Bar Ends
Browse used BMX bar ends for sale from riders across the UK. Bar ends are the plugs that seal the open ends of 22.2mm handlebars, keeping the grips from sliding off and stopping an open chromoly tube from acting like a cookie cutter in a slam. This category covers nylon push-in plugs, bolt-in alloy expander ends and the flanged plugs sold with grip sets.
What are BMX bar ends and which type should I get?
Two designs dominate. Nylon push-in plugs are ribbed and friction-fit, cheap and quick to replace when a grind chews one up. Alloy expander ends use a bolt and a tapered wedge that pushes outwards against the inside of the bar, so they stay put through repeated scrapes and take a kerb hit without shattering; ODI and Odyssey both make bolt-in versions, and grip sets from Cult, Fiend and Kink normally include plastic plugs that sellers list on with the grips.
Are BMX bar ends the same as mountain bike bar ends?
No, the same name covers two unrelated parts. On a mountain bike, bar ends are the horn-shaped extensions clamped outboard of the grips for climbing leverage. On a BMX they are plugs that sit inside the tube ends of BMX bars, and they are the difference between a bar you can fall on and one that cuts.
Will they fit my bars?
BMX bars are 22.2mm on the outside, but the internal diameter changes with wall thickness and butting, so a plug that grips hard in one bar can sit loose in another. Alloy expanders cover a wider range because the wedge takes up the slack, while nylon plugs are fussier about the fit. If a listing does not say, ask which bars the seller had them in, and look through the rest of their BMX components for a matching set.
What wears out on used bar ends?
The outer face is sacrificial: alloy ends come back flat-spotted and burred from grinds and kerbs, which is cosmetic until the burr starts cutting into grips and gloves. What matters is the hardware, so check the bolt head is not rounded, that the thread turns freely rather than galling, and that the wedge still spreads when you tighten it down. Nylon plugs crack around the ribs and go loose once the ribs wear flat, and a plug that falls out on a session is usually never seen again.
How much should I pay for used bar ends?
They are a low-value part new, so a used pair is only worth a few pounds, or worth having thrown in with grips or a stem. Buy new if you want a specific colour to finish a build, if you need the expander type and the listing only shows plastic, or if the photos do not show the bolt and wedge at all.