The BMX bike has continued to evolve since the invention of the sport in the early 1960s. In the early days, BMX riding centered on racing. Young BMXers would take to the track to emulate their favorite motocross riders. According to Joe Kid on a Stingray website, Schwinn released the first official BMX bike in 1963. The Schwinn Stingray would forever change the sport of BMX.
Birth of BMX
As the 19th century came to a close, bicycling grew in popularity as a form of transportation and exercise. Street performers began to experiment with wheelies and balancing maneuvers on the conventional bicycle. These early maneuvers would eventually lead to the freestyle tricks of modern BMX. By the 1950s, motorcycle racing became a prominent past time for thrill seekers. Young motocross fans began to race their bicycles on dirt tracks. The innovative design of the Schwinn Stingray offered increased handling on racing trails. According to 23 Mag website, by 1968 almost 70 percent of the bikes sold in the U.S. were Stingrays.
Schwinn History
The history of the Schwinn cycling company stretches all the way back to the late 1890s. While the Stingray was introduced onto the market in 1963, Schwinn soon began to make improvements on the original design. Schwinn would release an updated model of the Stingray in 1968 called the Stingray Krates. According to Schwinn, the Stingray Krates would go on to inspire the BMX bikes of the 1970s and 80s. The Schwinn Krates featured a more durable frame for off-road riding.
Stingray Improvements
While the Stingray led the way for modern BMX maneuvers, certain components of the bike were lacking. One of the biggest problems dealing with the Stingray frame involved the lack of suspension. Young riders could easily damage or bend the frame while hitting dirt jumps. To improve upon the original design of the Stingray, companies began to equip their BMX frames with a rear suspension. Yamaha created one of the first full-suspension BMX models called the Moto-Bike.
Death of Stingray
The BMX bike continued to improve throughout the 1970s allowing for new and more difficult maneuvers. The Stingray soon became obsolete for the high-impact tricks that began to dominate the sport of bicycle motocross. One of the most important innovations to the BMX bike took place in the mid 1970s. The tubular BMX forks helped to decrease the overall weight of the bike. Rigid BMX frames soon began to take shape. These frames often featured an aluminum or stainless steel construction.
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