| I have kept in my heart the desire to write this | | | | piece aluminum cranks or one piece aluminum, |
| article for some time now. This article is written to | | | | titanium, or chromoly or whatever other |
| serve parents everywhere when shopping for their | | | | space-shuttle type of materials they have! Don't |
| boy or girl's first BMX bike! | | | | opt-out for regular steel cranks. Get a bike that has a |
| Just about 7 years now have I operated my own | | | | lifetime or at least a twenty year frame warranty. |
| bike shop out of my parents home in Mesa, Arizona, | | | | Should you wish to buy a vintage BMX bike from |
| Donnie's Bicycle Shop, and it thrills me to no end to | | | | e-bay or a local auction, invest in the 1984 Schwinn |
| be able to share some key information with you! | | | | Sting. That bike is totally bad to the bone man. Any |
| Before anything else, let's talk about BMX bike names | | | | newer versions of the Schwinn Sting should be |
| and where you should or shouldn't buy your son or | | | | purchased as well. |
| daughter's first bike. You can't go wrong with Haro. | | | | Fine and dandy, now let's talk about rims. Rims need |
| HARO BMX has been around for so long and they | | | | to be light. So many BMX bikes have heavy bulky |
| keep coming up with new and innovative designs. | | | | rims. Rims should be lightweight alloy. Also, you want |
| Also, Diamond Back is trustworthy, lightweight, and | | | | to request sealed bearing hubs because they don't |
| again, the company is rock solid. Red-Line BMX is also | | | | require any maintenance, almost ever, and they |
| highly recommended. | | | | make them on the best BMX bikes everywhere. |
| My brand of choice is Mongoose BMX bikes - | | | | In addition, you should also listen your child. If they |
| especially when their line is purchased from a real bike | | | | love the bike, it's the bike for them. But let them |
| shop that knows what they are doing. Mongoose has | | | | know you love them enough to request upgrades on |
| been making BMX bikes that kick everybody's tails | | | | the rims, tires, and brakes! |
| for years, and they make the most beautiful bikes! | | | | Furthermore, BMX bikes should have mid-range to |
| But your going to have to consult your local real bike | | | | best brakes. Get alloy again, or high dollar brakes. This |
| shop owner, because you don't want to buy from | | | | is your child's safety for goodness sakes! You know |
| Wal-Mart or other chain store. Also, you may want | | | | how many cheap brakes there are on BMX bikes? |
| to contact Mongoose directly and request a race-bike | | | | You don't want to know, believe me. I've broken |
| BMX catalogue only. | | | | several myself over the years! |
| The very first BMX bike I had was a bike called the | | | | When it is offered with the bike, it's ok to get the |
| JAG BMX by Mongoose, and the bike served me well | | | | standard hub that breaks with their right leg as well, |
| for many years. If you can get ahold of one, it's sure | | | | and handbrakes, double the stopping power! Also, out |
| worth it. My first bike had a glossy cream-orange | | | | in Mesa, Arizona, I can't count all the times I've |
| frame, with white MotoMags. I recommend | | | | fishtailed with my BMX bike with that feature! You |
| Motomags. But be careful, no Motomag imitations, | | | | may not get that on some of the higher end bikes, |
| and there are a ton of them. The mag has to say | | | | but on many you still will! Ask for both if they have |
| Motomag on it. | | | | it, the coaster brake style with handbrakes! |
| To warn about grips! Today's BMX bikes are coming | | | | Put your money in a mid-range helmet that is ANSI |
| out with some of the most uncomfortable grips for | | | | Certified and is labeled by them. Get gloves that are |
| the kids' hands! Have the bike shop owner show you | | | | of excellent quality as well. Every BMX bike should |
| the array of grips available, and to me, a foam style | | | | have goosekneck, handlebar, and top frame pads, |
| is the best, or a really soft gel rubber is ok too. I | | | | bare minimum, do not let your child take the bike |
| always loved the foam grips when jumping because | | | | without them. |
| they absorb the shock of the fall! | | | | Welding on frames should have beautiful thick welds |
| Stay tuned for the launching of any GT's Dyno line. | | | | that you'd want to eat off them. Don't buy any bike |
| The frames on most of them are not as solid and if | | | | with ugly looking welds. Also, watch out for over |
| you don't believe me, go to your neighborhood thrift | | | | priced bikes that have beautiful welds but low |
| store, and you'll see a ton of GT Dyno's. I personally | | | | componentry. |
| would not buy my son or daughter a GT bike, unless | | | | My preference was to buy my BMX bikes with similar |
| it was one of their top of the line models. I also had | | | | equipment too! If hubs, cranks, brakes, and so forth |
| a problem airborne with them upon landing, when | | | | are all Shimano, that's a good thing. The bike is |
| compared to the awesome Mongoose BMX, my dad | | | | Shimano equipped. I'd steer clear of BMX bikes that |
| bought for me at the local bike shop in Mesa. | | | | have lightweight handlebars, but heavy cranks, hubs, |
| Purchase your child's bike from a regular bike shop. | | | | and are made by 10 different companies! |
| Do not buy it at Wal-Mart, Target, Costco, or Sam's | | | | Finally, there are only a few key things to remember. |
| Club. These bikes carry the names Schwinn, | | | | Weight. Get the lowest weight rims, hubs, and |
| Mongoose, and more, but let me guarantee you, | | | | components that are of the highest quality. It is ok |
| they are not the real Mccoy! | | | | to have a heavier frame, but don't compromise on |
| Having let loose a can of worms, also watch out for | | | | wheels, tires, or most of all-brakes! Buy a Haro, |
| high pressure bike salespeople. Believe it or not, they | | | | Diamond-Back, Red-Line, or Mongoose from a Bike |
| are out there! If they have such a good product, | | | | Dealer, and your going to be happy! Don't buy from |
| why do they have to pressure sale you? | | | | the local chain stores anymore, ever! Buy direct from |
| Back to brand names. If you are going to buy a | | | | your local bike shop that knows BMX! |
| Schwinn, Mongoose, or other formerly well-trusted | | | | Ultimately, have fun, and jump! If you can't jump the |
| bike, deal with the company directly or a reputable | | | | bike, don't buy it. The frames should be cleared for |
| bike shop in the area. You won't find any Wal-Mart | | | | jumping! And remember, most of all, your BMX bike |
| BMX bikes in your local bicycle shop! | | | | will be a part of your son or daughter's life for at |
| Then we come to hardware! If you're going to get | | | | least 5-7 years, so go ahead, spend a couple hundred |
| your son or daughter a bike make sure you invest in | | | | more for better components. And remember, to hit a |
| ultra lightweight aluminum or chromoly rims. So many | | | | ramp, fly up, hold the bars, kick the rear wheel out, |
| bikes out there are being sold with cheap rims and | | | | and just hang on, feeling nothing but the air and rising |
| cranksets. It's worth the extra one to two hundred | | | | above the earth, on a BMX Bike, is something your |
| dollars to get your child the very best components. | | | | child will never ever forget and will pass on from |
| They will last longer and your child will have one of | | | | generation to generation. |
| the best and baddest BMX bikes on the block! | | | | . |
| Now that we have mentioned that, invest in three | | | | |