Drive SideUpdated 2 months ago

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 Drive Side

2-Race BMX Drive Side

1-Freestyle BMX Drive Side:

In freestyle BMX, the drive side (Sprocket, Chain & Driver) is typically on the right side of the bike for the majority of complete bikes, although left-hand drive setups are more and more common now too. 

The drive side's placement is crucial for riders who are grinding on their pegs. 

By having the drive side on the opposite side to your pegs, you can grind on ledges and rails whilst protecting the chain, sprocket, and other drivetrain components from damage. This setup also allows for smoother grinds and reduces the risk of the chain/sprocket snagging on stuff. 

If you are unsure what side you grind on- most riders will have their pegs on the same side as their front foot when riding. So if you ride right foot forward you can run your pegs on the right side of the bike. If that's the case, I would run a Left Hand Drive to keep your drive train out of the way. 

Some people choose to run their pegs on the opposite side of their front foot (Jason Watts, etc) This is personal preference and can be remedied by the use of hub guards and sprocket guards.  

If you are running 4 pegs I would recommend getting hub guards all round the bike and possibly even a sprocket guard to beef things up for when you are shredding.

I always recommend running hub guards whatever side you have pegs on as it will extend the life of your drivetrain, hubs and spokes.

2-Race BMX Drive Side:

Race BMX bikes will always be running their drive side on the Right Hand Side of the bike. This is good news as it makes building or selecting a race bike a bit easier.