Looking to pump, maybe DJ

gotham · 05-09-2012, 05:53 PM

Pump tracks seem to be all the rage these days, and since I'm planning on more time in Whistler this summer, I wanted to get a pump track bike, maybe even learn how to jump. Trouble is that I don't really know what to look for. I had a P2 a few years ago and it felt clumsy.

What's the difference between DJ1 - DJ4, Argyle etc?

Any benefit to just getting a rigid fork?

Gears or single speed?

Should I just pick up a beater for $400 or will I notice any difference by spending more money?

Cheers.

walleater · 05-09-2012, 08:40 PM

If you happened to not mind 24" wheels, I'm probably going to sell my DMR Rhythm 24 bike which is in awesome condition and won't be much more than 'beater bike' money:

26" wheels and a suspension fork roll better on any sort of rougher pump track but this (or a bike like it) is more maneuverable and responsive to body input. Depends what you want really. I just have to downsize and a pump track bike is a bit of an expensive novelty when I have six bikes. It'd be sold with a blue Chromag Ranger stem with Ti head bolts rather than the huge Straitline stem and the bike weighs around 25lb IIRC.

zofmg · 05-09-2012, 09:29 PM

Well, in Marzocchi's department, the DJ1 is the most valuable and tunable fork in their dirt jumping products, and DJ4 is the last. Go read up on both forks and you'll notice the difference.

I would say the argyle is one of the better DJ forks around, the 409 argyle being the highest rated and 302 argyle being the lowest. Now Rockshit have introduced "new" products like the RCT(Rebound, Compression and Travel) it's basically a 409 with travel adj. Basically it all requires a lot of reading to understand the difference.

The extra squish is good, don't doubt that shit. If you go ridged might as well go BMX.

I would say single speed since it's cheap and your not racing. Gearing is good for fast acceleration.

The price is up to you, I wished you had asked this a while ago, I had the perfect bike for you. How much you looking at spending?

King of Fasia · 05-10-2012, 02:49 AM

Singlespeed and Argyle. No need to spend excessive money unless you are DJ'ing fulltime. If anything spend some dough on fast (and strong) wheels as they will make pumping and jumping alot easier.

gotham · 05-10-2012, 04:50 AM

So something like this should get me started ok?

King of Fasia · 05-10-2012, 05:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gotham

So something like this should get me started ok?

YouTube Video

Cheez1ts · 05-10-2012, 05:24 AM

Go to a pump track and ask people if you can try their bike. Bring a bike so you don't look like a weirdo though. You should figure out what you like and don't like pretty quick.

gotham · 05-10-2012, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cheez1ts

Go to a pump track and ask people if you can try their bike. Bring a bike so you don't look like a weirdo though. You should figure out what you like and don't like pretty quick.

If only Nvan still had one..

hampstead_bandit · 05-10-2012, 03:24 PM

air sprung Argyle is the ticket, offers proper spring rate adjustment which is important when riding pump tracks (where you want some fork sensitivity) and also dirt jumps (where a stiffer spring is important)

some pump tracks are super smoother like groomed DJ trails, others are f*ck ugly rough and lumpy, the air spring allows for adjustment using shock pump! most coil springs on DJ forks are very heavy spring rate and do not offer good wheel grip on pump tracks

single speed should work fine, for Pump track you just need to get moving and then "pumping" the track to maintain and build speed

also for DJ, true single speed with horizontal dropouts and bolt-on rear hub is ideal, you don't want vertical dropouts and chain tension devices as these are vulnerable to crash damage, might as well run gears?

this was my last "play bike" for pump track, DJ and FR abuse, air sprung both ends with 1 x 9 gearing so very versatile but certainly not a cheap bike by any means...beautiful to ride though, and 28lb so very nimble

hurricanejoel · 05-10-2012, 03:29 PM

I had a pure jump bike and ended up getting a Chameleon instead - 2 brakes and 1x10. It is small enough that I can use it at the pump track, but big enough that I can trail ride it too. Best of both worlds for me since I'm not jumping too often, and I can put my 'spensive bike away for the majority of monsoon season.

gwh · 05-10-2012, 03:57 PM

Just make sure the bike has short chainstays and a relatively low BB. Any fork with air assist, or full air would be the most versatile. Even if you go full rigid it will still roll over rough jumpa a lot better than a bmx (also a good option).

heckler · 05-10-2012, 05:21 PM

get a proper fork on it so it's fun to trailride as well. my marz DJ is horrible in the forest.

DaveM · 05-10-2012, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heckler

get a proper fork on it so it's fun to trailride as well. my marz DJ is horrible in the forest.

I think if you have any kind of other bike you'll want no part of trailriding on a dj bike.

that reminds me, I have a dust covered dj bike that I think I even used a couple times last year. Pumptrack is fun, dj's just remind me of how much I suck.

boomforeal · 05-10-2012, 06:37 PM

now that i've got the hang of the coaster brake, my son's 16" wheeled singlespeed is my favorite pumptrack ripper. not that i've got many alternatives, mind you. but having fun on a pumptrack doesn't seem to require much in the way of spendy or high-zoot equipment

gwh · 05-10-2012, 07:30 PM

[QUOTE=DaveM;2646661]I think if you have any kind of other bike you'll want no part of trailriding on a dj bike.

Funny, I've been using my dj bike for cross country latley with a full length psot. Super short,wide bars, snappy, poppy berm slaying ride. So much fun, its like the anti-29er.

Granted most the trails are smooth, north shore rocks and roots might be interesting.

05-10-2012, 02:49 AM	#4
King of Fasia I'm Ron Burgundy? Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Fasia Posts: 2,180 Rep Power: 1300281	Singlespeed and Argyle. No need to spend excessive money unless you are DJ'ing fulltime. If anything spend some dough on fast (and strong) wheels as they will make pumping and jumping alot easier. __________________ Shed head!

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05-10-2012, 05:24 AM	#7
Cheez1ts Needs More Mullet Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: At the Woodlot Posts: 1,588 Rep Power: 16593906	Go to a pump track and ask people if you can try their bike. Bring a bike so you don't look like a weirdo though. You should figure out what you like and don't like pretty quick.

05-10-2012, 03:24 PM	#9
hampstead_bandit riding hard since 1981!!! Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: LONDON, UK Posts: 452 Rep Power: 263865	air sprung Argyle is the ticket, offers proper spring rate adjustment which is important when riding pump tracks (where you want some fork sensitivity) and also dirt jumps (where a stiffer spring is important) some pump tracks are super smoother like groomed DJ trails, others are f*ck ugly rough and lumpy, the air spring allows for adjustment using shock pump! most coil springs on DJ forks are very heavy spring rate and do not offer good wheel grip on pump tracks single speed should work fine, for Pump track you just need to get moving and then "pumping" the track to maintain and build speed also for DJ, true single speed with horizontal dropouts and bolt-on rear hub is ideal, you don't want vertical dropouts and chain tension devices as these are vulnerable to crash damage, might as well run gears? this was my last "play bike" for pump track, DJ and FR abuse, air sprung both ends with 1 x 9 gearing so very versatile but certainly not a cheap bike by any means...beautiful to ride though, and 28lb so very nimble

05-10-2012, 03:29 PM	#10
hurricanejoel Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sea To Sky Posts: 391 Rep Power: 145905	I had a pure jump bike and ended up getting a Chameleon instead - 2 brakes and 1x10. It is small enough that I can use it at the pump track, but big enough that I can trail ride it too. Best of both worlds for me since I'm not jumping too often, and I can put my 'spensive bike away for the majority of monsoon season.

05-10-2012, 03:57 PM	#11
gwh Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Kamlooooops Posts: 384 Rep Power: 1479110	Just make sure the bike has short chainstays and a relatively low BB. Any fork with air assist, or full air would be the most versatile. Even if you go full rigid it will still roll over rough jumpa a lot better than a bmx (also a good option).

05-10-2012, 05:21 PM	#12
heckler skookum Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: The Darkside Posts: 14,596 Rep Power: 14790683	get a proper fork on it so it's fun to trailride as well. my marz DJ is horrible in the forest.

05-10-2012, 07:30 PM	#15
gwh Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Kamlooooops Posts: 384 Rep Power: 1479110	[QUOTE=DaveM;2646661]I think if you have any kind of other bike you'll want no part of trailriding on a dj bike. Funny, I've been using my dj bike for cross country latley with a full length psot. Super short,wide bars, snappy, poppy berm slaying ride. So much fun, its like the anti-29er. Granted most the trails are smooth, north shore rocks and roots might be interesting.