What is the difference between a Freestyle bike and a BMX?

Question

I'm looking to get my 7-year-old son a bike, and I think he'd eventually like to get into BMX racing. I am wondering - what is the difference between a Freestyle and a BMX? They look the same to this untrained eye.

Answer 1

One instant giveaway as to a freestyle bike... The freestyle bike should have pegs around the bike to stand and do tricks on (in the area where the wheel is connected to the frame).  

Answer 2

There are little things, for example, most freestyle bikes use bolts on the wheels that extend 1/2 inch or greater to allow for the addition of pegs.  In BMX racing, the bolts are not allowed to extend more than 1/4 " to reduce the potential for injury if the bolts come in contact with a rider.

Some freestyle bikes are designed to permit the handlebars to spin without limit, which is a purely freestyle feature.  Racers should not be spinning their handlebars.

There may also be weight differences.  Freestyle bikes may be heavier.\, and I would think some racing bikes would be more likely to use more advanced materials, because speed matters more than it does in freestyle.

Answer 3

Well, Ive been riding a bmx for about 3 years now.

For me, they dont have differences, because you can call the BMX as a Freestyle bike. Freestyle bike is when you use your bike for a trick, same as bmx.

Yes, you're right. Most of the bikes have rear brakes only.

But then, you could just put the front brake on, its easy.

If you're going to look for a bike.

Here it is.

Cheap and safe.

http://www.danscomp.com/index.php

You could get them there.

Safe and Cheap

Answer 4

maybe you could try building one by buying parts because there will be a lot of parts out on the market that will state the fact that it is designed for racing but the only problem is that it will probably be more exspensive than the complete bike alternative but i wouldnt really go for a freestyle bike because as it states in the name it is for freestyle riding.