15 Bike Tricks For Kids

Bike tricks not only provide something unusual and fresh to do compared to the ordinary out-and-back ride, but also enable children and adults to improve their abilities in handling their bikes.

As a child, cycling was a fun and easy (okay, I fell a few times learining) activity that made being a kid, well, a kid!

Even today, not only does cycling give me a thrill but a sense of freedom, as well – especially since I spent most of my childhood trying to learn and master fascinating new tricks to perform on a bike.

As a parent, you probably understand the importance of getting your kids out of the house and up and moving instead of spending all their developing years in front of a screen. But what should you do when your child is bored of their usual cycling route and no longer feels the excitement of this activity?

Luckily for you, we’ve got an answer! 

Bike Tricks!

In this article, I will explore some of the easiest bike tricks for beginners that you can help your kids learn so they can have the time of their lives cycling in the safest manner possible.

What Are Some Bike Tricks Kids Can Enjoy?

Below, I have gathered a few of the cycling world’s favorite tricks to perform on a bike. Although some may be performed more effortlessly with dirt jumpers, mountain bikes, and BMX bikes, many of these fun tricks are possible on any type of bike.

And that’s the best part: there’s something for everyone here! 

Choose the one that excites you the most –then practice it until you’re unstoppable and having the time of your life! Let’s get started: 

1. The Slide

Sliding can be the most basic yet really fun bike trick you can show off. It’s always the best and easiest trick to perform on soft loose soil and rainy days.

Once you see a corner that you want to slide around, the goal is essentially to lock the back wheel and to get the rear end to slide out by turning in a specific way. 

All you have to do is firmly pull the back brake, and you’ll have the freedom to slide when the wheel locks up.

While you’re turning, let the end step out and if you feel any sort of discomfort while performing this trick, you can just simply let off of the brake and go as usual as you curve. Either you can stop or go around a corner and let off the rear brake and keep going.

2. The Trackstand 

Trackstand is one of the basic yet fantastic bike tricks you can learn in general, even if you don’t ride trials and are just a beginner. The best part about it is that not only can kids do track stands on any bike they have, but you can also practice this trick without having to leave the comfort of your home. 

While track standing is a very simple and relatively easy bike trick, it’s actually rather difficult to stand still on a bike, especially for kids. Luckily for you, I’m here to guide you. All you have to do to master the track stand bike trick is find a lovely peaceful location in your home or on the road; it helps if you’re facing a small slope. 

Begin by bringing your bike to a halt slowly, and with your pedals level, stand out of the saddle. Turn the front wheel and press the front pedal gently to retain the angle.

If necessary, modulate the brakes. Try not to remain absolutely motionless at first, perform a smooth reversal, and go forward a few times — moving will assist you in remaining balanced and straight.

3. The Wheelie

The wheelie is, again, a very basic trick and quite frankly, one of my all-time favorites. In this basic bike trick, the aim is to pull the front tire into the air by pedaling vigorously. 

If you wish to do a high-angled wheelie, let me just say that it doesn’t last that long, although it’s easier to perform with fewer chances of falling and being in pain.

Once you’re on the road and in the mood to do a wheelie, pedal hard while tugging on your handlebars and leaning backward, and then just bounce up to your feet if you’re standing up and going too high.

As long as you’ve chosen a lower gear like 2nd or 3rd, you’re good to go.

4. The Bump Jump

As the name suggests, the key to perfecting this bike trick lies in finding the correct “bump” as you’re riding.

But that’s not all: you have to master the actual technique, as well.

To start off this adventure, keep an eye out for a tiny, elevated hurdle or obstacle; it can be a root or even a small-to-medium-sized embedded stone as these are ideal for performing this trick on your bike trails. 

Head straight towards this “bump” now that you’ve located it, adding pressure and speed as you go. When you encounter the bump, tighten and move your weight back and forth on your handlebars. The front tire is supposed to raise off the earth and the impact should lift up your back wheel, as well. Raise your legs while you’re airborne, maintain your feet on the pedals, get relaxed and just aim for a straight landing. 

Once you have a good grip on this bike trick, you can even master it by creating higher barriers and jumping—don’t forget to show it off to your friends!

5. The Endo 

This trick is also known as the “nose wheelie” or the “stoppie”, and I’m sure you’ve seen it before in movies and as such.

The deliberate endo trick is one of the fundamental abilities behind a ton of other tricks and movements being performed on a bike.

Conquer the endos and your path to expert riding is well underway. The thing about this bike trick is that, if you want to tell the world that you’re not afraid and ready to take over anything that’s headed your way, mastering this trick will give you that feeling. 

To do an endo, stand while you’re riding at a speed you’re comfortable with so the seat doesn’t get in the way when you come back down. Then draw the front brake in and pull it slowly as you tilt forward a little; when halted enough to attempt to tilt up the locked wheel, lean back a little bit, not so much or you will tumble right off your bicycle before it goes over.

Let the brake go or lean back at any time to prevent tilting forward too much. Once you’ve practiced enough and are well-acquainted with endos, you can even start turning your bike to do spins (but more on that ahead!). 

Just to be clear, though, this is a somewhat difficult bike trick that can be dangerous if not performed right, so be sure to have your helmet on the entire time! 

6. The Bunny Hop

A bunny hop is like a bike trick where the rider can bounce their bike off the road and have the two wheels up in the air simultaneously. 

To do a bunny hop, roll up on your bike in the neutral ready position, with a certain amount of speed: get off of the seat with the level pedals; bend your arms, knees, and hips a little bit, and try to remain relaxed and loose the entire time.

Push into the handlebars so you can charge up the front suspension if you have it. Press your feet hard into the pedals and pull the handlebars to lift the front wheel.

After your front wheel is raised, bend forward as well as thrust your handlebar forward, and pull up your legs. Don’t hit your brakes, particularly when you’re landing.

Use anything little, such as a log, twig, or a bottle of water, to leap over and over before you approach greater obstacles. 

As long as you make sure that both wheels of the bike are being lifted off the ground at the same time and push the handlebars in a frontward direction while you’re in the air, you’ll be fine. Here’s a video tutorial for you to practice!

7. The J-Hop 

The J-hop is similar to the bunny hop trick to the point that most people don’t even know that these are two separate bike tricks. Here’s how you can do a J-hop and dazzle all your friends!

Begin by moving at a decent speed. Stand up with your pedals parallel to the ground, while making sure that your body is a bit behind the seat, instead of right on top.

Lean back to weightlessly raise your front approximately 1 foot up from the ground. Then start leaning forward to keep your back weightless as it makes it simpler to pick up and rev your bars.

As for the feet, attempt to press and elevate them to accelerate the back end. Push the handlebars further to level off the ground, because that will increase the height of your hop, and will help you jump over an object or get on an elevated level.

You should land simultaneously on the two wheels. Or, there might be a tiny delay if you’re first landing on your rear, then the front. Once you strike the ground, crouch in to cushion the landing. Roll away, and the J-Hop has just finished!

8. The Manual 

A manual is a technique in which you drive on the back wheel, not using the pedals. It is one of the basic skills for newbies and is suggested even for kids. This bike trick is all about your rear wheel balance.

At first, your front wheel from the ground needs a comfortable tugging. There needs to be a lot of work put in here, but you can handle it with practice.

Without worrying about the road now, just pull back at the bars comfortably. With the rear wheel extending the arms at the bar and being equalized with legs, your body posture must be hanging back.

You’ll require care and upkeep to balance the manual for a duration while drawing back. 

9. Jumping

This has most of the components of a bunny hop, but without the task of getting yourself off the ground. When jumping, the trick is the speed, which depends entirely on how far and high off the ground you want to be. 

Begin with jumping over ramps and even sloping curbs to become accustomed to the trick so you don’t run the risk of landing yourself in a pit.

Lift your legs a little bit and lean a touch backward as you get off your leap, which gives you a more secure stance for both flight and landing. 

When you touch the ground after your jump, keep your knees bent, ensuring that the front tire is straight.

10. Dismounting 

Getting off of a bike doesn’t really sound like a trick, but where’s the fun in that unless we add our own?

When it comes to the way I dismount, I like to do so in a very elegant manner which requires almost little to no effort. It’s probably my favorite trick to go along and sling a leg over the bicycle so I land on a pedal and my second leg is behind me. 

To dismount, begin by placing both your hands on the handlebars. You have to lean in order to maintain balance, until you may lean with one hand and one foot over the bike. And that’s it! 

11. The 180▫

As the name suggests, the 180-degree bike trick is all about turning your bike at a 180 angle while you’re up in the air.

This bike trick is one of the most popular ones, especially for those newbies who’ve just now purchased their new BMS and are looking for ways to have fun with it. 

First, ride at regular speed and then grab the handlebars and elevate the front wheel. Then, press the handlebars forward when you’re about to lift yourself off the ground. Now is the moment to turn your body in the same direction as your back wheel. Turn 180° and set your bike firmly on the ground. 

12. The 360▫

This bike trick is very similar to the 180° bike trick. The only difference is that instead of turning 180°, you have to turn 360° here.

Just follow all the instructions given in the previous heading, which includes raising your bike’s front wheel, pushing your body forward, and then twisting it. Finally, just turn it completely 360° and you’re done! 

13. The Bar Hop

The bar hop is a really good technique in which the handlebars may be lifted over and up into the front fender and then back in the bars. Believe me when I say that when you first start playing around with the bar hop trick, you will have the most fun you’ve ever had. 

What’s necessary for this trick, first and foremost, is fast speed. You need to be riding at a very accelerated speed, and then, by pushing your feet off the pedals, your bike will be balanced by the body.

Finally, just soar over the cycle handlebars with your feet. It’s truly a great trick, but just be careful while you’re performing it. 

14. The Nose Manual 

A nose manual is quite closely related to a BMX manual which was about balancing without pedals on the front wheel. In this trick, however, the best place to get started with your practice would be a soft ground or even a lawn. 

You must learn how to leap first. Like the manual, you have an evenly balanced spot on the front tire, which can be hard to find sometimes. It is possible to try to take the front wheel off and retain balance at the dropouts.

The participation of the whole body is necessary for this feat. This means that a nose manual can be performed by balancing work at the front wheel.

15. The Disaster 

Disaster is a great BMX technique to move your load between the front and rear ends of your bike. It’s usually a trick that can be performed in the park or a playground. 

You have to cycle to the front of the changeover to execute this technique. Now do j-hop, when you’re nearly at the top, and then 180°. When landing on the floor, the front tire should be integrated and the back tire should be secured out of the pipe.

Parks, gentle ramps, tiny railings, etc are the perfect location to learn this trick quickly. 

The Bottom Line

So, there you have it – all the possible bike tricks your kids can enjoy as a beginner, as long as you keep a watchful eye over them.

These tricks will increase engagement, fun, and also bike skills, while also helping kids to improve their physical and mental health (Source). 

Want to check out some of these tricks in video form? Check this out: