Everything You Need to Know About BMX Bike Rims
The wheels are some of the most important parts of a BMX bike. Their design can have a huge impact on the weight, speed, and performance of the bike. With that being said, many BMX riders choose to custom-build their own wheels in order to optimize their bike for their preferred riding style. When custom-building your wheel, choosing the right set of BMX bike rims for sale is of major importance for many reasons.
For one, the rim is the piece that connects the tyre with the wheel, keeping it securely in place. Rims also take the initial impact of landing and defuse it so the rider doesn’t feel it as much. Since most landings are not exactly soft, BMX bike rims need to be sturdy and well-maintained. BMX bike rims for sale can be either pinned or welded, depending on how the aluminium hoop is joined to complete the circle. Welded rims are stronger and more common, but pinned rims can still be found on some lower-end wheelsets. If you’ve ever busted a pinned rim, it may be time to step up to a welded option.
BMX rims also differ in the way their internal wall is designed. Some feature multiple-walls with internal chambers, while others don’t and are called single-wall rims. As a general rule, multiple-walled rims are stronger than single-walled types due to the additional structural support. However, the extra layers of metal involved in their construction make them heavier. With that being said, double-walled rims are usually considered the best compromise between weight and strength for the needs of most riders. Single-walled rims, on the other hand, are most commonly used in racing.
Obviously, like wheels in general, rims also vary in diameter. Theoretically, 20-inch rims work with 20-inch tyres, so there’s not much to think about. However, rims also vary in width. Usually, 32mm is considered the most versatile option for the standard rider. But stunt riders and street riders usually opt for a much wider rim at 36mm which gives their wheels greater stability for performing complex tricks. There are also narrower rims (30mm) which are used for mini or junior-sized bikes or by racers wanting to improve their speed by reducing the weight of the wheels
And finally, rims can also come with a different number of spokes. Obviously, the more spokes the more the wheel will weigh. Therefore, a good, all-purpose rim usually has 36 spokes, making it tough enough for different types of riding but without being too heavy and weighing the bike down. But race riders look for an even lighter set of wheels often opt for a 32 or even 28-hole rim. On the other hand, some BMX who really give their wheels a beating and have destroyed many rims in the past may go for a 48-spoke model.
