BMX Trick
Nose Manual
A nose manual is a BMX trick where the rider balances and rolls on the front wheel only, with the rear wheel lifted off the ground.
Updated 3 min read609 words
A nose manual is a BMX trick where the rider balances on the front wheel alone, with the rear wheel off the ground and the bike rolling forward. It is the front-wheel version of the manual, and most riders find it harder because the balance point is tighter and the fall is over the bars.
Overview
Nose manuals are a common sight in street and park riding. They fill gaps in a line, link grinds and add variety to flat tricks. A long, controlled nose manual shows strong balance and bike control.
The main challenge is that the front wheel is small and the bike pivots on a single point. The balance window is narrow, so you work with small hip and arm movements.
Brakes or brakeless
Your setup shapes how you learn this trick.
| With a front brake | Brakeless | |
|---|---|---|
| Control | Light touch on the lever helps slow the drop | Only hip and body position |
| Risk | Over-grabbing locks the wheel and sends you forward | No brake to grab, so no lock |
| Common style | Less common in modern BMX | Very common |
Most modern BMX bikes have a rear brake only, or no brakes at all. In practice, the nose manual is learned with technique first. See brakes or brakeless and brakes for the trade-offs. A rider who is brakeless relies entirely on balance and weight shifts.
How to do it
Find a smooth, flat area and learn at slow speed. Wear a helmet and gloves, because the usual fall is forward.
- Roll slowly. Keep your pedals level and your knees soft.
- Lean forward. Move your chest over the bars and push your weight toward the front axle.
- Lift the rear wheel. Push your hips forward and your feet slightly down, so the rear wheel unweights.
- Find the balance point. With the back wheel up, hold still and feel where the bike hangs.
- Correct with your hips. Hips back to bring the rear wheel down. Hips forward to lift it more.
- Land softly. Move your weight back and let the rear wheel settle, then roll away.
Begin with a short nose manual of one or two metres. Distance builds from there.
A good first drill
Roll slowly, lift the rear wheel only a few centimetres, and put it back down. Repeat until the lift feels natural. Then try holding it a second longer each time.
Variations
- Nose manual 180. Spin 180 degrees on the front wheel. See 180.
- Fakie nose manual. Roll backwards on the front wheel. See fakie.
- Nose manual to manual. Switch from the front wheel to the rear wheel in one move.
- One-footed nose manual. Lift a foot once your balance is stable.
- Nose manual out of a hop. Link it with a bunny hop.
- Long nose manual. Hold the trick along a flat section or a bank.
Common mistakes
- Leaning too far forward. Dumping your weight over the bars sends you over them. Stay centred.
- Stiff arms. Locked arms leave no room to react.
- Grabbing the front brake. An abrupt grab locks the wheel. Use a very light touch or avoid it.
- Going too fast. Higher speeds shorten your reaction time.
- Looking down. Eyes forward, not at the front tyre.
- Soft front tyre. A squishy front tyre makes the bike feel unstable.
History
Front-wheel balance tricks have been part of freestyle riding for a long time, including in flatland, where riders often balance on one wheel as a base for other moves. How the trick first appeared in BMX is debated, and its popularity grew with street riding. For more on that scene, see rise of street riding and flatland.
Related tricks
Frequently asked questions about Nose Manual
Is a nose manual harder than a manual?
Most riders find it harder. The front wheel sits further forward and the bike pivots over the front axle, so mistakes cost you quickly and the fall is forward, not backward.
Can you nose manual without brakes?
Yes. Brakeless riders hold the trick with hip position and by rolling forward, and they stop the front end dropping by shifting their weight. A front brake is rare on BMX, so most riders rely on technique.
How do I stop falling over the bars?
Keep your weight back over the back axle as you lift, bend your knees, and drop the rear wheel gently by moving your hips back instead of dumping your weight forward.
Watch on the LUXBMX YouTube
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