Things to look for in a BMX bike:
All of the skeletal structure that is going to bear weight should be full chromoly:
full frame -> front triangle(TT, DT, ST) AND seat stay and chainstay....full Chromoly
fork: both the steering tube and the legs...full Chromoly
the handle bars...full Chromoly
the crank arms and pedal axels....full Chromoly
Rims should be double walled for sure
Sealed bearings in the hubs and bottom bracket
For me, these are the MOST important things to look for to give you the best return on your investment. Every thing after this is “eye candy” to me at least.
After structure, geometry is the next most important thing: it will determine how the bike handles, and certain geometry fits certain styles better than others
-TT length will be the main way you "fit" yourself to the bike: GGallin mentioned 20.75-21, which is about right for your height
-HT angle will determine how slack the bike feels whne you are on it...how much it "leans back" for lack of a better description
-the shorter the chain stay, the more twitchy it will feel...the longer, the more stable it will feel...
-others can comment on standover height since I still don't get the differences there. I haven't ridden enough bikes with different stand over height to notice
- handlebar height, reach, upsweep etc will effect how it steers, and you pull up for jumps.bunny hops
pretty much from company to company, the complete bikes are the same within price points...i.e. a $400 Sunday is roughly the same as a $400 Subrosa or $400 Fit.
Some recent good deals:
1. Colony Endeavor - $500 (?) - for the price you get full chromoly everything plus some decent parts
2. Mongoose Mode 900 - $200ish really good steal for the price in that you get a full chromoly skeleton; the parts are not as good as the endeavor, but you will change them out as they break anyways.
I personally like Verde, WeThePeople and Sunday bikes in general....and I would rather spend extra on a bike with a strong skeleton so tha tI get a better return on my investment I am not one of those Fat Cats who can buy a new bike every 6 months...I am a poor old punker and want my bike to last
I've Got sXe!!!
Up The Antix/Up The Punx
1988 Mongoose Caifornian Pro
2015 Surly Krampus
"Running Is dumb" - Dave Lawrence