Looking for a junior sized dirt jumper for my 10 year old.

PB Forum :: Dirt Jumping & Street
Looking for a junior sized dirt jumper for my 10 year old.
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flag nog00der
Posted: Dec 6, 2012 at 13:59 Quote
maybe 20" wheels? hard tail with a decent suspension fork. is there such a thing? how hard would it be to find something used? what are some decent smaller independent brands that make something like this? if there are any :/
flag That1GuyYO
Posted: Dec 6, 2012 at 15:49 Quote
Why not just get him a BMX? Or were you not wanting single speed? There are BMX sus forks but I know nothing about them here is a link to a place I found that has them online I noticed the steer tube is sold seperatly.


http://www.niagaracycle.com/product_info.php?products_id=502218
flag nog00der
Posted: Dec 6, 2012 at 16:46 Quote
i dunno. he has a 16" BMX that hes outgrown. just wanted to try something different so he can decide what hes into. ive been looking at some Norco's and Specialized bikes online. it looks like he'd do better on a 24" from what im seeing out there. Norco Samurai looks pretty decent. any other suggestions?
flag nog00der
Posted: Dec 6, 2012 at 20:41 Quote
Marin bayview looks pretty nice.
flag cmc4130
Posted: Dec 7, 2012 at 8:11 Quote
His height / weight ?

With 24"s, there's a big difference between a 24"-wheel specific DJ and a junior sized 24"-wheel cross country mtb.

For example, look at this Blackmarket Contraband 24". See how close the rear wheel is to the seat tube? That's a very short chainstay length.
Unsecure image, only https images allowed: http://brimages.bikeboardmedia.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/black-market-2010-contraband-24-dirtjump-bike4.jpg
Same with this Union Street Molly Maguire:
photo

The front end is not necessarily very short though. Note below how the P.Street 24" has the same length top tube (22" actual, measured center of seat tube to center of head tube) as the DK Xenia 26" on the right.


photo

So, basically, even though 24"-specific DJ bikes have smaller wheels, they are made for regular sized riders. In contrast, 24" junior xc mtb's tend to be short in the front end for a smaller rider. HOWEVER, they generally don't try to make the back end very short and compact, so you end up with a short-in-the-front, long-in-the-back bike (mullet bike) which most riders would agree is a crap geo. It makes it harder to pull up the front end for bunnyhops and manuals.

I think at his age learning tricks and riding skatepark on a 20" bmx with his bros would be a great idea. But if you also want a DJ-mtb for him, look out for a used good-condition 24"-specific DJ bike (rather than an a junior xc 24").


The Marin Bayview 24" trail may be good for him. I personally don't like the look of it, but that's just me. Unless y'all live in some super hilly area, I would say go single speed for the simplicity and low maintenance. I doubt that fork is tuned for jumping either.
Unsecure image, only https images allowed: http://2013-bike-images.s3.amazonaws.com/bicycles/MARIN-2013-BAYVIEW_TRAIL_BOYS.jpg
flag nog00der
Posted: Dec 7, 2012 at 10:20 Quote
this is exactly the kind of info i was looking for. ok so now i guess im looking for a size small 24" dirt jumper. any suggestions?

cmc4130 wrote:
His height / weight ?

With 24"s, there's a big difference between a 24"-wheel specific DJ and a junior sized 24"-wheel cross country mtb.

For example, look at this Blackmarket Contraband 24". See how close the rear wheel is to the seat tube? That's a very short chainstay length.
Unsecure image, only https images allowed: http://brimages.bikeboardmedia.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/black-market-2010-contraband-24-dirtjump-bike4.jpg
Same with this Union Street Molly Maguire:
photo

The front end is not necessarily very short though. Note below how the P.Street 24" has the same length top tube (22" actual, measured center of seat tube to center of head tube) as the DK Xenia 26" on the right.

cool thanks! this is exactly the kind of info i was looking for. so ya i think a JR XC bike is out. now to find an extra small 24" DJ i think. any suggestions on brands that make "extra small" bikes?
Unsecure image, only https images allowed: http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh138/upsetbmx/Specialized-P-Street-24---DK-Xenia-.jpg
So, basically, even though 24"-specific DJ bikes have smaller wheels, they are made for regular sized riders. In contrast, 24" junior xc mtb's tend to be short in the front end for a smaller rider. HOWEVER, they generally don't try to make the back end very short and compact, so you end up with a short-in-the-front, long-in-the-back bike (mullet bike) which most riders would agree is a crap geo. It makes it harder to pull up the front end for bunnyhops and manuals.

I think at his age learning tricks and riding skatepark on a 20" bmx with his bros would be a great idea. But if you also want a DJ-mtb for him, look out for a used good-condition 24"-specific DJ bike (rather than an a junior xc 24").


The Marin Bayview 24" trail may be good for him. I personally don't like the look of it, but that's just me. Unless y'all live in some super hilly area, I would say go single speed for the simplicity and low maintenance. I doubt that fork is tuned for jumping either.
Unsecure image, only https images allowed: http://2013-bike-images.s3.amazonaws.com/bicycles/MARIN-2013-BAYVIEW_TRAIL_BOYS.jpg
flag That1GuyYO
Posted: Dec 7, 2012 at 12:37 Quote
cmc4130 wrote:
His height / weight ?

With 24"s, there's a big difference between a 24"-wheel specific DJ and a junior sized 24"-wheel cross country mtb.

For example, look at this Blackmarket Contraband 24". See how close the rear wheel is to the seat tube? That's a very short chainstay length.
Unsecure image, only https images allowed: http://brimages.bikeboardmedia.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/black-market-2010-contraband-24-dirtjump-bike4.jpg
Same with this Union Street Molly Maguire:
photo

The front end is not necessarily very short though. Note below how the P.Street 24" has the same length top tube (22" actual, measured center of seat tube to center of head tube) as the DK Xenia 26" on the right.


Unsecure image, only https images allowed: http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh138/upsetbmx/Specialized-P-Street-24---DK-Xenia-.jpg
So, basically, even though 24"-specific DJ bikes have smaller wheels, they are made for regular sized riders. In contrast, 24" junior xc mtb's tend to be short in the front end for a smaller rider. HOWEVER, they generally don't try to make the back end very short and compact, so you end up with a short-in-the-front, long-in-the-back bike (mullet bike) which most riders would agree is a crap geo. It makes it harder to pull up the front end for bunnyhops and manuals.

I think at his age learning tricks and riding skatepark on a 20" bmx with his bros would be a great idea. But if you also want a DJ-mtb for him, look out for a used good-condition 24"-specific DJ bike (rather than an a junior xc 24").


The Marin Bayview 24" trail may be good for him. I personally don't like the look of it, but that's just me. Unless y'all live in some super hilly area, I would say go single speed for the simplicity and low maintenance. I doubt that fork is tuned for jumping either.
[P=http://2013-bike-images.s3.amazonaws.com/bicycles/MARIN-2013-BAYVIEW_TRAIL_BOYS.jpg size=m
align=c][/P]

CMC do you know much about the Molly frame? Like how it rides?I contacted USB a few months back he said they were working on getting new frames made some time early next year. I was thinking of maybe getting one.Or maybe just get a Sunday 24" I just want something a little smaller than 26" for street and park.
flag gdenahy
Posted: Dec 9, 2012 at 11:01 Quote
Maybe a dartmoor two4player, there awesome, also I think commencal are making a lot of "smaller bikes" now, maybe have a look at there range too Smile
flag nog00der
Posted: Dec 9, 2012 at 12:04 Quote
this thing looks killer! its a scott 24" jr sized bike. i cant find a top tube length for it tho. it sais its for kids 8-12 years old. any other bikes like this you guys know about?
Unsecure image, only https images allowed: http://dfp2hfrf3mn0u.cloudfront.net/227/227867_31990_tif_raw_2.jpg
flag gdenahy
Posted: Dec 9, 2012 at 12:07 Quote
nog00der wrote:
this thing looks killer! its a scott 24" jr sized bike. i cant find a top tube length for it tho. it sais its for kids 8-12 years old. any other bikes like this you guys know about?
Unsecure image, only https images allowed: http://dfp2hfrf3mn0u.cloudfront.net/227/227867_31990_tif_raw_2.jpg

That look great man! I'd sat go for that! It's probably a lot cheaper than the bikes I mentioned too Smile
flag cmc4130
Posted: Dec 9, 2012 at 16:15 Quote
That1GuyYO wrote:
cmc4130 wrote:
...

CMC do you know much about the Molly frame? Like how it rides?I contacted USB a few months back he said they were working on getting new frames made some time early next year. I was thinking of maybe getting one.Or maybe just get a Sunday 24" I just want something a little smaller than 26" for street and park.

Yes, I have a Molly. It's killer for park and street. The handling is noticeably quicker in transitions than a 26". If you have a good stiff-spring fork that has a solid feel, it's great for smoothing out the occasional harsh landing out of a bowl or from a wallride etc.
flag That1GuyYO
Posted: Dec 9, 2012 at 20:55 Quote
cmc4130 wrote:
That1GuyYO wrote:
cmc4130 wrote:
...

CMC do you know much about the Molly frame? Like how it rides?I contacted USB a few months back he said they were working on getting new frames made some time early next year. I was thinking of maybe getting one.Or maybe just get a Sunday 24" I just want something a little smaller than 26" for street and park.

Yes, I have a Molly. It's killer for park and street. The handling is noticeably quicker in transitions than a 26". If you have a good stiff-spring fork
that has a solid feel, it's great for smoothing out the occasional harsh landing out of a bowl or from a wallride etc.

I was thinking if I get one I would just run a rigid fork. How does compare to 24"BMX like the model C?
flag The-Bike-King
Posted: Dec 9, 2012 at 21:15 Quote
As far as completes are concerned , I think norco has a 24' havoc with fairly tight Geo.
flag nog00der
Posted: Dec 9, 2012 at 22:01 Quote
The-Bike-King wrote:
As far as completes are concerned , I think norco has a 24' havoc with fairly tight Geo.

i looked that one up. its got a 22.25" top tube, which still seems pretty big for him. dang ive been googling for days. can scott be the only company making a bike like this???
flag That1GuyYO
Posted: Dec 9, 2012 at 22:17 Quote
nog00der wrote:
The-Bike-King wrote:
As far as completes are concerned , I think norco has a 24' havoc with fairly tight Geo.

i looked that one up. its got a 22.25" top tube, which still seems pretty big for him. dang ive been googling for days. can scott be the only company making a bike like this???
I don't know but that Scott looks really nice what's the TT length for it?
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