Basically there seems to be a consensus from riders on certain aspects of this trick...  GO FAST- and make the air big!

Backflips have become one of the key tricks in expert and pro runs nowadays.  While there are a few riders that ignore this trick, it has almost become impossible to win a contest without good solid backflips and probably some variations of them.  Obviously it is critical to be comfortable with clearing jumps in a BIG way...  if you are on a half-pipe then you should probably be getting about 7-10 feet of air!  This really pushes the trick to a new level when you are going for it on vert.  For street and dirt, the trick itself isn't always super-difficult...  But learning it can be deadly.

Keep in mind that the top pros can do other tricks (barspins, x-ups, even 360's) during a backflip.  That shows that the trick itself has a lot of potential as a combination trick.  Some riders are even doing double backflips!  Just remember that this trick can kill you if you land on your head upside-down.  Make sure to work on them someplace with a lot of friends around to help get you to the hospital.

RIDER SUBMITTED DESCRIPTION #1

To do a backflip you need to find a jump with a good lip on it, something that can get you good air.

All you have to do to accomplish a backflip is pedal as fast as you can toward the jump and then as you hit the jump lean back. 

You lean back as if the jump goes in a circle. 

DO NOT bail in the middle of the rotation, that's when you can get hurt.

Just lean back as you go off the jump and when you going upside down pull the bars into you stomach to make you spin faster.

Look toward the landing with you head. When you spot your landing reposition you bike so that you can land comfortably.

RIDER SUBMITTED DESCRIPTION #2

Start with a very fast speed (enough to catch good air!).

Once you have hit the very top of the ramp pull back immediately on the handle bars and shift your weight to the back of the bike.

Once you pull back on the bars the bike will begin to spin.

Grip the bars with your knees tight and hold on!

When the rotation is almost complete brace yourself for the landing with could be very crucial.

RIDER SUBMITTED DESCRIPTION #3

PREREQUISITES:  Good air and good bike control in general

VARIATIONS: x-ups, barspins, no-hander, one-hander, no-footer, one-footer, even a 360

DESCRIPTION:  To do a backflip, it's necessary to be comfortable with good air.  It's also a good idea to maybe learn backflips off a diving board or trampoline to get the feel of the rotation.  Once you have rotation and good air dialed, you can attempt to try this.

Get going toward the ramp with good speed, fast enough to get at least eight or nine feet in the air (depending on the speed of rotation).  You also want to make sure that the ramp you are hitting throws you up in the air rather than one that gives you mostly distance.

Once you hit the ramp start leaning backward as you'll feel yourself and the bike start to rotate.

Once your up-side down, lean your head back and start looking for your landing as soon as possible.

It's a good idea to have your back brake engaged halfway through the rotation as well. Once you start to land, brace your self and follow through with the landing like that of a normal jump.

Submitted By:  Patrick Morris

RIDER SUBMITTED DESCRIPTION #4

PREREQUISITES:  It's really good to know all the standard trail tricks, such as 360s, barspins, and an overall control of you and the bike in the air.

VARIATIONS: A wide variety. I just started working on 360 flips, and have tried a few tailwhip flips. I have also been knocked out cold by flips gone bad.

DESCRIPTION: Dirt- Go superfast into a jump with a nice big, steep kicker.

As your front wheel clears the lip, pull back very hard, and "shoot" the back end out from under you. This will take some time to master and not want to bail. It's good to learn this far into foam pits or lake jumping (how I learned it). 

Once you get this far, push down on the pedals, and draw the bars up to your gut, and look down to spot your landing.

"Pull" the back end up underneath you and tuck the front end to make sure that your front wheel clears the downside.

Once you pass this part, raise your hand as your friends applaud your dare devil flip. After you've been pulling this for a while, if you want to barspin in the middle, simply pinch your seat when your upside down, after initial takeoff. Remember to definitely wear your helmet and pads on this one.

Submitted By:  Matt

RIDER SUBMITTED DESCRIPTION #5

PREREQUISITES:  Nothing I know can prepare you for it really that well, but if you can do an invert on a ramp you can almost get the feeling of being under your bike.

VARIATIONS:  Almost anything that can be done over a jump  (Mirra does everything in them, and Kenan Harkin has done 360's in them)

DESCRIPTION: First off, you are stupid if you don't wear equipment when trying this trick. It's not hardcore, it's dumb. Nobody will make fun of you (you're learning backflips for god sakes)!

Now, you must be able to get a ton of speed for the ramp or jump you are trying it in. When you are pedaling toward the ramp or jump (I did it on dirt) you will be scared out of your mind. Just keep going, and kind of start to manual up the face.

You will be pulling up as hard as you can for this. Remember, it is less scary to loop out than to under-rotate the flip. 

Try to look at something and follow the rotation until you spot the landing. When you see it try to slow your rotation (it's a funny feeling, but just stop pulling up on the bars).

Try to keep yourself pointed forward, and not leaning like a tabletop when coming in to the landing. Just try to keep a hold on the bars and land smoothly, as you shift your weight back to the middle.

NOTE: I recommend that you try this into water or foam first to see how hard to pull up on the bars.

Submitted By:  Scott

RIDER SUBMITTED DESCRIPTION #6

PREREQUISITES:  Extremely good bike control, big air, 360`s so your use to spotting your landing 

VARIATIONS:  Barspin, barspin to barspin back, back-360, once many moons ago Mat Hoffman did a tailwhip backflip, then of course the infamous double that everyone makes such a big deal about, no handed, a nothing flip was thrown once but I can't remember by who, lots of variations.

DESCRIPTION: 1.  Approach the jump at a considerably fast speed and be thinking hard about not bailing in the middle of this trick. 

2. As you leave the lip throw your body in a backwards movement but as you do it pull your handlebars into your lower stomach. (remember throwing your body backwards is different than leaning backwards because your bringing your bike in the motion with you)

3.  Keep your knees bent and your bars tucked.

4.  As you travel upside-down your going to naturally want to leave or get off the bike but don't I saw a kid break his neck doing that.

5.  Keep your feet at a downwards angle on your pedals so they stay on.

6.  Lean your head back as you travel upside down so you can spot your landing.

7. When you spot your landing keep your eyes on it.

8. As you finish the turning motion remember to remove the handlebars from your stomach other wise you're gonna have bladder problems for a long time (not kidding it really hurts)

It'll take a lot of getting use to being upside down and moving your body around with your bike if your not extremely talented. This is a burly trick with endless variations. Master this trick and you will be looked on as a BMX master. Enjoy and don't kill yourself trying it

Submitted By:  JT Danson

RIDER SUBMITTED DESCRIPTION #7

DESCRIPTION:  When I first tried this trick I arched my back and leaned back as much as I could, this resulted in my head touching my seat/back tire, and it stopped my rotation and I landed on my head.  Luckily I was trying it off of a ramp into snow that I made.

When you do a backflip you should try to get a "pop" of the lip (sort of like a 360, just straight back) and when you huck back don't just use your upper body and try to look for the ground, use your legs to to bring the bike with you. 

This is crucial because if the bike does not rotate with you, it'll eventually stop you from rotating too but you'll be upside down when this occurs. this is not good, for you will plummet to your death, or severe injury.

You should pull the bars to your stomach/knees, as stated in the other descriptions, but make sure you pull the bike with you and don't leave it behind.

You should be in a position resembling a tucked/old school no-hander.

Also get big height.  It's better to over-rotate a bit than to under-rotate.

Submitted By:  Chris Nicholas

RIDER SUBMITTED HUMOR #1

PREREQUISITE:  It's good to have an abundance on sight.

DESCRIPTION: Step1: Go to local sporting goods store, scour store for balls... the largest you can find. Basketballs would work nice but it's hard to pedal with two of them dangling between your legs. Softballs are the best choice... larger than tennis balls, but still can be adjusted to fit snugly into your undies.

Step2: Choosing the glue. The glue is important, strong enough to give your balls that sense of authority, pliable enough to ride with, and easy enough to remove that you don't lose valuable parts of your chode trying to peel them off. Rubber cement works nice. It sticks pretty fast, flexes well, and peels off with no residue. Plus most BMXers already have some.. if comes with every patch kit.

Step3:  Application of the balls. As per manufacturer instructions, clean the area where the balls are to be applied (preferable the base of the penis... UNDERNEATH!). Any hair that is removed shall be glued directly back onto the balls so you'll have some hair on your balls. Apply a thin coat of rubber cement to both the application area, and to a spot on each ball. Wait 5-10 minutes for the cement to tack up. Then firmly press the cemented surface of the balls onto the cemented surface at the base of your penis. You may want to think about gluing the balls together as well to them from exploring your underwear on paths of their own.

Step4:  Ride with your new found balls at a box jump as fast you you can. Pull up on those bars like you mean business, look at the sky, send your crotch for your stem and hope you land shinny side up. Next time... how to get blood stains out of your helmet and shit stains out of your underwear.

Submitted By:  Juice