BMX Trick
Invert
An invert is a BMX air trick where the rider tilts the bike and body past vertical so they are upside down or nearly so in mid-air, then rolls back to land.
Updated 3 min read731 words
An invert is a BMX air trick where the rider tilts the bike and their body past vertical in mid-air, so they are upside down or close to it, then brings the bike back under them to land. It is a classic air on quarter-pipes and vert ramps, and it also turns up on dirt jumps.
Overview
On a quarter-pipe, the rider goes straight up the transition, leaves the coping and, at the top of the air, leans the bike over sideways so far that it passes vertical. The wheels point out or up and the rider hangs below or beside the bike for a moment. Then the rider rolls the bike back and comes down the ramp forwards or fakie, depending on the air.
You can think of an invert as a tabletop taken further. The tabletop stops when the bike is flat. The invert keeps going until the bike is upside down. On dirt jumps, the term is also used for a table that goes well past flat, and there is some overlap in how riders name these airs.
Inverts are often associated with 1980s and early 1990s vert and ramp riding, when big, stretched airs were the core of freestyle. They are still done today and are often seen as a nod to that era.
How to do it
Only try this on a ramp you already air well, with plenty of height. Inverts put you upside down, and a short air leaves no margin. A foam pit or resi ramp is strongly recommended. See resi.
- Ride in with good speed. You need more height than for a basic air.
- Go straight up the transition. Keep the bike vertical as you leave the coping.
- Start the lean at the top. As the bike stops climbing, lean your body and the bike to one side.
- Push the bike over. Use your arms and legs to tilt the bike past flat, the same way you would start a tabletop but further.
- Let your body follow. Your head and shoulders drop below the bike as it passes vertical.
- Hold for a moment. At the peak, the bike is inverted or nearly so.
- Roll it back. Reverse the lean and bring the bike back under you on the same side.
- Land on the transition. Both wheels touch down on the ramp, with your weight centred.
Getting comfortable upside down
Your body needs time to get used to being inverted. Work up in stages, and do not try a full invert until a big tabletop on the same ramp feels relaxed. Spotters and soft landing areas help.
Variations
- Tabletop invert. The bike passes through a full tabletop on the way over.
- One-handed invert. One hand leaves the bars at the peak. See one-hander.
- One-footed invert. One foot off and extended. See one-footer.
- No-footed invert. Both feet off at the peak. Rare and advanced.
- Inverted lookback. The bars and body turn so the rider looks back while inverted. See lookback.
- Dirt invert. An over-flat table on a dirt jump. Naming varies between riders.
Learning progression
- Solid airs. Get consistent height on the quarter-pipe first.
- Tabletops. Learn to lay the bike flat and return it reliably. See tabletop.
- Over-flat tables. Push slightly past flat and return.
- Resi or foam pit. Try full inverts where a fall is soft.
- Real ramp. Only move to a hard landing once you can return the bike every time.
Wear a full set of protection: helmet, gloves, knee and elbow pads, and shin guards. A full-face helmet is worth considering for vert. See protective gear and the BMX helmet guide.
Common mistakes
- Not enough height. The most common problem. You run out of time to return the bike.
- Leaning too early. Leaving the coping already tilted sends you off the side of the ramp.
- Going over and not coming back. Commit to the return as soon as you reach the peak.
- Looking away from the ramp. Keep your eyes on the transition so you know where you will land.
- Drifting out. Go straight up the ramp, not out into the flat.
History
Inverts were a classic air of the 1980s freestyle era, when riders were pushing vert and quarter-pipe riding to new heights. Many riders did versions of them, and there is no single widely accepted inventor. See freestyle BMX boom 1980s and vert.
Related tricks
Frequently asked questions about Invert
Is an invert the same as a backflip?
No. In a backflip the rider and bike rotate a full turn backwards. In an invert the bike is tipped sideways past vertical and then brought back the same way, without a full rotation.
Where is the best place to learn an invert?
A quarter-pipe or vert ramp you already air comfortably is the usual place, because you come back down the same transition. A foam pit or resi is even better for first attempts.
How is an invert different from a tabletop?
A tabletop lays the bike flat. An invert keeps going past flat until the bike, and often the rider, is upside down or close to it. Many riders think of an invert as an extended tabletop.
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