BMX Glossary
A full glossary of BMX terms, definitions and jargon.
Top Tube (TT)
Top Tube length (TT) is typically measured in inches. It is the distance between the centre of the Head Tube and the centre of the Seat Tube. See Image below. Freestyle BMX Top Tube:. The table below provides valuable insights into freestyle BMX top
Wheel Size
Freestyle BMX Bike Wheel Size:. Freestyle BMX bike wheel sizing is a crucial aspect of bike setup that directly impacts rider performance and comfort. As shown in the reference table, wheel sizes for freestyle BMX bikes typically range from 12 to 24
Frame Material
Choosing a new frame or BMX bike based on the materials it's made from rather than the price tag displayed is the correct and only way to shop in BMX. Rider's safety, durability, look and feel are all influenced by the materials the frame has been ma
Fork Material
Picking out a new set of forks can be tough... and tough is what you should be looking for in a new set of forks. Look for forks with Lifetime Warranty for that extra piece of mind when you are looking to send it on the reg!. 1-Freestyle BMX Fork Mat
Headset Bearings
1-Sealed Vs Unsealed. 2-Freestyle BMX Headsets. 3-Race BMX Headsets. 1-Sealed Vs Unsealed:. Sealed (Integrated) and unsealed bearings are two options for headsets on BMX bikes. Sealed bearings are enclosed in a protective casing, shielding them from
BB Bearings
Getting the right bottom bracket (Often referred to as a BB) for your bike can be a little tricky but we are here to guide you through it. We always recommend opting for a Sealed Bottom Bracket- they work better, last longer and are more reliable tha
Drive Side
Drive side for BMX bikes is referring to what side of the bike the sprocket/chainring, chain and driver/freewheel is on. These are on the right side for Race BMX Bikes and can be on either the left or the right on freestyle bikes. 1-Freestyle BMX Dri
Brake Style
Going fast is fun. But sometimes you have to slow things down. It BMX there are a few different ways to do it- each with their own pro's and con's. You will only be able to run the style of brake that your frame or fork allows so be sure to check you
Hub Type
Getting the right hub type for your riding style is a sure fire way to shred with confidence. Always ensure you get the right Drive Side for your hub, Spoke Holes and Axle Size. 1-Cassette. 2-Freecoaster. 3-Hybrid:. 4-Freewheel:. 5-Planetary:. Casset
Hub Bearings
BMX hub bearings are crucial components in a bike's wheel system. They come in three main types: sealed, unsealed, and semi-sealed. Sealed bearings are fully enclosed, protecting them from dirt and moisture, which extends their lifespan and reduces m
Spoke Holes
Rims and hubs come in a few different spoke counts for BMX bikes. Make sure both the Hub and the Rim have the same amount of spoke holes to ensure it will work. 28 Hole is used on smaller Race Bikes. 36 Hole is the standard for Freestyle and Race BMX
Thread Size
Thread size for pedals is determined by your cranks. Most modern day BMX bikes (that aren't cheapies from the department stores) will be running 9/16 Inch Thread. 9/16 Inch Thread- Will fit 2 Piece, 2.5 Piece or 3 Piece Cranks. 1/2 Inch Thread- Will
Material
Quality BMX bikes and parts utilise various high strength materials, each suited to different riding styles. Common options include hi-tensile steel, aluminum, chromoly, and carbon fibre. Materials:Chromoly, an alloy of chromium and molybdenum, is fa
Offset
Fork Offset (mm) can have a massive impact on your day to day riding!. To put it as simply as possible-. The Steeper your Offset (Lower Number) the more twitchy/responsive your bike will be. The Less Steep your Offset (Higher Number) the more relaxed
Clamp Size
Clamp Size is crucial to ensuring your bars and stem are compatible!. There are 3 Sizes in BMX- 22.2mm, 25.4mm & 31.8mm. You have to ensure both your handlebars and your stem clamp sizes match. It is impossible to match different sizes. If you have 2
Stem Style
There are Two Styles of Stems in BMX. Top Load and Front Load. Top load can bring your bars up a bit higher, and Front Load can drop them down lower. The main difference is in the looks of the stem. Personal preference is king here!. Top Load:. Front
BB Type
Getting the right BB (Bottom Bracket) for your bike can be a little tricky. Heres an easy rundown of how to work it out. 1- Freestyle BB Types. 2- Race BB Types. Freestyle BB Types:. 1st Step:. Work out what BB Type you have. Your frame specification
Headset Type
BMX headsets are pretty easy to understand once you get the fundamentals down. Heres a quick run through to get you up to speed. 1- Freestyle BMX Headsets. 2- Race BMX Headsets. 1- Freestyle BMX Headsets. Freestyle headsets are pretty chill. You have
Chainstay Length
Chainstay Length (CS) often referred to as Rear End Length, is super important when it comes to what style of riding you lean towards. Here are some rough guidelines to start out with:. 12.5 - 13 Inch is considered a Street Frame. 13-13.6 Inch is con
BB Height
Bottom Bracket Height or BB Height can make a massive difference on your freestyle BMX bike's handling. Typically Lower BB Heights (11.5 Inch, etc) are favoured by Dirt and Park riders due to their stability in the air and relaxed feel, whereas Highe
Headtube Angle
Headtube Angle can have a massive impact on your day to day shredding!. The steeper your headtube is (Higher Number) the more responsive and twitchy your bike will feel. Eg- 76 Degrees. The more Relaxed your headtube is (Lower Number) the more relaxe
Crank Style
Cranks come in 3 Styles: 3 Piece, 2 Piece & 1 Piece. The three pieces of cranks refers to 1 Left Arm, 1 Right Arm and 1 Spindle. Three Piece and Two Piece cranks are extremely similar in that a Two Piece Crank is just a Three Piece Crank with one of
Dropout Type
Freestyle:. Ensuring your hubs axle matches your dropouts in your frame is essential in BMX. For Freestyle it's pretty straight forward- 10mm (sometimes called 3/8th) and 14mm. These will always be a Slotted Dropout. The majority of the time, any hal
Seat Tube Size
In BMX there are a few different Seat Tube Sizes. This is the "hole" that your Seat Post inserts into. Your Seat Post needs to be the same size as your seat tube. *Nearly all aftermarket Freestyle Frames will run a 25.4mm. *Aero Seat tubes will only
Axle Size
You need to make sure you get the right sized axles to fit your frame!. For Freestyle it's pretty simple, 10mm on the Front and 14mm on the Rear. (Older/Cheaper Bikes will tend to run 10mm on both the Front and the Rear- just double check your specs)
Standover Height
Standover Height can play a big bike on how your bike feels. It's measured from the centre of the Bottom Bracket, directly up the Seat Tube to the centre of the Top Tube. Typically Standover will range from around 7 to 9.75 Inches for 20 Inch Freesty
Seat Clamp Size
The Seat Clamp Size is the external diameter of the Seat Tube on your frame, not the diameter of the Seat Post.
Rise
Getting a new set of bars can be a big decision. Were here to make it a bit easier for you. The Rise is measured from the centre of the Stem Clamping Area to the centre of the Bar End. It is measured in Inches. Bar Rise ranges from 2 Inches to 12 Inc
Brake Surface
If you want to run brakes on your bike, you will need a rim with a Braking surface. If you don't want to run brakes or are running disc brakes, you can either a Braking surface or a Non-Braking.
Brake Surface
Brake Surface is important if you are planning to run brakes on your bike. Braking Surface Rims can be used with Rim Brakes (U Brakes, V, Brakes, Caliper) and Disc Brakes. Brakeless Surface Rims will not work with Rim Brakes, but they will work for D
Grip Style
Grips come in two different styles- Slip-On and Lock-On. Lock-On Grips are preferred by racers, they "lock-on" to the handlebars with screws at each end that clamp the grips down to the bars. Slip-On Grips are predominantly used for freestyle riding.
Crank Length
Crank Length is super important when it comes to how your bike feels and rides. Freestyle BMX Bikes:. Just like Riders, cranks come in all different shapes and sizes, the average size of Freestyle BMX crank is 170mm -175mm, with most complete bikes c