First Bike Advice, Street Frames, and DJ

[qwe11rty22]

Okay, a standard bike recommendations thread, with a difference.

I want a 24', with streety geo. Im leaning towards a (second hand) Inspired Element.

However, I like heavier feeling cranks, and I have a feeling I would need a larger front sprocket to improve the ratio. Id then need a bigger bashring, etc, and lose some of the trials advantage.

If im going to do that, is it wiser to pick up a 24' dirt jump/street bike, seeing as frame geo is so similar to the inspired? Id probably stay with rigid forks.

For example, get a Union Street Molly Maguire, or a DMR 898, and swap out the front forks to some rigids. As im looking for faster, more flowy lines, and possibly end up jumping once in a while, would this work out in the long run? I know the whole 'you cant get a do it all bike problem,' but would these options be better than the Element?


Any other options?

Final question. Im guessing the element will be a stronger frame, strength wise, than various other USB or DMR frames, as more trials specific. Is it?

Cheers, qwe11rty2.

[CurtisRider]

Go for a smaller rear sprocket to make the gear 'harder' feeling although this will likely not be enough for the type of riding it seems you intend to do. This will also cause you issues if you intend to do proper trials stuff as it'll make it harder to pedal kick. You may be better off running gears if you want some choice.

For a do it all bike there will always be a comprimise somewhere, you really need to decide if you will ever do any pure trials or not before anybody can help you

[ooo]

Some people run 22-15 on inspireds, the stock element is 22-16 if you go heavier than 22-14 you won't be able to pedal kick unless you have incredible hulk legs. (Pure trials is equivalent of 22-17). The element is already setup for street, if you go anymore 'street mtb' you won't be able to do the trials moves unless you are some sort of beast.

If you get street mtb it will have a lower bottom bracket and heavy ratio and will be only be good for the sort of riding you see street mtb guys doing, 360's, wall rides, manuals and bunny hops (like a big bmx).

If you want to ride street mtb style without any trials moves at all, get a street mtb frame. DMR's are more for dirt, get a street/park frame like ns majesty park, capital or dartmoor make great frame too. If you want to ride street trials, get an element ride it for a few months and then decide if you want to up the ratio.

[TrialsRob]

I ride a dirt/street frame like you describe and find the weight of an overbuilt steel frame/forks to be a bit of an issue, aswell as BB height being too low makes all the core trials move a lot harder to get right.

However it is great on two wheels, and I wouldn't have an issue taking it jumping/general riding if I raised the gear ratio.

[qwe11rty22]

Cheers for the replies.

I think im leaning towards the street mtb side of things.

From what I can gather, the Element will be able to handle most things a street mtb could. How true is this?

[ooo]

The element frame is strong in a different way to a park bike. Park bikes are quite popular in cromo because they are good for being thrown and dropped. As the element is aluminium is wont be so good in that way, but it is a very strong frame in the rear triangle which needs to be stiffer and stronger than a street mtb. Its quite rare to see people with broken inspireds and they are very well made.

One thing to note is that it is more difficult to manual an element than a street mtb frame, because its geo is designed to do trials moves as well. So if you aren't going to do any trials it will make the rest of your riding more difficult for no reason.

However most of it is about your environment, if you live in a town with lots of features the element will be loads better because; there are a lot more moves you can do in street trials which means; more obstacles are ridable making the town you live in much more fun. Also if there are a lot of trials riders in your town it will be better.

If you have great skateparks near you and foam pits get a park bike.

If you live in country village with no street to ride but you have massive DJ's 5mins down the road, get a dirt bike.

[bing]

Bear in mind that most street/park/DJ frames have suspension corrected geo, which means they are designed to work with a certain length fork, and puting rigids on will alter the geometry quite significantly, ie lowering the bb height, altering the head angle. Get an inspired. Its made for it. Simples

[Rich J]

Mollys and capitals are made for rigids, but still I rode a big bmx for years for street, makes life difficult.

[TrialsRob]

Bear in mind that most street/park/DJ frames have suspension corrected geo, which means they are designed to work with a certain length fork, and puting rigids on will alter the geometry quite significantly, ie lowering the bb height, altering the head angle. Get an inspired. Its made for it. Simples

I actually find that to be a positive, given that a lot of dj bikes have quite slack headangles putting a shorter rigid on can do wonders for handling - however not so good if you want a high bb.