The Best BMX Freestyle Bike In 2021 Reviewed

Freestyle BMX riding involves the most thrilling stunts and the most challenging tricks — whether you’re at the park, on the street, or just at an abandoned lot. If you want to be serious about this discipline, you need to use the best freestyle BMX bike that matches your style.

But how would you pick from among the many kinds of BMX bikes today?

In this article, I’ll be giving you guidelines on choosing high-quality freestyle bikes. And then I’ll hand you a list of the best freestyle BMX bikes you can buy from the market right now.

BMX Freestyle Bikes Reviewed in This Guide

My top choice for the best bmx freestye bike is the Mongoose Legion Mag (number 2 in the table).

Last update on 2024-04-26 at 01:23 / Commission Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

BMX Freestyle Bike Buying Guide

BMX bikes can be classified into four categories according to how you use them: racing, dirt riding, street riding, and freestyle. While the first three can be grouped together as racing or cruising types, freestyle BMX bikes are different in the sense that you need them to be optimized for tricks.

That means BMX freestyle bikes have to be tough enough to endure getting knocked and bumped around. So, durability is certainly one criterion, and it has to include each part of the bike—no matter how small.

Bike Frame 

Any BMX bike is defined largely by its frame. With that in mind, a freestyle BMX bike should have a really strong frame so that it can handle high-impact landings.

While aluminum is acceptable in other types of bikes, I don’t recommend it for freestyle BMX riding. Let’s just say some aluminum frames would work and endure, but they’re the exception, not the rule.

What you need to look for is a BMX bike with either a Hi-Ten (high tensile) steel or Chromoly frame. Both of these materials are strong and can be durable enough.

In most high-end freestyle bikes today, Chromoly has become the standard material for frames. Well, it’s lighter than steel, but it’s also a little more expensive.

Just note that a lighter frame would help you pull off trickier stunts in the air. So, your wallet may back down from Chromoly, but it should be a worthwhile investment especially if you’re going to make a career out of freestyle BMX riding.

Bike Pegs 

Pegs may be the underrated attachments where your little bro stands on for a short, windy, hop-on ride with you at the park.

But pegs are an essential component of a freestyle BMX bike. For professional riders, they’re far from being just a pair of accessories.

In fact, you can use the pegs of your BMX bike as pivot points whenever you’re doing tricks. You may attach as many as four—two at the front and two at the back.

Some BMX bikes already have pegs included, while others don’t. But, you can always buy a pair separately.

Wheel And Tire

Freestyle BMX bikes need to have wheels that help you keep your balance and have a strong grip on the ground. Thinner tires are for speedy races, while wider or thicker ones can also handle a wider range of tricks and stunts.

So, freestyle BMX tires are usually about 2.125” to 2.3” wide. They’re not of the 1-inch thin type meant for the swift and the agile.

Moreover, freestyle BMX wheels should have lots of spokes to support them while getting repeated bounces.

Just a little note on the diameter: it’s 20” for a standard BMX bike. If you’re really tall, then it’s just appropriate to use larger wheels, such as those with 24 inches of diameter.

As for the material, BMX tires are just typically made of rubber. The rims, on the other hand, should ideally be both lightweight and strong. For that matter, you can refer to our choice of a bike frame (as discussed above). Chromoly is great, while aluminum won’t be that durable.

Brakes 

Serious freestyle BMX bikers dare to forgo their brakes to be able to perform more tricks more freely. For one thing, most BMX bikes already dismiss having a front brake—they only have a rear one.

Now, if you really want to move toward freestyle riding, you can choose a BMX bike with a detachable rear brake.

This way, you can gradually learn some higher-level stunts (minus the brake) while at the park, and you’d still be able to get home through the street, cycling safely (now with the brake back on).

Still, your options could be different if you’re buying a freestyle bike for your kid. As always, brakes are meant for safety. For that matter, some BMX bikes have both front and rear brakes, and they’re usually necessary for young children.

At the end of the day, if you want to open yourself to more options for your future adventures, I’d say detachable brakes could be the way to go.

Size And Weight

As for bike size, your height should pretty much be the standard. Again, the wheel size would be at the standard 20-inch diameter, but it could be at 16” or 18” for younger and smaller kids.

While you can check up on the individual sizes of the cranks and gearing, it’s usually just sufficient to look at the top tube length and the overall frame size to determine the right freestyle bike size for yourself.

After all, we now buy BMX bikes in one, ready-to-assemble package with all the necessary parts that we don’t have to scout for individually or separately.

But, for reference purposes, I’m adding the handlebar width in this table.

Frame Size	Top Tube Length	Handlebar Width	Rider Height
Micro Mini	15” – 16”	20” – 22.5”	4’0” and under(122 cm or less)
Mini	16″ – 17″	21”- 23.5”	4’0” – 4’6”(122 – 142 cm)
Junior	17″ – 18.5″	22” – 25”	4’4” – 4’10”(137 – 149 cm)
Expert	18.5″ – 19.5″	22.5” – 27”	4’8” – 5’4”(147 – 163 cm)
Pro	20″ – 20.5″	27” – 28”	5’4” – 5’10”(163 – 181 cm)
Pro XL or XXL	20.5” and up	28”	5’10” and up(181 cm and up)

Note that the right bike size can make or break your attempts at performing stunts. You should be comfortable enough to hop on, sit, and stand on your bike.

Meanwhile, for your freestyle rides, 25 to 27 lbs of overall bike weight can be good to start with. But, you can shoot for 19 to 23-lb ones if you want to soar higher and perform your tricks effortlessly. Finally, bikes at 30 lbs could already weigh you down (except if you’re already too good at performing stunts).

Best Freestyle Bikes For Your Tricks And Stunts

Alright, now. Let’s check out each of these six freestyle BMX bikes on my list and see what they got.

1. RoyalBaby Freestyle Kid’s Bike for Boys and Girls

Key Features

• Frame: Hydro-formed aluminum
• Fork: TIG (tungsten inert gas)-welded steel
• Wheels and Tires: 28 hole rims with rubber, 2.4-inch knobby tires with custom tread; 20-inch diameter
• Drivetrain: Chain-guard enclosure, non-slip plastic pedal with reflector, one-piece crank
• Brakes: Front caliper brake, rear band brake, kids-size brake lever

Okay, its name says it’s a kid’s bike but the RoyalBaby Freestyle BMX bike series actually offers a wide range of size options. For this review, I’m talking primarily about the standard 20-inch variant with a kickstand.

Its frame is made of hydroformed aluminum, which simply means that it was shaped by hydroforming to save costs.

Meanwhile, this RoyalBaby freestyle bike has knobby tires with custom tread, which should be able to increase its grip on the ground. And yes, they’re wide enough at 2.4 inches.

While this bike can handle freestyle tricks meant “for adults,” it does have front and rear brakes. So, this could also be a good option for kids.

Pros

• Excellent packaging
• Provides smooth rides
• Value for money
• Easy to assemble
• Feels very sturdy
• Works well even for kids

Cons

• Pedals are made of plastic (you might replace them though)
• The fenders may not be very sturdy
• The braking system might be faulty

Last update on 2024-04-26 at 12:25 / Commission Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

2. Mongoose Legion Mag Freestyle BMX Bike

Key Features

• Frame and Fork: Hi Ten (high tensile) steel
• Gearing: 40x16T; with 1-piece forged steel cranks at 170 mm; speed: single
• Wheels: Cast aluminum; with sealed bearings; 20-inch diameter; 2.3 inches wide
• Brake: Alloy; rear U-brake
• Pegs: 4 freestyle pegs for the front and rear
• With cable detangler that enables 360-degree handlebar spins

The Mongoose Legion Mag Freestyle BMX Bike features standard 20-inch wheels and high-tensile steel frame and fork. Thus, it can be pretty robust against bumps and falls, while not being too heavy even for kids.

Aside from its standard components, this bike does look pretty cool with its “mag” wheels. The sealed bearings flash silver “glimmers,” which you might find either just fancy or something that could make you feel more confident while on a ride.

Aesthetics apart, this bike could offer you a simple but versatile kind of riding with its single-speed feature. Thanks to the 40x16T gearing and the 1-piece forged steel cranks.

It’s pretty easy to put together, as well. You just need to install the handlebars, brakes, wheels, and pedals with the right tools.

Finally, you might like how this Legion freestyle BMX bike provides a cable detangler. This feature allows you to pull off 360-degree handle spins, after which you could then hop on to one or two of the pegs for a final turn.

Pros

• Value for money
• Can be put together easily (even by a 12-year-old kid)
• Feels heavy-duty
• Impressive wheels
• Not that heavy (can be handled by a 6-year-old)
• Useful for starters
• Includes pegs

Cons

• The brakes may break if abused (may need minor adjustments to work well)
• The plastic chain cover may break easily

Last update on 2024-04-26 at 01:23 / Commission Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

3. X-Games FS20 Freestyle Bicycle

Key Features

• Frame and fork: TIG-welded steel
• Brakes: Front and rear alloy hand brakes
• Wheels: 20 inches in diameter; 1.95 inches in width
• Pegs: front and rear pegs
• 4-bolt alloy stem

The X-Games FS20 Freestyle Bicycle is another easy-to-assemble BMX bike that either you or your kid may use. During the initial set-up, you only need to add the seat, handlebar, brake handles, and front tire into the assembly.

This bike’s frame and fork are both TIG-welded (tungsten inert gas-welded), which allows for more precise but affordable welding of many kinds of metals.

As a result, the X-Games FS20 feels quite sturdy while it remains at the lower end of the budget. You might as well expect it to hold up with your freestyle tricks.

More than that, this bike could easily attract kids with its black overalls and red accents. It also includes a kickstand for easy parking, plus front and rear pegs to allow you to do a few more stunts at the park.

Pros

• Easy to put together with a wrench and allen wrench
• Well-constructed frame
• Loved by kids
• Looks cool (stands out with the matte finish and red accents)
• Feels sturdy
• Great value for the price
• With adjustable seat
• Rides smoothly
• Robust metal pedals

Cons

• The brakes are not that good
• The handlebars may get repeatedly loose
• The bearings may not be that sturdy

Last update on 2024-04-25 at 09:54 / Commission Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

4. Kent Pro 20 Boy’s Freestyle Bike

Key Features

• Frame and fork: TIG-welded steel
• Wheels: 20 inches in diameter
• Brakes: front and rear handbrakes
• Pegs: front and rear
• With an alloy seat clamp and a freestyle rotor

The Kent Pro 20 Boy’s Freestyle Bike can offer a smooth ride for kids and adults alike. Even if you’re already around 30, you can jump, hop, and do other freestyle tricks with this bike.

Overall, the Kent Pro 20 is of good quality, but it may feel a little heavy if you’re a serious BMX rider.

Some people might find this bike’s brakes demanding to assemble, but it should be fairly easy with the right tools. As long as you know how to center and tighten the wheels, make some brake and handlebar adjustments, and change the seat height, this bike should be able to work just fine for you.

As for parking concerns, well, this bike does come with a kickstand.

Pros

• Easy to assemble (comes 90% pre-assembled)
• Aesthetically pleasing with vibrant colors
• Good for kids and beginners
• Runs smoothly
• Value for money

Cons

• The brakes need to be adjusted with the right tools
• May feel a little heavier than other bikes

5. Mongoose Legion Street Freestyle BMX (Legion L20)

Key Features

• Frame, fork, and handlebar: Hi Ten steel
• Top Tube Length: 20.25”
• Wheels: 20” x 2.3” tires on aluminum single wall 36H rims
• Drivetrain: 170-mm 1-piece forged steel cranks; 25T alloy chainring; loose ball bottom bracket
• Brake: aluminum U-brake and brake levers; with removable brake mounts
• Suggested rider height: 4’8” to 5’4”

The Legion L20 is another freestyle BMX bike from Mongoose. Like the Mongoose Legion Mag Freestyle Bike (the second on the list above), the L20 has a Hi Ten steel frame, 170-mm one-piece forged steel cranks, and 20” x 2.3” wheels.

One difference is that the L20 has a 25T alloy chainring. Meanwhile, the L20 also has a U-brake plus brake levers that are made of aluminum—perhaps to avoid adding too much weight.

With a threadless sealed integrated headset, this bike should allow you to steer without a problem.

Pros

• Well-made with good welds
• Easy to assemble
• Fitting for kids and adults
• Lightweight (easy to carry up and down the stairs)
• Provides smooth rides
• Feels comfortable to ride on

Cons

• Doesn’t come with a kickstand
• The brakes may not be very sturdy
• You might find the brake cable to be a little too short

Last update on 2024-04-26 at 05:22 / Commission Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

6. Elite 20” BMX Bicycle Destro Model Freestyle Bike

Key Features

• Frame: High tensile steel; fork: Chromoly
• Wheels: 20” x 2.4” tires
• Top Tube: 20 inches
• Cranks: 3-piece Chromoly crank at 170mm; sprocket: 25T; driver: 9T
• Brakes: Tektro alloy U-brake
• Pegs: 1 set

With sealed hubs, double-wall wheels, and a 3-piece Chromoly crank, this Elite 20” Destro BMX freestyle model could be another great and sturdy bike.

It feels lightweight to ride on, plus it can handle jumps and hops either by kids or adults.

This Destro Model bike is also pretty easy to assemble. You just need to add the rear and front rim, pedals, handlebar, and pegs. Well, you’d also have to adjust the brakes and add air to the tubes, but it shouldn’t break a sweat.

By the way, you can take this bike’s brakes off so you can be freer to take a few more handlebar spins.

Pros

• Comes 85% pre-assembled (easy to finish the assembly; with tools provided)
• Lightweight
• Useful even for beginners
• Comes with adjustable seat height and tilt angle

Cons

• Can be a little expensive compared to other freestyle BMX bikes in this list

Last update on 2024-04-26 at 01:23 / Commission Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Which Is Best For You?

Sometimes, it’s hard to choose among bikes with more or less the same standard features. Among these bikes on our list, however, I prefer the Mongoose Legion Mag Freestyle BMX Bike. For the following reasons.

• It looks pretty cool with its impressive wheels.
• Its frame and fork are made of high tensile steel (which should provide robustness without being too heavy, as I’ve mentioned above).
• It has a cable detangler that allows me to handle 360-degree spins without a problem.
• This bike has sealed bearings.
• Its wheels are pretty much standard ones, each with a 20-inch diameter and a 2.3-inch width.

Now, how about you? Don’t you like the Legion Mag too? Or, do you have any other preferred freestyle BMX bike among our entries?

Whatever your choice is, be sure it fits your style. You’re free to check my choice out.

Last update on 2024-04-26 at 01:23 / Commission Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API