Much more than wheels and pedals

The big names of the BMX take care of their bikes to land the most complicated tricks

It’s time for BMX bikes now. As we did with skateboards before, we are going to analyze the weapons of some of the BMX rider’s, their bikes, which are responsible for developing their spectacular manoeuvres and amazing tricks. We start with Big Air X Games 2012 champion, Steve McCann, who uses a smart 20” Mongoose bike. Just on 24lbs (11kg) but McCann’s bike still feels very solid. The Fraction features a full 4130 Chromoly frame and tapered fork and the parts kit is top-quality.

One of those pros who doesn’t spend much time on dialing in and modifying his bikes is Garrett Reynolds. The king of the street (he won four consecutive X Games Street gold medals) spends more time riding than he does worrying about other parts of it. He opts for strength over weight, and doesn’t like a super light bike. Last X Games 2012 silver medalist, Chad Kerley, rides a Premium Aurora bike. Those bikes are usually blue but he wanted to do something different and chose the gold for it. It has a carbon fiber seat which is a nice accent to a smooth looking rig. Everything else from his bike is pretty normal and he defines it as a shining bike. Despite being a bit shorter than other riders, the American likes big bars for his bike to feel comfortable and dialed and rides the same size bars as anyone else.

Scotty Cranmer belongs to the little group of BMX riders that own their own bike shop. The X Games 2012 gold medalist in Park uses a Felt bike that has neoprene pieces which are for the small sprocket and big chains combo. In case the chain is loose it rattles on the crossbar, so the neoprene keeps it quiet. Cranmer believes the spokes must be tight and air pressure is needed or he feels wobbly and slow.

The next two riders have a Hoffman bike, coming from the company of one of the best riders ever in BMX, Matt Hoffman. The first one is Kevin Robinson, who rides a Hoffman Condor 21” bike set up specifically for Vert riding. The three-time gold medalist in Big Air in X Games and bronze in last 2012 XG loves the pedals which are tightened so they don't spin freely. It’s curious that he runs a purple bike because of his daughter. Zack Warden uses a 2012 Hoffman Bike Bama 21″ instead, and it has Odissey dirt forks and tree branch bars. Warden, last X Games silver medalist, has been using it for a while and runs a random grip flange between the sprocket and frame to help stop crank spin. It actually adapts to any terrain, and it has become one of his all-time best favorite rides.

This is the bike check of recent X Games medalists. But we do not stop here. Take a look at best ever BMX rider’s bike checks like Ryan Nyquist, Jamie Bestwick, Matt Hoffman, Bob Haro, Daniel Dhers or Dave Mirra.