Best Inexpensive BMX Bikes

Best Inexpensive BMX Bikes- A Buyers Guide

Owning a BMX bike is awesome. It can be great for street racing, doing some cool tricks at the local skatepark, messing around doing dirt jumping and pretty much anything else you set your mind to do with it.

Cashing out on an expensive BMX?

Not so much fun. While we all love a good quality bike, it can be difficult to shell out hundreds of dollars on a bike we may not even need. Not to worry, I’ve got your back.

Whether you want a tough ride for your street racing, or a good entry level BMX for your teen, I’ve compiled a list of the best bikes under 500 dollars, all within your budget. Once you’ve checked them out, you’ll be sure to be adding one to your basket right away.

Different Types of BMX bikes

There are loads of different BMX bikes out on the market, with different gadgets and features. Knowing which one you want to go for will help you to put your money on the best cheap BMX bikes that are designed specifically for the use you need. After all, who needs bike pegs if you only want a BMX for racing?

Race BMX bikes

If you plan on racing your BMX, one of the main things to look out for is weight. You’ll need something tough but lightweight, and designed in an aerodynamic way. That means lower handlebars and a narrow seat.

They can often use alloy frames to keep things lighter, with smoother wheels designed for asphalt racing.

Freestyle BMX bikes

Freestyle bikes are often made of Chromoly or steel. Usually, you’ll only need a single-speed drivetrain to keep things simple so you can focus on stunts. Details such as pegs come in useful for doing tricks, rotating handlebars and low seats can also be useful.

Here you’ll need a sturdy robust frame that can handle the jumps.

Jumping BMX bikes

If you plan on doing jumping or dirt jumping on your BMX, ensure it has a good suspension fork that can absorb the impact when you jump. You’ll also need to check the tires can handle rough dirt tracks and that the frame is durable and robust.

What to look for when buying Inexpensive BMX bikes:

Quality – Now this one is hard since inexpensive bikes are usually not good quality. However, it is not entirely impossible to come across a bike that is both inexpensive and great quality. The bikes we looked at today do a great job at that. The things to check at this price are a good chain, comfortable saddle, and good tires.

Pegs – Pegs are a very important part of a complete BMX experience as they enable you to perform the tricks you so desire. Look for availability of pegs on both wheels as you will come across many bikes that have pegs on only one wheel. However, if you look closely, some bikes do offer pegs on both wheels and also at a low price tag.

Rotating handlebars – Yes, although this one is an exclusive feature to high end bikes, you will be able to locate bikes that offer that at low prices. Make sure if you find one, the handlebar is not rough to rotate and works like a charm.

Size- A BMX bike needs to be fitted to your height personally. They tend to be on the smaller end of bikes anyway for ease of use when doing stunts, but you’ll need to check a guide for your age especially if it’s for your kid to ensure it fits them. This will help them with their posture and make it easier to use.

Materials- Most BMX bikes are either have a steel or aluminum frame, specifically Chromoly. The advantage to steel BMX frame is its strength. Sure, it might add a little weight, but when your kid is flying through the air doing a flip at the skateboard park and street, what they really need is a bike that won’t crumple from the fall. That’s what we call impact resistance.

An aluminum frame may have a lower weight, but it doesn’t have the resilience to crash damage that steel has, meaning it’s more likely to deform and bend if you do tricks on it. Plus, when it comes to repairing your bike from a crash, an aluminum frame is much more costly.

Rims- BMX bikes come with two different types of rims. You can get either single-wall rims or double-wall rims. The lower quality, cheaper BMX bikes tend to only use single-wall rims. They usually come in 20-inch diameter. Made from high tensile steel or Chromoly is ideal for rims.

Spoke count- Most BMX bikes have 36 spokes unless you are buying a bike for your kid it may have less. More spokes especially on the rear wheels can mean a stronger wheel overall, so make sure you check that when buying a cheap BMX bike.

Gear ratio- Over the years gear ratio has become 44/16 which is 55 gear inches. To work out the ratio you take the number of teeth on the chainring divided by the number of teeth on your freewheel.

Brakes- Most BMX racing bikes have a rear brake, even if some freestyle bikes remove them altogether to avoid tripping on the cables. For the best stopping power linear-pull brakes are great, but if you’re more into freestyle and want control rather than grip then U brakes are great for both front and rear wheels.

Frequently Asked Questions

What age is a 20inch BMX bike for?
20inch bikes are for kids between 7 and 8 years old. It all depends on your height and preference, many people who do freestyle may prefer a smaller bike as its easier to do stunts with.

Is riding a BMX good exercise?
BMX serves as a great aerobic exercise. It improves your breathing pattern and also builds your immune system while keeping you fit. It can keep kids active for hours by encouraging them to go outside and try out some cool stunts, you can never get bored when there’s always more to learn.

Is BMX bad for knees?
If you have bad knees, then maybe stick to BMX bikes for street riding, without doing jumps or stunts which may affect your knees. You could make sure to get a shock absorbing suspension fork for a smoother ride too.

What BMX Bikes do pros use?

The best BMX bikes for pros are ones that have a top tube of about 20.5 inches up to 22 inches. This allows them to do stunts and tricks as it is smaller and easier to manage. It all depends on your size however. Other aspects include 175-180mm cranks and 20 x 1.75-2.2 tires.

What size BMX bike do I need?

There are many different sizes for BMX bikes, so its important to look at your age or height and check a height chart to see what size works best for you. This will make it much more comfortable, and improve your posture when riding too.

How much does a BMX bike cost?

On average most BMX bikes cost around $500, but if you’re going for a pro it could be up to $3,000. Luckily for you, if you’re on a budget I’ve just reviewed my top best inexpensive BMX bikes that are all under $500.

Where can I get a BMX bike for cheap?

You’ve come to the right place. Online especially on Amazon you can find cheap BMX bikes that I’ve recommended in today’s guide of best inexpensive BMX bikes that you can also compare with reviews so you know you’re getting a good deal.

Final Thoughts

Thought you couldn’t afford a BMX bike?

Think again.

Today we came across some of the best cheap BMX bike that offered good quality frames and great, comfortable and adjustable saddles to go along with it. Some had different color options and combinations to choose from and allowed customization.

Some had great linear-pull brakes that enabled accurate control while others had pegs that made it easy to perform tricks. 360-degree rotating handlebars were also seen and tall handlebars made it easy to ride comfortably with a straight back all while lifting the occasional wheelie we all love.

Whatever your age and the kind of BMX riding you do, there is a bike for you on this list.

With a price like that, even beginners can take the plunge and try out BMX bikes for the first time. You will not be disappointed and whichever bike you go for, from the list we have provided, you will absolutely love it.

Have you added one to your basket yet?