A frame is fundamental to the look and feel of any bike and a BMX frame is no exception.

Many riders like to look for a BMX frame that is as lightweight as possible as this will enable them to manoeuvre their bikes easily, a particular advantage when performing tricks. Traditionally this has meant sacrificing strength and robustness: not so much a relevant issue in BMX racing where aluminium is often the frame material of choice, but a potential hazard in freestyle where the rider constantly has to place the bike under a variety of physical pressures.

An answer to this dilemma is to source a frame made of a special steel alloy that includes chromium and molybdenum in its make-up, commonly known as ‘chromoly’. Although chromoly weighs the same as high-tensile steel (the standard material for freestyle BMX frames) it is 60% stronger. Less material is therefore needed to achieve the same level of robustness. The result is a much lighter frame, albeit a more expensive one.

The size of a BMX frame, largely determined by the length of its top tube, is also a point of scrutiny for most BMX riders. Frames come in various sizes, the top tube length generally determining suitability for riders of different heights. A 21.5 inch top tube, for example, is deemed appropriate for a rider over five feet, ten inches.

Longer top tubes however may also find favour among shorter riders, particularly where freestyle BMX is concerned. This is because longer top tubes give the rider more space in which to perform certain tricks.

Finally, even the most serious BMX rider will find it difficult not to be moved by some of the breathtaking aesthetics of many frames on the market.

At bmx.co.uk we stock a full range of BMX frames at extremely competitive prices.