Do you need the best BMX rims?
This is my collection of the ultimate twelve that easily fit every rider out there, regardless of style.
However, I do recommend picking a wider rim if you run fatter tires or you do a lot of gaps and spins because it offers extra strength. (Eclat Bondi is my favorite!)
Don’t forget to check my post on what’s the best BMX rim width.
But if you are an all-around rider, then a more traditional (Odyssey Hazard Lite) rim will do the trick!
I also have three solutions if you’re on a budget (Mission, Rant, Saltplus), but I recommend them only to beginners.
This post covers:
Best BMX Rims
1. Eclat Bondi Rim
Eclat’s Bondi rim is a heavy-hitting rim that guarantees the needed strength for all your insanse street, park, trails riding you do. Hey, this is the rim Sean Burns and Felix Prangenbeg ride, so you know what’s up!
The design is wider with thicker sidewall and spoke hole areas to prevent twisting and spoke pull. Also, the rim walls are 19mm tall, perfectly compatible with brakes.
If you need a rim you can 100% rely on, Bondi is it!
Bondi specs:
- Width: 38mm
- Weight: 538g
- Price: $72.99 (may vary)
2. Odyssey Hazard Lite Rim
One of the most popular rims ever made, the Odyssey Hazard Lite rim is a more old-school version that’s still loved by SO MANY riders.
It’s a narrower rim at 32mm width, but it’s still perfect for all-terrain.
Street, park and dirt riders rock the Hazard Lite rim, and I haven’t heard anyone complain about it yet. (And I spoke to dozens of riders!)
Similar to the Shadow Truss rim, the Hazard Lite is also available in VERY MANY color options if you want to spice things up.
Note: Odyssey’s Jacob Cable and Broc Raiford ride Hazard Lite.
Hazard Lite specs:
- Width: 32mm
- Weight: 500g
- Price: $84.99 (may vary)
And don’t forget to check my extensive Odyssey Hazard Lite rim review for more info, pros and cons.
GET YOURS3. Alienation Deviant Rim
Because I know weight matters to many of you, I’m adding the Alienation Deviant rim, the lightest on this list, at only 312g.
However, may the weight not fool you because the Deviant rim was designed with strength in mind. It uses a 30% stronger base, 6069 T6 Aluminum, instead of the classic 6061 T6 (like most of the rims on the market).
Plus, it features an arch shape, which makes the rim stronger than the traditional shape. Remember, because of this shape, Deviant isn’t meant for riding brakes.
While this is an epic and long-lasting rim, I wouldn’t recommend opting for it if you’re pulling a ton of huge gaps and drops. For anything else, and if you care about your bike’s weight, go for it.
Deviant specs:
- Width: 32mm
- Weight: 312g
- Price: $57.00 (may vary)
4. GSport Birdcage Rim
GSport has one of the strongest rims available on the market, the Ribcage, but they wanted to create a lighter rim while retaining as much strength as possible. And the Birdcage rim was born (weighing 60g less)!
The Birdcage has an aero-style look with an exclusively designed hollow bead to save weight.
Moreover, the rim also features a cross-lacing design and a re-engineering valve core (it has an offset valve hole – which also makes fitting a pump easier), both boosting its strength.
Birdcage specs:
- Width: 34mm
- Weight: 440g
- Price: $94.99 (may vary)
5. Odyssey Stage 2 Rim
If you are searching for an affordable but reliable rim that you can use for any riding style, the Odyssey Stage 2 is an excellent option, vouched by many of the dudes I talked to.
It’s a pinned, double-wall rim with extra-thick sidewalls and flat-top bead hooks to ensure the strength and tech of the higher-priced rims.
This is a superb upgrade!
Stage 2 specs:
- Width: 36mm
- Weight: 550g
- Price: $31.99 (may vary)
6. Cinema 888 Rim
This is Cinema’s 888 double wall rim with aero-style and modern technologies to ensure extra strength.
We know Cinema team likes to go big and technical, so they needs a versatile rim to handle any abuse.
And that’s when 888 rim comes into play.
It features a 36mm width, fitting modern tires without extra weight.
Made of 6061-T6 aluminum with a welded seam, it offers durability, easy tire installation, precise spoke hole drilling, and enhanced strength in the spoke nipple channel.
I’ve been told time and time again how strong the rim is by many riders. Also, everyone reported that their wheel stayed true for a lot longer.
888 specs:
- Width: 36mm
- Weight: 549g
- Price: $79.99 (may vary)
7. Merritt Battle Rim Rim
The Merritt Battle rim is all about strength and durability.
Unlike low-profile rims, this one takes it up a notch with taller sidewalls, a wide 39mm width, and an extra-thick center rib to keep spokes secure and prevent pull-through.
Made from tough 6066 aluminum with a welded seam, it’s built to handle whatever you throw at it.
Heavy street sessions? Check!
At 21.3 oz, it’s a solid option for riders who prioritize reliability and aren’t afraid to push their limits.
If you want a rim that can take a beating and still perform, the Battle rim is a no-brainer.
Battle specs:
- Width: 39mm
- Weight: 603g
- Price: $74.99 (may vary)
8. The Shadow Conspiracy Calle Rim
The Shadow Conspiracy Calle rim, designed with BMX street wizard Simone Barraco, is built for riders who demand durability and performance.
This dual-chamber, double-wall rim is made from heat-treated 6061-T6 aluminum with a welded seam, making it Shadow’s strongest rim yet.
With a 36mm width and offset spokes, the Calle Rim provides excellent strength and stability for burly street moves, just like the ones Simone is known for.
Note: I’m surprised Simone didn’t go with a 38mm or even 40mm width.
At just 17.4 oz, it’s lightweight without compromising toughness.
If you’re ready to tackle big and tech tricks with confidence, this rim has you covered.
Calle specs:
- Width: 36mm
- Weight: 493g
- Price: $79.99 (may vary)
9. Demolition Zero-Plus Rim
The Demolition Zero Plus rim takes the trusted durability of the original Zero rim and cranks it up a notch.
With a beefier 40mm width, this rim offers added strength and stability, making it perfect for riders who push their gear over and beyond.
Its double-wall, low-profile design with two vertical ribs and a welded seam ensures top-notch rigidity and toughness, all while keeping the weight down thanks to extra drilling on the inner wall.
At 18 oz, the Zero Plus Rim is lightweight yet built to handle the roughest sessions.
Zero-Plus specs:
- Width: 40mm
- Weight: 510g
- Price: $64.99 (may vary)
10. Colony Pretoria Rim
The Colony Pretoria rim is a perfect blend of light design and solid strength.
Made from quality 6066-T6 aluminum, it’s built with double-wall construction and a welded seam to handle serious shredding.
With a sleek engraved logo and included rim strip, this BMX rim is stylish and functional.
Whether you’re hitting the park, street, or trails, the Pretoria rim delivers durability without slowing you down.
A solid choice for riders who want performance and style in one package.
Pretoria specs:
- Width: 36mm
- Weight: 428g
- Price: $84.99 (may vary)
FAQs About BMX Rims
Do I need to pick a wider rim?
No. But if you need extra strength or you like to ride fat tires, then yes. Also, you can ride a lot lower pressure tires with a wider rim.
Single wall rims vs. double wall BMX rims
Never go with a single wall rim because you’ll quickly untrue it. It only has one chamber and is prone to twisting it without any heavy abuse.
Whereas a double wall rim (with two chambers) gives you the extra strength, you need whether you’re a more technical rider, a gap assassin or like trails.
A double wall rim also offers the best strength-to-weight ratio.
Note: There also used to be triple wall rims, but they were too heavy and offered very little extra stiffness compared to a double wall version. Thus, we’re not using them anymore in BMX.
But don’t miss my complete guide on single-wall and double-wall rims.
Welded vs. pinned/sleeved BMX rims
A welded rim creates a completely smooth joint that’s necessary if you ride brakes. A welded rim is also typically a lot stronger, but the process costs more, so that’s why the higher price range.
A pinned or sleeved rim is much cheaper to create but can be slightly unbalanced (which you won’t notice when you ride it). Also, the joint can have imperfections, affecting only those who ride brakes. Tip: You can sandpaper the joint to smoothen it out.
How important is the material of a BMX rim?
The material of a BMX rim is crucial for both durability and weight. Common material include aluminum, which offers a good balance between strength and lightness. Higher-grade alloys like 6061-T6 aluminum are often used for higher-end rims for their excellent strength-to-weight ratio.
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Note: This article was originally published on October 25, 2022. But I regularly review it and update it with necessary improvements for accuracy.
