The Beginners guide to BMX Bike Parts

When you make the decision in buying or customizing a new BMX bike, it is important for you to understand all of the components which make up the BMX bicycle so you know exactly how to customize it for your maximum comfort. In this article, I will be offering you helpful suggestions on what to invest in to customize your BMX bicycle, and I will also attempt to clarify some of the more confusing aspects of BMX bikes in general, which should make you feel more comfortable with the subject.

The first thing you need to do is familiarize yourself with all of the parts of the bike; I put together this diagram which should put into detail everything you need to know – from the front of the bike to the rear of the bike.

While it is one thing to commit to memory all of these components of a BMX bike, you also need to consider that they can come in different sizes.

Axles are available in 2 sizes: 10mm, or a “3/8,” and 14mm. Most bikes that arrive from the factory are standard, equipped with a 14mm rear axle and a 10mm front axle. This is done because the rear wheel can absorb more shock and hard landings with a 14mm axle, rather than a 10mm. It my be wise for you to upgrade to 14mm axles, especially if you are fairly new with BMX bikes, or you simply would like to avoid bending the hardware from such an impact.

Recently, brackets have experienced somewhat of an explosion in design – they are now available in a wide array of styles, sizes and strengths. Here is some information about the two most common bottom brackets available for BMX bikes:

The original bottom bracket style is known as “the American.” It is the largest of the bottom brackets, and it is also known as one of the strongest on the market.

The second most common bottom bracket is known as “the Euro.” It is a bit smaller than the American bottom bracket, and it would not be as strong or durable.

To many riders, this does not make much of a difference, but there are still many avid BMXers that are still particular about this issue.

There are two types of headsets that you can choose from:

The Aheadset

The Hiddenset

Although I only have experience with the Aheadset, Hiddensets are becoming more and more popular, being easier to install and providing for a much smoother spin.

Stay tuned for more!