BMX vs Mountain Bike Vs Jump Bike

BMX vs Mountain Bike Vs Jump Bike

If you’re feeling a little confused about all the different Bikes available, fear not! At SkateHut, we’ve got the expertise to help you make a decision and find the right one for you. Whether you’re looking for extreme mobility or are looking to shred a multitude of terrains, let’s jump into it by getting to know your options! 

We will take a look at the differences between all 3 bikes, but first, let’s start with getting to know each type and then we can dive into the below comparisons:

  • The Frame
  • The Wheels
  • The Gears
  • The Breaks
  • Quick Reference Guide

 

What is a BMX Bike?

A BMX Bike is an off-road bike primarily used for stunt riding, tricks and racing. There are lots of different subgroups and model types of BMX Bikes such as: Dirt, Flatland, Park, Race and Street, each with their own unique builds to help suit the style of riding. The term BMX itself stands for Bicycle Motocross.

 

What is a Mountain Bike?

A Mountain Bike is a bicycle which is designed primarily for off-road use across rough terrain such as mountainsides, forests and dirt tracks. Most Mountain Bikes are built with durability in mind and typically come with a gear system. You may have also heard the terms “all terrain bicycle", "all terrain bike", as well as the acronym "ATB". These are all synonyms of the mountain bike!

 

What is a Jump Bike?

A compromise between the beloved BMX and the versatile mountain bike, a Jump Bike has evolved as the halfway stage between both. Mainly used for stunts, jump bikes are usually used for dirt jumping as well as urban stunt riding. 

 

The Frame

Due to the different functions that a BMX, Mountain bike and Jump bike offer, this affects how their frames are built.

 

BMX Bike Frame

A BMX Bike Frame, if you think about it logically, is going to take a beating with significant impacts. Whether that’s running up and down halfpipes, bunny hopping or rail grinding, a BMX frame needs to endure aggressive movement. This is why BMX frames are usually compact to support this.

 

Mountain Bike Frame

A mountain bike frame, similar to a BMX, needs to have strength, however their frames often experience less violent riding, but need to maintain their durability. The frame itself is typically built with the idea of shock absorption in mind and there is a lot more versatility and options when it comes to size, meaning that you can get a bike that’s more appropriately sized for your height.

 

Jump Bike Frame

When it comes to the jump bike frame, there is a similar pattern with BMX users where there’s almost a “one size fits all” approach. If brands do make different sizes, they tend to be your classic: small, medium and large. The majority of people tend to utilise smaller frames as they are usually lighter and easier to manipulate for tricks.  They blend the simplicity of smaller frames with the sturdiness and durability of mountain bikes.

 

The Wheels

BMX Wheels

When it comes to size, the BMX Wheel is usually 20 to 24 inches. The tyres themselves are designed very much with force in mind, so that they absorb shocks and impacts which usually come with stunts and tricks. They also prioritise grip so that there’s less slip-on smooth surfaces.

 

Mountain Bike Wheels

In order to traverse the rocky and sometimes unpredictable landscape of the trails mountain bike wheels need to be ready for anything. This is why they are usually larger in size, 27 to 29 inches with deep grooves and tread so that grip is at the forefront of what these tyres can do!

 

Jump Bike Wheels

A jump bike tends to favour wheels on the smaller side, bigger than a BMX but smaller than mountain bikes, typically around 24 to 26 inches (slap bang between the two!) They tend to be slick to help increase grip, however at the same time reduce that rolling resistance on concrete and dirt.

 

Gears

BMX gears

BMX bikes don’t tend to have gears and are usually considered “single speed”. That’s why it’s important to ensure the rest of the bike’s configuration matches your needs as a BMX rider.

 

Mountain Bike Gears

One of the great things about mountain bikes is their versatility and this is definitely something that their gears have to offer. If you’re about to tackle a steep incline, then being able to switch gears can help you to find a steady pace that works for you. Most modern mountain bikes tend to have a 12-gear cassette, however this can change based on brand.

 

Jump Bikes Gears

For a jump bike, these tend to follow the trend of BMX Bikes and only have a single speed which makes it less bulky, and more inline for a Jump Bikes purpose of tricks.

 

Brakes

BMX Brakes

BMX bikes usually only have a rear brake. This makes sense when you think about all the tricks and stunts they are put through, especially if it involves spinning the handle bars! As you can probably imagine, having front brakes will make those types of tricks incompatible with the bike. 

 

Mountain Bike Brakes

When it comes to mountain biking, the ability to rely on your breaks is paramount!  Mountain bikes themselves are built to ensure that they can withstand hard braking. Disc brakes are normally used due to their power and endurance through harsh weather conditions. 

 

Jump Bike Breaks

Similar to BMX brakes, the jump bike tends to have a rear brake allowing full mobility of the handlebars. Sometimes they utilise small disc brakes, just like a mountain bike. As this type of bike is not usually required to stop quickly, the brakes themselves are not as powerful as you would get on a mountain bike. 

 

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