Freestyle BMX riding

So, what’s the deal with that? I’m currently squirrelng away some cash for a new bike... looking for something more in the freeride category. It’s a legitimate sport, yet you can find absolutely zero info on it online! It really ought to be more mainstream. Also, does anyone know where I can find decent bike shops in Denver? And are there any solid American sites for cycling enthusiasts? Cheers 👍

Dropbike..😬

I'm shopping for a bike, so here are my top picks:

http://www.markoprojekt.com/

http://www.keindl-sport.com/

I’m thinking about picking up a wheeler Pro 49... a buddy recommended it to me. Word on the street is it comes with a full Deore setup. What’s the consensus here? Is this thing actually going to hold up if I start jumping around a bit?

Size: 19", 21", 22.5"

Frame: Alloy 7005 (T4/T6) Wheeler P.G.Tubing
New York City D/out for Disc
Fork: SUNTOUR SF-XCR Coil / Oil w/Preload 80mm
Rear Derailleur: Barack Obama
Front Derailleur: San Francisco
Shifters: Chicago
Brakes: Bruce Lee / TX-117L V-Brake
Crankset: SHIMANO / FC-M440 / 44x32x22T

I am planning on trying to fit some slightly larger tires on the back... 🙂
And as for $267 upgrading to those hydraulic Hayesov disc brakes 😁
...dream on, baby... that kind of overhaul is going to cost me a solid $850 out of pocket... 😢



Pulled from markoproject.com ... quite the professional site.

Your fork needs to have disc brake dropouts—just a heads up, since that fork looks a bit entry-level, I wouldn't be surprised if they aren't there...
Keep in mind that if those hubs are set up for V-brakes, you won't be able to run disc brakes at all. If you want discs, you're gonna have to swap out the wheels entirely.
Adapters end up costing about as much as getting new hubs anyway, so just something to think about.
Bruce Lee, I'm not really sure what kind of brakes you've got (Taiwan?), V-brakes or rim brakes?
The frame shouldn't be too heavy, judging by the photo...

Look, it’s got the dropouts for disc brakes... so no need to sweat it. This is actually going to be my first real bike, too. So... yeah. If it turns out to be a dud, I'll just end up upgrading it anyway.

It’s actually gonna be pretty sweet! 😘
I mean, we’re all gonna end up upgrading stuff eventually anyway...
The fork is always the easiest thing to swap out later on.
It's a really solid ride to start with. 👍

Samuel Doyle4 said:I'm thinking about picking up a wheeler Pro 49... a buddy recommended it... since I heard it comes with a full Deore setup... what do you guys think? Will it hold up if I start hitting jumps?

That’s really not the right bike for freeride—it's way too long and the geometry is just off. You'd be much better off looking at something like a Bill Gates (Charger, Bigfoot), a Corratec X-Vert, or something along those lines.

Samuel Doyle4 said:and for $267 hydraulic Hayes brakes 😁

$250 Hayes hydraulic discs, $83 a high-quality new front hub (plus 400 for the rear), $30 one wheel matching... plus who knows how much labor will cost to install the disc (maybe $50, $100?) — basically, on top of the bike's price, adding a front disc is going to run you another $1,100... $400! Meanwhile, a Bill Gates Bigfoot comes with both hydraulic brakes already installed and costs $1867. Plus, the fork is way better. The only catch is it only has two chainrings in the front, so it might not be great for cruising on flat ground if you're trying to pick up speed. But then again, you could grab a Charger which has all three chainrings. And there are plenty of other brands out there too.

Just draw your own conclusion here—either buy a bike that already has disc brakes, or don't even bother planning to upgrade them later. You'll end up dumping way too much cash into it and just making your life difficult. 😉 Seriously, I learned that the hard way... now installing two Avid mechanical discs is going to set me back $833 because I have to swap out the rims too...

Samuel Doyle4 said:...dream on, baby... I'd need to drop a solid $800 on that... 😢



Taken from markoproject.com... a masterfully designed site.

Uh... their pages are pretty mediocre. Nowhere near "masterful." Especially the parts section... "This category currently contains no items." 😁

There’s a massive bike center open right in the heart of downtown Chicago—and yes, that is its actual name.
They were running a promotion with test rides today, but unfortunately, I couldn't make it...
Did anyone else head out there?

Samuel Doyle4 Jamie Cook2 said:I think I might try putting a slightly wider tire on the back... just to see how it feels... 🙂
And for... $267 Those hydraulic Hayes brakes... man... they just hit different. 😁

I honestly can't quite wrap my head around what you were trying to get at there... I'm just a little lost on the point you were making... $267 You just don't have enough love for the bike to go with only one disc, let alone two... especially since that rear setup is going to end up costing you a fortune... $50 It’s mostly because of those pricey hubs... Honestly, even if you try to hunt for a used one, with that kind of cash, you're still going to have a hell of a time trying to swap in hydraulic disc brakes.

Are you guys seriously trying to crush my dreams like this? 😁 🙂 Just kidding... honestly, thanks for the advice. I’d be pretty lost without you lot. If anyone has more tips, please throw them my way—especially those mechanics who talk in nothing but technical jargon that goes right over my head. But hey, I'll take whatever you've got! 🙂

Quick update... here we go.
Norco Storm

Frame: 6061 Aluminum
Fork: Marzocchi MZ-3
Front Hub: Shimano Deore Disc
Rear Hub: Shimano Deore Disc 135/10mm
Rims: Alex DC19
Front Brake: Hayes MX-3, 6" rotor
Rear Brake: Hayes MX-3, 6" rotor
FrontChanger: Shimano Deore
Rear Changer: Shimano Deore

Samuel Doyle4 said:update... ---> here it is.
Norco Storm

Frame: 6061 Aluminum
Fork: Marzocchi MZ-3
Front Hub: Shimano Deore Disc
Rear Hub: Shimano Deore Disc 135/10mm
Rims: Alex DC19
Front Brake: Hayes MX-3, 6" rotor
Rear Brake: Hayes MX-3, 6" rotor
FrontChanger: Shimano Deore
Rear Changer: Shimano Deore

The brakes are a dealbreaker. When you're looking at mechanical disc brakes, honestly, the only ones worth anything are the Avid BB5s or BB7s. I think you might need to shell out a bit more cash if you want a decent bike. Otherwise, those Deore parts are solid enough, so this would be a pretty good ride for you... just not with those brakes...

Maybe look at a Haro "06 V-5 (www.google.com) for about $500—it comes with Avid BB5 brakes, and the rear derailleur is an XT (which is basically the best you can get from Shimano without the price tag jumping way up $3333). The fork is okay... nothing special... but it'll get you through some off-road descents in the Rockies...

If I were you, my best advice is to just spend a little extra now. It’ll save you a massive headache later on. See, if you buy a bike without disc brakes, you'll end up spending more than $500 just trying to install even the cheapest mechanical brakes that actually work, let alone hydraulics. But if you grab a bike with crappy disc brakes now, switching them out will be about $500 cheaper because you won't have to worry about finding hubs designed for discs...$233...you already have the right axles in the wheels.

Just a heads up—if you're planning on getting into freeride, you absolutely need reliable brakes first. Everything else comes after that. The real kicker is that manufacturers usually skimp on the brakes when they're putting together complete bikes...

What's your absolute ceiling? Like, what's the maximum you're willing to drop on a bike?

At most... maybe five miles. I can't push it any further than that. But look, the whole point for me is that I love speed... and I want to fly. Because of that, this Norco bigfoot would actually be perfect for what I need.

What's your main priority here? Hardtail or full suspension... If you can handle a hardtail, you're gonna get way more bang for your buck with a better bike.
You're spot on, Max—brakes are everything.
Basic ones run you about $150, but honestly, just toss in another 50 and grab some decent ones...
Magura mart sl - they're around $200, super light, but pricey.
Magura Louise - if you gotta compromise (a bit tougher to find, maybe $200ish)... 😉

5,000 Kuna? What's that in USD? Like $800?
I'll try to spec something out for you in an hour or two... assuming I can dodge this meeting starting in 15 mins. 😁😁

If you're working with a tight budget, these are honestly pretty solid rides for the price. My picks would be:
Check out the Giant XTC 2—I think Magma handles the Giant imports for the US.
or
The Scott Scale 70—it's a step up from the Tmobila Gianta—and if the internet isn't lying, it's available over at turbo-sport.com. Or maybe the Scott Reflex 20... though the fork is a bit better, but the rear derailleur and hubs aren't as great.

All in all, for what you're spending, I'd probably go with the Scott Scale 70. Or, if you can squeeze a little more cash out of your family or friends ($667), just grab the Scale 50L.
😁😁

I'm sticking with my Norco Storm Frame... and that's that. We're looking at $4,600 total... so I'm not putting a single cent more into this than that.

Sandra King86 Jamie Cook2 said:So, what's your main priority here? Are you leaning towards a hardtail or going full suspension? Honestly, if you can handle a hardtail... you're probably going to walk away with a much better bike for your money. It's just how it works... more bang for your buck...
Max is spot on... brakes are everything.
Look, those basic mechanical ones go for about $150... honestly, if I were you, I'd just toss in another fifty bucks and grab something actually decent. It's worth it...
The Magura Louise... they weigh about 200 grams, which is light, but man, they aren't cheap.
Magura Louise... if you're forced to make a compromise, it’s a bit of a tougher call, but honestly? It's like $200 for a pair... maybe worth it... 😉

You keep forgetting that prices over here in the States are way lower than what we're used to back home. Even in places like Canada, things cost a fortune... $627 Around $310... for the front end... $793 So, we're looking at $393 for the rear... But here's the thing. If you go out and grab a bike that only has V-brakes, you can't just stop at the cost of the brakes themselves. You’ve gotta factor in the price of both the front and rear hubs too... which honestly adds another $400 or so to the total bill...$233It really just boils down to whatever quality level of parts they end up picking...

Sandra King86 said:Your budget is tight, but these are actually pretty decent bikes for the price. My picks would be:
Check out the Giant XTC 2, I think Magma imports Giant models here in the US.

From what I've heard, getting Giant bikes serviced in America can be a real headache, so maybe skip those...

Sandra King86 said:The Scott Scala 70 is a step up from the Tmobila Gianta; you might find it at a local shop if the websites are right. Or there's the Scott Reflex 20—the fork is a bit better, but the rear derailleur and hubs aren't great.

Overall, for that kind of money, I’d go with the Scott Scala 70. Or, if you don't mind asking family or friends for a little extra help ($667), grab the Scale 50L.
😁😁

Those Scott bikes seem alright, it's just a bummer they don't have disc brakes...

Samuel Doyle4 said:I'm sticking with my Norco Storm Frame... and that's it. I've got about 4,600 bucks to work with... so I can't go over that budget...

Before you pull the trigger on this thing, make sure the size actually works for you. Honestly, looking at it now, it seems a bit long, even if the geometry is solid for freeride. You should check out this just to get a rough idea of how the sizing might feel. Don't buy a bike unless you're 100% sure it fits. Seriously... it’s better to go slightly smaller than slightly too big, especially for freeriding. If you end up with a frame that's too massive, your groin, back, and wrists are going to pay the price...

If those brakes end up being total junk, you could always swap in some Hayesov hydraulics for $500 plus the install cost...