The tires help the bike move depending on what different tread they have. Vert tires have no traction and they are meant to be used on specific ramps called vert ramps. You should not use vert tires on different types of land. Dirt tires have different tread that other types of tires. Dirt tires are built to grip the surface of the dirt. Companies make different tires depending on what surface you ride on.

The handlebars are used for steering. They can also be used for doing tricks. Stunt riders can spin their handlebars, stand on their handlebars, or sit on their handlebars. The handlebars are connected to the brake lever, the gyro, and the frame. The handlebars are important in most freestyle tricks. Some tricks that use the handlebars are the tail-whip and the barspin.

The bike pedals attach to a metal piece called a crank. The pedals and the crank work together to drive the chain and sprockets. There are two different types of cranks, one-piece cranks and three-piece cranks. Most bicycles come with a one-piece crank. Experienced BMX riders usually buy three-piece cranks and switch it with the one-piece crank. Three-piece cranks are made of two arms connected by a spindle.

Bicycle riders spin the wheels of their bikes by using pedals. The pedals pull the chain that is connected to the rear wheel. When the chains turn the wheel moves. BMX racers use pedals called clips. These pedals clip into the rider’s shoes; this holds their feet in one place while they race in a competition. Stunt riders do not use these clips because they limit the number of tricks the BMX riders can do with their feet. The pedals are connected to the cranks.

The frame is the body of a bike. It connects the seat, wheels, and handlebars together. Most BMX bike frames are made out of chromoly metal. Chromoly is a mixture of the two metals chromium and molybdenum. Chromoly frames can weigh as much as thirty-five pounds. Flatland bike frames are made stronger and heavier than other BMX bike frames.

The chain helps the bike to move. The chain is connected to the freewheel and the chain wheel. When a rider pedals the bike the chain wheel rotates the chain to the freewheel which powers the back wheel in order to move. Bike chains should be tight. If the chain is loose it might fall off causing the rider to crash.

The seat is what the rider sits on. Bicycle companies make different types of seats. Racers use unpadded seats to keep the bike’s weight down. BMXers who ride around daily usually use padded seats. The padded seats are more comfortable than unpadded seats. BMXers make sure that their seat is set to the right height so that they can ride the bike properly.

The front fork is made of lightweight tubes that are welded together. It takes most of the shock of hard riding. The front fork has to be strong so that it does not break. The front fork is connected to the frame. Together this is called the frame set.

The stem connects the handlebars to the fork of a bicycle, which allows the bike to steer. Depending on the type of headset, the stem either clamps around the steer tube or inserts into the steer tube and is held into place with a wedge. Bike companies make bicycles with different types of stems. Some of these stems are adjustable quill stems, threadless stems, classic road quill stems, quill stems without a removable faceplate, and adjustable threadless stem with a removable faceplate.

The brake stops or slows down the bike. Some bikes have two brakes, a front and back brake. A cable connects each brake to a wheel. One brake stops the front tire and the other brake stops the back tire. Brake cables attach hand brakes to calipers. These clamps squeeze together against the wheels to stop the bike.

Brake cables can become tangled so stunt bikes are made with a device called a gyro. The gyro helps the bike’s brake cables to not get tangled. Gyros allow riders to spin their handlebars all the way around without tangling the cables. The gyro is connected to the handlebars and frame.