10 Pumptrack Bikes from Crankworx Rotorua 2017

Mar 30, 2017
by AJ Barlas  
New bikes, borrowed bikes, old bikes with a clean and everything in between. There was a big mix of rides out for the kickoff event of the 2017 Pumptrack Challenge series. Earlier in the day there were rumors abound that the event would be chainless, but with it not being confirmed, a number of riders were around with chains attached. After a majority vote with the riders, everyone was forced to take off their chains – it is a pumptrack after all.

Cody Kelley's Yeti DJ

Cody Kelly s Yeti DJ pumptrack bike - Crankworx Rotorua 2017

Cody Kelly s Yeti DJ pumptrack bike - Crankworx Rotorua 2017
  Fox 36 up front, lowered to 100mm.

Cody Kelly s Yeti DJ pumptrack bike - Crankworx Rotorua 2017
Cody Kelly s Yeti DJ pumptrack bike - Crankworx Rotorua 2017
Maxxis Ikon and DTH combo.

Cody Kelly s Yeti DJ pumptrack bike - Crankworx Rotorua 2017
  40mm rise Renthal Fatbars

Cody Kelly s Yeti DJ pumptrack bike - Crankworx Rotorua 2017
Cody Kelly s Yeti DJ pumptrack bike - Crankworx Rotorua 2017


Barry Nobles' Airborne

Barry Nobles and his Airborne ready to party.
  Ready to party.

His Profile rear hub is not single speed specific.
His Profile rear hub is not single speed specific.
Profile Pivotal seat and Crankbrothers Stamp pedals.
Profile Pivotal seat and VP Harrier pedals.

The classic ODI O-Grip is Barry s favourite grip. He s stopping with Guide Ultimates.
The classic ODI O-Grip is Barry's favorite grip. He's stopping with Guide RSC Brakes.

Barry had quite a bit of extra cable up front for all the tricks he s been locking down.
Barry had quite a bit of extra cable up front for all the tricks he's been locking down.
Maxxis Ardent up front and a Pike DJ.
Maxxis Ardent up front and a Pike DJ.


Jill Kintner's Norco Rampage

Jill Kintner and her Norco Rampage

A closer look reveals a subtle metal flake in the paint.
A closer look reveals a subtle metal flake in the paint.

Upon learning that it was a chainless event Jill s mechanic removed the entire drivetrain including the chainring.
Upon learning that it was a chainless event, Jill's mechanic removed the entire drivetrain, including the chainring.
Renthal Fatbar Carbon with Shimano XT brakes take care of stopping duties. Jill was one of only a few running front and rear brakes too.
Renthal Fatbar Carbon with Shimano XT brakes take care of stopping duties. Jill was one of only a few running front and rear brakes too.

Fox 36 lowered to 100mm.
  Fox 36 lowered to 100mm.


Mitch Ropelato's Santa Cruz Jackal

Mitch Ropelato and his Santa Cruz Jackal which looked fast standing still.
  Mitch Ropelato and his Santa Cruz Jackal, which looked fast standing still.

Mitch was running flats and chooses to run the Deity T-Mac pedals.
Mitch was running flats and chooses to run the Deity T-Mac pedals.
More Sensus Lite grips. Mitch also uses Guide Ultimate s for stopping.
More Sensus Lite grips. Mitch also uses Guide Ultimates for stopping.

Another Pike DJ but this one has Mitch s name on it.
  Another Pike DJ, but this one has Mitch's name on it.


Caroline Buchanan's Winning Airborne

Caroline Buchanan and her Airborne. Caroline is stoked to be back at Crankworx clearly.
  Caroline Buchanan and her Airborne. Caroline is stoked to be back at Crankworx, clearly.

ODI bar stem and grip. Caroline runs the Ruffian MX grip.
  ODI bar, stem, and grip. Caroline runs the Ruffian MX grip.

Buchanan left her drivetrain on the bike...
Buchanan left her drivetrain on the bike...
Including the chainguide.
Including the chainguide.

New Pike graphics on Caroline s bike.
  New Pike graphics on Caroline's bike.


Reece Wallace's Custom Painted Giant

Reece Wallace and his Giant slopestyle dirt jumper. Custom paint thanks to his efforts with a paintbrush and some hardware stor blue paint.
  Reece Wallace and his Giant slopestyle/dirt jumper. Custom paint thanks to his efforts with a paintbrush and some hardware store blue paint.

Chromag controls and an Odyssey M2 BMX lever to take care of the braking with the gyro setup.
  Chromag controls and an Odyssey M2 BMX lever to take care of the braking with the gyro setup.

Chomag s Liason series Overture seat.
Chomag's Liason series Overture seat.
A gyro for all of his spinny trick things.
A gyro for all of his spinny trick things.

Single speed Industry Nine hub.
  Single speed Industry Nine hub.

Reece runs the gyro to his BB7 calliper.
Reece runs the gyro to his BB7 calliper.
Custom decals too.
Custom decals too.


Iago Garay's Borrowed Santa Cruz Jackal

Iago Garay and his borrowed Santa Cruz Jackal.

Iago put his own controls on for some familiarity. Guide R brake.
  Iago put his own controls on for some familiarity. Guide R brake.

Hope Pro 2 hubs and a rusty chain pre-removal.
Hope Pro 2 hubs and a rusty chain pre-removal.
Primo Powerbite BMX cranks
Primo Powerbite BMX cranks


Bernard Kerr's Pivot Point

Bernard Kerr and his Pivot Point. He qualified with his only two runs being from the seeding because he was practicing for DH which was running at the same time.
  Bernard qualified after only doing two runs, each being his seeding because he was practicing for DH, which was running at the same time.

Industry Nine single speed hub laced to a Reynolds hoop. Shimano Saint brakes for stopping.
Industry Nine single speed hub laced to a Reynolds hoop. Shimano Saint brakes for stopping.
Renthal Fatbar push-on grips and stem.
Renthal Fatbar, push-on grips and stem.

Bernard threw on a Maxxis Ardent Race for some extra traction up front.
  Bernard threw on a Maxxis Ardent Race for some extra traction up front.


Micayla Gatto's Borrowed Pivot Point

Micayla Gatto and her borrowed Pivot Point.
  Micayla Gatto and her borrowed Pivot Point.

Another bike with a Pike DJ up front.
  Another bike with a Pike DJ up front.

Shimano XT cranks. Micayla opted to clip in for the event.
Shimano XT cranks. Micayla opted to clip in for the event.
Hope Pro 2 hub.
Hope Pro 2 hub.

Shimano XTR brakes and Thomson bar and stem. Nice setup for a borrowed setup.
  Shimano XTR brakes and Thomson bar and stem. Nice setup for a borrowed setup.


Greg Watt's Mongoose

Greg Watts and his Mongoose ready to roll.

Free Agent chain tensioner.
Free Agent chain tensioner.
Greg opted for a bit more tread than some. Maxxis Ikon to be exact.
Greg opted for a bit more tread than some. Maxxis' Ikon to be exact.

Another rider with Sensus Lite grips.
  Another rider with Sensus' Lite grips.

Deity controls Shimano Zee brakes front and rear for Greg.
Deity controls. Shimano Zee brakes front and rear for Greg.
Deity T-Mac pedals for Greg.
Deity T-Mac pedals for Greg.


MENTIONS: @norcobicycles / @pivotcycles / @AirborneBicycles / @mongoosebikes / @giantbicycles / @yeticycles


Posted In:
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76 Comments
  • 246 6
 Bring back the Yeti DJ!
  • 94 3
 WHY DOES THIS ONLY HAVE 21 PROPS?!

Also on the topic of bringing things back...Dual Slalom
  • 5 2
 Is it just me, or does that thing look super small? Especially for Cody.( over 6 ft?)
  • 5 2
 @Triber66: It's borrowed from his mechanic
  • 2 0
 @Triber66: The tubing is pretty big too, so it looks smaller .
  • 5 1
 @NorCalNomad: *4X
  • 9 1
 Cannot believe they stopped making a DJ/4X hardtail frame. F-ing Enduro!
  • 2 0
 Yeti DJ just replaced the POY 'Aurora' pic as my desktop background. It's just that nice!
  • 1 0
 How do these people have such new looking yeti DJ frames! Are yeti still making them for pro's?

Can we get a batch made?
  • 1 0
 YASSSS!
  • 52 1
 People running Saints/Zees/Guides on dj/pumptrack hardtails while I ride deores on my DH bike :thinking:
  • 4 3
 I used to see kids build stuff up like that just because they were the nicest parts. Need all that power in just your rear wheel so you can just skid every time you try to brake... good stuff. On one hand I guess they're just showing off their sponsor's "best" products.
  • 1 0
 @thepwnstar39: might as well run XTR then, at least as high end as Saint..
  • 3 2
 @bonkywonky: XTR's aren't as stiff. Saint's feel way better.
  • 4 1
 @thepwnstar39: Take a day off.
  • 1 0
 Deore on DH bike?? My friend overheat Saint brake on Chatêl bike park... You must like yourself so mutch..????????
  • 27 1
 If you hate abs, don't google "caroline buchanan"
  • 18 0
 Ummm I just noticed that all these bikes seem to be running 26" wheels. Does the industry know this happened? How is there not more outcry? (also this is a joke... so let the neg props begin?)
  • 14 1
 As good as that Mongoose may ride, it looks like someone described what a DJ bike looks like over the phone.
  • 9 0
 I'm glad to see they all went CHAINLESS. So much fun & we need more of this!
  • 14 9
 Are they required to have a front suspension? It seems to me that a rigid fork would be faster and lighter.

Also, are they required to ride a mtb? A 20" race BMX should be faster.
  • 2 0
 Event said minimum 26in bikes
  • 4 1
 I would imagine a lot of it would be to do with sponsors requiring them to use front suspension rather than the event requiring it.
  • 6 5
 Makes sense for a mtb festival. Thanks! Interesting to see I got neg propped for my post...weird!
  • 1 0
 A rigid would sure make sense, but I doubt enyone takes this event so seriously that they would start hunting down a rigid 26" dj fork considering that many riders didn't even have own bike for the event. Them forks are pretty rare treats.
  • 1 0
 Its a f-ing MTB event?!
  • 7 1
 9spd shifter... 9spd cassette, its starting again
  • 2 0
 You don't need a crap ton of gears on bikes like these.
  • 1 0
 @onemanarmy: or DH etc etc. 9 speed is plenty.
  • 1 0
 Yes! Finally somewhere I can fit in and not be made fun of by men wearing spandex! Hold on a second....
  • 1 0
 @Warburrito: spandex all spandex
  • 5 0
 Is there anyone who knows if Giant still make their Dirt Jump frame? Can't find it on their website.
  • 1 0
 It was discontinued to the public in 2014 or 15 I believe.
  • 3 3
 You don't want it
  • 14 0
 @crazyquin: He might, if it is a shitty frame, his name may imply that he wants to study it...
  • 1 0
 @VwHarman: Haha good one! In fact, I just wanted to look at the geometry, I have a Pivot Point and I am looking for a lighter alu frame but with a similar geometry... So I am looking to every brand.
  • 3 0
 Mitch Ropelato's Jackal looked pretty sick...

Are those available for sale right now? I didn't think Santa Cruz had a dirt jump/pump track frame currently.
  • 1 0
 Yep, but only in black
  • 1 1
 Still sell it. Sold as frame only. 749.00 retail price.
  • 4 0
 Jackals look so badass
  • 5 2
 The older Jackals are the best looking dj ever made!!
  • 2 2
 @mhoshal: I don't know man, are you talking about the humpback jackals? I wouldn't necessarily call those things pretty.

m.pinkbike.com/photo/11984190
  • 2 1
 @Steezwhip: those are the ones man I have a grey one with all white and purple kit set up single spd it looks dialed and it rides dialed!!
  • 2 1
 @mhoshal: No way. Get off the sauce!
  • 2 2
 @isolationismdivision: ever seen a frame in real life buddy the craftsmanship is second to none!!!
  • 2 0
 @mhoshal: The straight top tube one is nice but there are nicer looking ones out there IMO!
  • 2 1
 Man DJ bikes look so cool. I want one but probably wouldn't ride it that much. BMX is way cheaper anyway and accomplishes the role of small light bike to learn skills on.
  • 2 0
 Do those new 831's have zero offset? Or am I just seeing things?
  • 1 0
 Offset isn't just given by the crown. It's the combination of the crown and the axle offset from the centre line of the stanchions = the perpendicular distance from the steering axis to the axle (not stanchions)
  • 1 0
 @codfather1234: Sorry, yes, I should have specified the crown
  • 3 0
 @rmalexan:
they have a 37mm offset on the 831s compared to the regular 44mm on regular 36 forks
  • 2 0
 Mitch Ropelato on some LB's???
  • 1 0
 I thought that yeti dj's were out of production.
  • 1 0
 Not when your pro
  • 2 0
 1 Jackal for me please!
  • 2 1
 Ultimates? It says RSC on the lever.
  • 1 0
 Was going to comment this as well. Also, Barry Nobles is not on Crank Bros stamp pedals lol small points but annoying nonetheless
  • 2 1
 pros often use different levers
  • 1 0
 Its a hose, not a cable...but #whatdoiknow
  • 1 1
 Nothing more sexy than a well-built DJ. In this present case this is xxx content!
  • 1 0
 also could be titled "Most Pristine Saddles in all of MTB"
  • 1 0
 What fork is that on Greg Watt's Mongoose?
  • 1 0
 @tmcp1127 Marzocchi Slope CR
  • 1 0
 What is the doodad on Caroline's Fork?
  • 1 0
 My guess is a timing device or chip.
  • 2 2
 My new favorite MTN Biker: Caroline Buchanan. ever!!! holy cow
  • 2 3
 Gotta love the "DMRBIKES" on the head tube on Bernard and Micayla's pivot djs. Poor form
  • 1 1
 Are they all running 27.5s?
  • 1 0
 are the Pike forks 20mm?
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