BMX seats: pivotal, race and freestyle
A BMX seat is chosen first by how it mounts: pivotal, the most widespread, railed on a conventional seatpost, or combo, with seat and post in one. Next come the profile, slim, mid or fat, and the discipline, racing, freestyle or first laps of the track for kids. Seat clamps and signature seats are also on this page.
What is the seat for on a BMX?
In BMX, you pedal standing up most of the time: the seat is for sitting down between runs, bracing yourself in transitions and, in freestyle, as a pivot point for certain tricks. That is why it is low, thin and lightly padded, so as not to get in the way of your legs when the bike moves under you. In racing, lightness comes first; in freestyle, a cover that stands up to scuffs and crashes.
Pivotal, railed or combo: the mounting systems
The Pivotal system fixes the seat with a single bolt that passes through the seat and clamps onto a post with a serrated head: the angle is adjusted in one go and the whole assembly stays compact. It is the most common mounting in BMX. The Stealth variant places the bolt underneath, which removes the opening on top of the seat. Railed seats fit on a conventional seatpost with a clamp, and combos bring seat and post together in one piece, a simple solution for small bikes.
Slim, mid or fat: which profile?
Slim seats, which are narrow, leave room for your thighs and are popular in street riding as well as racing. Mid models are a compromise, and fat seats, which are wider, offer more comfort when sitting and more grip for tricks where you grab the seat. The cover matters too: tough faux leather, corduroy or leather depending on the model.
Seat clamp and adjustment
The seatpost is held by a seat clamp, bolted or quick-release, whose diameter must match the frame's seat tube. In racing, the seat is set low so the bike can move freely; tilt the nose slightly upwards if you slide off it.
The parts that go with the seat
A pivotal seat needs a compatible BMX seatpost. The rest of the bike is completed with BMX grips and BMX pedals. For other kinds of riding, see MTB saddles, road bike saddles and all bike saddles.
Which BMX seat brands should you choose?
Cult, a Californian freestyle brand with long-standing ties to Vans, offers Cult x Vans seats that take up the checkerboard of the Slip-On or the codes of the Old Skool, and Corduroy or All Over Print models in Slim and Mid.
Elevn offers Expert, Racing and Full Logo pivotal seats for BMX racing.
Box brings seat and post together in its Combo Two combos, in a mini version or with a 27.2 mm aluminium post, and the Combo DIA.
Insight covers racing from the mini category to the pro category with its Pro Padded and Mini pivotal seats and its Combo Mini seat, and also supplies seat clamps.
Eclat, a high-end component brand founded in Cologne by the creators of Wethepeople, covers its Void seats in leather, in Fat or Slim versions, and offers the Bios.
Wethepeople makes the Team Pivotal, in Slim or Mid Plus, and signature models for its riders.
BMX seats on sale
An end-of-line seat or one in an older colour can be found in our BMX clearance, the latest arrivals in new arrivals. Take advantage of the summer sales or Black Friday to change your seat or its colour.
Frequently asked questions
Does a pivotal seat fit every BMX seatpost?
No, it needs a pivotal post, whose serrated head takes its bolt. A railed seat requires a post with a clamp, and a combo fits directly into the frame provided it has the right diameter.
Which seat for a child starting out in BMX?
A mini seat or a seat and post combo, light and suited to small frames, is all that is needed. Check the post diameter before ordering and set the seat low so the child can easily put a foot on the ground.
How do you adjust the angle of a pivotal seat?
Loosen the seat bolt, from above, or from below on a Stealth version, choose the tilt on the serrations of the post, then tighten firmly. A seat with the nose slightly raised stops you sliding forward over the rollers.
Railed or pivotal seat for BMX racing?
Both are seen on the track. A pivotal seat is compact and easy to adjust; a railed seat lets you move the seat forwards or backwards on its post. The choice depends mainly on the post and frame you use.
Why are BMX seats so thinly padded?
Because you ride standing up most of the time: thick padding would make the seat heavier and get in the way of your legs when the bike moves. Fat models offer a little more comfort for long sessions.
