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Dirt Jumping help

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blong131
Posts: 2193 - Karma: 59
i know, if youve seen my bike threads before im all over the place. I just tried dhing for the first time, and it was totally sick, im gonna do that as often as i can but its an hour plus ride out to diablo from school, and right now i dont have a car at school.

one thing i really liked about dh was the tabletop jumps. theres a dj park/pump track near me (highbridge park at 191st) so i think i wanna get something to jump cuz i could easily head there after work and stuff.

so now my question: do i get a 20"? (im a small guy-5'8", 130lbs) a 24"? dj mtb (26)? if i go for the 24 or 26, should i get a front suspension? and with the 20s, is there any difference between a dj bike and a bmx at the low end? im really solely looking at cheap stuff, im just gonna grab something from craigslist.
Aug 18 2010 8:14AM
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matt.s
Posts: 2502 - Karma: 93
im assuming you are talking about frame size here, and if it helps you at all i have a 19" hardtail frame (i use it for XC), and im about 6'. i probably have grown about 2 inches since i got it though. for dirt jumping, front suspension is probably a pretty good idea. look into a fork with a good amount of travel.
Aug 18 2010 8:29AM
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blong131
Posts: 2193 - Karma: 59
wheel size.
Aug 18 2010 8:33AM
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blong131
Posts: 2193 - Karma: 59
also, do people still use gyros? or was that like a fad?
Aug 18 2010 9:25AM
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Cthulhu
Posts: 528 - Karma: 21
idk about bmx but mountain biking alot of guys are using hydraulic gyros now
Aug 18 2010 11:28AM
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blong131
Posts: 2193 - Karma: 59
whoa. cant say ive ever heard of that, and i thought i knew mtbs inside and out. googling...
Aug 18 2010 11:35AM
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CodyTurner
Posts: 677 - Karma: 86
Id love to help you out dude,but im a little confused if you are going to be going to diablo on the norm id get a mtb with full suspension.But there is nothing better than chillin at your local trails hitting up the doubles on a 20''.

so its really all about what you decide to ride more often.Idk if you will enjoy jumping as much on a mtb compared to the 20 because the suspension kinda takes the fun out of sailing a jump and landing perfectly on the sweet spot.
Aug 18 2010 11:46AM
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blong131
Posts: 2193 - Karma: 59
no ill be at diablo some weekends, but not often enough to warrant dropping 2 gs on a bike.

just want something for hittin the jumps over at highbridge. deciding between a 20 and a 24/26. the thing is, i know how to shop for a 24/26, cuz i know mtb components/frames really well. i have no idea how to shop for a 20 because its totally different manufacturers.

i already have a cannondale f4000sl for xc, but it def isnt fun to jump. ive hit the jumps park once on that.
Aug 18 2010 11:56AM
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blong131
Posts: 2193 - Karma: 59
would this be good for dirt jumping?

http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/bik/1905923598.html

i feel like im not gonna like a regular 20" cuz im used to xc mtb and road bike geometry.
Aug 18 2010 3:03PM
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charmander
Posts: 10636 - Karma: 370
dude, go 26" wheels, hardtail 4" of front travel.

i had a blk mrkt mob when i could still ride and it was the sickest bike ever. highly recomended.
Aug 18 2010 3:29PM
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blong131
Posts: 2193 - Karma: 59
that would be ideal, but nothing seems to pop up on clist that i can afford in that range. im looking for something to dick around on, not to drop 400+ on a used bike. after looking around online, i think that SE floval flyer is gonna be perfect for me if the guy takes my offer
Aug 18 2010 3:31PM
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DlX
Posts: 397 - Karma: 10
Definitely get 20s with no suspension, they hold up so well on dirt and are really easy to learn on, especially when trying bigger jumps
Aug 18 2010 4:02PM
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zues
Posts: 6434 - Karma: -5,330
hey man how long does the student pass to MT snow run? 
Aug 18 2010 4:03PM
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blong131
Posts: 2193 - Karma: 59
you can wait up till september to buy. runs all season no blackout dates.
Aug 18 2010 4:03PM
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7-3instacall
Posts: 999 - Karma: 1,005
BMX
Aug 18 2010 4:12PM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51595 - Karma: 161,755
bmx
Aug 18 2010 4:14PM
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DutchhGutss
Posts: 896 - Karma: 124
BMX FTW
Aug 18 2010 4:45PM
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matt.s
Posts: 2502 - Karma: 93
oh.
oops.
Aug 18 2010 4:49PM
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bsmith01
Posts: 1639 - Karma: 43
I have a Specialized P2 (26in hardtail) and you can find some old ones for cheap, I got my 2009 frame a few months ago for $200 on pinkbike.  I've tried a 20" at Rays Indoor park and it did jump great but I like the stability of a 26", maybe I just need to get used to it.  I had a Gary Fisher Mullet before hand, but it was a mix of an xc bike and a dj bike, I hated it.  I could do both on it but it did not do either well, so I got the P2 because I like jumping more.  Also, if you ever wanna race the GS at Diablo, a hardtail will do good there.
Aug 18 2010 4:55PM
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introvert
Posts: 4718 - Karma: 1,482
Get a 20" Eastern Traildigger. I'm 5'9 170 and that's what I rock. It's cheap, light, and durable and it's great for dirt jumping and street.
Aug 18 2010 5:00PM
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the.cheat
Posts: 2859 - Karma: 171
it also puts a bit of fun into those almost perfect landings
Aug 18 2010 5:01PM
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blong131
Posts: 2193 - Karma: 59
i ended up buying the SE Floval Flyer 24 on my way home from work
Aug 18 2010 6:59PM
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Sitch.
Posts: 841 - Karma: 13
BMX
Aug 18 2010 7:12PM
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jamodeo
Posts: 3040 - Karma: 663
i would not have done that
what i think you shouldve done was get a cro-mo hardtail 26" with an 80-100 mm fork in the front a 21.5in TT and been set what you bought was a BMX race bike which is more apt to break since it's aluminum if you come down wrong on a sizable jump but thats just my opinion have fun doing the greatest summer activity in the world without snow
Aug 18 2010 7:19PM
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84891jnf92048
Posts: 11552 - Karma: 2,550
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

24s are not the best decision to make.
Aug 18 2010 8:01PM
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84891jnf92048
Posts: 11552 - Karma: 2,550
and 24 inch BMXs are even worse.
i wish i had seen this thread earlier, but i would havee recommended a 26 inch (MTB) hardtail, with a 4 inch fork, singlespeed.
Aug 18 2010 8:06PM
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MACAQUE
Posts: 2811 - Karma: 696
If I had seen this earlier I would have suggested a BMX (20 inch). You can get a bike that will last for cheap, and riding it would have made you infinitely better at DH, since BMXing teaches you to be smooth.

Also, fount, got, BIGGER.
Aug 18 2010 8:28PM
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pussymoneyweed
Posts: 2055 - Karma: 60
look at my pics, thats a subrosa letum dirt 09 all stock, solid jumper but i can't really use it as i don't have a place to jump anymore if you want to buy message me
Aug 18 2010 8:31PM
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84891jnf92048
Posts: 11552 - Karma: 2,550
might you be talking about the reply box? because my faunt CHANGED and got BIGGER. oh, and not just any MTB with a 4 inch fork, a Dirt jump specific mountain bike, but judging by you saying you knew mountain bikes in and out, i thing you know that.
Aug 18 2010 8:39PM
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teleak
Posts: 2251 - Karma: 105
this, maybe not singlespeed though
Aug 18 2010 8:42PM
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84891jnf92048
Posts: 11552 - Karma: 2,550
i rode a DJ bike with gears for a long time, and singlespeed looks so much cleaner, there is less to go wrong/have to maintain, and if you do a good job picking gears, you dont need gears to DJ
Aug 18 2010 8:46PM
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matt.s
Posts: 2502 - Karma: 93
cool man! have fun riding.

make sure you post pics of yourself doing radical maneuvers
Aug 18 2010 8:53PM
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dispatchQ_main
Posts: 2619 - Karma: 629
single speed hardtail. 26' rims dj fork. if your goin from a dh bike to a bmx... you wont be doin so well. just go with a cheaper dj bike then change parts as your heart desires.
Aug 18 2010 9:19PM
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