How to Make a BMX Ramp

Bicycle motocross, or BMX, is a popular extreme sport in which either bicycles are raced around an earthen track that is filled with all kinds of hills and sharp turns or tricks are done on ramps and half pipes like the ones used for skateboarding. Because of this extreme sport's popularity many young boys and girls enjoy trying out their own tricks on their own bikes, and in order to do this, they need a BMX ramp. If you know a young person who is a fan of BMX and would like to make him his own ramp, follow the instructions below.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Sheet of 3/8-inch plywood 10 foot 2-by-4 Box of 2-inch screws Circular saw Jigsaw Drill

1. Cut your 2 by 4 into 3 24-inch pieces and 1 23-inch piece. These will serve as three support beams for the top of the ramp and a support for the back bottom corner.

2. Cut your plywood into 3 24-by-12 inch rectangles.

3. Use screws or nails to temporary hold the three rectangles together.

4. Check to make sure that all three rectangles are square, if they aren't square use your saw to make them so.

5. Draw a curve on one of the rectangles, this will be the curve of your ramp. Make it as straight or curved as you like; the more curved the more air you will catch coming off the ramp.

6. Use your jigsaw to cut your curve smoothly from one end to the other.

7. Choose three points along the curve of your ramp where your support beams will be located. There should be a support at the top, the bottom and in the middle.

8. Trace out the shape of your support beam in these locations so that the beam will be right along the edge of the curve of your ramp.

9. Cut out the slots for your support beams along your ramps curved edge using your jigsaw. Check each slot with your support beams to make sure the beams fit snug and rest flush with your ramp's curve.

10. Separate the plywood vertical supports and choose one to be the middle support. It doesn't really matter which one you choose.

11. Cut the bottom back corner of the middle vertical support so that the back bottom corner support beam can pass through it.

12. Cut your plywood sheet so that it is 26 by 24 inches for the top of your ramp, or the deck.

13. Set your saw to 1/8 inch and cut widthwise scores about 1 inch apart down the back of your ramp's deck. This will make it easier to get the deck of your ramp to curve into your vertical supports when the time comes.

14. Cut a plywood base that is 24 by 34 inches. You want the base to extend beyond the back of the ramp so the ramp doesn't tip when you or someone else reaches the back of it.

15. Screw the outside vertical supports to the bottom back corner beam using two screws at each end. Make sure the beam is squared with the back bottom corner of the vertical supports.

16. Carefully drill a pilot hole from the cross beam into the vertical support and then screw them together.

17. Insert your cross beams one at a time along the top curve of your ramp. Drilling a hold from cross beam to vertical support and then screwing them together as you go.

18. Align the deck of your ramp along the curved top of your ramp frame.

19. Drill a pilot hole through the deck and into one of the cross beams on one of the sides so you can see where the beams are, then screw the ramp deck into the cross beams making sure to countersink the screws as to avoid shredding your bike's tiers when you use the ramp. Repeat this on the other side of the ramp.

20. Snap a chalk line from one side of the ramp to the other where the screws are located so that you can easily screw the deck into the cross beams all the way across the deck.

21. Attach the deck to the vertical supports the same way.

22. Flip your ramp over and attach the base to the vertical supports and bottom cross beam in the same manner in which you attached the ramp deck to the top. Make sure the excess base falls to the back of the ramp.

Tips & Warnings

• Always wear the proper protective gear when riding your bicycle.