Once, the BMX was a symbol of childhood freedom, its distinctive compact shape and racing pedigree adding a layer of cool to being able to hang out with your mates.
Modern BMX bikes keep that urban fashionability, adding pegs for grinding and tricks, fatter tyres for greater grip and shock absorption, and even cable-less brakes to allow the handlebars to spin.
BMX is a contraction of ‘bicycle motocross’, and the singular style of frame sprang from racing bikes used on off-road racetracks. It’s been an Olympic sport for both men and women since 2008, but can trace its origins back to the late 1960s in California, where bicycle races organised for local kids used a track that remained in use until the 1980s. The racing courses often feature banked corners, jumps, and long, fast straight sections.
From those humble beginnings, the sport has ballooned in popularity, with the specialised bikes becoming status symbols off the racetrack. There are two main types of BMX, with the difference found in the wheel sizes. Those with 20-inch wheels are more common, but the 24-inch ‘Cruiser’ bikes are favoured for their smoother ride. Other wheel sizes are also available, though the classic BMX look is to have the smaller sizes.
Being a symbol of 1980s independence, retro-styled BMX bikes are also popular, with a full set of cable brakes for safe on-road riding, and even mudguards and gears. The high-set BMX handlebars, often paired with a saddle that’s pushed down on its post, are utterly distinctive, however, and no matter which wheel size you choose, the feeling of riding a BMX is indisputable, whether you’re using it on the street or track.
Best BMX bikes at a glance:
- Best for street riding: Mongoose Legion L100 - £230, Evans Cycle
- Best for kids and smaller riders: GT Speed Series Mini - £620, Tredz
- Best for new riders: FIT 2023 STR (MD) - £399.99, Source BMX
- Best for being seen: Sunday Street Sweeper - £849.99, Source BMX
- Best for a larger bike: Wethepeople Audio - £750, Skate Pro
- Best for technical riding: Fly Bikes Neutron - £599.99, Source BMX
- Best for tall BMXers: Kink Gap XL - £455.29, Swinnerton Cycles
- Best for a budget bike: Kush 1 BMX Stunt Bike - £239, Amazon
Shop below
Kush 1 BMX Stunt Bike
Best for: a budget bike
Called a stunt bike but actually an excellent beginner BMX, this bike can be ridden anywhere and is ideal for those just starting out on their BMX journey. Its competitive price point means it’s missing a few advanced features, such as Chromoly in the frame and mounting points for gyro brakes, but it has the classic BMX geometry and 20-inch wheels, and some pegs are available as an optional extra.
Buy now £239.00, Amazon
Mongoose Legion L100
Best for: street riding
A company started in southern California in 1974, Mongoose has more than a bit of experience making bikes, and it shows in its Legion series. The L100 is the largest of them with 20-inch wheels. It is ideal for adults to ride whether as a street bike or as a beginner. It’s also a great choice if you’re 5ft 8in or taller, but there are smaller models in the range if you’re not quite that lofty.
The frame is made from 4130 Chromoly - a kind of high-tensile steel - the brakes are aluminium, and there's a nine-speed cassette at the back. Overall it weighs 12kg, due to the weight of the steel frame, but the price is low to compensate.
Buy now £230.00, Evans Cycles
GT Speed Series Mini
Best for: kids and smaller riders
As long as you’re less than about 4ft 6in tall, this is the BMX for you. GT’s bikes go all the way down to the Micro, for much younger kids, but this is the one that’s really going to get them into the hobby. It uses a lightweight alloy frame with reverse dropouts for quick changes of hardware, and the V-brakes are made from aluminium. Its Kenda Kompact Pro Race tyres have a smooth surface with an inverted tread design, ideal for hard-packed BMX tracks.
Buy now £620.00, Tredz
FIT 2023 STR (MD)
Best for: new riders
With a longer top tube and four 100mm steel pegs, this street bike is ideal for grinding and other moves thanks to its responsive geometry and partial chromoly frame. Ideal for beginners, the frame is outfitted with removable brake mounts, sealed bearings throughout, and Fit’s own crossfit grips and pedals.
Buy now £399.99, Source BMX
Sunday Street Sweeper
Best for: being seen
The colour scheme on this bike has to be seen to be believed, and it will certainly stand out on the track or in the park. The frame, handlebars and forks are made from Chromoly, an alloy of steel, chromium and molybdenum that ensures a lightweight with a degree of flex while maintaining its form. Designed with input from pro rider Jake Seely, the Street Sweeper has a short chainstay and high bottom bracket to enable technical street riding.
Buy now £849.99, Source BMX
Wethepeople Audio
Best for: a larger bike
This 22-inch freestyle bike offers extra stability through not only its larger wheels but also its longer pedal cranks. There are mounting holes on the frame for gyro brakes, meaning you can do away with brake cables for a freely spinning handlebar, and there's chromoly alloy at work to keep the weight down. Despite the extra size on offer, the Audio keeps to its BMX roots, and offers a comfortable ride for anyone coming from larger bikes.
Buy now £750.00, Skate Pro
Fly Bikes Neutron
Best for: technical riding
Fly is a Spanish company that has been a bit of a technological pioneer, and this mid-level BMX has been built with street riding in mind - though it’s also a great all-rounder that can also provide a fine ride on trails or transition. Its frame is partly Chromoly, with removable brake mounts, and the 20-inch wheels plus Ruben 2.35-inch tyres make it a good-looking choice for riders over about 5ft 6in tall.
Buy now £599.99, Source BMX
Kink Gap XL
Best for: tall BMXers
This freestyle street and park bike has standard 20-inch wheels, but it’s a big bike nonetheless. With an extended chainstay and long crank arms, it’s a bike made for riders in the region of six feet tall, and comes with holes for gyro brake mounting if you want to replace the included U-brake assembly. The seat angle is fully adjustable, and the handlebars are swept back, making this a comfortable ride wherever you take it.
Buy now £455.29, Swinnerton Cycles
Verdict
The BMX is a fun way to get into bike riding, whether you’re looking for exercise, thrills or just a way to socialise with your friends. There are many styles of BMX bikes to choose from, but they all come down to the classic shape and wheels that have been part of the scene since its inception.
The bikes we’ve highlighted here, such as the Mongoose Legion L100 and GT Speed Series Mini, can get quite expensive, but there are budget models like the Kush 1 BMX Stunt Bike to ensure the scene is inclusive of everyone.
