Handlebars for BMX Bike - Old School

Old School BMX Handlebars

Old school BMX handlebars have, in many ways, stayed the same over the past thirty to forty years. Modern BMX handlebars, like their old school BMX counterparts, are still made of steel, and still 7/8-inch in diameter. Old school BMX handlebars also come in carbon and aluminium for racing purposes, with chromoly and Hi-Ten, the handlebar material of choice or freestyle BMX riders. One aspect of old school BMX handlebars that has changed over the years is the height, with variations coming in every decade. Now, those looking to buy old school BMX components and parts are generally looking for handlebars which are tall and wide, with some even as tall as 11 inches.

BMX handlebars are fastened to the stem by four bolts which can be loosened with an Allen key, allowing for easy adjustment of the BMX handlebars. The four bolts will need to be loosened a little at a time until the handlebars are able to rotate easily both forwards and backwards. You can then choose the desired angle of the handlebars, which will vary depending on the level of control and comfort you wish to attain, and the rider's weight. The bolts then need to be tightened a little at a time in an X pattern, starting with the bottom left bolt, then the top right bolt, then the bottom right bolt and finally the top left bolt.

The early 2000s saw BMX handlebars of the "slim and low" variety, which were considered an excellent choice for certain tricks and favoured for their ability to stay out of the way of the rider's knees. Mid school handlebars were generally 25 inches wide and with a rise of 7 inches. While several prominent bicycle brands bought out their own branded handlebars and other accessories, many fans of old school bikes choose to purchase unbranded BMX handlebar grips, tape and pads to save costs.