Weight of a BMX Bike: What's the GMV?
Hop on, bro! I'll help you figure out your BMX bike's weight.
Remember the days when we didn't have a clue about BMX bikes' weight, and a heavier bike seemed absurd?
Well, it's been two decades since I first jumped on a BMX, and, luckily, those days of heavyweight bikes are long gone—except for cheap ones, which I can't vouch for.
What's covered here?
- BMX Bike Weight Breakdown: Average, Custom-built, Weight-saving Tips
- The (un-)Importance of Weight in a BMX Bike
These days, almost all BMX bikes are fairly light. Still, a street bike will generally be heavier than a park or trail bike. That's because street bikes need more robust parts to handle the extra wear and tear.
I used to obsess over having the lightest bike. To be honest, it's not a healthy obsession—it's downright stressful! That's why these days, I don't even care about the weight of my bike anymore. In fact, I'd rather put functionality over weight.
So, what's the average weight of a BMX bike?
It's hard to pinpoint an exact number, but an average complete BMX bike weighs around 26lbs (11.8kg). For reference, my first bike weighed a whopping 33lbs (15kg). Just imagine how light modern bikes are compared to older models!
Here are a few examples of complete BMX bike weights:
- Kink Whip bike: 27.6lbs (12.5kg)
- Cult Devotion bike: 25lbs (11.3kg)
- Mongoose Legion bike: 21.6lbs (9.8kg)
- Stolen Casino XL bike: 25.7lbs (11.5kg)
- Kink Curb bike: 27.3lbs (12.4kg)
- Sunday Darkwave (Broc Raiford's) bike: 24.9lbs (11.3kg)
- WeThePeople Nova bike: 26.2lbs (11.9kg)
- Colony Prody Pro bike: 24.7lbs (11.2kg)
- Fit STR Freecoaster bike: 28.3lbs (12.8kg)
- Sunday Forecaster bike: 26.8lbs (12.1kg)
If you're thinking of building your own bike, you can get an idea of the weight by considering each part. Take a look at the breakdown:
- Frame: Subrosa OM frame (20.5′′ top tube): 5.1 lbs
- Bar: Shadow Vultus Featherweight bars (8.7′′ rise): 31.6 oz (approx. 1.94 lbs)
- Fork: Shadow 13 fork: 31.5 oz (approx. 1.96 lbs)
- Grips: ODI Longneck ST grips: 2.7 oz (approx. 0.17 lbs)
- Headset: Shadow Stacked headset: 5.8 oz (approx. 0.37 lbs)
- Stem: Shadow Treymone stem: 11.5 oz (approx. 0.73 lbs)
- Seat: Shadow Crow'd pivotal seat (mid): 13 oz (approx. 0.82 lbs)
- Seat post: Shadow pivotal seat post: 3.5 oz (approx. 0.22 lbs)
- Cranks: Shadow Finest cranks: 32 oz (approx. 2.02 lbs)
- Bottom bracket: Shadow Stacked BB (for 19mm): 5.9 oz (approx. 0.37 lbs)
- Sprocket: Shadow Sabotage sprocket: 5.3 oz (approx. 0.34 lbs)
- Chain: Shadow Interlock chain (72 links): 11.3 oz (approx. 0.72 lbs)
- Pedals: Shadow Ravager plastic pedals (per pair): 13.6 oz (approx. 0.87 lbs)
- Complete rear wheel: Shadow Symbol rear wheel: 50.65 oz (approx. 3.38 lbs)
- Complete front wheel: Shadow Symbol front wheel: 35.9 oz (approx. 2.29 lbs)
- Tires: Subrosa Designer tires (2 pieces): 2 x 27.1 oz (approx. 1.74 lbs)
- Pegs: Rant LL Cool plastic pegs (4 pieces): 4 x 7.6 oz (approx. 0.54 lbs)
Total: 98.6 lbs (or 44.65 kg / 713.24 oz.)
Adding a rear brake will bring the total weight up by around 11.5 oz (approx. 0.72 lbs).
To make your bike lighter, consider the following modifications:
- Cut your bar to the right width. (Don't go overboard—you might need a replacement soon.)
- Cut your steerer tube. (Just don't cut it too much—your stem still needs to hold onto something.)
- Get lighter tires (e.g., foldable. But if you're mainly into street riding, stick with standard tires, as foldable ones may not perform well.)
- Get slimmer tires. (If you're into park and trail riding.)
- If you run plastic pegs, get ones with an aluminum core.
- Get a butted instead of a straight gauge handlebar.
- Replace your inner tubes with Tubolito Tubo tubes.
- Remove brakes.
- Pick up shorter cranks. (Below's the pros of shorter BMX cranks.)
- Switch to a slimmer seat. (If yours is particularly wide.)
- Opt for Titanium parts (a pricey upgrade), but it's worth considering if you're a serious rider.
Keep in mind: custom-built bikes typically weigh less than complete bikes, as they tailor the build to your specific needs.
If weight really matters to you, consider these additional tweaks:
- Use Titanium bolts, spokes, and cranks (or only spindle).
- Go for a titanium frame (but it's not worth the extreme price hike).
But don't go drilling holes in your bike! It's way too risky, especially for nobody pro!
Instead, focus on making your body stronger and enhancing your skills, so your bike will feel lighter when you ride it. BMX can be an excellent workout!
The Bottom Line: Don't Obsess Over Weight. Modern bikes are far from the heavy ones from the past, and there's no need to sacrifice functionality for a few ounces in weight reduction.
Just enjoy the ride, bro. BMX is all about having fun and expressing yourself through the sport. Rock on!
Want more exclusive BMX insights? Check out our in-depth guides:
- Cost Guide: A BMX Bike Size & Price Breakdown (Hint: You don’t have to break the bank to get a good BMX.)
- BMX Maintenance: Tips & Hacks For Long-lasting Rides (Share these tips with your BMX crew to keep your rides smooth all year long.)
- What is BMX? Unraveling The History and Culture of BMX Racing (Learn the roots of the Legendary BMX scene!)
- Sizing Guide: What BMX Bike Size Fits Me? (No more guesswork! Find your perfect BMX bike fit.)
- 16 Health-Boosting Benefits of BMX (Riding BMX isn't just about stunts. Discover the top health benefits of BMX!)
- First sentence: Despite being engrossed in the world of technology, it's refreshing to see how the evolution of BMX bikes has intersected with the advancement of sports equipment, making them lighter and more durable.
- Second sentence: During my late night sessions playing around with various gadgets, I often find myself inspired by the innovative design solutions used in BMX bike construction, from lightweight materials to sleek aerodynamic shapes.