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I like a bit of pump track time when I get a chance and there are loads of the things popping up in and around Bristol. My favourite one so far is Stockwood which also has a large table top line of jumps down the hillside above the pump track.
I currently have a Haro cruiser bmx which was ok for cheap - but I still feel like it periodically wants to kill me and it’s a clunky old thing. Thinking of selling it (maybe £100) and getting a dirt jump bike for the same use.
Ideally I’d get an Airdrop Fade, but they’re way out of budget as nice as they are. Ideally I don’t want to spend more than about £600-£700.
So I’m currently thinking secondhand fade or maybe a dmr sect. Although on the latter I don’t love the colours.
Is there anything else around that sort of budget that people have used and liked? Thinking 26” wheels, singlespeed, 100mm suspension fork and something like maxxis dth or billy bonkers tyres so it’s nice and fast.
Thinking 26” wheels, singlespeed, 100mm suspension fork and something like maxxis dth or billy bonkers tyres so it’s nice and fast.
Exactly right. Proceed as planned. Loads of the things on Marketplace and Pinkbike.
Radio Asura coming up in budget tok - prefer the look of that to the DMR. No idea if it’s any good?
There is a beautiful Airdrop Fade for £1k on fb classifieds - wondering whether to make a cheeky offer on that when I get paid in March 🤔
Never heard of the Radio but it looks like it's straight out of the modern DJ mould so probably not too bad.
I'd go used to get better components for the money. There's a surprising amount of Fades for sale, I'd lowball every one of them on payday!
I'd add the Transition PBJ to your search. That's what I've got and I love it. Looks like they've shot up in price recently though, I paid £270 for my first frame not £800!
So I’ve found a Fade for £1k (the £1399 one) - but I reckon they’re probably a hard sell secondhand so could go in low and see what they say.
If not I’ve found a lovely looking red 2021 DMR Sect Pro for £420.
I think one of those might be the one. Got an unexpectedly large bonus at work (paid out in March) so going to treat myself I think.
I’m keen to avoid a fork with chrome legs that’s going to corrode and look horrible if it gets wet. Also keen to avoid the horrible steel bmx style cranks with the chainring that is only held in the correct place with a single bolt. The one on the Haro seems to have a point where the chain gets tighter at one point in the revolution of the cranks. Annoying.
A Transition PBJ would go nicely with my Sentinel - but I think they’re a bit out of budget.
I have a fade, you need it in your life
I've got a GT La Bombay (purple version) with the burly fork. Only used on pump tracks and skateparks and maybe only a few dozen times.
It's up for sale for less than your budget, or will be soon. Based up in Lancashire but could possibly arrange to ship it down if you wanted it?
Brilliant fun but I've got a weak wrist and so not using it anymore.
@joebristol mine is the original when they only made one size, if you are up north wales you are welcome to try
You'll get an NS Bikes (various frames) or Cube Flying Circus (seen a few like new SH) for reasonable money. There's loads secondhand in good condition as owners buy with good intentions but find it's a lot harder than it looks or spanner themselves in short order!
@keefezza - thanks for the offer but I’m hoping to pick one up locally ideally - so I can have a good look at it and get a feel for the size. Good luck though.
@nwgiles - thanks - I wish I could get up there. Loved Dyfi when I went there last year (Forest and bike park!
DMR Sect Custom looks better than the standard one, the top tube doesn't seem to slope down so much. Looks awesome in the grey colour.
YT Dirt Love looks good too and I've seen some used ones in your budget.
Saracen were selling off the Amplitudes quite cheap recently I think.
@_tom_ that sect does look very nice I’ll give you that!
Will have a look at the saracens - assume they were the ones being given away free if you bought certain mountain bikes.
I had negotiated a bit on a Fade but it was proving tricky to arrange a time to go and view it - so I went nuts and ordered a Privateer DJ101 today. See when it turns up.
Think it’s a touch less fancy than a Fade (hasn’t got the inbuilt chain tugs) but it’s still got a Circus expert fork and it runs a front brake which the Airdrop doesn’t. I know I don’t need one for pump track but I’d like it there for riding to and from pump tracks.
Good effort. That's the type of decisive purchasing decision I like to see.
For anyone else who is on the fence, I just saw these advertised for half price and they look decent...
www.skatehut.co.uk/mongoose-26-m-fireball
For those possibly eyeing up a Nukeproof Solum, be warned that they issued a product recall on the 2022 black and green frames (I got an email yesterday). Bit crap given I’ve barely ridden mine yet. Might have to swap the parts over to a Fade.
Anyone else rocking GT LaBomba there has been a recall for a free frame swap
Got mine booked in next week, replacement frames are black only
“GT has announced a recall of GT LaBombas sold between October 2018 and September 2023 because the frames could fail”
Love a pump track / DJ bike. Mine has gone on the upgrade path a little, what started off as a cheap way to reuse some parts has gone a bit OTT. Through a serious of judicious upgrades and frame swaps what started off as this:
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Now looks like this:
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Picked this Amplitude up before Christmas for £300. It's had a few upgrades ( Recon fork , better brake, burgtech kit). Also needed some bearings and slightly taller gearing, but it rides nicely and feels like the right tool for pump track practice. Looking forward to hitting S4P dirt jumps to see how different it is to a long, low 29" trail bike
Good couple of bikes above - I did have a look for an amplitude as well as a sect pro / Fade / Canyon Stitched 360 but a lot of people are still asking strong money for them secondhand and as a breed they’re either hardly used or rusty and battered in a lot of cases.
Anyone on here living in Bristol? Once I get the new bike I want to go over to Stockwood as I haven’t been there since last summer. Weather has been gopping and didn’t fancy slick tarmac.
My Haro went last night - advertised it Wednesday night and gone by Thursday night - got the £125 I put it on for. Could possibly have got a bit more but I couldn’t be bothered with the hassle. Bit sad to see it go as I thought it looked quite nice. But it was nicer to look at than it was to ride. Still a lot of fun at a pumptrack but I didn’t have the confidence jumping on it to do anything bigger than small rollers.
We'll be up for coming to Bristol mate, it seems you have several places. MAybe over easter (although we're at Dyfi that weekend too)
Would definitely like to get out asap once the Privateer arrives - Stockwood is probably top of my list. Although I’ve not been to the one out at Little Stoke and that’s meant to be decent too
I'm hoping to do a little UK pump track tour this summer. Got no plans yet though.
There might not even be a summer.
@sharkattack - you’re assuming the Monsoon is going to end at some point…..
Bristol is ace for pump tracks - you’ve got Stockwood / Little Stoke / Hartcliffe (rough area) / Hillfields (rough ish but it’s fine really) which all have velosolutions type pump tracks. The one in Longwell green is ok, but it’s not a continuous bowl and it’s not as well built. There are a number of non tarmac ones too I think - Arnos Vale might be ok - but the one at Lyde Green is crap.
Give us a shout if you organize anything Joe. My Joe would enjoy catching up with James again…
@ianpv @weeksy - will see what we can sort depending on weather and wife!
I’ll look forward to being thoroughly outclassed by Ian and the lads 🤣
This relies on privateer getting my new bike to me next week though - I’ve had a note from DHL but doesn’t have a delivery date yet.
Yeah, the Little Stoke one is decent, used to be my local until we headed home to Devon last year. Lots of free parking and a coffee/cake shop as well.
The Haro I sold above for £120 popped back up on Facebook for £250. All that’s happened is they’ve whacked some big new Haro stickers on it and changed the seatpost for a gross red anodised one. Be interesting to see how long that takes to sell…..you can just about buy a new race cruiser for that money if you look around for sales.
For anyone else who is on the fence, I just saw these advertised for half price and they look decent…
I picked up one of the £92.99 geared versions from the distributor on eBay last month:
Trying not to spend too much on it.. but a switch to singlespeed and a hydraulic brake are on the cards.
I wondered about those - how does it ride? Is it heavy etc?
I reckon a switch to Singlespeed and some Clarks M2s wouldn’t cost too much and would improve it for pump tracks.
It's not light! But I think a lot of that is down to forks which are probably made from recycled girders. They do have a rather lovely, old-school top out clunk to them though!
I scored an NX crank and BB for £25 in the Wiggle free for all and I think I have some SS sprockets in my spares box. £20 SRAM Level T on the rear should be able to handle braking duties I think.
I'll add a picture of my fade
@nwgiles - that Fade is Sweet!
I think I’m going to put some burgtech bits on the Privateer when it arrives - it’s coming with the Burgtec composite pedals and I’ve got the same saddle as you on order. Just want some of the Josh Bryceland Burgtec bars and will need to pick up a 35mm clamp stem to fit them. Can’t wait now!
@frogstomp - what forks has it got - RST Dirts or something like that?
I've got the Sram Level brakes on my PBJ and they're not even worth £34. You might as well pinch the rotor between your fingers.
That’s odd - I had some levels on a commuter bike (Carrera Subway) and they were ok on there as far as I remember. Would certainly lock the back wheel.
On my new DJ bike it’s coming with Clarks M2s but I’m going to whip those off and put on a spare pair of Code R I have floating around I think. Totally overkill - but those Clarks brakes will go nicely on my daughter’s Vitus 20+ whereas the Codes are a bit over powerful for that.
I have them, I am 115kg with a weedy 140mm disc and mine work fine
I've a Curtis if wanting a complete weapon.
@nwgiles - thanks, Ribble had them for £20 + p&p.
@joebristol - yes, Dirt-T's. They'll do for now but will probably keep an eye out for a cheap set of air forks.
Curse this thread. Just bought one of those cheap Mongoose off the first page, figuring I’m paying retail for the fork and getting everything else for free (not sure it’s worth much more than that but hey)...
Broken ankles, herniated disc, collarbone: here I come.
@dartdude - I’ve already ordered the Privateer - meant to be arriving this week. What Curtis is it out of interest?
@frogstomp - I think those forks are meant to be strong for jumping but don’t have a lot of sophistication going on. But then you don’t really need sophistication in a 100mm travel fork that you run with no sag and which only has the occasional big hit I reckon.
@iamtheresurrection - good work that man!
@joebristol - it's the blue S1 on fleabay which I am literally just about to remove from sale to keep and enjoy. Took it for spin early this evening and feel the need to get back on it forever.
Plus had some ****ty private trader called Carl aka. Harryburgundy who messed me around on eBay saying he'll pay me starting asking price at £1200 if I could courier to Cardiff.
I certainly can once I have picked up box.
Never heard back.
He bought an Evil DJ bike from me years back. Complained post sale re: "you never told me the cranks were 165mm"
He low balls Moots and Merlin titanium sellers then splits and flips. His prices are a complete joke though that's upto him.
I might be paranoid though after I blocked him, someone from exact same area sent silly low offer blah blah. Seems suspect to me.
He is an awkward non rider seller type who is an utter weirdo quite frankly.
So yeah long-winded but true.
Oh yes he even had me drive home from the service station public meet spot for sale to fetch him the triple outer ring for a funkin DJ bike.
Utter twazzock.
Ultimatum on buying the bike or not.
Even brought along his bf
Sounds like an utter cockwomble
I lived a few miles away from the station and had huge stable of Whyte 19 ti, KTM etc.
Have you already removed it - can’t find it?
Yeah removed Joe.
It were a £3400 build and thought £1600 was fair considering it's bordering on as new.
Though tried on Muppet bay at £1200 start then reduced slightly.
Came to decision it rides so taught and lovely that for £1k - would literally feel like giving it away tbh.
Singlespeed conversion complete and brake fitted. Currently 28x16 (what I had in the shed) but will maybe gear up a bit at a later date.
Level brake locks up the rear wheel with ease. Should I trim the hose or just learn bar spins!?
Under £150 all in and I should be able to get a fair chunk of that back from the drivetrain bits and MRP chain device.
That's probably it for now, bar maybe trying to find out if the spring can be replaced for something a bit stiffer.
I had a Kona Shred frame knocking around doing nothing so did what any normal rider would do and sell it build a pump track bike I don't need. Marzocchi DJ forks, set of Octane jump bike wheels, singlespeed etc. Its a lovely little thing and absolutely flies on the pump track at Sutton Bank. The kids love it too and were starting to venture into the woods where theres a few little jumps etc on it at the end of last summer.
@frogstomp - that looks awesome actually. Much better without the mech on there. Personally on mine I’m going to trim the brake hose as there is literally no danger I’ll ever be jumping well enough to do a bar spin 🤣
Privateer has arrived today - frame and forks seem spot on - you can see where the rear has been built down to a budget, but there’s nothing offensive on there. Chucked a Burgtec saddle and pedals on and I’ll probably get the matching bars and stem. The Clarks brakes will come off and the Sram Codes I’ve got will go on I think.
Going to see if I can pop in a bit for lunch and have a blat around the track that’s less than 5 mins from the house and take a couple of pictures.
Sounds great !
see for me a dj bike is the nicest looking thing, but longer fokrs on them ruins the look - they end up way too height at the front. Should be 80mm, 100mm tops
That’s a 100mm fork and it’s practically locked out - the damper adjustment will allow about an inch of travel on its softest and like concrete on its hardest. I haven’t touched the air pressure. I figure its about right as it is as don’t want much travel at all.
I’d say it’s a bit slower through the rollers than the bmx but jumps much more confidently. Not sure how the tyres compare to the billy bonkers on the bmx for rolling speed.
Personally on mine I’m going to trim the brake hose as there is literally no danger I’ll ever be jumping well enough to do a bar spin 🤣
@joebristol you want to keep the hose long for when you case just a bit too hard and spin the bars around as the bike cartwheels off into the distance 😀
@pimpingimp - you assume I’m going to leave the ground higher than about a foot in the air there……
I’ve seen the photos, you’ll be flying high soon enough.
It were a £3400 build and thought £1600 was fair considering it’s bordering on as new.
Though tried on Muppet bay at £1200 start then reduced slightly.
Came to decision it rides so taught and lovely that for £1k – would literally feel like giving it away tbh.
Seen that a few times on eBay - I had an S1 too and it was one of the best frames I've ever owned... unfortunately for a seller, it was well known Curtis built a whole batch of them and CRC sold them off for something stupid like £200 which is what I paid for mine and which will undervalue anyone who paid full whack for one... just checked back and I sold mine in 2012 so must have been 13/14 years ago that I bought it.
From what I can remember, yours has a bit of a jumpy type build on what is a mega light XC singlespeed frame which people will think is odd too - not something you want to jump and not XC-ey enough for XC! And its a 26" wheeler... all which conspires against you when trying to sell. Someone had the geared version, frame only (the XC100) on eBay the other week for £400 which I think was pretty high and that didn't sell whereas a far more modern AM7 frame sold for £250 a few weeks ago.
Not criticising but its very much a buyers market out there in used bike world.
Was it the blue one with the Rasta coloured bottle cage and black rigid forks?
Having found that I’m a bit confused - it looks more like a lightweight hardtail than a dj jump bike? Got some very nice bits on it like the Chris King hubs though.
I got a DMR Trailstar last year for this sort of thing. £300 off ebay. Lovely bike.
If anyone is still looking for a cheap play bike the Mongoose Fireball Moto is £160 on House Of Fraser (using Frasers Plus pay in 3 credit) - same frame as mine ^up there^ but singlespeed by default and with an HL VAXA fork.
Yes that is my S1 and it is more of a street play bike build.
I've no doubt the S1 is capable of light rolling jumps.
Curtis's are stiff taught riding frames best ridden harder the better feeling.
Shame the lack of buyer's recognising what Curtis' are truly as productive and riding point of view.
Anyway it sure is a keeper! 😄
How you all getting on? It's stopped raining I hope you are all hitting the pump tracks this weekend.
There's a new one opened near me so I'm just bumping this for more persuasion
I was out yesterday it was good fun. First sunnyish, warmish Saturday that I can remember. Currently sitting on my arse wondering if I should go out because the wind is bloody freezing cold.
That's a cool looking track
I hit the Edinburgh pump track before the rain. Have a Saracen CR3 in long size. Heavy but works well. Handles some big drops around Edinburgh. Also makes commuting to work fun. Great workout!
Haven’t been out on mine for a couple of weeks other than with my daughter playing about getting her confidence up cycling. She then decided she wanted to go up and down a hill near us as she got the big for descending (tarmac). It was brutal each time back up on the Privateer with singlespeed 🤣
I’ve switched out the saddle / bars / stem for burgtec ones for a bit of matching bling and chucked on a pair of spare Codes I had so the Clarkes m2 can be free’d up for my daughter’s Vitus.
Hoping to fit in a quick lunchtime pump track session one day this week
Sod it, the arctic wind died down a bit so I did the 45 minute uphill hike to Charnock. It's lovely and warm now...
Yes mate, well done.
Joe, runs like that'll build your legs in no time 😂
I'm itching to go to Buck Beck trails in Cleethorpes (previously Gypo). It looks like a perfect place to progress from little pump track stuff to proper dirt jumps. Something I never mastered when I was younger because I just didn't have access to any.
Im just going round and round on the pump track at the minute. It's good exercise because my legs are wiped out after 2 days of it but I'm not scaring myself anymore!
I'm sold on the BMX. It's all I want to ride at the minute. It's a right heavy lump though and I'm dying to build something nicer. There's a few 22" options with rear disc brakes.
Honestly I can't believe how terrible BMX brakes are and that's not just my bike it's everyone else's that I've tried. I thought they might have improved in the 20 years while I wasn't paying attention but most people are still just using their feet.
I found my rear bmx brake was good unless there was any hint of moisture, in which case they were dreadful. That was a new Odyssey Springfield brake kit.
However the front odyssey brake I bought was basically just for show if riding on the road to somewhere - it did very little to do any slowing down.
The privateer stops really well with discs at both ends and only weighing 27lbs ish. It’s not too far off the 24” cruiser for speed round the pump track - and it definitely tries less hard to bite you in the arse.
I’ve been out tonight on mine with my eldest: just an hour jumping up and down stuff locally. I’ve really had to relearn riding flats and it still doesn’t feel at all natural, although getting pretty comfortable now hopping up stuff about 12 inches or so. I know that isn’t particularly impressive, but I’ve been off flats for about 30 years. That said, I can’t believe how much grip there is with a set of nylon Burgtecs and a pair of Vans.
Still can’t manual, but getting close I think. After an hour again tonight though, my forearms are finished. 😂
I really fancy one of these... https://digbmx.com/dig-this/setups-tyson-jones-penis-22-chaos-machine
The frames are 6 months late but they're due in the shops any time soon and they won't be crazily expensive.
Or I could get one of these hand made in Zoocastle and just spec v-brake mounts... https://www.deathpackbmx.com/shop/coffin-nail-22-inch-frame
Whatever I choose it'll last a long, long time. It's not like they're going to evolve any futher and I'm not rad enough to break one.