Best 24-inch freestyle BMX bikes under $220

Top pick: JOYSTAR Brockway Freestyle 24" — the only bike here that is genuinely a 24-inch freestyle build with a long track record of owner ratings, and it's sold at several stores, so you have some choice on where to get it. Caliper brakes are the trade-off: fine for cruising and basic tricks, not as sharp as a U-brake.

Who the others suit:

• Hykolity 24" Freestyle — the pick if you want pegs and a rear hand brake out of the box; it's the most freestyle-focused spec sheet here, but ratings are middling and it's a single-brand bike.
• JOYSTAR 24" Freestyle (8–12 years) — the budget route for a younger or lighter rider just starting out.
• Rebel X24 / WARAYZ 24" — cruiser-style 24s rather than true freestyle bikes; fine for riding around, not for park tricks.

Skip the cubsala Trident: it's a race bike and over your cap.