Bar Pads

BMX race bar pads: protecting the cockpit

The pad set is the most visible accessory on a BMX race bike and one of the most useful: it cushions contact between rider and handlebar on a badly judged jump or a crash, and keeps the stem and bars free of scratches in transport. On Micro, Mini and Junior bikes it is also a wear item, replaced every season.

Complete set or individual pad

• Handlebar pad, the longest, fitted over the crossbar of the bars
• Stem pad, which caps the stem and its clamp bolts
• Frame pad, sitting on the top tube depending on the geometry
• Matching 2 or 3 piece sets in coordinated colours

On bars with no crossbar, common among Pro riders, only the stem pad can be fitted: check for a crossbar before ordering a complete set.

Materials and densities

The filling is closed-cell foam, more or less dense depending on the brand and range. A dense foam takes a hard impact better and holds its shape; a softer foam stays light and moulds to smaller diameter bars. The cover is usually printed nylon, stitched around a full-length velcro closure so the pad goes on without removing the handlebar.

Choosing the right size

Size is chosen from the bar width and crossbar length, not from the rider class alone. Mini pads suit the narrow bars of Micro and Mini riders, standard sizes cover Junior and Expert, and the longest versions match the wide bars of Expert XL, Cruiser and Pro. A pad that is too long runs over the controls and blocks lever access; too short, and it leaves the crossbar bare in the middle.

Compatibility with the rest of the build

Two things to check before fitting. First the stem: a front load stem does not have the same bulk as a top load, and some stem pads are cut for one or the other. Then the plate: on a bike running a bar plate held by ties, the pad must not block the ties or hide the plate numbers. Set your bar position and lever angle before closing the velcro.

Care and replacement

Pads are cleaned with soapy water and a soft brush, never with a pressure washer, which lifts the cover. Dry them flat, out of direct sunlight, so the print does not fade. Replace a pad when the velcro no longer holds, when the filling is compressed enough that you can feel the bar through it, or after a heavy impact: a crushed pad no longer protects anything.

Brands available

• Stay Strong: complete sets, colours refreshed each season
• Tangent: clean cuts, easy to coordinate with its plates and accessories
• Insight: broad range in Mini and standard sizes
• Box Components: hard-wearing covers, generous velcro
• Pride: understated finishes, suited to Junior and Expert builds

The BMX RACING advice

Give us your bar width and stem type and we will point you to the pad size that covers the crossbar without fouling the levers or the plate. We distribute every brand in BMX race, which lets us compare real densities and lengths rather than a single catalogue. Dispatched within 24 to 72 hours, you can spread the cost over 2 or 3 payments available. See also our BMX accessories and our BMX tools for fitting.