BMX bikes are irresistible, so it’s understandable that you want to have your favorite bike in your car every time you go on a road trip. But the question is, will a BMX bike fit in a car?
Most BMX bikes, especially the standard size (20-inch BMX) and kid’s options, will fit in the car as long as the vehicle has a roomy trunk or back seat. If that is not the case, you can mount the bicycle on a car carrier.
In general, BMX bikes are likely to fit in a car due to their small build. These bikes have a smaller frame than most and come with smaller wheels and lower seats.
But again, it depends on how you pack the bike in your car. So it is vital that you know how to use the available car space. Let me explain where and how you can put a BMX in a car and why it is possible.
Here we go!
Where and how does a BMX bike fit in a car?
In general, there are two areas in your car where you can mount a BMX bike. They are:
1. In the trunk
The trunk is probably the most practical way to safely and easily transport your BMX bike in your car. Usually that’s because the trunk is roomy.
However, you must ensure that:
- There is enough space for the vehicle to fit
- You secure the bike properly to prevent vibrations
- Store the BMX bike in a travel bag such as the Calloway Odyssey BMX Travel Bag (View on Amazon). The travel bag will not only hide the BMX bike from view, but also protect it and the trunk of your car if the two rub against each other.
2. In the backseat
If your trunk is too small, you can try carrying the BMX bike in the back seat. That works perfectly if you don’t want to have passengers in the back seat and if the rear seat is foldable.
On other cars, you can even fold down the rear seats and create a larger boot space. If that’s the case with your vehicle, you can carry even the most gigantic BMX bike, such as a size 27.5 or 29 inch.
Be sure to protect the entire trunk and rear seat from dirt and grime from the bike. This is possible with a trunk protector such as the 4KNINE SUV Cargoliner (View on Amazon) if you own an SUV.
The boot liner comfortably covers the folded rear seats and the luggage compartment. It has a non-slip backing that protects your BMX from sliding and rubbing against the inside of the shoe.
More importantly, it cushions your bike from car scratches.
Why BMX bikes fit in a car
Generally, BMX bikes are smaller than other bikes. This allows them to easily fit in a trunk or on the back seat for easy transport. And while we’re on the subject of small BMX bikes, we’re talking about these highlights:
- More petit frame – The frames of BMX bikes are much smaller, so you can place the bike comfortably in the car. You don’t even have to take the bike apart unless it’s huge.
- Smaller wheels – A standard BMX has 20-inch wheels, smaller than the 700c of a road bike or the 26-inch or 29-inch wheels of an MTB. For that reason, you can easily place a standard BMX in the car with its wheels. The exceptions, of course, are 26-inch, 27.5-inch (rare models) and 19-inch BMX bikes, which have larger wheels.
- Lower seatpost – BMX bikes have lower seats that allows you to do stunts effectively. And when it comes to transporting the bike, the lower seatpost reduces the overall size of the bike, making it easy to place the bike in the car.
What if the BMX bike is too big to fit in the car?
If your BMX bike is a size 26″ or larger, you’ll need to make a few adjustments to make it fit in the car. These adjustments include the following:
a) Take off his wheel(s)
The wheels take up a lot of space. So it may be wise to remove one or both wheels to reduce the overall size of the bike. This is a brilliant idea if you’re going on a long trip, but can get tricky if it’s a short trip.
Normally you don’t need to remove the steering wheel if it’s a minivan or SUV, but if it’s another car with a smaller trunk, consider the idea.
b) Fold down the rear seat
If the rear seat of your car is foldable and you can access it from the cargo area, fold it down. This way you have a lot of space and you don’t have to disassemble the wheels.
Remember to protect your back seat and trunk, preferably with a trunk protector.
c) Move the steering wheel
The steering wheel can take up as much space as the wheels. So it’s a brilliant idea to position them so that they don’t take up a lot of space in the trunk and in the back seat.
What if you can’t transport your BMX bike in the car?
If you cannot transport your BMX bike in the car, you should consider mounting it in the car. That means that you have to invest in a good bike carrier for the car.
While there are many decent car bike racks, here are the most typical choices:
1. Trunk Mounted Car Bike Carriers
Trunk mounted bike racks, as the name implies, can be mounted on the trunk of the car. These racks come with stronger straps to keep the bike on the trunk of the car.
They are generally lightweight, easy to mount on a bicycle and portable. They are also affordable and allow you to quickly load and unload your BMX bike.
Their main drawbacks are that they can cause the bike to swing and rub against the car and often hinder access to the trunk.
An impressive luggage rack for your BMX bike is the Yakima Full-Bar Premium Trunk Bike Carrier (View on Amazon). This bicycle carrier works perfectly on passenger cars and offers space for two bicycles.
The best part is that it is removable and easy to install, so portable.
2. Towbar Mounted Car Bike Carriers
Tow bar carriers are mounted on the tow bar receiver of your car. If your vehicle does not have a tow bar receiver, you must install it before mounting a tow bar carrier.
In general, trailer hitch bike carriers are easy to install and allow you to load and unload your BMX bikes seamlessly. They are therefore ideal if you want to use your bicycle often.
However, they are more expensive than most racks and often disturb the trunk of your car.
A fantastic towbar rack for heavy and large bikes is the Thule EasyFold XT 2 (View on Amazon). The trailer hitch rack has a load capacity of 130 pounds, so best for heavy bikes.
It folds when not in use, and unlike most tow bar bike carriers, it can be tilted to access the trunk and lock your BMX bike.
3. Spare wheel car bike rack
Bicycle racks for spare tires are mounted on the outer spare wheel of the car. They are as light as luggage carriers and often the cheapest in general.
These racks allow you to easily mount your bike, and unlike lift and trunk racks, they provide easy access to the trunk of the car.
Their downside is that they can only carry one or two bikes and swing your BMX. In addition, they only work on cars with spare tires.
In general, if your car has an external spare tire, you can’t go wrong with the Hollywood Racks Screw-on Spare Tire Rack (View on Amazon).
The rack can carry two bicycles and is generally sturdy and easy to use.
4. Bike rack on the roof
While the other bike racks hinder access to the trunk or cause the bike to swing, the roof rack does not have these challenges. The only challenge is to get your BMX bike on the roof and ride against the wind or drive through tunnels.
But overall, these racks are safe and versatile to act as a carrier for your cargo and boat. A roof-mounted bike carrier that does just that is the Thule UpRide roof bike carrier.
This roof rack can transport your bicycle, including BMX. It does not touch the bicycle frame to protect it from scratches.
The roof rack is easy to fit and is generally best for delicate bikes, especially those with carbon frames.
Transporting a BMX bike in a car vs. Using a bike rack – advantages and disadvantages of each
Now that I’ve shared to transport your BMX in the car and use a rack, which one is better? There is no better or worse as both have their pros and cons.
Transporting your BMX in the car
Pros
- It’s cheaper because you only need straps and probably a travel bag for the bike
- It takes minutes to load and unload the bike unless you have to remove the wheels
- Discreet – No one will know there is a bike in your car while you are in transit unless they have access to the trunk
cons
- Potential bike lady
- Potential car damage
- The bike can pollute your car if it is dirty
Transporting the bicycle with a bicycle carrier
Pros
- Less chance of damaging your car or bicycle
- It does not pollute the interior of your car
- Easy to install
- Easy mounting on the bike
cons
People also ask
1. How do you transport a BMX bike?
You can transport a BMX bike in the car, both in the trunk and in the back seat. And if it’s an SUV, you can fold down the rear seats to increase the trunk’s storage space. Alternatively, you can mount your BMX on the bike carrier of a car.
2. Will a bicycle fit in a car without taking it apart?
A bicycle fits in the trunk of a car without taking it apart if the luggage space is sufficient and the bicycle is small. You can also try folding the rear seats to create a spacious luggage compartment.
3. Will a bicycle case fit in my car?
You probably won’t have a problem fitting a bike trunk into the trunk of an SUV, especially if you can fold the rear seats. However, it is essential to assemble the bicycle wheels before organizing them in the bicycle box to save parking space.
Will a BMX bike fit in a car? Closing Notes:
You now know that it is possible to put a bicycle in the trunk, back seat or both. It is important that your vehicle has sufficient space. But if that doesn’t work, you can always mount it on the bike carrier of a car.
