DJ for all round use?

PB Forum :: Dirt Jumping & Street
DJ for all round use?
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flag Z94
Posted: Oct 31, 2017 at 11:11 Quote
Hello,

I am a complete newbie (havent even started yet) and i am looking to get my first bike, i want to use the bike for short distance commuting, dirt jumps and trails.

I want the bike to be as simple as possible, single speed etc

after having a look i think the DJ bikes look like they would suit me best, I dont like normal mountain bikes or full suspension at all (have been using my dads cannondale prophet for the odd bit of commuting).

I am starting in order to get fit, but i want fun along the way or ill be bored to death and give up, i did a bit of bmxing when i was younger, nothing really but enough to find myself more comfortable on one rather then a mtb.

I am 5'11" and weigh around 12 stone.

Any tips? would a saracen cr2 long frame bike be suitable?

Thanks

Zak
flag adrennan
O+ FL
Posted: Oct 31, 2017 at 11:27 Quote
i got into mountain biking after buying a dirt jumper. i rode that poor bike everywhere; i roce cross country trail, downhill trails, skateparks, street, etc. it wasnt ideal for trail riding, i had a long seat tube that made it sorta work and i did have gears (single speed uphill is dumb unless you live in a flat area). something like a chromag stylus or other bikes like it may be ideal for you if you have the budget. bikes like that have dj inspired geometry with nice touches that make it great for trail use.
flag coolbeans12
Posted: Nov 3, 2017 at 14:29 Quote
They make 22" bmx bikes now specifically for guys like you. I just ordered a 22" FBM Steadfast designed for trail riding because I want to get back into riding. I was heavy into bmx as a kid but stopped when I got a car and started chasing girls and drinking beer. I chose this route over MTB simply because I remember how much I loved riding and customizing my BMX in the 80's.
flag cmc4130
Posted: Nov 3, 2017 at 14:36 Quote
adrennan wrote:
i got into mountain biking after buying a dirt jumper. i rode that poor bike everywhere; i roce cross country trail, downhill trails, skateparks, street, etc. it wasnt ideal for trail riding, i had a long seat tube that made it sorta work and i did have gears (single speed uphill is dumb unless you live in a flat area). something like a chromag stylus or other bikes like it may be ideal for you if you have the budget. bikes like that have dj inspired geometry with nice touches that make it great for trail use.

I know what you're getting at, and it's a very good point. Usually when someone comes on here asking about a DJ for commuting, I tell them what you did. But, I think it's a little different because this guy is coming from BMX. For him, I would say, yes, get a good-fitting DJ bike.

I also came from BMX, then rode a DJ for everything for several years. Although later I have branched into other mountain bikes, I think that first very-bmx-ish mtb was what I needed. BMX riders want to be able to 180 bunnyhop and manual with ease. He doesn't want to be bored. All-Mountain hardtails are jumpable, but they can be awkward for any bmx street tricks. I guess it's an issue of how much XC Trail versus BMX-style Street he intends to do.

adrennan, you're absolutely right about the drastic seat height difference between the leg-extension of commuting and XC Trail versus a DJ frame. i think this photo of my Fairdale and my Black Market Mob sorta shows that: Cool
photo

My NS Surge Evo (Large) is kind of in between, because I can quick release the seat post higher. Then again, it's a middle-ground setup that isn't maximized for either. After this photo I got a seatpost with more setback for long rides and that helped.
photo

And BMX-street on a commuter bike really sucks! Awesome time riding in Copenhagen Denmark, but wish I could have rented a cooler bike.
photo
flag cmc4130
Posted: Nov 3, 2017 at 14:42 Quote
coolbeans12 wrote:
They make 22" bmx bikes now specifically for guys like you. I just ordered a 22" FBM Steadfast designed for trail riding because I want to get back into riding. I was heavy into bmx as a kid but stopped when I got a car and started chasing girls and drinking beer. I chose this route over MTB simply because I remember how much I loved riding and customizing my BMX in the 80's.

Agree. I'm a big fan of 22" BMX. https://www.pinkbike.com/u/cmc4130/album/22-wheel-BMX/ I was an "early adopter" getting one back in 2008 and helped design some locally-built frames here.. To me, they're just a better-fitting BMX. I can appreciate DJ 26" too. So either direction could be good.

photo
flag cmc4130
Posted: Nov 3, 2017 at 14:44 Quote
Z94 wrote:
Hello,

I am a complete newbie (havent even started yet) and i am looking to get my first bike, i want to use the bike for short distance commuting, dirt jumps and trails.

I want the bike to be as simple as possible, single speed etc

after having a look i think the DJ bikes look like they would suit me best, I dont like normal mountain bikes or full suspension at all (have been using my dads cannondale prophet for the odd bit of commuting).

I am starting in order to get fit, but i want fun along the way or ill be bored to death and give up, i did a bit of bmxing when i was younger, nothing really but enough to find myself more comfortable on one rather then a mtb.

I am 5'11" and weigh around 12 stone.

Any tips? would a saracen cr2 long frame bike be suitable?

Thanks

Zak

I'm not personally familiar with the Saracen, but just looking at the specs, it looks well designed and spec'd. The RST Space fork used to suck, back when they came on the Eastern Thunderbird, around 2009-2011 (I know two guys who broke them). But, I've heard they improved.

The only strange thing I noticed right away is they put a 32/12 gear ratio on it. That's ludicrous. That's a whopping 69 gear inches. If you live in a flat city, it'll be okay. You'll be hauling ass. You could keep up with a singlespeed road bike/fixie with that gear ratio.

photo
flag cmc4130
Posted: Nov 3, 2017 at 15:01 Quote
Sorry for the deluge of posts, just killin some time here. . . . . Another consideration could be a 24" or 26" BMX. The STOLEN Zeke 26" feels nice. The drawback would be not having a suspension fork for cross country MTB trails.
I think if you're going to ride any rough dirt trail at all, then an MTB is a better way to go.

If you want to run pegs and ride skateparks and more bmx style street, then 22" or 24" wheel BMX.

Stolen Zeke 26"
photo
flag Z94
Posted: Nov 4, 2017 at 12:32 Quote
cmc4130 wrote:
Sorry for the deluge of posts, just killin some time here. . . . . Another consideration could be a 24" or 26" BMX. The STOLEN Zeke 26" feels nice. The drawback would be not having a suspension fork for cross country MTB trails.
I think if you're going to ride any rough dirt trail at all, then an MTB is a better way to go.

If you want to run pegs and ride skateparks and more bmx style street, then 22" or 24" wheel BMX.

Stolen Zeke 26"
photo

Hey man,

thanks for the response!

Everything you said is a big help! I have also been looking at the Santa Cruz Chameleon, a bit more expensive but looks like it could do me well, do you think for short commuting/trail and some beginner dirt jump its would be overall more suitable?

Thanks!

Zak
flag cmc4130
Posted: Nov 4, 2017 at 12:45 Quote
Like we said above the issue with commuting/trail is how high do you want or need your seat. Some bmxers can crank around all day never sitting down. Other people want to sit and get leg extension. You can run a long post.... but your seat still won’t be as high as on a Trail bike....
flag Z94
Posted: Nov 4, 2017 at 13:17 Quote
cmc4130 wrote:
Like we said above the issue with commuting/trail is how high do you want or need your seat. Some bmxers can crank around all day never sitting down. Other people want to sit and get leg extension. You can run a long post.... but your seat still won’t be as high as on a Trail bike....

I dont like cycling sat down with extended legs i find it awkward and uncomfortable, i may do light peddling sat down, but majority and for speed would be stood up.

sorry complete beginner here, just learning the basics at the mo
flag cmc4130
Posted: Nov 4, 2017 at 13:47 Quote
Z94 wrote:
cmc4130 wrote:
Like we said above the issue with commuting/trail is how high do you want or need your seat. Some bmxers can crank around all day never sitting down. Other people want to sit and get leg extension. You can run a long post.... but your seat still won’t be as high as on a Trail bike....

I dont like cycling sat down with extended legs i find it awkward and uncomfortable, i may do light peddling sat down, but majority and for speed would be stood up.

sorry complete beginner here, just learning the basics at the mo

Oh wait, yes, the Chameleon is the all-around hardtail. I was thinking Jackal. That’s Santa Cruz’ DJ specific bike.
flag Z94
Posted: Nov 4, 2017 at 14:18 Quote
cmc4130 wrote:
Z94 wrote:
cmc4130 wrote:
Like we said above the issue with commuting/trail is how high do you want or need your seat. Some bmxers can crank around all day never sitting down. Other people want to sit and get leg extension. You can run a long post.... but your seat still won’t be as high as on a Trail bike....

I dont like cycling sat down with extended legs i find it awkward and uncomfortable, i may do light peddling sat down, but majority and for speed would be stood up.

sorry complete beginner here, just learning the basics at the mo

Oh wait, yes, the Chameleon is the all-around hardtail. I was thinking Jackal. That’s Santa Cruz’ DJ specific bike.

Yeah its an all round but the styling of the frame and from reviews ive read it looks like its nimble enough for jump/street and also good for the trails and commute!

hopefully i can get the money uptogether!!!
flag vydra
Posted: Nov 4, 2017 at 14:37 Quote
NS bikes makes an 'all-round' bike, and while the frame looks strange and the fork looks bad, it looks somewhat appealing to me. >> http://www.ns-bikes.com/clash,100,pl.html
Other than that, I believe some of the following would work well as all-rounders:
- Trek Roscoe 8
- Specialized Fuse
- NS Liar
- Santa Cruz Chameleon
(They are hardtails to relate with the DJ theme)
flag Z94
Posted: Nov 4, 2017 at 15:14 Quote
VDR wrote:
NS bikes makes an 'all-round' bike, and while the frame looks strange and the fork looks bad, it looks somewhat appealing to me. >> http://www.ns-bikes.com/clash,100,pl.html
Other than that, I believe some of the following would work well as all-rounders:
- Trek Roscoe 8
- Specialized Fuse
- NS Liar
- Santa Cruz Chameleon
(They are hardtails to relate with the DJ theme)

NS is nice, i like the frame shape,

huge fan of the chameleon, think thats what im gonna collect my pennies for!
flag w00ht
O+
Posted: Nov 4, 2017 at 16:27 Quote
DJ bikes are specialist designs and It really depends on how you set it up and what compromises you make to let it do other things it wasn't designed specifically for. That being said if your honest with yourself about what you really need it would be a great all around bike with a few minor setup tweaks. I have a Haro Steel Reserve 1.1 and I ride it all around downtown for errands and jumping off crap, and I ride it enough that I'm selling my other bike I don't ride anymore. I'm a bigger guy so I added a 320mm Pivotal post and seat, and a set of S&M 5" rise bars to get the ergonomics where I wanted. I carry a small tool when I ride and just drop the seat when I'm screwing around or raise it up if I'm just cruising. That being said I wouldn't do more than a few miles at a time, because this isn't the bike for that. So far I really like the way the bike feels but there a lot of room for improvement - not unexpected from a $550 complete.

I've had all kinds of bikes over the years and my all time favorite was an older SE OM Flyer. It was so simple and so much fun to ride, and this Haro has a lot of the same feel, just with new school bmx components and disk brakes

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