What does BMX stand for? It stands for bicycle motocross, a sport of racing and riding small, tough bikes on dirt tracks, ramps and city streets. The name comes from motocross, the dirt racing done on motorcycles, which young riders copied on pedal bikes.
Today the letters cover both the sport and the bike. A BMX bike usually has 20-inch wheels, a single gear and a low, sturdy frame built to handle jumps.
Quick facts
Stands for
Bicycle motocrossType
Initialism, said B M XWhat the X means
"Cross," from motocrossStarted
Southern California, late 1960s and early 1970sTypical bike
20-inch wheels, one gear, strong frameOlympic events
BMX racing and BMX freestyleRelated terms
What does BMX stand for, and why an X?
- B is for bicycle.
- M is for moto, short for motorcycle.
- X is for cross.
The X is the part that puzzles people. In English, X has long stood in for the word "cross," as in "Xing" on a road sign for a crossing. Motocross got its name from cross country motorcycle racing, and riders shortened it to MX. Add a B for bicycle and you get BMX. You say each letter, B M X, so it is an initialism.
How the sport began
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, kids in Southern California started racing their bikes on homemade dirt courses, imitating the motocross riders they admired. They added bumps, turns and jumps, and bike makers soon built stronger frames for the job. Organized races followed, and the sport spread across the country and then the world.
BMX racing became an Olympic event at the 2008 Summer Games, and freestyle park riding was added later. The sport that began in vacant lots now has world championships and national leagues.
Main styles of BMX riding
| Style | Where | The goal |
|---|---|---|
| Racing | Dirt tracks with jumps and banked turns | Cross the finish line first |
| Park | Skate parks with ramps and bowls | Land tricks judged on style and difficulty |
| Street | Stairs, rails and ledges in town | Creative tricks on found objects |
| Dirt jumping | Lines of tall packed dirt jumps | Big air and smooth landings |
| Flatland | Smooth pavement | Balance tricks while the bike spins |
| Vert | Tall half pipes | High airs above the ramp edge |
A race starts with up to eight riders on a raised gate. The gate drops, and riders sprint down the ramp onto a track that usually takes well under a minute to finish.
What makes a BMX bike different
A standard BMX bike has small 20-inch wheels, a short frame, wide handlebars and just one gear. Many have pegs on the axles for grinding on rails. Freestyle bikes often have a rotor that lets the handlebars spin all the way around without tangling the brake cable. Race bikes are lighter and some come in larger wheel sizes for taller riders.
At a bike shop: a parent asks for "a BMX for a ten year old." The clerk shows small framed, single speed bikes with knobby tires, sized by the rider's height rather than by age alone.
BMX in everyday talk
- "He has been racing BMX since he was six."
- "The town is building a BMX track next to the skate park."
- "She rides a BMX to school and practices tricks after."
- "Wear a full face helmet for BMX racing."
Find other everyday letters in the famous acronyms list, or read how UTV names a very different kind of off-road machine.
Mixups and similar letters
BMX is not a brand, even though you may see it printed on bikes from many makers. MX on its own means motocross, the motorcycle sport. MMA and other sports letters follow the same pattern of shortening a long name. People also confuse BMX bikes with mountain bikes, which have larger wheels, many gears and suspension for long trail rides.
Questions people ask
What does BMX mean on a bike?
It means the bike is built for bicycle motocross: small wheels, one gear and a strong frame. Many kids ride them simply because they are tough.
Why is there an X in BMX?
The X stands for "cross," taken from motocross. Using X for cross is an old English shorthand, also seen on Xing road signs.
Is BMX in the Olympics?
Yes. BMX racing joined the Summer Olympics in 2008, and BMX freestyle park was added later.
Do you say BMX as a word?
No. At the track you hear "bee em ex," every letter clear, which is the mark of an initialism. A spoken version like "bimks" has never caught on with riders.
What size is a BMX bike?
Most have 20-inch wheels. Smaller bikes exist for young kids, and some race bikes use bigger wheels for adult riders.