DirtySixer Makes NBA Star LeBron James a Custom 36"-Wheeled Mountain Bike

Mar 1, 2019
by James Smurthwaite  
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PRESS RELEASE: Dirty Sixer Bikes

With most sizing charts topping out before 200cm, what do you do if you're simply too tall for bikes? Well, the answer to that probably comes in the form of DirtySixer and our 36-inch-wheeled bikes.

The model pictured above was made for LeBron James, the 203cm (6'8") tall LA Lakers basketball player, but we have also made bikes for Shaquille O'Neal and Mark Eaton. The 36-inch wheel is a well-established standard in unicycling (as is the 32" that DirtySixer also offers) and it has been adapted by DirtySixer to form the basis of our US designed, engineered and hand fabricated bikes. Dirty Sixer are recommended by the National Basketball Retired Players Association, which is how we've ended up with a Globetrotter cast of customers.

Scaling up the wheels allows us to create a stronger and more proportional bike for larger riders. We also use a larger tubing diameter, wider hubs laced with 36 spokes and wider rims. To accommodate for longer legs, wemcan fit 210mm cranks as well as bigger pedals, wider saddles and, soon, bigger custom handlebar tubing for big hands.

photo
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LeBron's personal bike comes with Onyx hubs, a 1×12 wide range cassette with Archer electronic shifting, carbon fiber rims, 180mm cranks, Catalyst pedals, a Kinet suspension seatpost, 35mm handlebars, Vee Rubber tires, and Magura MT5 hydraulic 4-piston brakes. DirtySixer can offer mountain bike models with an 80mm travel MRP fork, but LeBron has gone for a fully rigid fork here.

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We are looking to expand in the future with titanium models and even an ebike in the near future. The limited production DirtySixer 36er comes in 3 big sizes: XXXL (3XL) for riders from 6’5″ or 195cm up to 6’9″ or 205cm, XXXXL (4XL) for riders from 6’9″ or 205cm up to 7’1″ or 215cm and XXXXXL (5XL) for riders from 7’1″ or 215cm and up to 7’4″ or 223cm. Prices start at $6,999 USD.

For more information, click here.

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176 Comments
  • 144 1
 Please put a person or a "normal" bike next to it, would be much more graphic that way!
  • 90 1
 Alright there you go: i.pinimg.com/originals/8d/7c/cb/8d7ccb524208490a0092f5dd52fee8fb.jpg
  • 151 1
 sucks that the name Giant was already taken
  • 5 1
 @colincolin: Yes, could have called the bike. The Goliath.
  • 10 2
 @jaqu3s: Jesus Christ. My nuts shiver in fear.
  • 1 3
 36 noooo how about 60 ????
  • 44 0
 I would prefer it longer and slacker.
  • 10 0
 with suspension.
  • 5 0
 Pedal strikes not as much of an issue though...
  • 11 4
 if you guys want all this, there needs to be more 6'8" dentists in the world
  • 31 2
 @dtax: 2018 called and they want their dentist joke back
  • 3 2
 Totally!!@utley06:
  • 3 1
 @ratedgg13: And with his size fourteens,I hope they told not to make any turns.
  • 44 1
 Wow, they've jumped through some hoops there
  • 34 2
 It would have been a slam dunk if it was cheaper
  • 25 0
 Seriously tall order that one
  • 22 1
 I wonder if they used a full court press fit?
  • 17 0
 @rationalhaze: when I first saw it I started to dribble
  • 11 1
 I'll call foul until it gets internal dropper routing.
  • 10 0
 I'm waiting for the 36"× triple.double plus tires.
  • 22 0
 would rather see a bike with more traveling
  • 22 0
 After that Enve review I'd switch over to alley 'oops.
  • 20 0
 I wonder how you set the rebound on the bike?
  • 10 0
 I'd like to see how this bike handles the paint
  • 26 0
 I wonder how it would perform with a carbon layup
  • 3 13
flag pensamtb (Mar 1, 2019 at 8:05) (Below Threshold)
 @Kern1: It's probably going to be a slam dunk.
  • 5 0
 @sewer-rat: when you looked at it the second time, was it a double dribble?
  • 3 0
 Wonder if they got another builder to assist?
  • 3 0
 I wonder if they used bushings or baller bearings?
  • 39 0
 Throw away your 29ers, watch out the new 36" DH bike will come with 200mm of travel in the front with 50mm in the rear.
  • 9 0
 It comes with a MRP Ribbon that has 90mm of travel. With the 36 wheels I'm not sure if that makes it an xc bike or enduro sled. Might need Levy to weigh in on this.
  • 2 0
 And then promoted to shorter riders.
  • 1 0
 275 mm crank length might work... 1000 mm handle bars
  • 1 0
 @cikudh: and by 1000mm handle bars you mean 1m handle bars!
  • 22 0
 Reggie Miller, formally of Indiana Pacers, only rides on a Santa Cruz XXL 29'er. The dude puts up some huge rides on the stravas.
www.adventuresportsnetwork.com/sport/bike/nba-legend-reggie-miller-has-become-a-legit-mountain-biker-in-retirement
Pinkbike should definitely do a profile on him if they get a chance! Custom bikes are cool, but I definitely want to know the are being ridden as intended.
  • 3 0
 Dude I had no idea! Rad. Pinkbike, get on this!
  • 2 0
 One of the greatest shooters of all time
  • 1 0
 im 6’6” and my XXL hightower LT is the only thing i have tried that really fits me too. i love it dearly.
  • 1 0
 well, sc have always been known to run small so there's that. rm should try a pole or somthn that does customs.
  • 2 0
 Vital had an interview with him.

m.vitalmtb.com/videos/features/17-Questions-Reggie-Miller,33131/sspomer,2
  • 23 0
 Finally a wheel that makes 12spd 50t look normal!
  • 16 5
 Making rigid fork and frame is nowadays ridiculously easy. Make a full suspension bike for these people and I will be awed.
  • 8 0
 ‘It was a way of life,’ says the world’s greatest basketball player. ‘If you had a bike, it was a way to kind of let go and be free.’

RAD! LeBron is one of the more high-profile bike advocates out there. I can imagine a company would be stoked to get him on one of their bikes.

www.bicycling.com/news/a22613790/a-bike-saved-lebron-james-now-hes-giving-them-to-all-his-students
  • 2 0
 Nice! Thanks for sharing that
  • 17 11
 Jokes aside, the recent geo histeria made room for bigger wheels. If the reach numbers of XC bikes will somehow get close to 500 for M/L, then it would be silly not to try 32 or even 36" wheels. Put a drop bar on it and voulais! Should revolutionize XC marathon.

*on a side note I want to take opportunity to say (again) that 27,5" wheels as a mainstream thing are a scam and whatever happens to people who came up with this idiotic idea and pushed it - they deserve it.
  • 13 1
 Voilà*
  • 4 1
 Please keep mentioning 275 in every thread about wheel size. They should never be allowed to forget about it.
  • 9 0
 @fracasnoxteam: Vouilloz *
  • 11 1
 @jaame: Me on the other hand loves my two 27,5" bikes. Felt awesome coming from 26" before that. But I can't get a grip on 29ers. To me they still feel to chunky. But who knows? Maybe that'll change in the future.
  • 2 0
 @Crisskan: I loved my 275, and I loved my 26ers before that. I have no bike at the moment... just kind of waiting on a 29er. 275 was a scam. Great bikes that replaced great bikes for no performance reason.
  • 2 0
 @jaame: I see you've fully embraced cannabis, but you seem to have started with the strong stuff. Go easy man!
  • 1 0
 *Voulez-vous coucher avec moi, ce soir?
  • 1 0
 @sjflow: bonjour, baguette, putain, croissant
AUX AAAARMES CITOYENS !!!!
  • 2 0
 I've only ever had 27.5 mountain bikes, got my first one in 2009 when it was still 650b and there were like three tires to choose from. I like it. Sorry?
  • 2 1
 I have both wheel sizes, different horses for different courses - ever ridden in SW USA, Utah, Arizona, Colorado? The trails are super tight, technical, rock crawling, that makes riding a 29 wheel size very difficult. So I bring my 27.5 when I visit. However where I live, 29er is better. My favorite comments are like yours, where people claim one wheel size is best - perhaps the trails where you ride, or the type of riding you do, favors a 29er - where as others, a 27.5 works better.
  • 2 0
 @Crisskan: your current 27,5 bikes feel awesome because everything including geo has changed. If someone took your current bike as it is, put 26” wheels on it and raised BB by 10mm to compensate you wouldn’t notice the difference. The mess 27,5 created when shopping for used or aftermarkets parts is undescribeable.
  • 1 0
 @WAKIdesigns: I wouldn't necessarily agree there Wiki.
I work at a bikeshop and has the opportunity to try out a lot of different bikes and geos. And I for instance noticed a positive difference between a 29er and a 27'5.
But I do like my riding to be really playful which could be a factor in why I like it better than 29ers.
Not saying there's something wrong with waggon wheels, I just prefer the smaller ones.
  • 3 0
 @Crisskan: you have no chance of testing my theory because there is no bike coming in 26 and 27,5 version with only geo difference being BB height. If you like it playful a 26” bike with modern components and geo would do you right. Also “playful”, well, geometry and tyre choice has more to do with playfulness than the wheel size. A DH tyre will turn every bike into a freight train. A 26” Session 2013 is not more playful than Stumpy 29 with Exo tyres. You can have preferences but laws of physics apply. Longer bike is less playful than a shorter bike and so are heavy tyres with plenty of gyroscopic effect vs lighter ones.
  • 6 0
 Gotta say, catalyst pedals are about the worst option for bigger feet. I'm size 16 (17us) and the 95mm width makes me laugh. I'm on vaults at 105x105 and they're too small. From my rough measurements, I'd need a pedal around 140mm wide and 160mm long to have a similar level of foot support as someone with size 12s on vaults. To have full width support id need 160mm wide platforms. So 95mm as you can imagine is not enough. My hands are equally oversized and I use lizard skins North shore lock ons, and even then they're only just thick enough, I can wrap my fingers round and touch my palm. Strange thing is I'm only 6ft 1.
  • 2 0
 Acromegaly?
  • 1 0
 I was wondering about that too.
They make use of the word “proportional” yet there’s no space for lebrons probably huge feet
  • 4 0
 Wow! im 6'1" with size 10 feet. Go on, say it. I can take it.
  • 2 0
 Is it true what they say about guys with big feet?
  • 7 0
 @skelldify: big socks
  • 6 0
 really tall hobbit?
  • 1 0
 @trippleacht: I also wonder about the weight considerations. Shaq is well north of 300 lbs, Lebron will probably be 280 when he stops playing and is actually allowed to ride a bike....
  • 1 0
 @pdxkid: I would not be so keen to take it...
  • 1 0
 Was just going to mention that Sensus grips makes a slip on grip that is a bit larger than a standard grip. Pretty much made for free riding. The big shoe problem though... dont know how to fix that:/
  • 1 0
 Chromag makes the Squarewave XL which is also a fatter grip than most. Something in the 35mm+ diameter range is ideal.
  • 1 0
 @plyawn: he used to ride to games in Miami
  • 1 0
 @mtb-sf: There are pictures of him riding critical mass in Cleveland.
  • 4 0
 Black Sheep Bikes has been producing some 36" for years as well. 36" doesn't only makes sense for super tall people.
The intended use of the bikes was city// commuting; the idea being that bigger wheels eat more easily through stairs etc.. There was even a video a regular chap climbing stairs like it was a smooth slope.
  • 5 0
 Strange...I thought Lebron was a major share holder for Cannondale.you think they would have been tapped to build him something up in the lab, unless they are too busy with a DH Bike?!
  • 3 0
 Who tf thought that decreasing spoke bracing angle with a larger rim size increases wheel strength? This makes absolutely no sense at all. Increasing chainstay lengths doesn't make them stronger either. I understand it's to get the sizing correct but in no way does it help increase the strength for the heavier rider.
  • 2 0
 I’m 6’7” and I’m glad I didn’t have to compromise on a rigid bike, there are some XXL options:

SC Hightower and HTLT (what I’m currently riding)
Transition Sentinal (aluminum only)
YT Capra
Gurerrilla Gravity Smash (size 4 is pretty much an XXL)

What am I missing?
  • 3 0
 Lol, a Pole of course?
  • 2 0
 Different brands have different size XXL. Santacruz sizes small. Their XXL V10 has a reach of 480mm which is most brands L! For your height you should be riding a Nicolai or a Pole in size XL or XXL with reach over 535mm.
  • 1 0
 @SintraFreeride: Not totally true anymore. Santa Cruz, Yeti & Ibis both have kind of fixed their issues of making tiny bikes (for their new stuff at least). New Bronson is nearly 490mm of reach in a normal XL. New yeti XL's went from like 462 to 500+ now (not that you mentioned Yeti).
  • 1 0
 @SintraFreeride: My medium Mondraker has a 480mm reach ahaha
  • 5 0
 Looks like sa small size frame.. until a regular sized person stands next to it.
  • 3 0
 If it's scaled up for larger people, why did they not scale up the top tube, bikes with those proportions always handle like garbage, he's gonna be hitting his toes on the front tire all day!
  • 3 0
 180mm cranks are too short for someone his height. The issue is that the toe / wheel overlap would be worse with longer. It's a lose / lose situation.
  • 3 0
 Good all around bike for Lebron, somebody should show him some trails around LA.
www.wsj.com/articles/the-lebron-james-interview-about-bicycles-1533561787
  • 2 0
 That cover photo in the article is too rad, Lebron on a Lefty! "If you had a bike, it was a way to kind of let go and be free." It's pretty hard not to like the guy considering he seems like a very well balanced human. Cool to see a niche bike manufacturer looking out for all these big people, more bikes for more people. They just might want to hold off on delivery until after the playoffs, I doubt the Lakers want Lebron breaking a collar bone trying to send it down a technical section of trail.
  • 1 0
 @chacou: lol, riiiight. LA is making the playoffs ????
  • 2 0
 @Svinyard: I have no idea, I don't follow the NBA, although I have heard that the Nuggets (local team) might.
  • 2 0
 @chacou: brah, time to get on the Nuggets bandwagon! They are #1 in the west after missing the playoffs last year. They good! (I'm a Portland guy so not my team tho)
  • 1 0
 It would be cool to elaborate what tubing they use, how much the bike weights and how much these guys weight. For that price I would want custom tubing based on riding and weight - don't think they offer it. I read the bikes are made to be able to hold 280 pounds, but that is pretty much the standard for US bikes. If you go custom you need to have the bike built according to your weight....
  • 1 0
 I would love to read the review. “Feels like I was sitting between the wheels.......”. Then compare that to when 29ers came out. Predict in 5 years they will be lighting up the downhill racing with mega boost hubs, 2048 points of engagement, 28.9995 bb spindles, seven compound 2.72 tires, the new 30.5 seat post with mind activated droppers. Ok. You get the point.
  • 2 0
 At 6'6" i really like it but it doesnt look as good as the 'April fool' Focus did some years ago with the 'Big Bird' 36" wheeled XC bike!
  • 1 1
 This rig is amazing, so many innovations from one place. This bike blurs the lines. MRP needs to get Mr. James on their fork. We in the comments wait for when kit is not a limitation. NBA could fund the tires that don't exist yet. A ginormous dh version of the Trust fork would probably work really well. Pedal assist for sure. I for one want to see Clash of the Titans on my racecourse.
  • 2 1
 He's only 4" taller than me yet I'm riding a dinky 27.5 wheel and I don't even ride XL frames! I guess I gotta figure myself out!
I'm pretty sure he could get by just fine on a 29" wheel.
  • 1 0
 Geo doesnt look to sorted to me. 32" might have made more sense if the reach is right. That pedal is way to close to the front tire and the wheels look large in proportion to the bike.
  • 1 0
 That is because these bikes don't have reach in the 600 or 650mm...so they are still small for tall people.
  • 1 0
 You can fit about 5 water bottles in that frame! Ordering one tomorrow. I just hope the small bump compliance and lateral stiffness meets my specifications. What size dropper fits on it? 275?
  • 1 0
 The big wheels are dope and kudos for a bold approach.

Suspension? With that size I assume you'd have to also custom build a front suspension fork?
  • 4 0
 V10 36 incoming
  • 4 0
 36'' ain't dead?
  • 3 0
 it's here! brace yourself!
  • 3 0
 This bike is as cool as the idea that chickens urinate
  • 2 2
 This wheelsize debate is getting better than digital cameras. "Who even wants Micro 4 loser thirds, if you ain't got Full Frame me no buy" - "get out pleb, Medium Format is where it's at"
  • 4 0
 29 ain't dead!
  • 1 0
 @Chadimac22 and 36 is mainstream. Wink I believe these are built by VentanaUSA
  • 4 0
 #29isdead
  • 2 0
 Given how tall these guys are and how long their reaches must be, that top tube looks way to short.
  • 2 3
 Its funny how mtb riders feel they need bigger wheels if they are tall. Yet JOSH HARRINGTON and others can kill it on 20" Wheels with no problem. Ride what you want and have fun but don't be fooled into thinking you need bigger wheels to do so.
  • 2 0
 I wouldn't talk too much crap about this bike, the owner may get defensive, oh wait, it's Lebron. Never mind.
  • 1 0
 on point!
  • 1 0
 Are you joking that LeBron is terrible defender?
  • 1 0
 @Svinyard: I personally think he might be the greatest player of all timm and is potentially one of the greatest defenders ever but it seems quite often he can be bothered to pick up his man, which stands out as he is often critical of his teammates, admittedly mediocre, defence.
  • 1 0
 Please excuse all the typos
  • 2 1
 I ride three foot wheels its hard to go back. They roll everything even slower riders in your way. Nice job Dave bike looks great.
  • 2 0
 Holy effing toe overlap. The proportions and geometry of this bike look suspect.
  • 1 0
 A 1.95m guy next to those wheels is like a 1.57m rider next to a 29". Does anyone here of that height ride 29"? Just curious.
  • 2 0
 Sounds like it's kinda a big deal.
  • 2 0
 Look at the rebels parking on the fire line...
  • 2 5
 Why don't you go and tell Lebron where not to leave his bike? Q: Where does a two ton gorilla sit? A: Wherever he chooses.
  • 1 0
 mad lads call the 50
  • 1 0
 poor tall guys,they can´t ride a full suspension bike like the (we) hobbits do...
  • 2 0
 For such a big guy, strange they went for QR rear and not T/A
  • 1 0
 yeah 157 TA for those huge rims i'd think guess he's just using it for commuting though
  • 2 0
 Hopefully he can afford it.
  • 1 1
 Very rad, but I'm wondering why he went with knobbies. I doubt he's going to do any real trail riding, in which case you'd be better off with slicks.
  • 3 0
 Because maybe he's going going to do some "real" trail riding? Honestly, let people ride what they want
  • 1 0
 @yarbianthebarbarian: not without 157 TA hubs hes not
  • 1 0
 Oh no, bicycle riders are catching up. Unicyclists need to get onto the 48" bandwagon to stay ahead of curve.
  • 1 0
 I just can't wrap my head around how big this thing is, it makes that eagle cassette and 203 rotors look so tiny!
  • 1 0
 At 6’5” I’d love to give one of these a go but I don’t have a NBA player’s salary!
  • 1 0
 I wonder if the new Pole 29er isn't just an ideal bike for a big dude like these guys. I'm 6-4 and enjoy a slightly longer XL, but man I bet that Pole is great on a 6-7 dude.
  • 2 4
 Lebron is only 2 inches taller than me and I fit on the "large" size from many brands just fine and don't need to go the XL sizes. I didn't need to give up suspension frames / forks or use skinnier tires in a larger diameter to get a bike to fit me either.
  • 4 0
 @deeeight Now how is that even possible? According to this website someone your size should not even be able to ride without at least 650mm reach.
  • 2 0
 @Climbtech:

LOL...well their website is designed to convince people who know nothing about bike fit... that they must buy a 36er or 32er if they're tall.
  • 1 0
 Did anyone say this yet. That ain't gonna work. How much toe clearance has that bike got?
Lebron doesn't wear a size 10
  • 1 0
 Not good, not bad. Glad he can enjoy cycling now. For all a bicycle that money could buy, I was kind of milquetoast.
  • 1 0
 I remember my dad saying something about Bill Gate's house when it was in the news paper, like he was pretty surprised it wasn't a lot better.
  • 1 0
 no geo numbers, how can they sell this.
  • 1 0
 instead of xxxxxl they should just have magnum size
  • 1 0
 Cool to see LeBron rocking a Kinekt seatpost!
  • 1 0
 should've called it the "Baller"
  • 1 1
 What size discs they use? I'm pretty sure on a 36in wheel and a heavy rider those poor 200mm discs will suffer!
  • 1 0
 They should just get rim brakes on them.
  • 1 0
 Why is part of the cable blurred out on the picture of the rear hub?
  • 1 0
 looks like dodgy post prod editing to highlight the hub
  • 2 0
 that's the google pixel portrait mode fcking up...
  • 1 0
 That bottom bracket drop though
  • 1 0
 Well he does love to travel.. now he can on a bike as well....
  • 1 0
 Where the bottle braze-ons?
  • 1 0
 I'm 6'8" and squashed onto a 29er Spec Enduro
  • 1 0
 Gyroscopic effect on this one is huge, 29 is dead..
  • 1 0
 Reggie Miller just got a boner!
  • 1 0
 "Dirty Sixer"? That's what I call my... oh never mind.
  • 2 0
 No bottle cage
  • 1 0
 yup its shit then
  • 1 0
 Bike nerds are going bananas my friends
  • 1 0
 Had the option for suspension; chose the rigid fork like a boss.
  • 1 0
 29 is dead, long live 36.
  • 2 0
 Who is Lebron James?
  • 1 0
 I have an old Reverb that would work well in place of that post.
  • 1 0
 Can you even turn without your toes hitting on the front wheel?
  • 1 0
 I bet is a airplane going down a hill .
  • 1 0
 Tacos compatible!
  • 1 0
 #suckadick
  • 1 1
 “The decision“ was as abnoxious as all these wc team rider teases
  • 1 0
 Still not enough reach
  • 1 1
 I bet he rides it 0 times.
  • 1 1
 Seeing stuff like this makes me appreciate the fact that I'm 5'9"
  • 1 0
 That is a mountain bike?
  • 1 0
 26” forever!!!
  • 1 0
 heck yes my dude 26 or nothin
  • 3 4
 Well looks like I won’t be buying from this company
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