MaterialUpdated 2 months ago
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 favoured for freestyle BMX due to its excellent strength-to-weight ratio and durability. It can withstand the impacts and stress of big tricks while remaining relatively lightweight. This makes it ideal for ramps, street riding, dirt and park sessions.
Cheaper bikes and parts will typically be a blend of Hi-Ten/Alloy and Chromoly- this is commonly referred to as Semi-Chromo. It is considered a stronger/more durable option then plain Hi-Ten/Alloy, but cheaper than a full chromoly option and not as strong.
Alloy/Aluminium/Hi-Tensile Steel are all awesome cost effective options. They provide moderate strength and durability and are great for riders entering BMX, however they are not suited for more advanced/harder riding. The stresses that professional/progressive BMX riders put through a bike require full chromoly.
Carbon fibre, on the other hand, is preferred for racing BMX. Its incredibly low weight and high stiffness allow for maximum power transfer and quick acceleration. This translates to faster starts and higher speeds on the track. While more expensive than chromoly, carbon fibre's performance benefits make it the top choice for competitive racers seeking every advantage.
Titanium is used in smaller parts like spokes, nuts and bolts. It is incredibly lightweight and provides good durability. You can shave some serious weight off of your bike with titanium components. It can occasionally be found on specialty Frames and Handlebars but it's immense cost is it's major drawback.
Wheel Materials:
Carbon Fibre Rims are becoming more and more prevalent in BMX Racing and Freestyle BMX due to their strength and low weight. They are quite expensive, but their ride quality is unmatched.
Alloy Rims are the go to for pretty much all Freestyle BMX bikes. They offer awesome strength and are lightweight due to the various internal designs. They are relatively inexpensive and provide excellent durability.
Titanium Spokes are the go to option for performance BMX bikes. They are incredibly lightweight and offer great strength when laced correctly.
Peg Materials:
Pegs come in a few different compositions, each suited to a different style of riding.
Chromo Pegs are made from Chromoly. They are extremely durable but are the heaviest option. If you are really hard on your pegs these may be the choice for you.
Alloy Pegs are lighter than chromo pegs, they are less durable but the weight savings are definitely noticeable. You will find that alloy will tend to wear down/grind away quicker than Chromoly on the very end of the pegs.
Plastic Pegs (PC) / Nylon Pegs come in 2 Variations-
Chromo+Plastic(PC)/Nylon These use a chromoly core with a Plastic/Nylon outer.
Alloy+Plastic(PC)/Nylon uses an Alloy core with a Plastic/Nylon outer.
The benefits and drawbacks of both alloy and chromoly are very noticeable on plastic/Nylon pegs. Plastic/Nylon Pegs have become the norm in street riding these days due to their awesome sliding performance in grinds on a variety of surfaces,