“Best” depends on risk
There is no single best trick. A better question is which tricks are worth an experienced rider’s time given the risk. This ranking sorts popular advanced tricks into tiers by difficulty and by how serious a mistake can be. It is general information, not coaching, and the order is a rough judgement, not a promise: how hard a trick is varies from rider to rider and bike to bike.
All tricks here are risky. Wear a helmet and suitable protection, practise in a flat, traffic-free place or at a skills park, and move forward in small steps. Nothing in this list guarantees that you will land a trick or avoid injury.
Tier 1: balance and control on the ground
These keep you close to the ground and, with care, close to a safe stop.
- Track stand. Balancing nearly still by making tiny movements of the pedals, bars and body. It trains balance and is useful at traffic lights, but it usually takes patience over many sessions. Practise it on flat ground away from traffic, next to something soft or a wall you can steady yourself against.
- Slow-speed riding and tight turns. Not flashy, but they underpin everything else.
- Small bunny hop. Lifting both wheels a few centimetres over a line or a low, soft object. Ride only on flat, clear ground and keep the obstacle small and harmless.
Tier 2: one wheel in the air
These involve balance on a single wheel, and falls can be sudden.
- Manual. Lifting the front wheel and balancing on the rear without pedalling. Falling backwards is the common risk, so use a helmet, wrist and elbow protection if you choose, and practise on flat, open ground. The balance point is narrow, and progress is slow for most riders.
- Bike wheelie. A pedal-driven lift with the front wheel up. It is hard to control, and the usual danger is looping out backwards. Many riders use a rear brake as a safety net, but the details depend on the bike, and nothing makes it risk-free.
- Nose manual. Balancing on the front wheel alone. It is a more demanding skill, and the fall can send a rider forwards over the bars. A trained rider with instruction is a better route than learning from text.
Tier 3: leaving the ground
Air changes everything, because the rider and bike are committed once they have left the ramp or edge.
- Small jumps. A low, well-built, familiar jump or a pump track roller can be a reasonable step for an experienced rider, provided they build up gradually. Speed, take-off and landing all need to match.
- Drop-offs. Rolling off a ledge and landing. The danger lies in the height, the landing and misjudged speed. Walking and inspecting a feature before riding it is essential, and a small step is not the same as a larger one.
- Basic air tricks. Adding movement in the air, such as a small body or bar movement, increases the chance of a bad landing. Most riders are better placed to learn this with instruction at a skills park.
Tier 4: spins
- Bike 180 and bike 360. Rotating the rider and bike through half or a full turn, on the ground or in the air. Rotation and landing are both difficult. Ground versions at low speed are less risky than aerial ones, but still call for care and often a coach.
Tier 5: coach-only
These are for trained riders at skills parks with qualified instruction, proper equipment and safe landings. They are not suitable to learn from an article, a video or a friend.
- Tailwhip. Spinning the frame around the bars while the rider stays in place. The timing, the catch and the landing are all delicate, and the risk of serious injury is real.
- Front flip. A full forward rotation in the air. A mistake can mean landing on the head or neck.
- BMX backflip. A full backward rotation, with the same very high risk. It is commonly attempted by trained riders over specially built features with spotters and training aids.
If one of these interests you, book a lesson at a skills park, and do not try to piece it together alone.
How to pick
A few questions can help:
- Can I do the tier below cleanly and repeatedly, at low speed, without fear?
- Do I understand how I will bail out?
- Is there a qualified person who can watch and advise?
- Am I choosing this trick because I want to, or because of pressure?
If the answers are not clearly yes, wait. A skills lesson can help you judge honestly where you stand, and nobody is obliged to climb every tier. Many excellent riders spend years happily in Tier 1 and Tier 2.
A word on progress
A rider who learns a track stand and a small bunny hop well is usually better off than one who half-learns three bigger tricks. Smooth, repeatable basics give more enjoyment and more safety, and they are the foundation if you later decide to take a lesson in something bigger.