Establish two fundamentals before you shop for a BMX bike: what kind of riding you plan to do, and how much you can pay. You'll buy a different type of bike for racing than you will for doing stunts, and you'll want to do a point-by-point comparison of bikes within your budget. Whatever type you choose at whatever price point, take it on a test ride. BikeWebsite.com recommends checking how the bike handles on flat stretches, and taking it over some curbs as well.
Type
Find out what kind of bike best suits your interests, suggests the All American Bicycle Center in Damascus, Maryland. You'll find three main types of BMX bikes: BMX, freestyle and dirt. If you plan to spend a lot of time racing on tracks, look for a BMX bike with knobby tires and a light frame. If you like doing tricks at skate parks, you'll want a freestyle bike with a super-sturdy frame and wheels. If you love to jump, consider a dirt jumper that combines a sturdy frame with knobby tires.
Size
Get familiar with BMX bike sizing, says AWCycles.com. Bikes with a 21-inch top tube are common for ramp and dirt jumping, while shorter top tubes--20 inches or less--are often used for stunts. BMX racing bikes come with a wide choice of top-tube length, and are usually matched to the size of the rider. Racing bikes are often custom made to create the optimum fit.
Wheels and Tires
Get the right wheels for your type of bike. The All American Bicycle Center says light wheels are preferable for BMX bikes--say, 32-spoke light aluminum ones. Freestyle riding requires sturdier wheels that protect rims better--think ones with 48 spokes. Dirt jumpers can have more variety, sporting sturdy wheels of 36 or 48 spokes.
Learn about various tires, too. The center says BMX tires are designed for speed and traction on and off road, freestyle ones are meant for surfaces such as pavement and dirt jumper tires are all about traction in the dirt.
The Small Things
Consider the components and other small parts of the bike. TransworldRideBMX.com says if you can afford it, go for higher quality brand-name rather than generic componentry. Also, think about gearing. A small front sprocket--say 25t or 30t--creates lighter weight and less interference with some tricks.
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