Best BMX Gear Ratio for Street: Match Yours!

Well, BMX bikes have gears and different models have different sized gears. Even though these bikes don’t have multiple gears, it differs model-wise. Moreover, understanding the ratio can be tough as well. 

Exactly, this is where the problem starts. If you’re not a pro, being confused is very much understandable. Even confusion arises, even when you’re a regular user too. But need not worry, we have got you covered. So the most common concern is the best BMX gear ratio for street. 

As we already know the gear ratio differs from model to model. Typically, BMX gears have a greater gearing ratio of 44/16. Though this is true for most models some newer models are a bit different. The newer ones have smaller gearing in the ratios 22/8, 23/8, 25/9 up to 36/13.

That was just the gist of the whole. We have the whole BMX gearing explained as well that you must know and explanation of BMX bike weight. To know about them stick with us till the end.

How to Determine the Gear Ratio?

In most cases, BMX bikes with gears have only one gear. It is much fewer than other heavy-duty bike gear numbers. But still, the gear exists and you need to know how the gear ratio is determined. Well, so two types of gear exist in bikes, they are tall gear and short gear. 

Just like 11 and 12 speed gears, they are also quite different from each other.  The more teeth there are in the sprocket the taller the gear ratio is. And as you can understand the opposite is true for the short gear ratio. 

Hence the question comes, what difference do these two types of BMX bike gear ratios make? 

The main difference that you will see is in the ease of pedaling. A higher bike ratio makes pedaling harder whereas lower ones are much easier in this regard. 

Also, if you’re looking for some good quality and lightweight pedals for your BMX bike, then we have the best recommendation here-

So what is the easiest way of determining BMX gear ratio? 

Here is an easy formula that comes in help-

Gear Ratio= front sprocket teeth divided by rear freewheel/driver/cog teeth.

Now you know the basics of determining the gear ratio for BMX bikes. But now we will focus on the best gear ratio. This will help us to understand if we want to pedal on the street safely, which will be the best gear ratio for street BMX. 

If you’re really worried about safety then we would suggest you use knee and elbow pads while cycling. This really helps the rider from getting bruises. Here goes our pick for safety pads-

• BOSONER Guards Protective Gear Set– Includes good quality elbow and knee pads
• PROJIE-L Protective Gear Set– Polyester-made durable knee and elbow pad set  

You can check out this product for your cycling time safety. They are well-made and promising at their service. 

What’s the Best Gear Ratio of BMX for Street? 

Typically the best BMX gearing ratio is 44/16 which has 55 gear inches. This ratio is prevailing for a long time and has been considered as a classic gearing ratio for BMX. 

But there as some new BMX bikes available that are designed differently than the previous ones. Naturally, the gears didn’t stay exactly the same when the bicycle design has been changed. 

Therefore, the new BMX bikes have a smaller gear ratio as well. In such cases, the ratios can be 22/8, 23/8, 25/9 up to 36/13.

So now you know what the best gear ratio is. Moreover, how to determine your gear ratio is explained here as well. Therefore, now you can find the best gear ratio for street cycling for your BMX. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are BMX bikes good for?

BMX bikes are a great choice for kids. They are specifically designed for completing jumps, tricks, and stunts. Hence they are not very well suited for riding on roads. But some special types of riding such as skate park or a pump track, these bikes can be pretty good. 

Are BMX bikes good for roads?

You can run them on roads, but to be very honest, this is not much appreciated. This type of bike is perfect for off-road riding. They have a strong robust structure and with this buildup, they are good for stunts on off-road trails. 

Is it easier to ride a BMX or mountain bike?

In terms of smoother rides, mountain bikes are undoubtedly better than BMX bikes. Mountain bikes have suspension on the front and/or rear of the bike. But the only shock absorptions found on a BMX bike are the legs and arms of the rider. So you can understand the difference in the smoothness of the ride. 

Can you lose weight riding a BMX bike?

As they are built in a way that is perfect for aerobics exercise hence they can be a good way to lose weight as well. Moreover, they are very fun to ride and help you to lose weight without getting bored. But it is suggested for overweight people to start with a lower speed and lower intensity. 

To Sum Up

That was all from our side. Really hope this helps you in understanding your bike gears better. After going through this read, you should know about the best BMX gear ratio for street. 

So just pick the right ones for your bike and have a safe journey. Really hopes you have a smooth and safe ride. Until next time, happy biking.