"Acro Bike"?

[noparlpf]

Once again, I'm bored and tired of bodily safety. Does anybody know what those bikes without seats that people do stunts with are called? I think of it as "acro bike" because of Pokemon, but I doubt that's anything like what it's called. And does anybody know how much they cost/where to look into getting one?

[Tonal Architect]

I believe you are referring to a BMX bike. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMX_bike

[noparlpf]

I believe you are referring to a BMX bike. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMX_bike

Hmm...most BMX bikes seem to have seats, though. Most of the videos I've seen of guys doing acrobatic stunts with bikes, the bikes didn't have seats.
Here's a video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4P3yp6mFfY) I saw the other day.
I saw some mention of "urban cycling" and "trial bike" in the obituary.

[Pie Guy]

You could always take off the seat.

[noparlpf]

You could always take off the seat.

Well if I took off the seat I'd have a hollow metal tube pointing at my genitals. Not a position I want to be in. And cutting that off might affect the structural integrity of the bike.

[GnomeFighter]

Its an Onza frame:

www.onza.com

They make trials frames. I'm not sure if there is anyone else that makes them for BMX's, but it is basicly the same idea as a Motorbike Trials bike:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/guernsey/content/image_galleries/west_show_day_1_gallery.shtml?20

[Tyndmyr]

Well if I took off the seat I'd have a hollow metal tube pointing at my genitals. Not a position I want to be in. And cutting that off might affect the structural integrity of the bike.

I do recommend avoiding the metal tube of sharpness aimed at your junk. However, as long as you don't cut down past the crossbeam, and cut cleanly straight across, there should be minimal to no structural effect on the bike. The top bit is only load bearing for you, not for anything else.

Of course, you'll probably want to cap it off afterward so there's no rough edges/hole there to get caught on. I'd probably rubber-wrap the area in case of accidental impact, too.

If your frame is carbon fiber, be aware that special considerations apply.

[noparlpf]

Okay, so we're looking at USD 400 as the minimum, probably. Hmm.

[Tonal Architect]

I believe that modifying a cheaper frame wouldn't be too troublesome; removing the seat shouldn't actually be a requirement. Back when I used to practice inline skating, there were a few people doing stunts on BMX's, and the bikes maintained their seats. Those guys accomplished some really impressive feats, btw, at least for an onlooker. I think that removing the brakes and strapping foot-stands to the back wheel axis should be enough.

You could also try a fixed-gear bike. I don't believe they're good at speed, but they present good stunt capabilities, and it should be cheap to convert a normal model to fixed gear. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2m30LXRni0

[GnomeFighter]

Trials bikes are quite diffrent to BMX bikes. They have a diffrent frame geomatry, diffrent bars and riser, diffrent drive train and diffrent brakes. They are sort of a cross between a dirt jumps bike and a vert bike, with more extream frame geomatry tahken from motorbike trials. Personaly I think the Onza bikes reprasent good value if thats what you want. Given that a cheap BMX that is good enough to take a little punishment is half the price and your getting a high quality british hand built product that you can get made exactly how you want, from the ground up, I think they are ok. My last dirt jumping bike was £350, and that came with cable brakes, and was not that good a bike.

If all you want is something to look good and ride round town however, I'd look elsewhere as it is over engineerd for that.

[missmvicious]

Wow that really does remind me of pokemon. Whelp good luck with all that. I'm gonna just keep my feet on the ground.

[Pie Guy]

You could also try a fixed-gear bike. I don't believe they're good at speed, but they present good stunt capabilities, and it should be cheap to convert a normal model to fixed gear. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2m30LXRni0

Actually, fixed-gear bikes are great at speed. They don't have any additional inefficiency that normal bikes have, although they take more practice. And keep a front brake, even on a fixed-gear, as it allows you to panic stop much faster.

[grimbold]

Well if I took off the seat I'd have a hollow metal tube pointing at my genitals. Not a position I want to be in. And cutting that off might affect the structural integrity of the bike.

not to mention what else you could cut off >.>