BIKE LIFE vs BMX! Whats the big difference?! 

Bike life to me, is anything on 2 wheels. Always loved bmx for it's style, so when i decided to get back into cycling (i'm in my 40's now), my 1st choice was a bmx!

There’s no such thing as a “Bike Life Bike”. “Bike Life” was a hashtag that went viral when a RU-vidr named “Oneway Corey” went viral in Philadelphia for riding wheelies for very long distances through his city with a ton of kids taking up multiple car lanes in the streets. It was during the times when SE released the BIG RIPPER. Since the BIG RIPPER was Corey’s bike of choice for doing wheelies, that particular model gained extreme popularity along with the hashtag #BikeLife. I believe this led directly to the immediate growth of the SE Big BMX sales to the point where SE quickly started to release more models of big BMX bikes. It quickly became a movement that caught on like wildfire throughout the inner city streets of the eastcoast especially in Philly/NY/NJ/CT, where crews of kids are ripping “12 o’clock wheelies” in large groups right in traffic. I believe the majority of the “BikeLifers” have bypassed learning about the overall history of BMX and might not even know they’re riding a big BMX bike. They might just think it’s called a “BikeLife” bike based on the trend alone. That’s my observation on the “BikeLife” culture. Great vid. Great topic.

I started riding again in my 40's. Back then to get a 26" single speed BMX cruiser in the UK you were pretty much limited to SE's. So I got a DC edition Quadangle. I thought the #bikeslife thing was an SE marketing thing. Life got in the way of that now ten years later I've just bought a Subrosa 29 Mallum. I don't think I fit the #bikelife #wheeliebike scene. I'm just a fat bloke trying to stay alive by way of BMX. Great channel. Really informative.

Bike life bikes are made in a way that makes it more comfortable to sit and pedal long distances. That's why some ride outs are pretty long. Its about being out side pedaling in the sun having fun. The biggest difference in bars is backsweep but most ride what they like so theres no wrong answer.

I think the 24 inch are the sweet spot 50% freestyle and 50% cruiser

I’ve rode hybrid commuter bikes the last 20 years, and recently made some friends on some group rides that all rode big tire bmx. I didn’t like standing out so I decided to try one and love it. To me, it’s basically a urban/modern take on a beach cruiser. We’re all just a bunch of old farts that want to look cool when we ride, but we’re to old, fat, and have bad knees to be doing tricks on 20”.

I’m just getting back into riding. Trying to influence my son to ride. It’s been nearly thirty years since I’ve owned a Bmx. This channel is a great resource. Thank you for what y’all do.

Could phu do a video on bmx 20” bikes vs dirt jumpers for dirt jumps? Keep up the good videos Alfredo and the team!

Thanks for always clarifying PHU 🫡. Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram @_epicbmx and @alfredomancuso

I recently picked up one of those 29" watermelon High Cs just to cruise around on and i love it. It's great out of the box but i did upgrade the seat/post and brakes.

I agree with you guys, I see a small bmx bike and big bmx bikes, I just like to ride period. I would like to know the difference as well. Great channel guys always happy to see new videos. I support anything bmx, I personally like the racing bikes myself, but enjoy riding at the beach too.

All 3 of those are definitely bmx bikes. In my day we just called the bigger ones cruisers. The biggest cruiser they had back then was a 24 inch. Bmx is definitely evolving.

I modified my Felt Red Baron (24x3" beach cruiser) with BMX forks, BB, stem, and pivotal saddle... klunker style bikelife.

I took a 700c commuter bike and put a bmx stem & 8" bmx bars on it, best comfort upgrade IMO.

Epic bikes forever ! Thank you so much for this channel I love this with all of my soul and you remind me of an old school brother of mine Thank goodness

Also there’s several terms for a bigger BMX Bike to distinguish it from traditional 20” BMX Bikes. I’ve heard it being called Bikelife bikes, Big Boy BMX, Big Bike BMX, wheelie bikes, and just traditionally called BMX Cruisers referring to any bike 24”, 26”, 27.5, and especially 29” bikes. To me they’re all the same no matter what you call them and if they’re used for ride outs and wheelies and wheelie tricks. And I’ve seen people use all of them for ride outs and wheelies. It’s just easier to wheelie 27.5 and 29” bikes though, so I’ve heard. They’re all part of the same BMX family imo

Thanks for telling me about the museum the other day when I called in. Big ups and I'm getting some black widow pedals.👍👍

I've got a 29" a 26" se bike and a few cruiser bikes, you can wheelie any bike, at my age, I'm just out enjoying the ride, maybe a few stair cases from time to time.

Don't forget about those custom stretch cruisers/custom lowrider show bikes. Those bike clubs claim "bike life" as well. Anyways, just wanted to give a shout out to Phu who let me build my Cult/Huf Plantlife BMX 26" bike at the shop when I bought one off of him. Hucker was there too and I was microdosing on some shrooms because I was nervous going into the shop because I'm a huge fan of this channel and the guys/gals in the shop. I thought you would be there too, Alfred. Bummer that you weren't but I had a great time hanging out and it was one of the most EPIC days in my life.

I only like the SE landing gear forks and the soft lightning bolt seats. I put them on my 24 because I liked them the best out of my other options…I don’t really like the se bikes. I have full size gt 4 piece bars on my 24 and not the squat bars because I find taller bars help in the pump tracks and jumps, especially the skate parks. Forget what the trendy girls like, I built my gt 24 to ride, not look at. Love the channel

this is like a sub-genre of a sub-genre to me and really is just about individual customization depending in preference. some people focus on distance, some on tricks, some just want to ride.. it's like calling comedy "joke life".. yeah there's different comedians but it's all comedy.

I used to wheelie on my Shwinn Stingray all the time! Now that was the bike life! Lol

I love my Monster Ripper. Nice and smooth cruising around all day long!

Just hit 39 got myself a kink curb it's all about getting out side having fun

My wheelie bike back in the day was a Huffy with the cheater slick tire.. The good ole days..

I grew up in the 80's with BMX and back then, they were all 20". I consider that a BMX bike exclusively. The other stuff are new school derived from the original which again was 20".

Ethan is very very right about that I have a Sunday 29 inch and it the perfect set up

In the 80s, a 24 or 26 inch bike was called a Cruiser. BMX is, or was in the 80s, bicycle motor cross which was racing at a track. There was 20 inch class and cruiser class. Then there was freestyle which was solely 20 inch bikes. Doing tricks in an empty pool, half pipe or flatland. Bike life are people who like to just ride and do a dew tricks, like wheelies. SE seems to be the bike of choice. If Scott could see how his SE brand has taken off in the last 25 years, he would trip out. SE started as a bmx racing team in the late 70s. Just ride and have fun!!

You should drop more videos it entertaining and informative 👌

IMO If you take part in group rides that's bike life to me size is your choice. Frame size and geometry ride what fits you best for your intended purpose ,for instance if you wheelie and combo a lot go with 26"-29" , but if you ride vert ramps, skate parks or street go with a 20". As far as bars go I go with what is most comfortable for my slowpoke old man style but I prefer the 9" SE Power Wing bars on a 26" cruiser. An old bike shop owner I used to buy from told me think of a bike like a woman if it feels good ride it. 😁

What it boils down too is that Wheelie Life, Freestyle, Cruiser all derived from BMX.

my take on this is that it boils down to the "aesthetic" of the bike life subculture. railed seat, vbrakes, low bars, all components that are pretty much available/transferable/salvagable from a 26" (and up) wheel based bikes can be used as bike life bikes. random extra parts lying around when you have bigger wheel bikes. bmx components, with all the trends and innovations has gone past the vbrakes and railed seats, and pretty much are destroyed in the course of riding them; while bigger bikes, with less aggressive riding style, they remain. i'm guessing, those who initially start from riding (aggressive) BMX are less likely to move to "bike life." rather they stay in bmx and become "BMX lifers" while those who chose the "bike life" are those that either started out with bigger wheeled bikes (hence the availability of parts) or racers who love to wheelie, or both. the newer generation of bike lifers are the ones who started seeing posts of wheelie bikes that wanted to join in the fun, and hashtags and posts has coined the term "bike life" to associate the aesthetics to the type of bike they see and want. i also assume that BMX gives of a more aggressive connotation to its name and riding style (and look,) while bike life gives off a more chill and cruising type of riding. anyway that is my quite long 2 cents here. btw, if ethan requested fit for a type c version of a bike, was that the reason why phu was at s&m picking up a custom ordered frame with ubrakes instead of vbrake mounts? are we gonna see ethan riding and doing tricks on it?

I have a 1982 Raleigh B0mber (have to censor that word or else RU-vid deletes my comment). Along with the Laguna Cruiser, they're basically the granddads of these bikes. Yes, I'm aware the Raleigh B0mber was more inspired by klunkers, but from what I can tell, it was popular with BMX kids here in the UK. My one actually had some yellow double flanged old school BMX grips on it when I bought it. I've swapped them for some cream bvllet (have to censor that word too) style ones because I wanted more of a beach cruiser aesthetic. Also swapped out the goofy looking saddle for a proper beach cruiser one with chrome conical springs. Looks cool af. I can tell people here in the UK are puzzled by it though because you pretty much never see this style of bike over here anymore. Everyone moved onto mountain bikes around the mid-late 80's.

I am just here for the bikes

Love it !!

I saw this couple around my age in Huntington Beach, 40s, Riding really big versions of a BMX bike but with taller motorcross bars and they were just cruising around together. The bikes looked really comfortable and easy to ride. Any idea what it was?

Phu bar height is all personal preference. Most Pivitol seats being narrow with down sloping sides in the back the dont offer the same stability when in wheelies also the Pivitol seats are limited in how much you can tilt forward.

I really want to get a newer bmx since getting my son his 1st 'real' 20"bmx se pk ripper, im 40 now ,haven't had bmx since the haro group 1 fusion way back in 96..definitely want a entry to mid level complete 20" bmx but im stuck between the- 20" cult x huf devotion ,which has the old school look to it , or the WTP crysis ,are they good bikes forall around riding?..any help would be appreciated

I like how you break this down haha biggest thing is that ppl are getting back into bikes

One more thing to add, I am a 1st Generation BMXer. In the 70's we took bikes with ape hanger handlebars, banana seats and sissy bars and we raced over all types of terrain, jumped the heck out of them til the frames busted. Then they became more purpose driven, but we still rode that bike delivering papers, riding to school, going to the store to pick up a pack of cigarettes for a parent. Then had raced it at a sanctioned track on the weekends. We had a kid in our neighborhood could out wheelie every kid in town on a Sears 10 speed bike. Anyway, just ride the bikes and have a good time. I'm now 60 and have never stopped riding and am about to jump back into racing BMX probably on a 26er. SEND IT and STAY RAD!!!

I own 5 (29”) rippers…i love them all…..its an expensive collection…..but id give anything to have my 20” (1985) chrome looptail mongoose or my 1991 chrome 20” gt mach one or ‘87 pro performer back……next bike i plan on gettin is the 29” gt world tour performer, you know the blue one….back in the late 80’s i had the ‘87 pro performers both the pink and the white one….loved both them bikes…..i was a GT kid back in my 20” days

Ok so I'm all inclusive. Bi is 2 so if it's 2 wheels and what YOU'RE comfortable on it's bike life. It can be bmx it can be a racing, mountain bike or a Schwinn. If it's what YOU like and you're enjoying life while you ride it, it's bike life and we can ride anytime. For me, it's the vibe or the energy of the ride so let's not over think it and be cool to one another.

Can you make a video an updated video on brakes. I just changed the lever tightened the brakes and now they feel worse

I ride MTB and Motocross, to me its all Bike Life.

I ride a sunday model c with fit raw deal bars with a 10" rise. Im also 6'6"

I Bike Life a Haro Downtown 26 right now. Would love to get an SE.

Hey Alfredo, I got a problem with my freewheel, my pawl teeth in the freewheel is not springy so it's not engaging and my bike does not move when I pedal , how do I fix it

any 29" bmx is a wheelie/bike life bike, no one is at the park doing tailwhips with them. they're cruisers. i got a fuji track several years ago and put a single speed freewheel on it. i love it, but i kind of wish these big bmx bikes were more of a thing when i got that. I probably wouldve gotten one instead.

As a 35 year old man that is 6'1 250 lbs, im glad they have big bikes. I just cruise no stunts no nothing I'm not big into mtb no hate im just old school when we would ride our bikes all over vegas having fun now I'm glad they have big boy bikes for big boys

I think bike should be applied to all people who are into bikes and ride but apparently bike life bikes are 29inch bikes usually se or gt that people do wheelies on and mechanical tricks like hoping up and down on the bike in different ways etc where as bmx bikes are the 20 inch bikes that people do big tricks with , jumping off walls and stuff. I ride both and consider both bmx because they both aren't regular bikes and are meant to do tricks either way. And I claim the bike life movement because I love bikes.

I think you guys should build a bike with a gas Motor next. my little buddy wants to build one but can't find any videos that shows how to properly built one from scratch..

Its a Serfas Reactive Gel Seat on a 29er GT.

Bmx is my life on a bike, you can run any style of bars, depends on what is comfortable while you stand up.

Any advice on a BMX/Wheelie bike for me at 6-03? Just interested in doing wheelies.

what do you think about the haro ceek?

I'm an old (46) dude just living my dream of having my 8-yr old ride my 86 Schwinn Predator Free Form, while I cruise on a 26" GT. I love these discussions, seeing the bike porn, and just generally knowing we're out there. Thanks.

I forgot to mention BMX/MTB conversions also being a new trend.

I need a 14 mm rim for a 29” do u know where i can get some i have been looking for days

Thanks

Lol I ride my big flyer in a skate park pool it's a BMX 10 in fu bar neon yellow

In my opinion BIKE LIFE is LIFE HAVING A BICYCLE. It doesnt matter what kind of bike you have. BMX, Mt Bike, Road Bike, any size.. etc. its all about the fun and love you have riding your bicycle.

Preach on pastor Phu 😅

Bike life bikes are bikes that are wheelie ready. They are bikes that’s are meant to make wheeling comfortable or easier also the bands on the handle bars are for holding water and bottles and can also hold speakers for ride outs.

I be jumpin my big ripper all day down stairs , on banks it kills it all just gotta go fast and jump as hard as you can

Maybe I'm overthinking it, but I was looking to get a BMX bike with the intent of learning tricks, but to also ride it for my 6 mile commute to work daily. So I'd be looking for a 24" to be somewhere in the middle? Or is that not necessarily how it works?

Is it possible to put a quick release seat post clamp on a 20in freestlye setup bike? If so,why don't more bmx riders do it?

I baught the bmx bike ktm 600 eouro and i got bike life i got it for 220 e they are both good

I own 2 Big Rippers, 1 Big Flyer, 1 High C, 1 GT World Tour 29", Haro DMC 29", 2 S&M ATF 29"s, Haro DMC 26", 2 S&M ATF 26"s and a S&M ATF 24". I have customized all of them and done some matchy-matchy color stuff with most of them. Cleary, there are differences in quality(both frame and components), but they are ALL great bikes and a ton of fun for my family and friends to to have our own neighborhood ride outs. I can wheelie all of them, but I can also wheelie my beloved, old 26" Gary Fisher mountain bikes. And there are other brands out there that have great big BMX options that can be used for #bikelife applications. I would say that any bike can be used for #bikelife and SE bikes ARE BMX bikes. That being said, not all BMX and/or bikelife bikes should be used for all BMX applications. I weigh 300 lbs, so I would not ride street/transition/park/dirt jumps on my SE bikes or the Haros as they are aluminum frames(which are more likely to crack than bend underneath me), but I can and do use my ATFs (all sizes) as I am tall enough to control them and they can take the beating(4130 will flex and bend a little before it cracks). A lighter, experienced rider MAY be able to use an SE bike for those applications without issues. And let me be clear; that statement is not an indictment against SE or bikelife, or what country a particular bike is made in or what materials they are made from. I'm just saying like anything else, you should ALWAYS choose the tool that is designed and built for the task at hand. If you want to 360 down El Toro, use a well made, Pro level 20" 4120 frame. As far as #bikelife, if you are going on a ride out and wheelie-ing, then use whatever bike has the geometry that feels comfortable for you. Don't be a clone. Don't worry about other people think or say(including random guys on the interwebs like me). Just get out there and have fun! Thanks to Albert and Phu the great content as always!👊

I have the fit dugen bars on my 29

I would love to take my bike to your shop. I have a Redline MX24. Where is your shop?

Your shop is Bike Life Rock on !

As a shorter dude I Dont get the big bike thing, but i havent tried one either. im usually trying to find a smaller one😂 A bike is a bike..have fun Thats what matters We're all bike life

I think as 80's is back in style guys like me above 50 are to old kind of shy to ride 20's .Honestly I'm more up to with 26 and up. Even wishing to ride the 20's😍😍😍

Crisp delivery 🍻

"In these slanted eyes..." Phu Love ya man! Phu is a down to earth dude all the time, and this is just the cherry on top.

I wonder what the ratio change is from 44 traditional to new school and what freewheel size to get and weather or not it fits on any type of skyway wheel ?

Bike life to me is doesn’t matter what u ride motor bikes or bmx it self it’s a positive Community to bring people tougher to help others to bring joy someone who judges what another person rides doesn’t belong in “bike life”

A lot of the younger guys with the big bikes are short as heck,so the taller bars are uncomfortable for some (just my opinion).

Bmx bikes, all of them

The only bike life I have is this channel

Stuart is correct in that "bikelife" is just a term se uses to sell the whole get out, ride out, show off your bike and what you have done with it. It seems to be a fashion thing and sharing your style with others. Who comes in and asks for "wheelie bike?'" I think ur messing around and making fun of us older, heavier dudes that can't ride a 20" comfortably. I know your tucked into conservative as Hell OC, but ya don't wanna fat shame ppl that have money and interest in getting back in shape doing what they enjoyed when they were skinny lil kids. I appreciate your vids and they helped me work on my bmx bikes of all sizes cause thats what I dig, bmx life.

I agree bike life is about riding, fixing, customization.

I like your channel.👍

so why ride a wheelie bike versus a DJ are they different?

bike life is not a bicycle type its a lifestyle "bikelife bikes" are jus big bmx bikes , i been riding wheelies damn near my entire life (I'm 38) we didn't have (bikelifebikes ) we jus rode either bmx or mtbs as the bmx bikes got bigger it made it easier to wheelie kids jus took the term bikelife and went crazy wit it to the point bikes are being classified for sales , anyway bike life is a life style i know people that are bike life that ride 20 in bmx i know ppl the have fixies i now mtb riders the key is to ride your bike

I don't even ride BMX I just watch your videos

I’ve been trying to find out what those type of bikes are called. I thought bmx bikes were small. I want something between a bmx and a beach cruiser.

bmx is like stunts and skatepark riding. bike life is wheely-ing dirt bikes, 29s, atvs etc

Not only is he a philosopher but also a poet.

As for me myself traditional BMX and cruisers

The best right bike is the one you are having fun!

One thing worth mentioning even though they share the same geometry is changing the gearing ratios to fit the different riding style. You're going to go nowhere fast if you have a 12/12 set up and definitely not win very many races but you can pump track or wheelie just fine. It is so typical of humans to come up with new buzz words and phrases, just as they do with cultures to make a place for everyone to fit in. ULTIMATELY, they are ALL bikes! Get on them and have fun.

Sorry to be such a noob, but what's the deal with the straps on the handlebar?

I’m 53 years old and have been riding bikes since I was 4 yrs old. No one ever pigeonholed what you could or couldn’t do on a bike. The rider determined what the bike could or couldn’t do. EVERY bike had the ability to wheelie… It all depended on the skill of the rider. We also never pigeonholed would equipment/bars could or couldn’t be utilized on various bikes. If you could make a particular part “fit” you ran with it. I think a lot of the younger generation are just too caught up on trying to feel like they’ve created something totally new and don’t pay enough homage to the older generations. And no I do not mean treating older riders like they are GODS… Just to learn to have respect for them as well as others that share their love for bikes, period…

Bike life term has changed for the past years. Nowadays its basically a style of riding a bike by only riding your bike with one wheel which is wheeling

Bike life is all bikes, but mostly used around the big bike community.but any bike and biker is part of the bike life.All bikes are wheelies bikes. But for sure people see the bigger bikes more commonly used to mainly ride wheelies. Smaller 20 inch bikes used more for jumps, grinding and tail whips.

My Bike Life is remembering every time I got my GT bikes stolen from age 12 to 15 that I decided to leave My Bike Life in the past. Sucks! That’s what understand about Life Bike.

Imo anything over a 24 in is not a bmx bike, the other bikes are to heavy and not nimble enough. Wheelies are not bmx, you can wheelie a 10 speed. I think it's cool people are getting together and riding but it's not bmx. I also don't understand Tha basset popularity especially the seats. I can respect the craftsmanship that goes into them and they look cool but not bmx. I don't think you can find them in a bmx store if you can even find a bmx store🤷🏽‍♂️ just my opinion not that anyone asked for it or cares 🤣

For me is all about life behind bars

I respect both BMX and Bikelife culture. Other than the size of the bikes, usually the parts fit the same. Bikelife borrows heavily from BMX racing, some from dirt bike Motorcycle culture (wheelies), Flatland BMX, road cycling and some from low rider bike cultures. The way I see it, Bikelife is just another branch of the BMX tree. Me coming from the Bikelife scene and understanding both scenes. Just get out and ride and do what you love doing wether it’s riding for the sake of riding, doing wheelies and wheelie tricks, or flatland, vert, street, and the like.