BMX Brakes

Is Installing Brakes on My BMX Necessary?

BMX brakes play a crucial role in ensuring your safety while riding your BMX. For race BMX bikes, a rear brake is mandatory for safety reasons; on the other hand, with freestyle BMX, the decision is ultimately yours. For both types—freestyle and racing—BMX bike brakes are not merely for halting, but also for modulating your speed and experimenting with new tricks. Furthermore, in many areas, having brakes is a legal requirement when riding on public roads.

When purchasing brakes, you have the option of either acquiring a complete BMX brake kit or buying individual components such as BMX brake pads, brake levers, and cables. The make-up of BMX brakes includes four components: pads, arms, springs, and pivots.

Various BMX Brake Types

Freestyle bikes typically feature a rear U brake, whereas race BMX bikes are equipped with a V brake at the back. BMX U brakes are installed beneath the frame, ensuring minimal interference with the rest of your configuration. U brakes have become a prevalent choice in many modern BMX models due to their robustness and straightforward, streamlined design.

Another brake system for BMX is the BMX gyro brake. This system enables the handlebars to rotate a full 360 degrees without the brake cables becoming entangled.

Are Brakes Featured on Race BMX Bikes?

Indeed, to comply with safety regulations at racing tracks, race BMX bikes must be equipped with a brake. As previously mentioned, a single V brake at the back is the overwhelmingly favoured configuration. Although race BMX bikes come equipped with this brake, the brake pads will deteriorate over time and require replacement. Changing to a new brake pad will enhance the bike’s braking effectiveness.

If you are interested in upgrading other components of your BMX setup, explore our extensive range of parts including BMX Frames and Tyres.