BMX Trick
Fakie
Fakie is a BMX term and trick for riding backwards, with the bike rolling in reverse while the rider stays facing the same direction.
Updated 3 min read601 words
Fakie is a BMX term for riding backwards, where the bike rolls in reverse and the rider stays facing the same direction. Riders roll fakie off ramps, after 180s, and while setting up tricks. It is both a skill and a position, and the word is also used as a prefix: a "fakie barspin" is a barspin done while rolling backwards.
Overview
Fakie is part of almost every riding style. Park riders roll fakie down a ramp after landing a 180. Street riders ride fakie into ledges, manuals and grinds. Flatland riders use it as a starting point for many tricks.
Riding fakie is not the same as riding switch. Fakie means the bike moves backwards. Switch means you ride with your non-natural stance.
How to ride fakie
Practise on a smooth, flat surface with no traffic.
- Roll forward slowly. Get a feel for the bike.
- Stop and stand over the bike. Look over your shoulder in the direction you want to roll.
- Let the bike roll backwards. On a slight slope, gravity does this for you.
- Keep your weight centred. Do not lean back or forward.
- Steer gently. Small bar movements keep you straight. Backwards steering feels reversed at first.
- Slow down and stop. Use your feet or the brake lightly. Avoid sudden braking.
Start with a few metres. Over time you can roll for longer and add moves like a manual or a bunny hop.
Freecoaster versus cassette
How your rear hub works changes how fakie feels.
| Cassette hub | Freecoaster hub | |
|---|---|---|
| Rolling backwards | Pedals turn backwards | Cranks stay still |
| Pedalling backwards | Drives the bike backwards | Engages the brake (most designs) |
| Feel | Cranks move, so balance changes | Quiet and steady |
| Best for | Riders who pedal a lot | Riders who roll backwards often |
See freecoaster hub and cassette hub for how each works. If your cranks spin as you roll back, keep your feet loose and let the pedals turn under them. On a freecoaster, your feet stay put and the cranks do not move.
How to roll out
Getting out of fakie is part of the skill. The main options:
- Half-cab. Do a 180 from fakie so you finish rolling forward. This is the most common method.
- Fakie 180. A hop with a half turn that also finishes rolling forward.
- Roll out on the bank. Let a ramp or bank carry you forward.
- Stop and turn. While learning, slow down, put a foot down and turn the bike around.
A half-cab is the best trick to learn first. It pairs with the standard 180, which takes you forward to fakie.
Variations
- Fakie manual. A manual while rolling backwards.
- Fakie bunny hop. A bunny hop while rolling in reverse.
- Fakie barspin. A barspin done fakie.
- Fakie tailwhip. A tailwhip done fakie.
- Fakie to ledge. Ride fakie onto a ledge for a grind.
- Fakie out. Ride a trick, then land and roll fakie.
Common mistakes
- Looking forward. Look over your shoulder in the direction you roll.
- Leaning back. Weight should stay centred over the bike.
- Locking the brake. A sudden rear brake on a fakie roll can throw you forward.
- Stiff legs. Stay loose, particularly on a cassette hub where the pedals move.
- Reverse steering confusion. Small, slow bar movements. Do not over-correct.
History
Riding backwards has been part of cycling since early trick riding, and fakie became a common word as BMX borrowed it from skateboarding. The term is widespread in freestyle BMX, and the details of who first used it for bikes are not well documented. See flatland and rise of street riding.
Related tricks
Frequently asked questions about Fakie
How do I get out of fakie?
Most riders roll out with a half-cab, which is a 180 that finishes rolling forward. You can also stop, put a foot down and turn around while you learn.
Is fakie easier on a freecoaster?
For many riders, yes. A freecoaster lets the cranks stay still while the bike rolls backwards. On a cassette hub the pedals turn in reverse as you roll, which can feel odd at first.
Can you pedal backwards?
On a cassette hub, pedalling backwards moves the bike backwards. On a freecoaster, back pedalling engages the brake on most hubs. Check how your hub works before you try.
Related articles
180
A 180 is a BMX trick where the rider rotates the bike and body half a turn in the air, usually landing fakie or rolling out via a half-cab.
3 min readManual
A manual is a BMX trick where the rider balances and rolls on the rear wheel alone, with the front wheel in the air, without pedalling.
3 min readBunny Hop
A bunny hop is a BMX trick where the rider lifts both wheels off the ground together, using body movement and timing alone, with no ramp or kicker.
3 min readFreecoaster Hub
A freecoaster hub is a BMX rear hub with a clutch that lets the wheel roll backwards without turning the cranks, unlike a standard cassette hub.
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A cassette hub is a BMX rear hub whose removable driver contains a ratchet freewheel, so the wheel spins freely when the rider stops pedalling.
3 min readAbubaca
An abubaca is a BMX ramp trick where the rider stalls the back wheel on the coping or lip, front wheel up, then hops back in and rolls away fakie.
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