Specialized bicycles are costly, and many find it surprising how expensive BMX bikes can be, considering how much smaller they are compared to other standard types such as road and mountain bikes. So how much does a BMX bike cost?
The price usually ranges from below $200 to $2000 and above, depending on build and parts quality, with custom bikes costing even more. Let’s take a closer look at BMX prices and how they vary.
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Cost of BMX
Prices for BMX bikes can be divided into three categories: entry-level, intermediate, and high-end. But these prices apply only to complete bicycles that are pre-built by manufacturers.
Veteran bikers use custom builds at some point, although complete options are a good deal for people who are just starting.
Bicycle prices will usually reflect the quality you expect from them. Unfortunately, a very low price is something to be wary of, whether it’s a mens BMX bike or other types.
- Entry-level bikes are base models that are intended for beginners. These designs with BMX low prices are in the range of $200 to $350. They may not be as sturdy as those from well-known BMX brands but are perfect for people who are yet to decide on their commitment to the sport.
BMX bikes for kids are also usually included in this category, with mini BMX bike cost going even lower than the average ($200 at most).
- Intermediate-level bicycle models are those with better durability and features that allow riders to perform more demanding activities and tricks.
At an average range of $350 to $700, these are not a bad deal as these bikes are good enough to compete without breaking the bank.
- High-end models are expected to go over $1000, but don’t be surprised if they cost more than $2000.
These bicycles may be standardized models, but they offer the best material quality that is available for BMX, including sealed bearings and carbon fiber frames for some.
Established brands will also have much higher prices with their excellent reputation on the line. Among the most expensive BMX brands is Daylight, with up to $4000 in cost.
Why Are BMX Bikes So Expensive? – Factors That Affect BMX Bike Cost
1. Materials
BMX bicycles are specialized for use in tricks and jumps, and the materials for parts need to be the right type to have the necessary qualities — light and durable.
This is one of the main factors affecting prices, which is easy to see when examining major parts of BMX bicycles such as the frames.
There are four common frame types for BMX: steel, aluminum, Chromoly, and carbon fiber. Prices increase as material quality improves, and better materials mean being able to do more with your bike.
There are other types of materials for frames as well, such as titanium, but these four are the most common.
- Steel is the cheapest type, averaging $200 to $350, and is often used in base models. While it is a strong material, it is also heavy, which can be debilitative to BMX.
- Aluminum is used in both entry-level and intermediate bikes and is a better choice due to being lighter than steel, with average prices of $350 to $700.
- Chromoly is strong and light but significantly more expensive, reaching prices of up to $1500.
- Carbon is the most costly type, with prices of over $2000. However, this frame type is considered ideal due to its light weight, strength, and comfort.
Price scaling also applies to other bike parts as well, such as handlebars, cranks, and other add-ons, with costs easily adding up. This becomes more evident when customizing a bike.
2. Customization – another price factor
This is where BMX bike prices become complicated because prices will vary greatly based on several factors, including quality and brand. The bottom line, though, is that customization offers us a chance to ride better.
However, building a bike yourself can be much more expensive, and the cost to build a BMX bike for professional use will be higher than complete options with similar material quality.
Generally, the average cost of combining parts to design your own BMX is $1500 to $2000, about as much as a high-end product.
Unfortunately, buying pro BMX bikes cheap is a gamble, since better material quality means better performance.
As mentioned earlier, using a custom build is something that many experienced bikers do, but a lot of knowledge is necessary to make this work.
Let’s take a look at some basic information that you need to know about BMX before going down the path of custom bikes.
Also, check this guide to know what size BMX bike will be suitable for you.
Getting to Know BMX
Bicycle motocross or BMX is a well-known sport that began in the 1970s as an offshoot of motocross. It enjoyed heightened popularity, beginning in the 80s, when more bike manufacturers started offering complete builds.
Adding to the legitimacy of BMX is its inclusion in the Olympics.
The two well-known activities for BMX are racing and freestyle. Racing is similar to motocross using motorcycles, where riders aim to clear a track in the fastest time.
Meanwhile, freestyle focuses on performing tricks and bike handling.
Bikes intended for BMX are noticeably smaller than regular bicycles, even when the model is for adults; this is by design to make them more capable of tackling race courses and jumping higher.
Standard BMX bikes will have minimal moving parts, a single gear, and limited braking, if at all present.
While smaller, BMX bikes are also known for being very sturdy, with excellent impact absorption, owing to the characteristics of their fork and bulky tires. Such tires are also important for the necessary traction that racing and freestyling require.
There are four basic types of BMX bicycles, with each one designed for use in different activities.
1. Racing
This is the original BMX design intended for use on dirt tracks. To clear such race tracks featuring various jumps and turns, these bikes are designed to be light and flexible enough to move past obstacles quickly.
They have basic frames and brakes with lean tires and traction-oriented treads. Also featured are longer cranks to maximize pedaling. There is a lot of focus given to control and braking in this type.
2. Freestyle
Freestyling, which focuses on performing stunts and tricks, demands bikes that are well-suited for such activities. These are the ones that usually do not have any brakes, and if anyone does opt to use a brake, it will be the simplest type available.
With the design of these bikes solely focused on tricks, many riders decide to cut down on as many components as possible. Tricks for freestyling rely on air time, and being lightweight is key for this type.
3. Flatland
These bikes are similar to freestyle ones, since they also focus on tricks. However, stunts on flatland options are grounded as opposed to the heavy emphasis on aerial tricks in freestyling. Because of this, there are a lot of differences in how these bikes get set up.
They have shorter cranks and modifications to focus on a slow and steady pace. There are unique parts such as a specialized hub to allow the rear wheels to rotate in reverse even without applying crank pressure.
Other differences would usually include longer pegs, even tires, and specialized braking systems.
4. Dirt jump
This type of BMX bike is more or less a hybrid between the racing and freestyle types. These are designed to perform big jumps on dirt tracks, and suit events that are judged based on the quality of these jumps alone.
The jump bike is lightweight and fast with an excellent grip on dirt that allows it to launch high and land well.
Conclusion
Are you still wondering how much does a BMX bike cost? The good news is that there is no need to hurry; start with a complete bike whose price agrees with your budget and work your way up from there.
Take your time to learn about BMX essentials, and you’ll be tricking it up in no time.
If you have any comments or suggestions you’d like to share, please drop us a message in the section below. Always ride safely.
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