First DJ Bike Advice

PB Forum :: Dirt Jumping & Street
First DJ Bike Advice
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flag ltj999
Posted: Jan 20, 2017 at 6:15 Quote
Hey all,

So I've deiced to take the jump (no pun intended) into dirt jumping and get me a bike. Motivation coming from wanting to build some more jump specific skills that are harder to develop on my 27.5 160 travel bike. Anyway, I've been reading a bunch about front sus vs rigid, but still am pretty undecided. My budget is pretty low, something used in the 300-400 range.

I found this on ebay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/332094273601?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

was about to pull the trigger on buying it, but then thought that I maybe could get a better deal if I waited and did a bit more looking.

Found this on craigslist for 350, which looks great,
photo
, but would take a little work, i.e. removing front brake, taking of the remote lockout on the fork, converting to a single speed.

Any advise would be helpful as I'm totally new to looking at DJ bikes.

- Mike
flag Ajarm19
Posted: Jan 20, 2017 at 6:47 Quote
ltj999 wrote:
Hey all,

So I've deiced to take the jump (no pun intended) into dirt jumping and get me a bike. Motivation coming from wanting to build some more jump specific skills that are harder to develop on my 27.5 160 travel bike. Anyway, I've been reading a bunch about front sus vs rigid, but still am pretty undecided. My budget is pretty low, something used in the 300-400 range.

I found this on ebay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/332094273601?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

was about to pull the trigger on buying it, but then thought that I maybe could get a better deal if I waited and did a bit more looking.

Found this on craigslist for 350, which looks great,
photo
, but would take a little work, i.e. removing front brake, taking of the remote lockout on the fork, converting to a single speed.

Any advise would be helpful as I'm totally new to looking at DJ bikes.

- Mike

I think you could find better options in your price range, but this isn't to bad, no matter what it's not going to be an amazing bike but you should be able to find something decent
flag ltj999
Posted: Jan 20, 2017 at 6:51 Quote
Ajarm19 wrote:
ltj999 wrote:
Hey all,

So I've deiced to take the jump (no pun intended) into dirt jumping and get me a bike. Motivation coming from wanting to build some more jump specific skills that are harder to develop on my 27.5 160 travel bike. Anyway, I've been reading a bunch about front sus vs rigid, but still am pretty undecided. My budget is pretty low, something used in the 300-400 range.

I found this on ebay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/332094273601?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

was about to pull the trigger on buying it, but then thought that I maybe could get a better deal if I waited and did a bit more looking.

Found this on craigslist for 350, which looks great,
photo
, but would take a little work, i.e. removing front brake, taking of the remote lockout on the fork, converting to a single speed.

Any advise would be helpful as I'm totally new to looking at DJ bikes.

- Mike

I think you could find better options in your price range, but this isn't to bad, no matter what it's not going to be an amazing bike but you should be able to find something decent

Better options than either bike I posted you mean?
flag Aaronz25RS
Posted: Jan 20, 2017 at 7:03 Quote
The Haro is a great bike, its set up with a ridged front fork though.. from the bars and stem it looks like someone was trying to make a short frame longer.. if you're not short yourself, probably not a good idea..

I dont know what the other bike is, but when you start talking fork lock-out.. its not really meant to jump... I also see pinch bolt cranks, which also aren't the strongest..

These are all my opinion on things of course, you have to decide for you, but there's better choices out there
flag ltj999
Posted: Jan 20, 2017 at 7:06 Quote
Aaronz25RS wrote:
The Haro is a great bike, its set up with a ridged front fork though.. from the bars and stem it looks like someone was trying to make a short frame longer.. if you're not short yourself, probably not a good idea..

I dont know what the other bike is, but when you start talking fork lock-out.. its not really meant to jump... I also see pinch bolt cranks, which also aren't the strongest..

These are all my opinion on things of course, you have to decide for you, but there's better choices out there

The other bike is a haro steel reserve 8 2009, and no im not short at all, I'm 6'1" actually.
flag cmc4130
Posted: Jan 20, 2017 at 7:49 Quote
At 6'1", you shouldn't get the "Short" Steel Reserve.

Also I agree with Aaron, the craigslist Haro you pictured is probably the Small also. Do you have the full link to the Craigslist ad? It looks like it might be a Haro Thread:

http://mountain-bikes.gearsuite.com/compare/722-724/2011-Haro-Steel-Reserve-1-3-vs-2011-Haro-Thread-Expert

Unsecure image, only https images allowed: http://p.vitalmtb.com/photos/products/2034/photos/699/s1600_103431160_1280447502.jpg?1290196495
https://www.bicyclebluebook.com/searchlistingdetail.aspx?id=22252

http://www.vitalmtb.com/product/guide/Bikes,3/Haro/Thread-Comp,2033

At $350, I think it's a good buy. It'd be good to know if it's the Small or the Large. With Dirt Jumpers, the sizing is usually strictly just the length of the front end. The seat tube height doesn't change.

The only thing I'd recommend to replace right away are the handlebars. At 6'1" you will benefit from some 3" rise bars.

Unsecure image, only https images allowed: http://forums.mtbr.com/attachments/urban-dj-park/775231d1361767565-need-help-first-bmx-dj-bike-cockpitsize-blackmarketsoldier.jpg
flag ltj999
Posted: Jan 20, 2017 at 7:52 Quote
cmc4130 wrote:
At 6'1", you shouldn't get the "Short" Steel Reserve.

Also I agree with Aaron, the craigslist Haro you pictured is probably the Small also. Do you have the full link to the Craigslist ad? It looks like it might be a Haro Thread:

http://mountain-bikes.gearsuite.com/compare/722-724/2011-Haro-Steel-Reserve-1-3-vs-2011-Haro-Thread-Expert

Unsecure image, only https images allowed: http://p.vitalmtb.com/photos/products/2034/photos/699/s1600_103431160_1280447502.jpg?1290196495
https://www.bicyclebluebook.com/searchlistingdetail.aspx?id=22252

http://www.vitalmtb.com/product/guide/Bikes,3/Haro/Thread-Comp,2033

At $350, I think it's a good buy. It'd be good to know if it's the Small or the Large. With Dirt Jumpers, the sizing is usually strictly just the length of the front end. The seat tube height doesn't change.

The only thing I'd recommend to replace right away are the handlebars. At 6'1" you will benefit from some 3" rise bars.

Unsecure image, only https images allowed: http://forums.mtbr.com/attachments/urban-dj-park/775231d1361767565-need-help-first-bmx-dj-bike-cockpitsize-blackmarketsoldier.jpg

Thanks for the help,

here is the CL link https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/bik/5964865692.html
flag cmc4130
Posted: Jan 20, 2017 at 7:55 Quote
ltj999 wrote:

Thanks for the help,

here is the CL link https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/bik/5964865692.html

It's posted for $500, but he said he'd take 350?
flag ltj999
Posted: Jan 20, 2017 at 7:56 Quote
cmc4130 wrote:
ltj999 wrote:

Thanks for the help,

here is the CL link https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/bik/5964865692.html

It's posted for $500, but he said he'd take 350?

yep, looks like he also changed out the fork to some RS one with a remote lockout, something I'm not too keen on for a DJ bike, or why someone would even put something like that on a bike with geo like that.
flag cmc4130
Posted: Jan 20, 2017 at 7:59 Quote
https://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/list/?region=3&category=3&price=..400

If you want something very snappy for learning bunnyhops, 180 bunnyhops etc., this 24" wheel rigid Eastern Night Train 24" would be worth considering. It's actually pretty rare--I think they made the 24" version for only one or two years (2008-2009).

The guy also has taller bars on it already, which you're going to want.


Eastern nightrain park bike dj dmr disc
https://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/2115811/
flag ltj999
Posted: Jan 20, 2017 at 8:02 Quote
cmc4130 wrote:
https://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/list/?region=3&category=3&price=..400

If you want something very snappy for learning bunnyhops, 180 bunnyhops etc., this 24" wheel rigid Eastern Night Train 24" would be worth considering. It's actually pretty rare--I think they made the 24" version for only one or two years (2008-2009).

The guy also has taller bars on it already, which you're going to want.


Eastern nightrain park bike dj dmr disc
https://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/2115811/

Haha, I was already talking with him about it. Thought that I might want a 26 sus given how long i've spent on on a full sus 27.5, but maybe that doesn't matter as much? What are your thoughts about 24 vs 26 for DJ?
flag cmc4130
Posted: Jan 20, 2017 at 8:05 Quote
This might also be a good choice. He already has tall bars on it, which, again, would be good for your height:

2012 NS Metropolis 2
https://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/2064548/

Or this:

The LONG frame would be good for you

2012 kona shonky. amazing shape
https://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/1744224/
flag cmc4130
Posted: Jan 20, 2017 at 8:09 Quote
ltj999 wrote:

Haha, I was already talking with him about it. Thought that I might want a 26 sus given how long i've spent on on a full sus 27.5, but maybe that doesn't matter as much? What are your thoughts about 24 vs 26 for DJ?

If you're just going to be riding dirt (and not skatepark and bmx-style street), then 26"s are probably better for you, at your height.

I'm also 6'1". I had a 24"mtb for a while https://www.pinkbike.com/u/cmc4130/album/Union-Street-Molly-Maguire/, and almost never rode it, even though it was a cool bike.
flag ClarkRonald
O+
Posted: Jan 20, 2017 at 10:10 Quote
I have a Steel Reserve 1.1 (rigid) as my first DJ and I like it. I am torn with going with a suspension fork as learning on the rigid provides great feel of the terrain. Plus in the park the rigid works well for me.

I was able to source my 1.1 through my local CL for only $180. It had a new upgrades like hydro rear brake, pedals, etc. I'd say if you have time, wait for the killer deal to come your way.

PB is a great place to shop but often times shipping prices kill the deal. I bought two 20" bmxers recently for racing. The shipping for one was $80 and the other was "free". Just work with the seller. Offer to him/her to buy the bike at their asking price if they covered shipping costs.
flag Aaronz25RS
Posted: Jan 20, 2017 at 11:13 Quote
cmc4130 always coming through with the links..

I visit mostly on my phone and it sucks huge donkey balls trying to link sheit..
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