Dirt Jumper?

el Camino · Joined: 11 Aug 2005 Posts: 284 Location: Jacona New Mexico

My son is getting into the BMX track and I'm getting in the mood for a new bike. My old XC bike was stolen, and my quiver for the past 4 years has been just a townie single speed...

I'm thinking of getting a 26 inch dirt jumper, something like this: (http://www.konaworld.com/gravity_hardtail.cfm?content=shonky) instead of a new XC bike. The idea being that I can have more fun at the track, around town AND I can still have fun on single track, etc.

Thoughts? Are there fatal flaws in hiking the seat up a bit on a dirt jumper and riding it like XC hardtail? Other ideas?

wayne · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 1064 Location: NY State

twopass · Joined: 07 Dec 2004 Posts: 6515 Location: Behind the wheel

twopass · Joined: 07 Dec 2004 Posts: 6515 Location: Behind the wheel

robrox · Posted: Mon May 14, 2012 6:52 pm Post subject:

What's wrong with getting a used 24XL and waiting a spell before nabbing the new XC bike?

Might as well be Dad and get some quality track time too Cool

If yours is anything like mine, you will be plumb wore out every time y'all go to the track or park

Rode a few Cruisers back in the day, they are Pissah for the track....never did learn the park stuff but should have, would've made me a way better rider!
_________________
"Moderate is not the new Low" - Chris Joosen, USFS Lead Snow Ranger (Tuckerman Ravine, White Mountains National Forest)

nils · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 7309 Location: tahoe

a DJ bike will not enable you to have the seat anywhere near where it needs to be for XC riding.

The ultra short chainstays and low standover height of a DJ are designed for pump tracks and DJ'ing.

If you shop around, you can get one on sale for $600 with decent quality parts. That's what I paid for my rocky mountain flow.

THen buy a used XC bike (they are numerous and pretty cheap).
_________________
"Now is not the time for sound-bites" - David Cameron

For Sale: 7tm bindings

Peter C · Joined: 16 Sep 2005 Posts: 530 Location: stuck in a lab

just to reinforce what everyone else has said:

DJ bikes feel pretty weird/awkward for anything where you aren't off the seat the whole time...

SkaredShtles · Posted: Mon May 14, 2012 9:58 pm Post subject:

IMO you should be able to find a nice full sus bike that will work just fine at the dirt-jumps and still be good for other tasks as well.

Besides - dirt-jumping is a surefire way to get hurt. Mr. Green

Hoka Hey · Joined: 04 Mar 2005 Posts: 850 Location: Wyoming

I am pushing 40 and love my Eastern Nightrain DJ bike. It is a big kids BMX and a blast. I ride mine on 5 mile loops with my kid bunny hopping up and over everything I an able, hit some jumps, ride at the skate park, launch some stairs...whatever. Get it! Check out Transition Bikes, they have a DJ bike (TOP), a 4X bike (full susp.) the Bottle Rocket looks awesome as a compromise betweens lots of disciplines...
I

mr. toad · Joined: 15 Mar 2011 Posts: 226 Location: South Lake Tahoe

24"...much more fun on the track and you'll be the coolest dad in the 'hood.

Hoka Hey · Joined: 04 Mar 2005 Posts: 850 Location: Wyoming

Yeah SE Floval Flyer! Race geo though. I had a Sunday Model C and the dj is much dinner for me.

XXX_er · Joined: 07 Dec 2004 Posts: 7402 Location: Northwest B.C.

I took over a Brodie hole shot from my son which I rode freeride before I decided that giving up free-ride at 46 was a good idea

IME a DJ specific HT is HEAVY, the rims are heavy, the tires are big heavy and the tire patterns are smooth for dirt tracks not knobby which isnt good for mtbing on the trail, the frame is heavy the bike is all heavy period all to take the abuse of DJing

Junior told me when things screwed up he would just bail " let the bike go" and watch it bounce 10-15 ft in the air

Before getting the fully he snapped 3 or 4 square taper BB's and I am sure he could have snapped a spindle on command, he didn't snap anymore spindles but he snapped that fully completely in half

TeleBear · Posted: Tue May 15, 2012 5:09 am Post subject:

want one too -- new bike park just went in a couple miles from the house.

i hear you guys on a 24" bike, but at 6'4", and since 29ers are now my normal bikes (SS 'cross, and 4.5" mtb), it seems like a 26" DJ bike would be the right size.

what's the deal with front suspension? necessary? desirable?

i'm planning on keeping it pretty mellow, and mostly riding around with the kiddos, working the pump track and dropping the easier hits / flow lines, which are definitely not optimized for my 29" wheel bikes.
_________________
Please don't dominate the rap, Jack,
if you've got nothing new to say.
-Jerry

twopass · Joined: 07 Dec 2004 Posts: 6515 Location: Behind the wheel

twopass · Joined: 07 Dec 2004 Posts: 6515 Location: Behind the wheel