BMX Brakes

Should I Equip My BMX with Brakes?

BMX brakes play a crucial role in ensuring your safety while riding. In BMX racing, having a rear brake is mandatory; however, in freestyle riding, the decision is yours. For both racing and freestyle, BMX bike brakes are not solely for halting but also for modulating your speed and experimenting with new tricks. Furthermore, many places mandate the use of brakes when cycling on roads.

When purchasing brakes, you may opt for a complete BMX brake kit or individual components like BMX brake pads, brake levers, and cables. The BMX braking system consists of four parts: pads, arms, springs, and pivots.

Various BMX Brake Types

Freestyle bikes typically come equipped with a rear U brake, whereas race BMX bikes are fitted with a rear V brake. BMX U brakes are installed beneath the frame, ensuring minimal disruption to your current setup. With many modern BMX models, U brakes have become the preferred choice due to their resilience and straightforward, streamlined design.

An alternative BMX brake system is the BMX gyro brake. This particular brake permits the handlebars to rotate a full 360 degrees without the brake cables becoming entangled.

Are Brakes Present on Race BMX Bikes?

Indeed, to comply with safety guidelines on the racetrack, race BMX bikes are required to have a brake. As previously mentioned, employing a single rear V brake is the most prevalent configuration. Although a race BMX will typically arrive with this brake pre-installed, the brake pads will wear out over time and will need replacement. Installing fresh brake pads enhances the braking efficacy of the bike.

If you're considering upgrading other components of your BMX, explore our extensive range of parts including BMX Frames and Tyres.