvador Dirt BMX
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=69366
To be honest, mostly because I like the look of the raw/green one.
What's that like spec wise? And what about size? 20.5" TT and 8.25"rise bars sounds like it may be a bit cramped?
Also, what's the difference between that one and the Hoffman Condor BMX
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=72472
Other than the fact the hoffman is £60 less.
See, they just look identical to me :S
We see very little about BMXs on this site (I realize it's a MTB site not a BMX site).
I know for a fact I'm not the only person here who has toyed with the idea of getting a clown bike to play on. I'm also sure I'm not the only person who is completely baffled by BMX sizing, materials, components, styles, brands etc.
So, here is a rather general thread for BMX buying advice and general info (mods please feel free to move this to general if you feel it'd be better placed there).
I'll go first.
I'm 6ft, and have a budget of up-to £350.
Am I just simply too tall for a BMX? Would I be better going for a 24" rigid DJ bike instead perhaps?
If not, I've seen several, all very different bikes, and would like some advice as to what to go for.
To start with, we've got the Haro Team Issue bike on CRC
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=70478
It's got a 21" TT, which seems bigger than "regular" BMXs, and should be better suited to a taller rider. It also seems to have a bigger ring than most. Presumably because its designed as a race bike. Does this make it unsuitable for general mucking about on?
The one I'm really drawn to though is the Subrosa Salvador Dirt BMX
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=69366
To be honest, mostly because I like the look of the raw/green one.
What's that like spec wise? And what about size? 20.5" TT and 8.25"rise bars sounds like it may be a bit cramped?
Also, what's the difference between that one and the Hoffman Condor BMX
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=72472
Other than the fact the hoffman is £60 less.
See, they just look identical to me :S
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6' is not too tall for a bmx. I have a mate who is 6'7" and races at national level. Cruisers can be better for tall people.Transition Patrol - viewtopic.php?f=10017&t=130702350
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Best value BMX's out there are the Halfords Voodoo's, all have full cro-mo frames/forks unlike those 2 you linked too. Hi tensile steel BMX's are all a bit weak and rubbish tbh unless you just want to pedal about not doing tricks. There's also the Shango 24" if you prefer a 24" bike.
If you buy one of the BMX's use your saved money for a set of 8" rise cro-mo bars, they sell decent Salt ones for £25.
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... 54703#tab2
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... 65765#tab2
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... 65765#tab2
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_1655780 -
Is Cro-Mo all that? There seems to be an abundance of expensive BMX bikes which aren't full Cro-Mo.
I've got similar questions to CWNT.
I'm after a BMX for mesing about in the local skateparks, and a bit of street. Maybe even trials, but I do suk real bad at trials!
I'm 5'10", and have no idea how the sizing works on these - but I do want something with 20" wheels, not a cruiser.
Seen this on Evans,
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/mon ... e-ec0295700 -
I'd get that, says it'll get you to school.I don't do smileys.
There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda
London Calling on Facebook
Parktools0 -
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I thought the judge said you werent allowed to go to the school on a morning anymore?
What about a 24seven?
I hear they're supposed to be pretty good?
http://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/produc ... x?&id=99940 -
Meh, I really don't want to go above £250.
I've already got a ton of other things I have to pay for, a BMX is just going to be a fun toy.0 -
Cromo is the stuff to have, is quite a bit stronger than the plain stuff which also allows lighter tubing. There are a lot of 'names' that have decent enough geo and parts, but not so good frames.0
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Just looking ;-)0
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This is probably what my ex meant when she said I needed to grow up. My car is in dire need of a service, but I'm looking for a BMX
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YeehaaMcgee wrote:This is probably what my ex meant when she said I needed to grow up. My car is in dire need of a service, but I'm looking for a BMX
Hehehe, I know what you mean, I've just got back off my holiday, I'm skint, going away again at the end of July, and I'm buying one too.
My budget started off at £50, and has somehow now reached £350.
DOH!0 -
Defo get Cro mo and all depends what you want to do with it, race, tricks, etc
Im 5' 11 and rode bmx until last year, they do feel small but with a decent set of wide riser bars they feel good, a bit twitchy but you get used to that.
look at khe,sunday, subrosa, stolen, we the people, GT are still ok
Nip on radbmx website or fox cycles colne (Simon) he will tell you what to get, but I would look at khe, but for your budget it will be second hand for a chro mo.
Try a few they all ride differently probably more so than mtb.
Look at DJ as well they are bigger but you can throw them around, not as easily as bmx but they feel right.0 -
Just looked on Halfords and the VooDoo Ogun look ok, some parts will want replacing pretty quickly but for the money its a half decent bike, bit heavy but that can be sorted, and it depends what it ride like. (might get one!)0
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I used to ride this, 1981 Supergoose (just get you in the mood)
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Right, I think I'm going to go down to my LBS at lunchtime and try and throw my leg over a few. As it happens, we have a pretty big BMX scene here right now, so I'm hoping they know what they're on about.
I've got a few starter points from this thread though, so I'll at least have a few ideas for them.0 -
Just going to mine now, for a brew and a leg chuck as well.....0
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What you want is one of these:
Subrosa Alameda 20.5" Rich Hirsch signature model loving built by yours truly. I'm 6'2" and I guess it's on the small side but no-one wants a big old gate eh?0 -
.blitz wrote:What you want is one of these:
Subrosa Alameda 20.5" Rich Hirsch signature model loving built by yours truly. I'm 6'2" and I guess it's on the small side but no-one wants a big old gate eh?
Thats nice .blitz, you still riding it?
Think im gonna get another...0 -
Gutted. I don't think anywhere round here does BMXs. Noty even Halfords.Cat With No Tail wrote:Right, I think I'm going to go down to my LBS at lunchtime and try and throw my leg over a few.0 -
YeehaaMcgee wrote:
Gutted. I don't think anywhere round here does BMXs. Noty even Halfords.Cat With No Tail wrote:Right, I think I'm going to go down to my LBS at lunchtime and try and throw my leg over a few.
For tricks, short back triangle 14in or shorter, for your height top tube 20.75in, 21in, look for double walled rims, sealed bearings.
I've just been manualing one round the car park!!!!0 -
Not much but we have a reasonably good half pipe and quarter pipe on the nearby park and I go sometimes to remind myself how crap/old I am.1mancity2 wrote:Thats nice .blitz, you still riding it?
Why not I got the frame from Alan's in Wigan and some other parts from Winstanleys if you're over that way. Much easier to build up than an MTB I did it in one evening even allowing for the fact I put the headset in upside down and put the crank arms on the wrong sides1mancity2 wrote:Think im gonna get another...
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.blitz wrote:
Not much but we have a reasonably good half pipe and quarter pipe on the nearby park and I go sometimes to remind myself how crap/old I am.1mancity2 wrote:Thats nice .blitz, you still riding it?
Why not I got the frame from Alan's in Wigan and some other parts from Winstanleys if you're over that way. Much easier to build up than an MTB I did it in one evening even allowing for the fact I put the headset in upside down and put the crank arms on the wrong sides1mancity2 wrote:Think im gonna get another...
Haha!
I was restoring 80ies bmx until last year, they are easy to build but mate has a bike shop and I can get a We the people for a very good price so might do that, foot jam tailwhip anyone? (tried it on DJ and not good...)
Do you think the pipes seem a lot steeper than they used to be? can just about manage a 180 on the dj, would be good to try it on a bmx and maybe chuck a table in.0 -
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Foot jam fall offs are my signature move1mancity2 wrote:I was restoring 80ies bmx until last year, they are easy to build but mate has a bike shop and I can get a We the people for a very good price so might do that, foot jam tailwhip anyone?
I like Rad as well
Our park pipe has been rebuilt twice because the first one allegedly wasn't steep enough :shock:1mancity2 wrote:Do you think the pipes seem a lot steeper than they used to be? can just about manage a 180 on the dj, would be good to try it on a bmx and maybe chuck a table in.
Stoke Plaza is also pretty good if you're over that way0 -
Never ridden a BMX on a proper pipe, but from my old zoom-boot days, if a pipe didn't have a vertical wall, and you took off, you'd end up in a whole heap of hurt when you'd land on top of it.
Sonic, that looks great - but does it really have a front brake too? The image doesn;t seem to reflect that.
Oh, hang on, no mis-read the price. That's comfortably above my budget.0 -
Well spotted! One to call them about.0
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YeehaaMcgee wrote:Never ridden a BMX on a proper pipe, but from my old zoom-boot days, if a pipe didn't have a vertical wall, and you took off, you'd end up in a whole heap of hurt when you'd land on top of it.
Sonic, that looks great - but does it really have a front brake too? The image doesn;t seem to reflect that.
Oh, hang on, no mis-read the price. That's comfortably above my budget.
This looks decent,
http://www.winstanleysbmx.com/product/4 ... 2_BMX_Bike0 -
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So tempted to just byu one right now. But I'm going to give myself a week and see if the desire has subsided again 0
