How to Make BMX Wood Ramps

Freestyle BMX is an ever-growing sport in which bicycle riders do complex tricks in the air, on the ground and on rails and ledges. Many skate parks, however, are not supportive of the sport. Some have even gone as far as to ban BMX bikes in favor of skateboards and roller blades. You can ride your freestyle BMX bike without any hassles, however, by building a homemade ramp you can take anywhere you and your friends ride.

Things You'll Need

  • Hand-held drill
  • Hand-held saw
  • 1/2-inch plywood
  • 3/8-inch plywood
  • 2-by-4 inch planks
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Instructions

    • 1

      Make a mock-up of your ramp and finalize the design using card stock or cardboard. Pay special attention to the transition angle and launch angles of the ramp, which depend on where it will be used. For example, a smaller ramp will be more at home in a small driveway with limited space.

    • 2

      Draw your design on plywood using a pencil or marker. Use 1/2-inch plywood for the side panels and 3/8-inch plywood for the ramp face. Use a hand-held saw to cut out the design. Be sure the side panels are as close to identical as possible to avoid warping of the ramp face.

    • 3

      Cut a 2-by-4 inch plank for every 4 inches of the ramp face length. For example, if the ramp face is 24 inches long, cut six 2-by-4 inch planks. These planks should be one inch shorter than the width of the ramp face to accommodate the side panels.

    • 4

      Attach the 2-by-4 inch planks to the side panels of the ramp, along the ramp face edge of the panels, with wood screws. This will reinforce the ramp face and make the ramp stronger.

    • 5

      Screw the ramp face into the 2-by-4 inch planks to hold it in place. Be sure the screws are flush with the outside of the ramp face to avoid flat tires.