Best BMX Bikes Under 300 for Beginners in 2021

BMX bikes are so popular today that there are options for all types of riders and all age groups. You will also find specialized features available for a certain type of user. Whether you are considering one for yourself or your children, you are spoilt with choices that could make you confused about how to make the right choice, especially if you are on a budget.

Fret not because we are here to help you make an informed buying decision. We thoroughly reviewed all types of BMX bikes, including freestyle, dirt jumpers, flatland, street, and park BMX bikes; and championed the best performers for sale that are still affordable for all.

Best Budget BMX Bikes Under 300: Comparison Chart

Pick Name	Thumbnail	Product Name	Price
Editor’s Choice		Mongoose Legion Freestyle BMX Bike	Check Price
Best for Beginners		Mongoose Legion Freestyle Sidewalk BMX Bike	Check Price
Best Looking		Elite BMX Bicycle 20” & 16″ Freestyle Bike	Check Price
Best for Kids		Dynacraft Magna Kids Bike	Check Price
Best for Boys		Hiland 20” BMX Freestyle Bike	Check Price

Top 5 Best BMX Bikes Under 300 Reviews

1. Mongoose Legion Freestyle BMX Bike

Here comes the best budget freestyle BMX bike for beginners to step into the crazy BMXing world! We know very well that you want to have some thrilling experience while jumping off literally anything in the park or street with your bike. Rest assured that with the Mongoose Legion, you will be having a great time as long as you keep riding on it.   

The Legion series comes with several color and style options, which means there is a choice for every rider – no matter their age or skill level. To be precise, the models in this series are – L10, L20, L60, L80, L100 and L500. However, only the L10 and L20 are below 300 USD while the L500 are for serious BMXers but this one will set you back over 500 dollars.

For beginners, there is definitely no better choice than Mongoose’s Legion series. The L20 is a solid hi-ten steel bike perfect for riders with a height of 4’8” to 5’4”. There are separable break mounts, 170 mm forged steel cranks, 20” x 2.3” tires that are mounted, and 36H aluminum rings. 

Though designed for entry-level BMX enthusiasts, it features aluminum U-brake and brake levers for precision control. On the other hand, the Hi-Ten steel fork and handlebar accompanied by a 50 mm stem and an integrated sealed headset for the ultimate steering performance. 

You will see how cool it is once you put it through some dirt jumps, tough trails, bike or skate parks.  However, we could never be happy with the crankset of budget BMX bikes and this was no different. 

2. Mongoose Legion Freestyle Sidewalk BMX Bike

With stunning geometry, this is the perfect BMX bike for kids who are maximum 3’ 6” tall. We know how excited our youngsters feel when they try to step into the amazing BMXing world and we believe this is another great beginner’s choice for a perfect start for your lovely kid.

The main features of L18 include a high tensile steel frame, fork and handlebar, 140mm one-piece crank, 25T alloy chainring, 18” x 2.3” tires, 28 H rims, 40mm stem, aluminum U-brake and 1 – 1/8” headset. The configuration is perfect to ready your kid for the real game when they master BMXing – the 20-inch wheel.

Talking about assembly, we noticed many users complained that they found the process difficult but that did not happen to us. With an Allen wrench, a 5/8″ open-end wrench, a Phillips head screwdriver and air pump for the tires, we got the job done in no time. About the experience, the solid body can handle tricks, rails and ramps, and off-road rides as long as no pros are riding it. Yeah you know what we mean – a budget BMX bike is definitely not for pro BMXers.

It would have been better if the bike was made of aluminum or Chromoly but we cannot actually complain because the weight is still less enough for a kid to handle it easily. Also, the seat is lowered since BMXers rarely sit while doing their thing and if you think you won’t be doing those crazy stunts or if you are an adult that wants to give it a try, get a longer seat separately.  

3. Elite 20” & 16″ BMX Bicycle The Stealth Freestyle Bike

It is true that you won’t find a BMX bike for pro users in this low budget range. But let’s be honest – most kids and adults never race and very few actually jump off anything that is more daring than a curb. The adults just like the fun who did not grow out of the inner child that will always love BMXing.

This Stealth Elite BMX bike is your go-to choice if you are looking for a 20” bike that could ensure the real experience. The high tensile steel frame, alloy stem, 25 – 9 gearing, cro-mo cranks, 6061 rims for 2.5” street tires – features like these give you the peace of mind that this bike is made to take some beating. 

This bike is so easy to assemble as long as you have the essential tools, such as Allen wrenches and pliers. The 28-pound weight is easy to handle while the seat post makes it a great choice for tall riders. You can do all of your jumps and tricks and ride on the back wheel as long as you can – the bike will hold it up quite well. 

Also, if you are just a regular biker who prefers BMX bikes for their cool looks, you can definitely give it a try.  What really differentiates it from other budget BMX bikes is the value for money you get from it. Nice look, smooth rides, quality build – what else could you ask for from the best BMX bike in the world?

The only downside we noticed was that the crank set looked kind of cheap but we did not complain considering the other benefits it had to offer.

4. Dynacraft Magna Throttle Boys BMX Street/Dirt Bike

Here comes an eye-catching 20-inch BMX bike from Dynacraft. This is another amazing kid’s choice with a maximum weight capacity of 105 pounds.  If you see a dirt/vert/street BMX enthusiast in your kid, get it today without a second thought.  

The high-quality steel frame of Magna Throttle is accentuated with bold white and red graphics for a unique look that is bound to make your kid proud of it. The coaster brake is a nice touch to tackle sudden brakes and the manufacturer even added reflectors on the front, rear and tires for increased visibility at night.   

We checked other user reviews and most seemed pretty happy with their purchase just like us. This bike rides smooth is easy to maneuver and super fast. In short, you will get real value from the money spent on it.                                                   

What we did not like? There was no instruction manual in the package! Now that’s a big no-no. We knew how to assemble this bike and that’s why we got it done with no sweat. Probably this was a packaging fault that happened in our case only.

5. Hiland 20” BMX Freestyle Bike

Designed especially for performance, Hiland offers this versatile 20-inch BMX bike keeping the price easily affordable for all. Like other BMX choices on this list, this is a durable, smooth, nice-looking and in short, a cool bike that deserves your attention.

The hi-ten steel frame, double U brakes, 25 x 9T gearing, 20″ x 31.8 BMX fork, 1-1/8 inch headset, 32 teeth chain wheel, 165mm crank arm, 14T freewheel, 9/16” axle, 20 x 2.40 tires and 20 x 2.125 A/V tubes all point towards a super BMX configuration. The most amazing part is the 360-degree rotor that allows the handlebar to be completely turned with four pegs to let you center your weight over the wheels.   

It took us around 20 minutes to get it assembled. Hiland really cared about the design, giving special attention to detail. Our volunteers rode it every way a BMXer would possibly ride and they loved its overall performance. There is no doubt Hiland 20” BMX Freestyle Bike is there to make your BMXing journey an amazing one.    

We didn’t like the plastic pedals and had to replace it after just two weeks. The brakes were sometimes not supportive when making quick stops. Other than that, we found nothing else to complain about. One thing is for sure, once you make the smart decision of giving Hiland 20” BMX Freestyle Bike a try, be prepared to get many years of it.

Best BMX Bikes Under 300 – Buying Guide

1. Build quality

It’s true you won’t find the best quality frame with a low budget, we always suggest going for the 4130 Chromoly steel frames because they are super sturdy, better than hi-tensile steel, and perfect for heavy duty rides.    

Steel is commonly used since it is resistant to fatigue, easy to repair, and has some additional features to make your ride a bit more comfortable with less stress on the body.   

Aluminum frames are great for BMX racing in sports since they are lighter but they could vibrate a bit that are not appreciated by many riders. On the other hand, carbon fiber frames are more expensive but you won’t be facing any vibration-related issues with them. 

2. Sizing

No need to mention that 20-inch wheel size is the gold standard for BMX bikes but freestyle and kid’s BMX bikes could roll on 18-or 16-inch wheels for easy maneuverability. Those especially made for dirt jumps could have 24-inch wheels for more speed and stability. 

If you are into hitting jumps, you will have to consider bigger wheels since 20-inch BMX bikes’ bottom brackets have a positive number for the BB drop, which means that the bottom bracket is above the axles that bars the cranks from hitting the ground. If you are not cautious, this could make your bike feel “tippy” when speeding. 

When it is about wheel size, BMX racing bikes come in two categories – the usual 20-inch wheels and the 24-inch wheels that are called “cruisers.” Cruiser BMX bikes are favored by older and taller riders since they offer better stability.     

3. Rims

For freestyle BMX bikes, 32mm is the usual rim width though you could pick a 36mm width if you think you are going to put some hard hits onto the wheels. Rims are generally aluminum-made and could be single-, double- or triple-walled. Here more layers give more structural support but the inconvenience is in increased weight. We recommend that you go for a double wall since this ensures a nice balance of weight and strength. 

4. Spokes

Spoke count has a role to play in strengthening the wheels of BMX bikes. A wheel with 36 spokes is capable of handling freestyle BMXing though the advanced users may need 48 spokes. On the other hand, race BMX bikes usually have 28 – 36 spokes.

5. Tires

Your tire choice affects your rolling resistance, speed, grip, and maneuvering ability of your bike. Wider tires are better for smooth rolling for park and street riding while dirt jumpers should get tires with more tread for a better grip on dirt. 20-inch x 2.1 tires are wider than race tires that give them more surface area and better stability. 

6. Gearing

BMX don’t come with multiple gears but you have to consider the sprocket and chainring teeth number and the right pairing which is called gear ratio. To find out the gear ratio, divide the chainring teeth number (let’s say 25) by the sprocket’s number (9) and the result will be 2.78, which means your bike’s rear wheel will roll over around 2 and 3 quarter times for the chainring’s each rotation. Remember that lower number means easier pedaling and vice versa. 

7. Cranks

BMX cranks are available in one-, two-, and three-piece units. The higher the number, the sturdier and thicker the crank gets. We recommend that you go for a two- or three-piece crank made of Chromoly for durability and strength.

On the other hand, the lengths of cranks vary from 145mm to 190mm. For freestyler riders whether men or women, shorter cranks – preferably 165mm – are better so they get better clearance when doing tricks. The size of Race BMX cranks depends on the biker’s height and are often made of aluminum for reduced weight. 

8. Handlebars

Freestyle BMX bikes have steeper handlebars than their race BMX counterpart for better maneuverability. BMX handlebars are usually made of aluminum, steel and Chromoly. Aluminum is lighter but prone to fatigue while steel is heavier but good at reducing vibrations. 

9. Brakes

Rim brakes are commonly found on BMX bikes where the pads are connected to the rim for slower momentum. U-brakes are used in freestyle bikes while some feature a “Gyro” or “detangler” braking system on the rear brake. For race BMX bikes, front brakes are approved but they are not often needed by the riders since they feel secure with their v-brakes.

Different Types of BMX Bikes

a) Race BMX bikes

These are the real BMX bikes inspired in the 70s when kids started racing their bikes on dirt tracks. Designed for acceleration and speed, the frame sits in an upright position so riders can reach the pedals quickly while the upright handlebars ensure better control. With lighter wheels, thinner tires, and real linear pulled bikes, they have the most stopping power.

b) Dirt Jump, Park and Street BMX bikes

Made of steel, they are a bit heavier than race BMX bikes. What separates them apart from race bikes is their pegs that are steel cylinders on the wheel that let you stall or grind on rails and coping. Their gear ratio is also simpler to be knee-friendly since you won’t sprint as fast as possible with these bikes. In fact, if you cannot decide what type of BMX bike to go for, get this one because it will allow you to race (you have to remove the pegs for racing though) and do your tricks in the street, on ramps, and at dirt jumps.

c) Flatland BMX bikes

This is the most specialized 20-inch BMX bike type with a one-of-a-kind frame geometry and components to make it suited for flat land. The most special part is that these bikes keep the riders in motion consistently as they try to balance on the bike and move it into various positions, creating wild tracks as a result. 

The frame of the flatland bike usually is smaller than a BMX frame so you can easily move your flatland bike into such precarious positions. The wheelbase is also shorter so you can whip it quite easily while the top and down tubes come with a unique style that gives you extra clearance. 

Here is a quick comparison chart for your better understanding: 

Wrapping It Up

When it comes to choosing your first BMX bike, you are bound to find it hard because there are so many options to choose from. In pictures, they all might look the same but the truth is that they differ a lot from one another that you won’t realize unless you try them yourself. 

Only pro BMX cycling enthusiasts like us that have followed bike motocross for years are adept at the differences of one BMX bike to another. Hence, expert advice is exactly what you need to make your beginner’s journey fun and unforgettable. No matter the type of BMX you prefer – from the speed and competition of racing to the thrill of big air when doing dirt jumps – just pick any of our recommended best BMX under 300 and end up with a bike of your dreams!

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