The Perfect Bike?

PB Forum :: Dirt Jumping & Street
The Perfect Bike?
  • Previous Page
Author Message
flag bikeman543
Posted: Dec 10, 2013 at 13:37 Quote
Okay, so what is the "Perfect Bike"? I mean everyone has what they consider the "Perfect Bike" for their particular riding style, but how about this.

What could be considered the "Perfect Bike" that would be the best all-around bike for a guy to dirt jump, park, BMX race, road mileage, cross-country, downhill, scooting to the store and back? Is there a bike that exists that could do it all?

For this to be considered the seat post should be adjustable so when you take a long ride you can get leg extension. The rims and tires have to be strong so it can take some abuse. The gearing (if single speed) would have to be just the right combination so you could traverse the different terrains.

I have an mtb for cross-country. I have a single speed for road rides. I have a BMX bike to race. I have a bike to ride the park. If I had to put all those features into 1 bike what would it be? What would it look like?

If you could only have 1 bike, to do it all, what would it be?

EDIT: I'm NOT in the market for a bike. I wanted others to share their ideas and brain storm this concept of the perfect bike to do more than one thing. When I post pics it is just ideas and thoughts.

I'm sorry to have inconvenienced any of you who thought you were helping me buy a bike or parts.

Just brain storming is what I was looking for.
flag trailblitz
O+
Posted: Dec 10, 2013 at 14:03 Quote
From my experience there is no perfect bike, but if I was limited to one, it would have to be some sort of 6" enduro/trail bike
flag cmc4130
Posted: Dec 10, 2013 at 14:14 Quote
Wow, that's tough. It's not fair to call it a "perfect" bike.... But it's still a legit question: IF you could only have ONE bike, what would it be?

Because I rode all styles of bmx (flatland, street, park, and dirt) prior to riding mtb, this makes the question even harder. If I could narrow down to TWO bikes, it would be my Transition Double 4x/slopestyle bike (with 1X9) and my InDust 2ton 22" wheel BMX.

Transition Double:
Unsecure image, only https images allowed: http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh138/upsetbmx/cmc_Transition_Double_at_Walnut_berm-line_zps4d81e8e1.jpg
and:

InDust 2ton 22" BMX:
Unsecure image, only https images allowed: http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh138/upsetbmx/017_zpsf5885bf8.png
But, if I could only have ONE bike, it would probably be a DJ hard tail with a air-psi adjustable sus fork, a quick release seat post clamp, and either 24" or 26" wheels, with the option of adding/removing pegs, as needed.

Kinda like what this "mtbflatland" dude was doing a few years ago.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWy1vxPJbQw
Unsecure image, only https images allowed: http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f241/XKILLXYOUX/chris2.jpg

I almost would have said a new school BMX 24" like a Liquid, Sunday Wave C, etc., but I like my suspension fork too much for trail riding to give it up.
photo
flag cmc4130
Posted: Dec 10, 2013 at 14:27 Quote
But, leaving out the flatland/freestyle element, I think you can definitely ride "everything" on a hard tail with an air adjustable fork. The frame could be a DJ frame, or possibly a crossover like the Transition Trans Am or Santa Cruz Chameleon.

Also, Lee McCormack sorta talks about your question on this page. He dubbed his "do it all" bike the Captain America.

http://www.leelikesbikes.com/a-year-on-captain-america.html

MTB's on a bmx track:
Unsecure image, only https images allowed: http://www.leelikesbikes.com/wp-content/021311bmx1stjump.jpg
http://forums.mtbr.com/urban-dj-park/convert-trail-bike-dj-885932.html
flag bikeman543
Posted: Dec 10, 2013 at 15:23 Quote
cmc4130,
Good points.

I don't know if I could even narrow it down to 2 bikes. My main riding is cross-country, BMX racing and park.

My Specialized Enduro is great for cross-country, but way too tall and heavy to do anything else. It's an old 2002 model.

My Felt singlespeed is great on the road and even alittle gravel, but too tall for the track or park. Plus the 700c wheels probably won't take the punishment.

My NS Capital could take the BMX track - as it does - along with trails and park.

I think if I narrowed my collection down to 2 bikes, I would be missing out on something.

With brakes, I think this bike could be a close compromise, but the wheels would probably be an issue. Maybe if they made this type of bike with 26" wheels a fella could run micro knobbies with wide enough tires so he could do a bit of trail, jump it, race it and even hit the park on it. With the seat post raised he could put in some mileage.

Brooklyn Gangsta V2

LOL, I may have just described a DJ bike -such as my Capital - with an adjustable seat post. Maybe it is just too much compromise.
flag bikeman543
Posted: Dec 10, 2013 at 15:27 Quote
I guess I just keep trying to picture one bike that I could jump on and ride to the track, lower the seat post and race. then raise the seat and ride home. Same with going to the trails or the park.

I'm not much into derailleurs, anymore, since going single speed.

Maybe I'm just over thinking this.
flag cmc4130
Posted: Dec 10, 2013 at 15:49 Quote
It sounds like your only real issue, then is how much seat adjustment you want....

I think a person can definitely race bmx on a DJ hard tail. And you can ride xc on one too, if you are able to raise the seat post enough. 1 X 9 gearing, like on 4x bikes may be the way to go, if you maybe want gears.

photo

Unsecure image, only https images allowed: http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g116/Infamous68/YetiDJprofile2.jpg
This guy races a STANDARD DJ 26" in cruiser class bmx.
Unsecure image, only https images allowed: http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f392/CClineZ06/68495_10200888462324673_2085332227_n_zpsf866bf1b.jpghttp://bmxmuseum.com/forums/viewtopic.php?pid=4167885#p4167885
and rides park:
Unsecure image, only https images allowed: http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f392/CClineZ06/73476_10200584800013305_1892362065_n_zpsfd55c233.jpg
flag LS-COLO95
FL
Posted: Dec 10, 2013 at 16:09 Quote
For me the perfect bike would be something with 7" of travel all around. rear lockout, for xc and climbs, but something able to descend like a dh bike. Maybe i aks too much. this is a tough question.
flag bikeman543
Posted: Dec 10, 2013 at 17:54 Quote
Yeah, I race BMX on my NS Capital with 26" wheels. Don't get me wrong, I don't plan on being a National Champion or anything... I just like riding the track and will start actually racing, soon.

In my area, MTB doesn't really mean mountain. Our trails have no mountains, unless you wanna travel about 4 hours. So XC, for me, is not about Downhill Racing, like in the videos.

I know the Cap would fill the bill for BMX and park. The only reason I don't ride the Cap at the park is I have another bike, but if I didn't...

The Enduro doesn't have much to seat post adjustment or else the post will hit the rear shock. But, two seat posts could fix that. And, I guess since the shock can be locked out it could suffice for distance riding, for fitness. Although, everyone knows knobbies suck on a long pavement ride.

So, I guess, in reality I could dwindle it down to the Enduro and the Cap to cover most of it. But, that is two bikes.

What one bike would make do for all 4 disciplines (MTB, BMX, Park, Fitness)?

Sounds like LS-COLO95 has an answer for his type of riding.
flag bikeman543
Posted: Dec 10, 2013 at 17:57 Quote
Maybe another way to think the question out is this:

If you had to pack your car, right now and leave and you could only take one bike, which bike would you take?
flag LS-COLO95
FL
Posted: Dec 10, 2013 at 17:59 Quote
haha, easy my dh bike. Simply because thats my favorite riding style. can't explain why.
flag cmc4130
Posted: Dec 10, 2013 at 22:01 Quote
bikeman543 wrote:

What one bike would make do for all 4 disciplines (MTB, BMX, Park, Fitness)?

.

DJ hard tail 26"
* with a light air adjustable fork, like Fox, X-Fusion, maybe Manitou Circus
* quick release seat post clamp
* medium-tread tires like Kenda K Rad pattern.
* 50mm reach dj/bmx stem, (maybe up to 70mm for a little more extension on xc/road)
* bmx/Dj style platform pedals (not clipless)
* bmx/DJ cranks


My older dirt jumper, a DK Xenia 26" (pictured on the right) has a 15" tall seat tube, measured from center of bottom bracket to top of seat post clamp.


Unsecure image, only https images allowed: http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh138/upsetbmx/Specialized-P-Street-24---DK-Xenia-.jpgUnsecure image, only https images allowed: http://fcdn.mtbr.com/attachments/urban-dj-park/775231d1361767565-need-help-first-bmx-dj-bike-cockpitsize-blackmarketsoldier.jpg
My Black Market Mob on the other hand is closer to 12" (although I ride with the post several inches up, so in reality, I ride my seat at about the same height, like 17" to the top surface of the seat), even though the Black Market top tube slants down more....

But, for me to get full leg extension for cross-country/road (which I don't think is actually necessary depending on what you can get used to), my seat would have to be way higher: my seat would need to be about 28" (from center of bb to top of seat surface). That accounts for an 7.5" long crank arm and my long 35.5" inseam legs.

But, riding with a seatpost raised 11 inches puts a lot of stress on a frame and is not recommended.

So, you kind of have to figure out, if you're trying to balance XC with jumps/park, what's the tallest you can run your seat and still jump and ride park, and what's the lowest you can run your seat and still pedal for miles. And, is that range of adjustment something you can do on one bike with one seatpost and a quick release clamp. For some people it is. For others, maybe not.

Since I grew up riding bmx, I'm not obsessed with road bike style leg extension--I've ridden low-ish seats for a long time. Guys who are riding all mountain hard tails like the ones I mentioned (Transition TransAm) seem to be juggling the middle ground. Plus, the TransAm has a good design where the top tube is lower but the seat tube is still supported by a gusset tube.

Unsecure image, only https images allowed: http://www.transitionbikes.com/2013/images/Bikes_TransAM26_Pic1.jpg
flag bikeman543
Posted: Dec 11, 2013 at 19:21 Quote
LS-COLO95 wrote:
haha, easy my dh bike. Simply because thats my favorite riding style. can't explain why.

So, when you settled in your new digs, with no money to spare, this bike would handle all your needs?
flag LS-COLO95
FL
Posted: Dec 11, 2013 at 19:24 Quote
bikeman543 wrote:
LS-COLO95 wrote:
haha, easy my dh bike. Simply because thats my favorite riding style. can't explain why.

So, when you settled in your new digs, with no money to spare, this bike would handle all your needs?

Yes. given my current situation, aka little cash.
however given more income i'd get a long travel enduro style bike.
flag bikeman543
Posted: Dec 11, 2013 at 19:35 Quote
cmc4130 wrote:
bikeman543 wrote:

What one bike would make do for all 4 disciplines (MTB, BMX, Park, Fitness)?

.

DJ hard tail 26"
* with a light air adjustable fork, like Fox, X-Fusion, maybe Manitou Circus
* quick release seat post clamp
* medium-tread tires like Kenda K Rad pattern.
* 50mm reach dj/bmx stem, (maybe up to 70mm for a little more extension on xc/road)
* bmx/Dj style platform pedals (not clipless)
* bmx/DJ cranks


My older dirt jumper, a DK Xenia 26" (pictured on the right) has a 15" tall seat tube, measured from center of bottom bracket to top of seat post clamp.


Unsecure image, only https images allowed: http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh138/upsetbmx/Specialized-P-Street-24---DK-Xenia-.jpgUnsecure image, only https images allowed: http://fcdn.mtbr.com/attachments/urban-dj-park/775231d1361767565-need-help-first-bmx-dj-bike-cockpitsize-blackmarketsoldier.jpg
My Black Market Mob on the other hand is closer to 12" (although I ride with the post several inches up, so in reality, I ride my seat at about the same height, like 17" to the top surface of the seat), even though the Black Market top tube slants down more....

But, for me to get full leg extension for cross-country/road (which I don't think is actually necessary depending on what you can get used to), my seat would have to be way higher: my seat would need to be about 28" (from center of bb to top of seat surface). That accounts for an 7.5" long crank arm and my long 35.5" inseam legs.

But, riding with a seatpost raised 11 inches puts a lot of stress on a frame and is not recommended.

So, you kind of have to figure out, if you're trying to balance XC with jumps/park, And, is that range of adjustment something you can do on one bike with one seatpost and a quick release clamp. For some people it is. For others, maybe not.

Since I grew up riding bmx, I'm not obsessed with road bike style leg extension--I've ridden low-ish seats for a long time. Guys who are riding all mountain hard tails like the ones I mentioned (Transition TransAm) seem to be juggling the middle ground. Plus, the TransAm has a good design where the top tube is lower but the seat tube is still supported by a gusset tube.

Unsecure image, only https images allowed: http://www.transitionbikes.com/2013/images/Bikes_TransAM26_Pic1.jpg

I so see what your saying. I guess I started seriously riding on the road, while stationed in England. So, for me on the XC and road bike I am a stickler about leg extension and fit. My seat post (top of seat from center of bttm brkt) is 27". I just can't settle for less or the back starts hurting.

I use to have a Klein MTB and it was a small frame. I ordered the longest seat post I could find. That frame creaked really bad when I had it extended all the way. It was an awesome bike, just too small, for me, to XC on.

I see the point on tires. I have kenda's on my NS and they seem to hook up really well on the BMX track and roll nicely on the pavement.

So, maybe, something like a hardtail with the right tires and something in between frame sizes (full on XC and DJ) would allow for a good extension AND allow for a low enough frame and seat for BMX and Park. Like you said, " what's the tallest you can run your seat and still jump and ride park, and what's the lowest you can run your seat and still pedal for miles."
  • Previous Page

 


Copyright © 2000 - 2024. Pinkbike.com. All rights reserved.
dv56 0.012588
Mobile Version of Website