 You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
I don't have much idea regarding dirt jump bikes so was asking for some suggestions, it's a bike I'm going to use to learn to jump along with my bmx, to transfer later onto my mtb, I don't want to crash my mtb in the process so I'll be getting a cheap dirt jump that I can crash without remorse.
So far I've seen Mafia Blackjack, Commencal absolut, NS, but also ~2010 Haro Steel Reserve which has good reviews, although not sure if geo on these bikes has changed much lately or it's still the same as 8 years ago.
Also, is there anything to look for in this kind of bikes?
Thanks
Don't know much about completes, but I'd say look at fit first - a lot of DJ bikes are quite short as a lot of them are ridden by younger / smaller riders so if you're 6' choose carefully. Check what forks come on them, you don't need much travel (or none) but it should be well damped to avoid getting bucked off. Try and get something dirt specific rather than a street/park bike. A DJ bike should have a lower BB height, slacker head angle and longer chainstays than a park bike. Not much has changed geometry wise in the last 5-10 years, although top tube lengths are creeping up on some frames. Most still take a straight 1 1/8" steerer fork and 25.4" bars. If you wanted to build your own you could do a lot worse than start off with a Dartmoor 26 player.
Ok, thanks for the info, it's difficult to distinguish between a DJ and a street/park though, they all look the same to me!
I wouldn't worry too much. Get something second hand an cheap but functional. any hardtail will do really, set up "aggressive" with shirt travel fork.  it wont hold you back if you are beginner. the after 6 months when you know what you want/like, sell it for virtually the same money and continue.
I use my piglet 2 with fork set at 120mm and nice high rise bars. I'm not tailwhipping though.
I would budget to buy a second hand bike and then service the forks.
No one ever services DJ forks.
In terms of sizing for the frames, if you can chose a long if you normally ride one, if you can't then you can adjust the feel of the bike quite dramatically with the stack height and bar height.
Get plastic pedals to start with as it will be easier on the legs.
Having enough cable slack to barspin may feel pretentious but it will save you tearing a line when you inevitably throw the bike.
I had an absolut MAXMAX and I found it a bit hard work to keep the rear wheel lined up.
Chain tugs are pretty much essential
Thanks for the suggestions, indeed my idea was to get a cheap second hand. Maybe first full rigid and later add suspension, will depend on what I find.
cheers!
Rigid eh? Splash the cash on one of these then sell it me when you've had enough of it 🙂
http://www.commongroundbikes.com/tech
I've got a DJ bike I don't use much if you would be interested? Email in profile and I'll send you some pictures and more details.
What's you starting point in terms of skills and where do you want to get to?
If you are just learning to send a few jumps it's not worth buying a dedicated bike. Run wot you brung.
If you have decent local dirt jumps and want to learn the Art then fair enough.
If you have BMX ready trails and have a BMX then you don't need a DJ MTB. Although I admit learning on a BMX is scarier due to small size and lack of forgiveness.
I have a dedicated jump bike and it's the least ridden of my stash. Mainly as the local jumps are shit. And mainly as my mtb ht is less scary on the jumps we have.
Don't get a mafia, otherwise what everyone else has said go second hand and I am not 100% sure why you want a DJ bike if you have a BMX.
I got into bmx to improve my skills: bunny hop, manual (holding it) and now starting to jump with it (the proper way, not just going fast and hoping for the best), the end goal is to bhop, manual and jump my mtb.
There is a big gap in terms of size from the 20" bmx to a 27.5 mtb, so instead of transfering my bmx skills straight onto my mtb and risk crashing it, I'd rather get a similar sized cheap DJ bike that I can transfer my skills to first.
I'll use both the bmx and DJ at the local bmx track, once I am confident, then move onto my MTB.
Once I have the proper jumping skills and I can clear all the bmx track jumps I'd love to try proper DJ like the ones at Radical Bikes.
Bear in mind I'm 41, full time job, family ... so I do small step increments in terms of skills, consolidating every skill before moving a step up.
Did that make sense?
Yep, I think due to your end goal just a DJ bike might be better. Second hand as others have said. Sell the BMX as you say there is a bit of transition and unless you intend to get into some skatepark riding you will probably feel more comfortable on the DJ bike and easier transition to your "normal" MTB.