Well...here's your thread for answers. All of us have come to "that" decision once before. However, to avoid conflict, I ask that you do a few things:

1) State your budget. Please realize that almost any NEW BMX less than $200 is worthless unless it's on sale.

2) Do your homework. Please don't ask which bike to buy, but rather give 2-3 choices (preferably with prices) and let us help you decide.

3)Don't buy an aluminum bike for tricks.

4) If you're looking at a USED bike, state the condition (get a pic or link if you can), the price, and why you want it. For example, you might want it for a particular part. Then we can tell you if the part is worth the price of the bike, but only if you tell us the needed info.

5) Take advice. Don't go buy the bike everyone says not to and expect us to help when something breaks on it.

So, give us your choices and we'll do our best to help you.

For those who reply:

1) Don't post something like "odyssey sux" or "that bike's junk!" Give a reason for your claim.

2) Realize that money is an issue. Some people can't afford certain brands. For instance, a lot of riders do not prefer Eastern, but that's the best some of us can do.

That's it. So ask questions and we'll give you answers.

I have a chance to pick up an eastern element for $150 and someone offered me $100 for my backtrailx2.... what should i do???

What years are the bikes, conditions of both, and do they have three-piece-cranks? Oh yeah, single, double, triple wall rims?

What years are the bikes, conditions of both, and do they have three-piece-cranks? Oh yeah, single, double, triple wall rims?

http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/bik/659479127.html

2007 Element
http://www.mybikebmx.com/2007-Eastern-Element-Complete-20-BMX-Bike-p/bk5019.htm
2005 backtrail x2

http://www.harobikes.com/2005/bmx/backtrail-x2.php

yes the eastern is a good buy

Sorry I took so long to respond. Sell the X2 if you want, BUT DON'T PASS UP THE EASTERN! The Eastern Element is a great ride and near the top of the line. The X2 is near the middle. If you have the money for the Eastern, keep the X2, otherwise sell it.

element is utter ****e, better than the x2 though

Yeah, but for $150, come on. STEAL.

at least the element is full chromoly. its a decent bike. the x2 is garbage

Funny thing Haro and Eastern are both based out of the same city.

Taiwan.

Oh..well...I meant in America, Greenville, NC.

picked up the eastern. Feels more solid weighs in at a few pounds lighter as well... small crank set feels nice and is out of the way... however it came with no brakes... Which i really need i ride trials around my house and they just dump out in to traffic most of the times... whats the advantage of running a strait cable over a gyro??? the thing seems well balanced for manuals but kinda heavy up front... Anyone know any decent brake setups at a reasonable price. The kid i bought the bike from said he has them but forgot them but then tried to tell me he wanted $180 for the bike and was over all a horrible person to deal with. So i doubt ill see the brake set up. He told me i can come back and get them but im not sure if a 40 minute drive is worth it. ill post pics of the eastern in a few minutes... it has animal grips and bar ends... and ill have to say this might of been worth the $50 over my haro's stock grips... Thanks for the help

Also im holding on to the x2. my brother was going to buy it... but he hates chrome so he wants me to build my mirra 540 back up for him...

I run a straight because it provides better braking power and is lighter. A gyro has a limited amount of play in the wire, so your brake handle can only move the brakes so far. This is the reason the top gyro cabe has a set screw in the bell. But a straight has unlimited play in the cable, so you can set the handle's range to as far as it goes. If it's heavy in the front, trade some forks and see if that makes it better. Glad you're happy with the bike.

You outta strip the chrome since you're handy with the cans. Paint it Haro Green.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c236/blindfoldedhope/DSCF4895.jpg
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c236/blindfoldedhope/DSCF4896.jpg
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c236/blindfoldedhope/DSCF4897.jpg
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c236/blindfoldedhope/DSCF4898.jpg

I think all these eastern stickers need to go...

I just got an e-mail from the kid saying he wants the bike back after i drove over an hour out of the way today to pick it up...

Tell him he needs to pay you more than what you paid,and get you some gas.

Think he just found out its worth more or something? I just think ill stop talking to him... The kid doesent have a car and right now the bike is located in Atlantic city NJ and he is in Philly.

The bike is worth a lot more than $150! He probably needed drug money and couldn't get the drugs. Keep the ride and lose contact with the kid.

will a standard U type brake work??? all i need is a lever and cable then??

Yep. You got it.

Man, you are blessed. It's sick! You got an Element for $150! <goes and checks craigslist.org> Bah. Still nothing.

Man, you are blessed. It's sick! You got an Element for $150! <goes and checks craigslist.org> Bah. Still nothing.

Got a bunch more near me...

DK 4 pack $250 lot of work done...
DK rage $150
DK 6 pack $150
Backtrail x3 $80
And another element for $650 lol

and here is decent parts kinda out dated though

http://southjersey.craigslist.org/bik/656179117.html

Lots of bikes in south jersey/ Philly area

Those parts aren't pic or named. I hate it when they do that.

is there a lighter set of bars i can get to take some weight off the front end??? or anything else i can do... the forks are already chromo

there are tons of new pairs of bars that arre all really light. even the really big/wide ones. and the most youll have to pay for new bars is gonna be like $60-$65.

Do you meant the least? Bars can go well over a hundred.

Sorry, I was looking at Dans and I realized you can get a good set of bars for around 50-60. Sweet.

Just get used to the TT length, it'll probably only take a few days. Then it won't feel heavy at all.

Just get used to the TT length, it'll probably only take a few days. Then it won't feel heavy at all.

Im loving this bike... the balance point is alot lower manuals seem easier... and i can hop higher then i ever could b4... i wanna go ride now but my wrists are still killing me...

Glad you like it.

Did you do anything different with the seatpost?

put it up a little bit.. right now im trying to get a brake set up together... but i think i might need like a dirt harry lever or something the grips go down on the bars kinda far im not sure if they had been cut down... can someone take a look and recommend a lever?? will i be able to get away with a standard lever

Yeah, you'd be better off getting a bent lever (good choice with Dirt Harry) unless you want to cut your grips. You could change out to shorter grips and a standard lever as well.

It also makes some creaks and squeeks when im pedaling any idea where to look... Is it even a big deal... chain clicks once in awhile...

I hated that when it happened to me. Take the crank arms off, wipe away any gunk, and put them back on. That's what I did (my cranks were loose). As far as the chain clicking, is your chainring straight, even a slight warp can cause clicking which means your chain could pop off. Try the crank thing and tell me what happens.

so i'm thinking about buying my first bmx bike soon

i'm probably going to be using it for flatlanding, and i was wondering what a good bike would be

i'm 6'1 and 270 pounds

i've looked at the haro f series, but i thought i would ask some experienced riders

sweet bike shes clean and straight for the price not a bad deal

sweet bike shes clean and straight for the price not a bad deal

frame is a little chipped up not sure if im just gonna leave it or paint it or send it out for powder

so i'm thinking about buying my first bmx bike soon

i'm probably going to be using it for flatlanding, and i was wondering what a good bike would be

i'm 6'1 and 270 pounds

i've looked at the haro f series, but i thought i would ask some experienced riders

not sure if it would hold your weight.

yeah......... well, i rode my friends haro f2 around all day yesterday, so i think i'll be ok

i was wondering if there was a sturdier bike though, maybe the SR20 xl

F series should be okay.

A little history first: I got back in to riding a few years ago by way of a PowerLite I picked up at Goodwill for $30. I love the bike but it is a bit small for me (19" TT). Nowadays I ride many road miles and race at the velodrome, but I want another BMX to keep things fun and mix up my riding.

* To keep things realistic I was thinking about keeping the cost below or around $400.
* I am 31, 5'8" and weigh in at 160
* Less interested in breaking bones doing stuff meant for people with more skill, but I think I would use it on the street and MTB trails for giggles.
* I am leaning toward a cruiser and just started looking so my current list is too short:
Redline Proline 24 (no cost yet on this one)
Haro X24 (local shop wants $329)
Suggestions wanted, please!

If you want a cruiser for the street, look into ones with a chromoly frame. The DK General Lee is pretty nice. 100% chromoly frame, forks, and cranks for $265 is a good deal. The X24 isn't a bad bike, but more the more chromoly the better.

Alumium Frame:
Redline Proline $460
Intense 24 $400
Kuwahara Nova 24 $365
MCS Magnum 24 $350
GT Powerseries 24 $550...little out of price range but great bike.
Haro SR 24 $405

I guess my thought was that the aluminum bikes would reduce weight and make bombing around mountain bike trails much easier. I wasn't sure if the chromoly frame would just feel like a tank trying to ride around. I know the Alu bikes are entry level race, are they just not strong enough for that type of abuse? I'm just ignorant about these things...

Also, the LBS guy was really talking up (hard selling) the DK Charger because it had a sealed BB and sealed wheel bearings. Is this really a concern I need to have, or should I just save the $$ and get a chromoly and upgrade if and when it is a problem?

I do like the General Lee. What other chromoly bikes are suggested? My BMX lbs also carries GT, FIT, Free Agent, Eastern, Redline and some others but only had one cruiser (a Proline) on the floor. I've been searching more online now, finding some interesting stuff from most of the companies mentioned...

Chromoly cruisers aren't that popular unless you were to go custom which is really expensive. The alumium frames are pretty strong and are definitely light, but I just don't know if I would really trust it for street riding. Mirraco does have a nice 24" though. It's called the Icon 20Forty. The DK Charger is a really nice bike, but once again it's aluminum. See if you have any local bmx tracks around you and maybe get into some racing, too. :thumb:

Decisions, decisions! Thank you for your input, I really appreciate it! I just finished building a new road bike from the ground up but I would prefer to find a good BMX off the rack. We do have a nice track here in Dallas, but it is well south of me and with gas prices being what they are...

Oh, yeah. I wish I lived on the West Coast. ABA country out there. Find something you like and ride, ride, ride.