what should I look for when buying a BMX?

[smifffymoto]

My 11 year old would like a BMX for christmas and I don't know the first thing about them.Price limit is £200 which should get something reasonable I think.

[anonymous-user]

not much of a 20 incher myself (so cant be too much help!) but for <200 you can get a very capable bike from the likes of GT, Felt, Diamond Back or Mongoose. as a simple rule, the size of the chainring gives a good indication of the bikes most suited terrain so find out what junior intends to do with it!!! the diamondback http://www.evanscycles.com/products/diamond-back/v... uses a 44 tooth ring so would be better suited on tracks and the street, whereas the GT http://www.evanscycles.com/products/gt/slammer-200... has a 36 tooth ring and is more of a ramp/jump bike.

[Si 330]

I bought my Son a Haro think it was called Mirra 360 or something like that. Had it a couple of years now it gets abused in a BMX park most evenings and nothing has ever broken on it.
Would recommend Haro.

[ezi]

Yep Haro's are one of the top makes (Or at least they were when I followed BMX)

[smifffymoto]

Thanks fellas,I've looked at Felt but for Cro Mo frame they are a bit pricey.Will have a look at Haro

[Mr_C]

If you can stretch to £300 look at Fit bike co. bmx's. Leisure lakes sell them

[NWMark]

We bought our lad (12 at the time) xmas 07, a Felt Mystic from winstanleybmx.co.uk, RRP of £239 but was reduced to £179.

Cro-Mo Frame (might be main tubes only) really well made, good quality wheels and tyres as standard, Nothing has ever broken or not worked and gets used everyday.

http://www.winstanleysbmx.com/product/8690/Felt_My...

Same model but different year, although has a different list price, the new 2009 mystic has an RRP of £299!!!

Edited by NWMark on Monday 12th October 13:07

[Andy OH]

Both of my bos have We The People BMX. They are very well specced for the price. My eldest (12) has a 2009 4 Seasons which when we bought it in April this year was reduced by £120 to £410. I saw this bike on Winstanleys BMX today for I think £389. I know it's a little bit more than you want to spend but it beats having to upgrade bits later.

Also have agood look around at 2009 bikes as they are all reduced by quite a bit to get rid of the stock.

[raceboy]

Tricky getting something 'good' for the budget but not impossible..

This is a little over but looks a nice bike....
http://www.alansbmx.com/product_info.php?cPath=21&...

Reduced to £199 and designed for the younger rider....
http://www.alansbmx.com/product_info.php?cPath=21&...
If your lad isn't that big I'd go with something like this.

Some of the brands us oldies remember as being 'good' back in the day aren't still the top names, in park/street/dirt circles GT and Haro are now just 'Halfords' brands, the key figure is usually the weight, anything over 30lb's avoid.

[smifffymoto]

Some good advice,thanks chaps.If he pulls his finger out at school between now and christmas the budget may increase a bit.

[smifffymoto]

A quick update.....My son cracked open his money box yesterday and had saved more than expected so I have upped the budget to £300.This morning I ordered a We the people 4 seasons 2009 for £369 reduced from about £550, from Winstanley bmx in Wigan,£17 delivered to south of France.Chuffed as punch.