Old Fart looking at getting a BMX..............
Discussion
Right, need the assistance of the PH pedalling experts.
Bit of background:
My 5 y/o has just got off stabilisers on his bike and within half an hour was belting down the garden, standing up and proceeding to wreck my carefully nutured lawn (high moss content) with skid marks of varying lengths.
A further 1/2 hour passed before this then progressed to waggling the bike round a bit to see what effect it had on the shape of said skids
Anyway, as a mad keen BMX'er in my youth (the 80's ala Andy Ruffell, Eddie Fiola, PK Ripper, GT Performer etc etc) i feel it is my just and right duty as a father to encourage and develop my sons obvious enjoyment of such antics!!
So, i'm looking for a bmx for me.
However it's been a long time since i lost touch with the BMX "scene" so haven't got a clue as to what to look at.
So question is what could i expect to get for say £100 - £150 (either new or 2nd hand)?
Also what's the biggest frame size i can get?. I'm about 6ft 1" tall so i just don't want to crack my knees on the stem every five minutes.
Cheers.
Bit of background:
My 5 y/o has just got off stabilisers on his bike and within half an hour was belting down the garden, standing up and proceeding to wreck my carefully nutured lawn (high moss content) with skid marks of varying lengths.
A further 1/2 hour passed before this then progressed to waggling the bike round a bit to see what effect it had on the shape of said skids
Anyway, as a mad keen BMX'er in my youth (the 80's ala Andy Ruffell, Eddie Fiola, PK Ripper, GT Performer etc etc) i feel it is my just and right duty as a father to encourage and develop my sons obvious enjoyment of such antics!!
So, i'm looking for a bmx for me.
However it's been a long time since i lost touch with the BMX "scene" so haven't got a clue as to what to look at.
So question is what could i expect to get for say £100 - £150 (either new or 2nd hand)?
Also what's the biggest frame size i can get?. I'm about 6ft 1" tall so i just don't want to crack my knees on the stem every five minutes.
Cheers.
Your not the first to be looking at getting back into it.......
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Not much advice on there though really.
I think the budget is a little low for anything good, unless you spot an eBay bargain.
Being a 'big bloke' you'll be needing a long frame, biggest easy to get size would be a 21" top tube frame, the problem is just about all the 'pre-built' bikes are aimed at smaller riders and are usually a 20-20.5" size. A long reach stem is also going to help a little.
If you've been off 'the scene' for a few years a lot of the bike names will be new and a lot of the standards for things like BB's, Seatposts, headsets etc will have changed, but all for the better.
Alans BMX is a good site to get a few ideas.
A lot boils down to what your going to be doing on it, but buying something cheap and nasty is usually a bad idea as you end up replacing everything and spending twice, don't rule out 24" crusiers, I sometimes ride 24" if it's just about 'getting somewhere' and I'm not riding park, it's a lot more comfy for us oldies, but not quite as 'uncool' as an MTB.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Not much advice on there though really.
I think the budget is a little low for anything good, unless you spot an eBay bargain.
Being a 'big bloke' you'll be needing a long frame, biggest easy to get size would be a 21" top tube frame, the problem is just about all the 'pre-built' bikes are aimed at smaller riders and are usually a 20-20.5" size. A long reach stem is also going to help a little.
If you've been off 'the scene' for a few years a lot of the bike names will be new and a lot of the standards for things like BB's, Seatposts, headsets etc will have changed, but all for the better.
Alans BMX is a good site to get a few ideas.
A lot boils down to what your going to be doing on it, but buying something cheap and nasty is usually a bad idea as you end up replacing everything and spending twice, don't rule out 24" crusiers, I sometimes ride 24" if it's just about 'getting somewhere' and I'm not riding park, it's a lot more comfy for us oldies, but not quite as 'uncool' as an MTB.
Good advice raceboy,
you may need to consider stretching your budget a bit to 250 and then your options on bikes will increase, you may get a few models that are a few years old reduced to this price range,
A cruiser is worth considering too.
I still have a BMX that i have fun on with my kids, And my MTB's are have the similar BMX style feel.
you may need to consider stretching your budget a bit to 250 and then your options on bikes will increase, you may get a few models that are a few years old reduced to this price range,
A cruiser is worth considering too.
I still have a BMX that i have fun on with my kids, And my MTB's are have the similar BMX style feel.
Thanks for the replies, much appreciated.
I think the most hammer the bike will get will be limited to me teaching the junior a few old skool tricks (no feeted endo's and that sort of thing).
My lack of skill, generosity of age and inhernent cahoona size will prevent any Hoffman levels of activity......
Will look into the cruisers but was also considering the bmx style trial bikes. Are these any good or would an mtb type equivalent be a better option?
Cheers.
I think the most hammer the bike will get will be limited to me teaching the junior a few old skool tricks (no feeted endo's and that sort of thing).
My lack of skill, generosity of age and inhernent cahoona size will prevent any Hoffman levels of activity......
Will look into the cruisers but was also considering the bmx style trial bikes. Are these any good or would an mtb type equivalent be a better option?
Cheers.
pugster said:
I think the most hammer the bike will get will be limited to me teaching the junior a few old skool tricks (no feeted endo's and that sort of thing).
Just running a front brake will be old skool. 
pugster said:
Will look into the cruisers but was also considering the bmx style trial bikes. Are these any good or would an mtb type equivalent be a better option?
If you're thinking of the 20" trials bikes, the ones a few mates ride would be a none starter, the gearing is something silly like a 11/16 ratio, and have no seats, very light and very easy to hop about on but not a practicle bike for riding anywhere.To be honest if you're not planning on riding the BMX as a BMX, I'd go for a more MTB style jump bike, Hardtail, 2 brakes, a few gears, and tough enough to drop when you need to help the little one out.
Might be a few more of these available second hand but I still think the budget could do with being pushed a little.
raceboy said:
pugster said:
I think the most hammer the bike will get will be limited to me teaching the junior a few old skool tricks (no feeted endo's and that sort of thing).
Just running a front brake will be old skool. pugster said:
Will look into the cruisers but was also considering the bmx style trial bikes. Are these any good or would an mtb type equivalent be a better option?
If you're thinking of the 20" trials bikes, the ones a few mates ride would be a none starter, the gearing is something silly like a 11/16 ratio, and have no seats, very light and very easy to hop about on but not a practicle bike for riding anywhere.To be honest if you're not planning on riding the BMX as a BMX, I'd go for a more MTB style jump bike, Hardtail, 2 brakes, a few gears, and tough enough to drop when you need to help the little one out.
Might be a few more of these available second hand but I still think the budget could do with being pushed a little.
Your suggestion of an MTB style jump bike is spot on.
Following a bit more investigation definitely the preferred option over a BMX for what i need.
Budget wise I think my initial assessment was a bit stingy as i can't really see a £100 Appollo jump bike from Halfrauds lasting to long in my clumsy mits
What budget do you reckon? About £250 - £350 for something half decent?
I've had GT / Pro Flex MTB's in the past but are there any new names worthy of mention?
Cheers.
snotrag said:
Mongoose make some pretty decent budget jump bikes. Not pretty, or light, but tough as s
t, quite fun to ride, and good value.
Agreed, this is pretty decent for the cash. I can help more if you can tell me exactly what sort of riding you will be doing and how much you want to spend.t, quite fun to ride, and good value. There are quite a few options to consider, DMR, Flow Bikes, GT Rukus, Specilised P2, new these are gonna be 450 to 750 range,
Flow do a great complete for 599, my friend sold a virtualy new/unused one on ebay for 350 recently. This months dirt mag has loads featured as it is a hardtail special this month.
If you look at 300 to 350 and second hand, you should get a good single speed 26 MTB/jump bike that handles like a BMX/Cruiser, is fun, and a little more practical than a BMX.
Trials bikes look fun and are, but trials specfic gearing and size limits it a bit. My advice is to spend 3.50 on this months Dirt mountainbike magazine, do a bit of research, then bag a decent bike.
The hardest bit is keeping to sensible budget, but try not to buy a cheap halfords bike, as you get what you pay for, they look alright but do not last to long.
Flow do a great complete for 599, my friend sold a virtualy new/unused one on ebay for 350 recently. This months dirt mag has loads featured as it is a hardtail special this month.
If you look at 300 to 350 and second hand, you should get a good single speed 26 MTB/jump bike that handles like a BMX/Cruiser, is fun, and a little more practical than a BMX.
Trials bikes look fun and are, but trials specfic gearing and size limits it a bit. My advice is to spend 3.50 on this months Dirt mountainbike magazine, do a bit of research, then bag a decent bike.
The hardest bit is keeping to sensible budget, but try not to buy a cheap halfords bike, as you get what you pay for, they look alright but do not last to long.
Right, decided on a geared jump bike of some description.
Mongoose is high on the list but will buy a mag as recommended and do a bit more research.
Added bonus that the bikes look a suitable size / type for the other half to pootle round on with the kids if she so desires (that should command a bit extra on the budget if nothing else)
Thanks for all the advice and happy pedalling.
Cheers.
Mongoose is high on the list but will buy a mag as recommended and do a bit more research.
Added bonus that the bikes look a suitable size / type for the other half to pootle round on with the kids if she so desires (that should command a bit extra on the budget if nothing else)
Thanks for all the advice and happy pedalling.
Cheers.
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