Are you also interested in knowing why ride brakeless BMX?
I get it.
You might find it weird that some riders ditch their brakes and ride street, park, trails, and flatland without them.
Honestly, you don’t really need brakes in freestyle BMX.
I’ve been riding brakeless for around 20 years, and I’m never putting them back on again.
Riding brakeless is exactly what it sounds like – no brakes, just you, your bike, and pure control.
THE. BEST.
Many more advanced riders get into it once they’re comfortable with their bike and their skills.
What’s cool about it?
It’s not just about looking good (although the clean, minimalist look is pretty sweet).
Going brakeless changes how you ride completely.
It forces you to focus much more on balance and control and to really commit to your lines and tricks.
Plus, it’s kinda the ultimate test of your skills – there’s no quick way out of a trick if you mess up.
In the rest of this article, I’m gonna break down the main reasons why some of the best BMX riders swear by going brakeless and why it might be something worth trying yourself if you’re ready for that next challenge.
Note: If you’re just starting out, I encourage you to ride with brakes for at least a year or two. Develop bike control first and only switch to brakeless later.
This post covers:
6 Reasons Why Ride Brakeless BMX
1. Improved Control & Flow
When you ride brakeless, you must be way more in tune with your bike.
Without brakes to save you, you rely on your body to control everything – whether slowing down, stopping, or setting up for a trick.
Brakeless riding really sharpens your balance.
You start using things like jamming your foot between the tire and frame or sliding your tires to slow down, which makes you think creatively about every move.
It’s not just riding; it’s learning how to flow with the bike and the environment around you.
And honestly, that flow? It’s unmatched.
Without brakes, everything feels smoother – there’s no jerking to a stop, no sudden interruptions in your line.
It’s just you, cruising and hitting tricks in one continuous, natural motion.
2. Reduced Maintenance & Weight
This is the main reason why I went brakeless. I was tired of fixing my brakes and truing my wheels all the time!
No brakes means no cables, no brake pads to replace, and no fussing with adjustments.
It’s just one less (BIG) thing to worry about.
You get to focus more on riding and less on fixing stuff — win-win, right?
Plus, losing the brakes shaves off a bit of weight from your bike.
Not that I worry about that, but many riders out there do.
But in the end, everyone enjoys a lighter setup way more than a heavier one.
Less hassle and a lighter bike?
That’s just another reason why so many riders go brakeless!
Further reading: How to make your BMX bike lighter (10 tips)
3. Creativity In Riding
Going brakeless really pushes you to get creative with how you ride.
Since you don’t have brakes to rely on, you start thinking outside the box regarding tricks and even just cruising around.
And one thing that brakeless riding forces you to do is this: You start looking ahead!
You’ll find yourself hitting lines in ways you probably wouldn’t if you could stop on a dime.
Every spot or trick becomes an opportunity to try something new.
Instead of just tapping your brakes, you’re finding creative ways to control your speed and ride smoothly.
Brakeless riding also helps you solve problems in the moment.
You’ve got to commit fully, but that also means you’re more aware of your surroundings.
It’s a whole new level of interaction with the terrain, and it really pushes your creativity in unexpected ways.
While I don’t like to compare it, but it becomes more similar to skateboarding.
4. Aesthetics & Minimalism
This is also a big one for me.
Let’s be real, a brakeless BMX bike just looks clean.
Without cables and levers, the bike has this sleek, minimalist vibe.
It’s all about stripping things down to the essentials, and that simple, no-frills setup is kind of a statement in itself.
When the brakes are removed, the bike has a more streamlined appearance – nothing clutters the bars or frame.
It’s about focusing on what’s most important: you, the bike, and the ride. No extra gear, no distractions, just pure riding.
It’s a look that says you’re all in, and your riding does the talking.
5. Increased Challenge & Commitment
I touched on this earlier, but here’s some more.
Riding brakeless definitely ups the challenge.
Without brakes, there’s no easy way out of a trick or line – you’re fully committed from the moment you start.
That added difficulty might sound intimidating, but honestly, it’s one of the best parts of going brakeless.
Since you don’t have brakes to save you, it forces you to be more precise with every move.
You’ve to nail your landings, judge your speed better, and be aware of your surroundings.
It’s not easy, but that’s what makes it so rewarding.
Plus, the confidence boost is real.
As you get more comfortable riding brakeless, you start realizing how capable you are.
That sense of commitment and progression is what keeps a lot of riders hooked on the brakeless life.
6. Street Cred & Culture
When you’re out there shredding without brakes, you’re showing confidence in your skills and willingness to push yourself in ways that not every rider does.
It’s like saying, “Yeah, I got this.” (Kinda.)
Brakeless riding has deep roots in BMX culture.
Many top street riders go brakeless, and it’s almost become a signature style for street riding.
Riders like Garrett Reynolds and Nathan Williams are known for their insane brakeless lines, and their influence has made this style even more popular.
But brakeless riding goes way back to Vic Ayala, Edwin Delarosa, etc., the dudes who inspired me the most.
However, nowadays, brakeless BMX riding is everywhere, in street, park, trail and flatland riding.
Even top Olympic competitors, like Logan Martin, prefer riding brakeless.
Conclusion: Brakeless BMX Riding FTW!
So, why ride BMX brakeless?
Well, it’s all about control, flow, and taking your riding to the next level.
You’ll sharpen your balance, get more creative with your tricks, and enjoy your bike’s clean, minimalist look.
Plus, it’s less maintenance, lighter, and gives you some “street cred” in the BMX world.
If you’re ready for a new challenge or just want to try something new, riding brakeless is definitely worth a try.
But, as I said in the beginning if you’re just starting, I don’t recommend going brakeless right away.
Get comfortable with brakes first and progress to brakeless in a year or two.
But in the end: Brakeless FTW!
Further reading:
- How-to: BMX bike maintenance!
- Overcoming fear in BMX (best tips!)
- 16 BMX riding safety tips
- 28 common beginner BMX mistakes
- Why do BMX bikes have small sprockets?