By now you've probably seen them flying around your local skatepark or BMX track - Wildcat, Fatboy, Venom, Rocker, just some of the brands in existence today... so just where did these crazy little bikes come from? We thought it was time to dive a little deeper and pay homage to the real pioneers of Mini BMX bikes, as well as shine a spotlight on Wildcat’s foundation as a true OG in the Mini BMX movement.
To begin, the correct term for the style is ‘Mini BMX’.
The uninitiated often misquote it as ‘rocker’ or 'mini rocker'. However, this is only a brand name, and just one of the myriad of companies that kicked off around the same time, well after the conception of Mini BMX. The true story goes back many years before this.
Unconfirmed accounts pinpoint origins in Indonesia circa the 1960s (pre-dating BMX!). Legend has it that riders adapted cart wheels onto crude frames making tiny, fully functioning bikes. However, they were ahead of their time and with only a small following, these miniature bikes faded into the mists of time.
Fast forward to 2011.
True credit for the first modern-day Mini BMX must be given to several young Indonesian BMX riders working at ‘Kate Bike’ (pronounced kah-teh) who discovered these mythical tales of Mini BMX. Inspired by what they found, they assembled rudimentary set-ups and made videos, giving birth to the modern sport.
Thanks to Youtube and social media it spread rapidly, attracting several British and American companies into production and commercialization.
The Mini BMX factory began producing parts in 2012 for ODM during the initial explosion of the sport (ODM = Original Design Manufacture - design, manufacture, and supply to other name brands). After nearly three years of refinement and a hunger to step out of the shadows to deliver the very best, WILDCAT was born in Spain.
With a professional team of researchers and developers working alongside the REDBULL riders, WILDCAT successfully developed the first generation of ORIGINAL Mini BMX, the first full-strength Mini BMX with 100% specialized design and true BMX bloodline characteristics across their full range.
To this day Wildcat is the ONLY true Mini BMX brand (to our knowledge!) that owns and operates their production lines.
That is why you often see Wildcat parts on many of the other brands around the USA.
This allows constant evolution and innovation of our offering, keeping Wildcat well ahead of the competition.
One of the very first Mini BMX's made by the Wildcat Mini BMX Factory
2015 - Wildcat successfully designed and developed professional accessories compatible with full-size freestyle BMX use, standards of production and specialized processes.
2016 - Wildcat developed new lighter, stronger and truer heat treated wheel hubs, replacing the inferior cart style wheel still used by some brands today... Also the CNC 9t driver and the integrated CNC steering tube.
2017 - Wildcat developed a specialized removable disc brake system.
2018 - the new generation and world's first aluminum Mini BMX frame was successfully developed alongside the new Turbo wheel. Total bike weight has been reduced to just over 9kg making this the lightest and strongest Mini BMX in existence by a long shot. The new design is an astonishing 3kg lighter than its predecessor.
2019 - Wildcat launches in the USA after incredible demand and request. Along the launch in the USA comes the brand new Pro Series - taking Wildcat to a whole new level of ride.
Including the Pro Turbo Wheel as standard, this aluminum and nylon wheel is made to be stronger and lighter than anything else on the market - helping you get higher highs and stronger jumps.
The new-gen Pro Turbo wheel now included as standard on all Pro Series Wildcats.
2020 - Amongst the craziness of the Corona Virus (COVID-19) Wildcat Mini BMX introduces the first full Chrome Pro Series BMX to the USA. Complete with the Turbo Wheel, we are also introducing the first-ever Gyro Kit on a Mini BMX bike.
To date, WILDCAT holds more than 20 different patents and continues to lead the charge in innovation and evolution of Mini BMX design and manufacturing, as well as supply genuine parts for other brands worldwide. WILDCAT lays claim to the highest weight and strength rating globally and also offers the best warranty policy of any Mini BMX brand. This is but one of the many reasons we chose to bring WILDCAT to the North American market.
WILDCAT uses only high-quality materials such as high carbon steel, chrome-molybdenum steel and aluminum alloy, and through innovative design and specific processes of welding, casting, forging, precision CNC, thermal treatments, polishing, and coating bring you the highest quality performance Mini BMX in the world. Why would you ride anything else?
We’re a small family business and we’re incredibly proud to bring you the BEST MINI BMX IN THE GAME. Other brands say similar things, but saying you are the best and being the best - as it turns out, is not quite the same thing.
Having two boys in our family meant that we were begged for the latest craze at the skate park, and so we started to check out the various mini BMX's on the market. After trying another brand first, we then discovered Wildcat - a craze that is sweeping Australia, New Zealand, and Europe.
I then visited the factory myself, before agreeing to become the exclusive distributor of Wildcat Mini's for the USA and Canada. The strength, innovation program, and safety of these Mini BMX's made it a no brainer for us to bring Wildcat to North America.
So what are you waiting for? Come join the Wildcat family and get shredding!
Just some of Wildcat's extensive high-spec parts range
