BMX Is BRAKELESS! Why Did It Happen And Who Did It First?

[@jasonmorris4795]

It was Mike “Gonz” Gonzales in the early 90’s, his back wheel was always so buckled his brakes always rubbed so he took them off.

[@twisi6318]

this is what i remember, Mcmurry, Simon Tabron(sp) and Hoffman were pretty early in the game too. Edwin and Ratboy made me want to be brakeless in the early 2000's, but to be honest I think Jeremiah Smith was a huge influence on all the "park" dudes taking them off.

[@kevinfromdevon]

I just watched release the grease from 95 and gonz had a brake fitted in that video

[@dansimpson9214]

Yeah I was going to say there has to be a lot of respect given to Gonz as he and Troy was at the same time. Both influenced me to take my breaks off

[@stonyb4046]

Mark Gonz Gonzales I used to ride with Gonz in Phoenix in the 90's dude was absolutely RAD!!!!!!!!!!!! & yes he rode brakeless so we all rode brakeless lol in 1990 Gonz went & lived in the P.O.W house with the S&M guys for a few months then in 1991 we went to San Diego to hang with the Dirt Bros for a while & I can tell you for a fact that some of those dudes were brakeless & some of them were a big influence on him especially Vic Murphy Vic rode with brakes but the few weeks we were down there riding with him he was brakeless by the time we got back to Phoenix Gonz was brakeless lol

[@GolfSux]

I remembered troy and gonz went brakeless first. Most of us were brakeless before it was popular though, because our brakes broke and we were kids so the brakes just came off.

[@troydavis4848]

Honestly you inspired me Scotty! From your absolute amazing style and skills to now still pushing bmx even after your accident. Scotty you will always be a legend!

[@sockpuppettheatre8861]

Im 58. My first major influence in BMX was the BMX Action Trick Team. Bob Haro, RL Osborn and Mike Buff. Those guys were legends. I bought Bobs book "Freestylin" and learned every "how-to" in that book as well as BMX Action Magazine. That magazine and its trick team were the only thing we had in NJ in the late late 70s and 80s to emulate.

[@mindbomb2000]

I was lucky enough to know RL, and went riding with him a bit. Very cool guy. He used to pick me up in his lifted truck and we'd go to Hermosa Beach to freestyle, or to the Santa Monica skatepark, and he was always very open to sharing everything he knew. I think that he was looking for someone to add to the team, but I just wasn't good enough, and the role went to Buff. It was a great choice.

[@kenevans7286]

57 and I agree. Those 3 guys inspired so many people to start freestyle riding. Their efforts built a new BMX based sport and created a new sub division within the bike industry. BMX and Freestyle bikes came about as a result of demand seeking a product instead of a product seeking demand. I think if you trace it all the way back, they inspired so many riders through the magazines and summer tours. Turning it into a show as a form of entertainment for spectators was a genius idea. They performed the most difficult tricks of the time live and then took the time to interact one on one with the friends and families who were fans. Naturally, some of those inspired by these 3 in turn inspired more riders and so on.

[@mattcred]

Dave Mirra has gotta be up there as one of the most influential riders of all time! Mutiny Bikes rider Matt Roe, such a smooth style, huge airs, over clicked turn downs. Mike Hoder for his powerful style and huge moves.

[@Tyedyetodd]

Being a 59 year old BMX rider I was already out of the Army, married and a dad when RAD came out. But Kevin “Sheepdog” Hull being a real racer in a movie was inspiring especially since he was the only true Pro rider to actually ride down the wall on Helltrack. I may be biased since he is now a personal friend. ;)

[@stevegarbade4576]

One of my first memories as a young novice was seeing Kevin jump a car on the first straight at Capitol City in Austin- I think in ‘84

[@michaeldenis7010]

We flatland riders rode brakeless flat and ramps in the early 90s. Chase Gouin ruled.

[@jorgeshicken]

How can a flatland rider get up on a front wheel and do tailwhips without brakes?

[@ieatkarate]

Good call! I forgot that Chase rode brakeless. Definitely one of the first that I can remember.

[@hoksung.]

I have been riding my bike without breaks for my whole life I have no idea! But as of this year I put breaks on my bike I love it

[@ryaniverson3555]

😂

[@glennthompson3642]

I haven't followed you and your channel for too long,but you are the man that inspired me to buy a bmx bike at the age of 67.I can't do the tricks,but I practice flatland to keep me active,I think you Scott have influenced many,many people with your riding and the attitude and determination to succeed after you accident.LEGEND should be your middle name.😊

[@Slotmassacre]

The entire time I was like they’re going to forget about Troy. Well done boys! Troy’s part was iconic

[@chrisy9442]

Corey Martinez, Ryan nyquist, Chris Doyle , Dave Mirra, and Matt Hoffman we some of my favorite riders to watch back in the day.

[@JoshHoodSucks]

Martinez is from my hometown. Course a nashville guy now. Been on and seen a few of his sessions. He doesn't get enough love.

[@robjustme1173]

Paul Osicka and his front wheel mastery. Brakeless: I remember brakeless really taking off when gearing dropped to 25/9 and people still had chainstay brake bosses so people took them off and cut the bosses to make room and not have to buy a new frame.

[@Tuckerfranciss]

Kevin Robinson got me into bmx because my mom worked for his foundation and then worked at his skatepark, but jay Dalton really showed me what BMX was really like

[@justinyates1154]

@@Tuckerfranciss Jay is probably my favorite current rider as far as pure skill but it was Spencer who introduced me to him and inspired me to get back on a bike

[@DoubleJ-o1989]

Joe the butcher and edwin will always be the most iconic brakeless riders for me

[@DJPablotv]

I'm 55 and I still got my BMX with Brakes. I would never take them off.

[@Voting-does-nothing]

❤ I love my brake :)

[@Joseph-bd1ip]

RIP Fids

[@jackbaker6596]

I came to bmx through finding your Channel. My son is 1 and a half and we’ve got him his first bike so I can get back into it and he can learn to love it. You are one of if not the most influential riders there ever was.

[@Tyedyetodd]

We did it in the late 70’s. Forced you to commit to the takeoff ramp and go for it. The learning curve was steep!

[@DCSCustomFab]

Scotty cramner hands down. You inspired me and everyone i know to ride bmx. You were decades beyond anyone with your skill and level of tricks. I know you're modest but you were honestly the greatest rider of all time.

[@tardis4125]

The most influential rider for me was Scotty. I gave up riding when I was 16. Then I found scottys channel in my 20s when his channel was new. After watching all his videos for maybe 2 years, I finally decided to start riding again. I was just so amazed by what he could do and wanted to learn how to do it myself, which will never happen, but I try. He's also the first professional bmx rider i ever watched

[@jonlavigne3270]

Two things: Greg Guillotte rode a coaster brake. Second, Chase Gouin.

[@niejestemnim]

I am non native english speaker, is coaster brake the one that if you pedal backwards the bike brakes?

[@marky7025]

@@niejestemnim i rode with greg a bit in the very late 80's and don't remember him riding a coaster

[@gcostanza2115]

I'm with you on this one Matty. I used to ride in the early/mid 80's and everyone I knew had brakes back then. Some years later when I saw that 'brakeless' come in; I couldn't believe it, I still can't imagine riding without brakes! Great video guy's, thank's for posting.

[@jamesbrawn2376]

The definitive turning point was Road Fools 1 when they met up with Gonz and Co. That video brought brakeless to the masses. Even the RF crew was shocked that Gonz, Chris Toth and pretty much that whole town was all brakeless.

[@pauljames1978]

Edwin and the animal bikes team and The Gonz and Ratboy was the first breakless riders Ive seen on video’s 👍🚲💨

[@fallenshallrise]

Joe "Butcher" Kowalski and Troy McMurray and the Gonz but who was first? IDK. Oh in flatland Chase Gouin. Edit: finished watching the video and they got it. I also agree with Scotty that in the early 2000s we all knew that Butcher and the Gonz and McMurray and other people were riding brakeless but they were always kind of wild riders - brakeless + 4 pegs didn't truly catch on until Edwin made street riding look so good in those early Animal videos.

[@danoj5076]

Eddie Fiola (King Of the Skateparks) in the 80s he was just an all round rider. He still rides and does some shows till this day. He was also a stunt man in the movie RAD

[@miscreint]

I think you guys should review old xgames competitions, from the '90s. Maybe get a rider who competed, or a commentator from the event on to talk about it. Love the videos. Been here many years now.

[@tommyhanrahan524]

Mike Aitken, the most style and flow you could get on a bmx

[@chrisshaw2754]

I remember an interview with Troy in the 90s where he said that skaters dont have brakes so why should bmx.

[@OGblaize]

edwin delarosa! one of my all time favorite riders. he had the best grips, id always buy them

[@mokujinsan9946]

56 year old geezer, still sending the trails with a sweet rear brake. Mad love for the sport since 1980. All styles get maximum respect from me, do what you want is the very spirit of BMX. It's fucking Art baby. 💎❤️

[@DGPG35]

I had friends that rode brakeless freestyle back in the 80's, mostly quarter pipe riding. As a shop sponsored flatland rider, I was able to meet and ride with many of the factory riders from the 80's, there were a few that had a second bike with no brakes (which they would use for certain tricks). Bob Haro, Mike Buff, Ron Wilkerson, Denis McCoy and Eddie Fiola were my inspiration.

[@Makethemsayoyvey]

Chase Hawk had an interesting influence on BMX along with Mike Aitken

[@amytomlinson9002]

My uncle was my inspiration to start riding, but the person that I had the fortune to ride with in my early days was Jamie Bestwick. He was, and is, such a humble and positive person. I’m 47 and everytime I ride I can’t help but think about the times I rode with Jamie. He’s the man!

[@andrewtaylor5679]

Alcantara, Aitken, Escamilla, Eddie Cleveland, Dave Thompson, Hoder, Ian Schwartz, Nyquest, Burns.

[@EricHartnett]

THANK YOU! I had to search for this comment. This is my list of early riders I remember being brakeless growing up.

[@TreyDavis1986]

I know everybody says it but as a kid growing up in the 90s the man, the legend, Dave Mirra was who really got me hooked into bmx. I looked up to him and wanted to be just like him. His style, his persona on screen, his talent, he was and to me still is the face of bmx. Others that inspired me was fuzzy hall, the wildman, nyquist, hoffman and nasty. Mid school era riders and the sport will forever be the best in my book. Then here you came Scotty, busted onto the scene and added even more style and flair to the sport. You are a big inspiration now not just with bmx but life as well. Props to you on your message and the heart you have.

[@neilwade4857]

The guy who got me riding was Paul Broomfield from chelmsford in England. 25 years ago, I saw him grinding down a handrail at the police station. The next day I bought a bmx. He was a local legend. He declined major sponsorships all the time. He is the only guy I've ever seen air both ways as smooth and as natural as each other. He was hard to pick what was opposite or not.

[@EverythingN.Nothing]

I was a big ramp nerd/aspiring vert guy in the early 2000s so I was gyroed/pegged out like Mirra, Hoffman, and Bestwick

[@nosaj3000]

My influence riders were Mike Dominguez , Vert beast Craig Grasso and Pete Agustin, Vic Murphy, Street Gods Ron Wilkerson was an all around monster who brought abubacas into my life. Later on as I grew older and moved mainly toward street, The Homeless Bikes crew from Austin TX were very influential. Lee Sultimier, rails and wall rides Dave Parrick, long line runs linking trick after trick after trick Eben Kracku, for kicking it on all fronts James Shepherd, original steet moves along with great flow and style.

[@jamesd5415]

Rare to here anything about homeless nowadays. My brother had i think a 93 homeless the mack. If only i knew how rare it would be today i would've got it off him and kept it around.

[@stonyb4046]

@@nosaj3000 Ron Wilkerson was my favorite rider dude invented so many tricks including the Miami Hopper drop in the no-footed can-can the Rocket air the nothing air & of course the all mighty Abubaca plus 2-Hip & vert contest inc the first street contest 2-Hip Meet the Street & Wilkerson Air Lines etc….. 🤘🏼🤙🏼

[@stonyb4046]

@@nosaj3000 Homeless Bike dudes 🤘🏼

[@stonyb4046]

@@nosaj3000 if I could reply with the spider-Man Meme I would lol

[@joshjosephsen5106]

Rick Thorn was the first pro rider i met in person that first influenced me to wanna switch from skating to biking. Then Josh Harrington got me more motivated into building my first bike and hitting the streets. Then of course to follow Scotty Cranmer blowing up as the young gun at the x-games and dew tour. I even made a clay bust for my high school class of scotty for people that have influenced us.

[@Cjstreetphire]

Edwin is for sure the first dude that comes to mind when I think about brakeless riding becoming mainstream

[@JAYFLATLDN]

I took mine off after watching On The Down Low. Gonz, Chase G, Ratboy, Chris Toth, but I think a flatlander went Brakeless first. Chase or someone before him. I'll take the UK win tho

[@Aiden4130]

Flatland god Chase Gouin started riding brakeless in 94/95.

[@qualm43]

I came to this video to say it was Chase Gouin to do it first. Still the best flatland BMX rider of all time, decades ahead of everyone else in the sport.

[@gladlawson61]

​@@qualm43 Scuffing was dumb af. Looked like an idiot doing it. I remember chase interview basically saying that.

[@banneddamn]

Chase first started brakeless in 1993 😉

[@TheLegendaryBuck65]

Came here to say this

[@outridingBMXPortugal]

They completely forgot to talk about flatland. Brakeless became mainstream in flatland way before it did in street riding and Chase Gouin is responsible for that.

[@jamieboyle538]

My favourite bmx rider was scotty cranmer I used to watch you on x games all the time before I went to school I'm now 27 and you still inspire me coz you are such a really good rider and you help me get back on my bike when I seen you getting back on yours after your crash

[@kotix720p9]

definitely matt hoffman for me growing up, but i was never good at vert lol but just loved watching bmx and getting the magazines

[@aaronsteward931]

Watching Dave Mirra and Dennis McCoy compete back in the day was so awesome

[@jordanpedigo3946]

I don't know back in the day but nowadays you're one of the most influenced BMX riders in the world Scotty Kramer your journey through life is crazy and that you overcame what you overcame so proud keep going you inspire a lot of people

[@jordanpedigo3946]

Sorry about the k in your last name

[@Mil_Buri]

Hoffman was the first one I remember seeing without brakes. Edwin made it mainstream.

[@jeffreyknight2284]

i remember a clip of mat hoffman saying brakes were messing up his flow so he took them off. I think it was mat

[@SkylerTod]

Mat was the first he said it was, so he couldn't slow down

[@jeffreyknight2284]

Scotty you need to interview Mat Hoffman on this

[@Mil_Buri]

@@jeffreyknight2284 I'd watch that

[@justinyates1154]

I remember watching Dave mirra land a backflip during one of the x games, then came back the next year or two and hit the double backflip. I liked lots of other riders, but he was the one I looked up to the most as a child, fast forward a while and, no offense Scotty, I remember hearing your name during the televised comps and thinking who is this new kid? Kinda hating cuz you were winning over my heroes lol! But Spencer Foresman is who got me back onto a bike as an adult, he's entertaining, he's funny, he's a great rider, and he always seems to really have fun riding his bike. That reminded me of what I love most about BMX, just doing it for fun

[@raw_si_siht]

Same, Spencer got me back into at 39 a couple years ago.

[@mikereimer4048]

As far as being pumped on riders in the xgames and stuff. Top 3 for me. Are Stephen Murray, Ryan Guetler, and you. All 3 of you came out and brought new tricks and tons of energy.

[@seangriffin8701]

I was 10 or 11, and I happened to flip channels to see Dave Mirra and Dennis McCoy riding vert doubles at Xgames. From that moment, I HAD to ride bmx! I was able to for 25 years before injuries caught up to me, and I had to stop because of back injuries. It's still the one true love I have, though. Most influential for me have been Dave and Dennis (obviously), Ryan Nyquist (learned nothing no-footed cans, suicides, and rocket tricks because of him), Morgan Wade ( I always tried to find the biggest transfers/gaps wherever I was), and Adam Strieby (random one, but I got a redline because of him, which was my 1st brand new bike that wasn't mish-mash parts from old bikes or friends). Love you guys! I'm definitely missing some, but those jump out in my memory the most.

[@bmx.j0sh]

Rider that got me into BMX was Ryan Taylor. 2 riders that got me into street BMX was Anthony Panza & Billy Perry. Panza - didnt let anything stop him, if he wanted to ride something hes doing it no matter what. Perry - Such a clean and steely style of riding, such a chilled out dude and has an awesome brand - FTL

[@csj9619]

Thanks for addressing this topic, 'cause it's something I've been totally baffled by. I'm 48 and got back into riding (albeit much less aggressively) and wouldn't even consider riding brakeless. * currently riding a 2013 DK Sentry 24"

[@lconthebeat]

Aaron Ross , 15 years ago when i was in high school watching Aaron Ross was a thing of beauty

[@keithzimnock7682]

I would have to say the one that influenced me to go ride bmx was you scotty and still to this day you influence me to keep riding!! Love ya man keep it up you legend!!!!! 🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@kevinstotler9186]

Brian Foster In the 90s when I started he could do it all and was one of the best at it. Street, Park, Dirt and Racing he killed it. Loved watching him ride

[@dreadiedude]

Nate Wessel going huge in Props Road Fools (and I had dreadlocks at the time too) - I can still see him jumping out of a quarterpipe onto a roof and back into a bank in Props Road Fools 7. On a separate note, I'm in the 2 brakes 4 pegs club :D

[@javierortiz82]

It's great that you recognize Troy's greatness. He's so cool. As per the most influential, it's hard to go without naming the big legends like Bob Haro, McCoy or Mirra, but the one I admire the most is Matt Hoffman, he's my childhood hero and he inspired my fascination with getting air.

[@BMXOPHY]

Is this you Jake? The Jake Ortiz?

[@javierortiz82]

@@BMXOPHY nope, I wish haha

[@BMXOPHY]

@@javierortiz82oh, that's cool either way. I agree with your list. Cheers brother.

[@ballodium9358]

appreciate the break down gents. thanks for the share scotty.

[@zubrhero5270]

At one point from the late 90s to the early 00s (when we moved to DVD/internet), I was obsessed with BMX VHS videos. I'm from Yorkshire, so, I'd basically just get random videos that trickled in overseas into my local "extreme sports" shop, and watch them over-and-over with my mates. I must have seen the first 5 Props "Road Fools" a hundred times... Which is kinda what started me wanting to ride brakeless. Basically, all of the people mentioned in this video were on Road Fools at some point in those early issues, which kinda influenced me, but, Van Homan and Garret Byrnes and the Little Devil guys was definitely the style of riding I was going for.

[@thisismyyoutubename1214]

I rede today at 40 years old because of watching Dave Mirra when I was a teenager.

[@shanesischo7378]

In the beginning, there was about a dozen of us that were to poor and not very skilled at setup. Gonz, Troy, smoker, rat boy, butcher, Kimbrough, and a few others. I remember getting so much grief for not having brakes.

[@shawnmcclure-ov1os]

Josh Stricker, fast racer style in the streets, ramps, dirt. All around rider. Seth Kimbrough for killing all of it, and looking like he's having fun doing it.

[@johnbaines4908]

Andy Ruffell for me. I guess if you're from the UK and in your 50s that's the standard answer. Bringing things up to date then I'd go with Dennis Enarson. Absolute beast in virtually every discipline!

[@Tony_3XL]

The big thing with Edwin was his smooth almost bmx racing / dirt style BUT in the streets. His bike set up, his clothes, the edits and the music. It was the whole package. Not just hucking tricks with poor style on heavy bikes.

[@dansimpson9214]

I’m from the UK and for me it was Ian Morris. I loved watching his video parts and magazine photos. He just went for it all the time. He and Fids (R.I.P.) showed me the brits can do it too.

[@gerardkeller9657]

When I first started riding I didn’t have a phone or any social media. Right when I got a phone my buddy sent me the video of Yourself and Cory. So you can take all the credit for inspiring me on the bike!

[@bryboy92]

Ed was the reason I went brakeless. He has the street rider style. My reasoning for going brakeless is, if your going for the trick you have to be committed or else I would always back out of the trick. When I had brakes, they allowed me to learn my balance point for manuals.

[@Taylor_Gang1]

VAN HOMAN (Fitlife video) I’m not surprised Scotty, but you have contacts to a lot of people that I’ve never heard of. You should make a video going through your contacts and some of the names you’ve got stored. And then to top the video call one of them for us

[@littledevilchris666]

For me it was Edwin delarosa as the stand out brakeless wise. My favourite guy to keep an eye on watching was Sergio layos! Just his style was unreal! Loved watching scotty saw him on Roadfools and it made me look into him, still following to this day! Loved the demolition and volume bikes mid school days crew too!

[@michaelgranados7886]

Would love to see you guys on the Unclicked podcast

[@SliderMermerli-k5i]

the most influential channel was for me you guys scotty matt and the crew allways the best of the best bmx riding and whats most important your vide like a big family ♥♥

[@miscreint]

Jay Miron, Dennis McCoy, Dave Mirra, and later, Ryan Nyquist were big names. XGames kind of used to hype the friendly rivalries, and every rider brought their A-Game on massive courses.

[@scott_belz]

Spencer Bass because he rode fearlessly and was the talk of DFW when I was learning to ride. He motivated me and helped me with tricks. The scene was insane when I was growing up so there are many friends that were first idols. Wish I could name them all.

[@colinmumford6843]

In the UK it has to be Andy Ruffell who was the most influential rider in the 1980’s. He was an amazing rider and the poster boy for BMX in the UK.

[@mentalmoto763]

Josh White did brake-less 540's and areal variations back in 1985, he had brakes but didnt even put his finger on the brake lever. I asked him about it in at the Venice beach contest in 85. Tony Murray who competed in the King of the Skateparks was also the first rider I called "goofy foot", since I also was a surfer the term "goofy foot" came from surfing. Tony Murray did airs to the right with his top foot in the rear position, aka front-side airs. So really whatever is your normal rotation, your top foot in the rear position determines you are airing front-side or goofy.

[@fishingfan1500]

I used to be brakeless as a teen, but I was diagnosed with epilepsy a few years ago (I've had many other health issues before then as well) so RN I run a single cable, my reaction times aren't as great as they used to be, but I still enjoy bmx as a 30yo

[@midschoolbmx]

Great video! I feel like the Gonz deserves to be mentioned too when it comes to brakeless riding.

[@mikelorman2927]

Van Homan was my first inspiration and as soon as I learned about you Scotty, you inspired me since especially being a fellow south Jersey rider and also Darryl tocco and all the dudes he rode with

[@robertclayton4936]

2 riders for me Ryan Nyquist was the first rider I ever saw in a video and is probably the reason I ride the way I do and the second is Fids (RIP Legend) a local to me and the first pro I saw ride in person, absolutely cemented my love for bmx

[@kylelooney8016]

Me and my brother restarted riding like 2 years ago because of you and matty. As of when we was youner it was dave mirra , matt hoffman and the slim jim guy lol

[@darkhorseO3]

Mike Aitken is the most influential BMX rider of all time. Style, on and off the bike. Everything before was hucking it and dou g gnarly stuff but Aitken perfected tricks and made it look beautiful.

[@reallypeacedoff]

Next video should be most influential songs in BMX. For example, Diary of a Madman for Van Homan's LD part. Slayer for the opening of Fox Expendable Youth. Thursday for the opening of Ride's Turbulence etc. Get the kids learning about the music we grew up with too.

[@junka1975]

Great bit of history there Scotty.

[@Jamie7ee]

Proper bmx is 4 pegs, two brakes and a gyro! 🤘😂

[@jean-philippegrignom6479]

🤢

[@attackrabbit712]

For some reason i thought Troy was no longer with us, glad to discover i was wrong about that :p Riders who got me into the sport include Hoffman, Miron, Osato, Castillo and too many more to even say which may have been most inspiring to me. I'd perhaps have to put forth Ruben for one of the most influential over modern bmx for sheer cranking up of the insanity levels when he blasted on to the scene

[@banneddamn]

Straight up, Chase gouin is the OG first true brakeless rider back in 1993. At first he did it just mess with and confuse trevor myer, who was biting his tricks and style. The gonz, who also lived in AZ at the time, saw chase riding brakeless and adopted it and it slowly spread from there.

[@jeremybaker5444]

Back in the late 80's early 90's i took my brakes off because they sucked, spent more time fixing them then using them. Same reason i don't have them now. Tim "fuzzy" Hall. Dude was the OG of dirt jumping. How many firsts on dirt does he have? First back flip, first front flip. Essentially first pro dirt jumper. He was the man for how to's back in BMX plus days. Remember one of his quotes on how to jump "you're always better off over clearing..." Hoffman is a hero, only recently have i started riding vert however

[@DWSOutdoors]

Good call on bringing up Edwin FIRST!

[@tomdestefano138]

Most influential riders: - Mike Aitken - Brian Foster - Chris Doyle - Clint Reynolds - Edwin De La Rosa - Vic Ayala - Luc-E - Will Taubin - Garrett Byrnes - Van Homan - Jimmy Levan - Sean Burns - The Godfather Mat Hoffman

[@MrMiguella]

Mykel Perkins and Brad Doyle are 2 of the most influential riders ever, they invented the "Aussie style" that everyone seems to copy nowadays. They influenced riders like Colin Mackay, Ryan Guettlar and Dave Dilleward. Perko was like a midschool Cory Berglar and Brad Doyle was the essence of trail riding.

[@kristoffersonDM]

I think it was a necessity as a little kid rider, who got no money to repair the bike, and then , we just got used to ride a bike without brakes!! That was what happened to me and my first bmx in 1983, going downhill with no brakes!!! haha

[@chrisbower2971]

I had a brakeless BMX in 1981. It was the cool thing to do at the time on the Sunshine Coast Australia. I would put my foot in the forks for brakes or power slide. This was before they had brakes that allowed handlebar spinning.

[@DWSOutdoors]

It's so funny everyone thought I was trying to be trendy back in the day because I didn't run breaks but that wasn't a choice 🤣 I was just poor....

[@dragonflyjoyride]

Matt Beringer, Mike Aitken, Corey Martinez, Edwin Delarosa, Taj, and Corey Nastazio. I’m 51 and raced when younger, when older got into street, dirt and park around late 90’s until 2009.

[@andrewodri5409]

Super interesting! Can only speak for myself and everyone I rode with back in the day, but I think BMX has definitely changed for the better: It's less about being putting your life on the line to go big, and more about developing skills progressively but safely. I mean there were no foam pits or resi ramps, and everyone wanted to be hardcore like Mat Hoffman whose body is mostly composed of titanium (and who spent a good portion of his riding career comatose). Just about everyone I rode with went brakeless at least for a time since it was good for forced commitment for new tricks/big obstacles. Also, doing bus drivers would get you laughed off the street; barspins were supposed to be Dave Mirra style free spinning, so that was a factor too

[@alexandrtarasenko1531]

I grew up without a TV in the late 90s, all we got was to flip through a BMX Plus mag while mom was shopping at WinCo. Nastazio and Gary Young and Sheep Hills lol.

[@coastalbrakeseb]

For me I’d have to say Aaron Ross and Corey Martinez. Always loved both of those guys styles. 😊

[@mindbomb2000]

Fascinating stuff. I'm an 80's So. Cal (Torrance) old school guy, and never really understood why BMX went brakeless. Watching this gives me insight. When I was riding it wasn't even a consideration because I had only had money for one bike that I used for racing, flatland, jumping, and parks. So, I had to compromise on every discipline. The only thing I would do is put on pegs for freestyle. But brakes? I mean it's incredible what people can do without them. The innovation in this sport is amazing. For me, so many tricks relied upon brakes... I actually used coaster brakes way after everyone had switched to callipers. I just liked the feel, and at the time, free-coasters didn't exist.

[@andreipetrila2410]

I'm a new rider and I can say that Simone Barraco is really making me push my limits to get to his style of riding.

[@shainedupuis2649]

We were riding brakeless as kids back in late 90s. Honestly, it was just one less thing to deal with when working on our bikes and stopping with your foot in the back tire worked just fine lol