How to Mod Your BMX

BMX, which stands for "Bicycle Motocross," holds races on short dirt courses that emulate off-road motorcycle racing. However, since the mid-1980s, "Freestyle" BMX has become more popular. Riders hit skate-parks and vert ramps and perform tricks on flat ground, using bikes with a specific set of popular modifications. All of these modifications can be installed yourself using basic tools, as they are generally "bolt-on" replacement components that don't require any drastic modification of the bike's frame.

Things You'll Need

  • Socket set
  • Tire levers
  • Set of slick tires
  • Bicycle pump
  • Set of Allen Keys
  • Set of Crescent wrenches
  • Gyro kit
  • Set of Grind pegs
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Instructions

    • 1

      Unscrew the valve cap from the front and rear tires. Press down the center pin of the valves using a small Allen key. Hold the pin down until the tires are deflated. Use the socket set to loosen the bolts holding the axles to the forks and frame. Lift the wheels out of the frame.

    • 2

      Work around the circumference of the rim with the tire levers, pop the tire over the wall of the rim. Remove the front and rear tires, and lift the inner-tubes from inside. Feed the tubes into the new tires and fit them to the rims.

    • 3

      Inflate the tires using the pump, and refit the wheels to the frame. Thread the grind pegs onto the axles in place of the original bolts. Place one on either side and tighten them simultaneously by turning them in opposite directions to prevent the axle from spinning. Tighten them using the crescent wrenches on the flat corners of the pegs, next to the forks and frame.

    • 4

      Loosen and remove the three Allen bolts connecting the handlebars to the frame. Lift the bars out of the head-tube and the forks should slide out from underneath.

    • 5

      Lift the headset-bearing cup out of the frame, place the lower plate of the Gyro on the frame, and set the bearing cup back on top of it. Slide the forks back into the frame.

    • 6

      Slide the upper Gyro plate onto the top of the fork tube and rotate it until it lines up with the bottom plate. Refit the stem and handlebars as before.

    • 7

      Undo the bolt clamping the brake cable in place and slide it free. Unhook the cable from the lever and replace it with the Y-shaped cable included with the Gyro kit. Hook the single end of the cable to the lever, and the double end to the top Gyro plate. Take the other Y-cable and hook it to the lower Gyro plate, then the brake caliper.