BMX
Learn the best BMX tricks for beginners, from basic wheelies to bunny hops. Start mastering these easy moves to level up your BMX skills!
BMX is a lifestyle, an adrenaline rush, and a creative outlet all rolled into one. Originating from the streets and skateparks, BMX took the simplicity of cycling and injected it with style, skill, and a whole lot of air. Unlike traditional biking, BMX is about control, tricks, and pushing limits, whether you're riding through urban landscapes or launching off dirt jumps. BMX rider George Ntavoutian went from the basics to conquering a 7.5m-high pipe — which is as tall as a two-story building.
“I wanted to do something that would make history,” Ntavoutian says. “There was no way I wouldn't try at least. I wanted to be the first to make it!”
BMX has evolved into a global phenomenon, with riders mastering insane stunts and competing at the highest levels. But before you tackle the world's biggest-ever full loop, you’ll need to learn some beginner BMX tricks. A strong foundation in fundamental BMX moves will help you build confidence, improve your balance, and set you up for bigger, bolder moves.
01
What are BMX tricks?
BMX tricks are the defining element of freestyle riding, focusing on technical mastery, balance, and aerial maneuvers. Unlike standard cycling, where efficiency and speed are the goals, BOX tricks turn an ordinary bike into an extension of the rider’s creativity and skill. They challenge the boundaries of physics and personal abilities while grinding rails, pulling off mid-air spins, or balancing on one wheel.
There are two main disciplines in BMX:
- Freestyle BMX: This is the world of tricks, stunts, and gravity-defying moves. Freestyle riders take on street obstacles, ramps, dirt jumps, and skateparks to perform technical and high-flying maneuvers.
- BMX Racing: BMX racing is about speed, power, and agility. Riders navigate a dirt track filled with jumps, berms, and turns, aiming to cross the finish line first rather than performing tricks.
If you’re here to learn tricks, freestyle BMX is where you’ll want to focus your energy. But before you start pulling off next-level moves, you need to develop a few key skills:
- Bike control: Get comfortable handling your bike in different conditions, like pavement and dirt ramps.
- Balance: Many BMX tricks require you to shift your weight and hold a position, making balance a core skill to continually work on.
- Air awareness: Even small jumps require understanding how your body and bike move in the air.
- Confidence: BMX is as much mental as it is physical. Learning tricks means falling and getting back up.
Once you’ve got these basics down, you’re ready to start your journey into the world of BMX bike tricks for beginners.
02
Basic BMX tricks every beginner should learn
Every BMX legend started with the fundamentals. These tricks may seem simple at first, but they are the building blocks for advanced stunts. Mastering these moves will not only improve your overall bike control but also give you the skills needed to tackle more complex tricks in the future. The queens of BMX are prime examples of pushing boundaries through different tricks.
Depending on the complexity of the trick, it could take anywhere from a week to months to master. Let’s dive into how to learn BMX tricks for beginners:
Bunny Hop
The bunny hop is the foundation for nearly every BMX trick, from 180s to 360s to grinds. The goal is to lift both wheels off the ground at the same time without the aid of a ramp.
- Start in a crouched position, hovering just above the seat with your knees bent and feet firmly on the pedals.
- Pull up on the handlebars, lifting the front wheel first while simultaneously pushing down on the pedals.
- Tuck the bike beneath you, using your legs to lift the rear wheel off the ground.
- Level the bike out mid-air, keeping your body centered for control.
- Land smoothly, bending your knees to absorb the impact.
- Practice on flat ground before attempting to clear obstacles like curbs or ledges.
Manual
A manual is similar to a wheelie but without pedaling. Instead, you balance on your back wheel by shifting your body weight. This trick improves control and balance, making it useful for linking moves together. At first, you might struggle to keep the manual going for more than a second or two — but with practice, you’ll be able to hold it much longer.
- Gain a medium amount of speed before attempting the trick. Too fast, and you won’t maintain balance.
- Lean back gradually, keeping your arms straight while shifting your weight to the rear wheel.
- Use your legs and hips to balance, making small adjustments to avoid tipping too far back or forward.
- Keep your arms extended to maintain control, but avoid pulling too hard on the handlebars.
- Focus on maintaining balance for as long as possible before gently lowering the front wheel.
Endo
The endo, also known as a front wheel pivot, involves lifting the rear wheel off the ground while balancing on the front. This trick is a stepping stone to more advanced front-wheel tricks. Mastering the endo will improve brake control and help you transition into more technical tricks, like front wheel pivots and nose manuals.
- Ride at a slow to moderate speed, ensuring you’re in control.
- Pull the front brake gently while shifting your weight forward.
- Let the back wheel lift slightly, keeping your balance over the handlebars.
- Hold the position for a moment, feeling the balance before releasing the brake.
- Lower the rear wheel smoothly, avoiding a hard impact that could throw you off balance.
Peggie Wheelie
If your bike has pegs, the peg wheelie is a fun, advanced trick that challenges your balance and stability. Instead of pedaling, you ride on the rear pegs while keeping the front wheel lifted. This trick is a great introduction to peg-based moves, setting you up for grinds and stalls in the future.
- Ride at a medium steady speed.
- Step onto the back pegs, ensuring your right foot is positioned behind you.
- Lean forward slightly, then quickly snap backward using your body weight to lift the front wheel off the ground.
- Keep your arms extended, allowing for minor corrections to maintain balance.
- Use subtle movements to keep yourself from tipping too far back or forward.
- Keep your right foot close to the wheel, moving it forward and backward, not side to side.
- Shift your weight as needed, adjusting to maintain control.
03
How to progress to intermediate BMX tricks
Once you've mastered easy BMX tricks for beginners, it's time to step up your game. BMX rider Kieran Reilly details the mental training that goes into his extreme moves.
“I like to visualize my tricks — I try to picture myself in my head,” Reilly says. “I've learned many tricks by seeing someone else do it, picturing how I would do it with my riding style and then envisioning me doing the trick over and over in my head before trying it. Hopefully, it then goes how I envision it, but if not, I'll be able to figure out where I went wrong.”
Every failed attempt is just one step closer to success. Here’s how to take your riding to the next level:
- Start linking tricks together: Try combining a bunny hop with a 180 spin or adding a manual between jumps.
- Work on getting more air time: The higher you go, the more time you have to execute tricks. As you get more confident, try bunny hopping off ledges or hitting small ramps.
- Focus on balance and precision: Tricks like manuals and endos rely on fine-tuned control. Keep practicing until they feel natural.
- Ride in new environments: Skateparks, dirt jumps, and urban spots offer different challenges and help build your overall skill set.
- Learn from experienced riders: Watching and riding with better BMXers will help you do more than connect with the local scene. You’ll also improve faster if you analyze their moves. You can even see if a pro will mentor you through your BMX journey.
- Don’t give up: It’s nearly impossible to master tricks on your first try, so set goals that you know will keep you motivated.
Keep rolling, keep progressing
Incredible BMX riding is all about expression, skill, and persistence. No one lands every trick on their first try, but that’s part of the fun. Whether you’re learning bunny hops or manuals, every bit of progress counts. Need inspiration? Watch the best BMX films you can stream and study each move.
Grab your bike, hit the streets (or skatepark), and start pushing your limits to learn BMX tricks for beginners. Who knows — a few months from now, you might be pulling off tricks you once thought were impossible.
