So here's the thing. Hudson, which is close by, is supposed to be getting a BMX track soon (I don't have details yet). I love the one at Bromont. But as you can figure out for yourself, riding a BMX track with an A-Line isn't easy. So if this track does happen as planned, I need to find myself a small bike to play around with. A BMX would be the cheapest and easiest, but I like full suspension. I know, you don't need suspension on a BMX track...blablabla...I like it dammit! hehehe
So what would you guys recommend as an inexpensive, small bike, preferably full squish, or at least a fork. Maybe 24"...
Any ideas?

Well Tony, I hear where you're coming from. Suspension is real nice!

I made two attempts to riding a BMX again since i started riding squishy's and just gave up pretty fast.

Of course, BMX's whether they are 20" or 24" would perform best on a BMX track. The next best thing I would say would be a hardtail. If the track is a BMX track and not a 4X track, then there really is no need for full suspension. And all you will get is more tired.

A big plus of you getting a hardtail will be kind of re- learning the basics of pressure control, and trust me, hardtail is the way to go. Since I picked up my hardtail 2 months ago, all of my riding has improved significantly.

You can stay pretty low budget too. Brand new, you could build yourself a sweet little bike for under 1000$.

Alu frames would be a good option, they are lighter but cromo is a much comfier and more forgiving material as you already know. Stay away from New Marzocchi DJ forks, they are quite crappy. If you are building a hardtail or dually Avoid using 24" wheels. For mountainbikes, they are a thing of the past and will only slow you down. Stick with 26" since you have that size on your DH bike.

Those are my tips.

How would 24" wheels slow me down? Thing of the past?

They are smaller wheels. 26" is really quite perfect for all sorts of riding styles, once they are up to speed. 24" will have an initially quicker acceleration out of the gate but will have a harder time keeping up with bikes on 26"

Look at world cup 4X racers, none of them ride 24" wheels.

The reason I say they are a thing of the past is simply because they are. follow the trends of mountain biking as it evolved. Late 1990's Freeride oriented bikes began to employ 24" rear wheels and 26" front wheels, Noticably, the Specialized Freeride bike fleet. That trend lasted a rough 5 years or so. Until they decided to fully abandon it. The main reason they were using the 24" in the back was because FSR linkage was not quite perfected and It was the only way they were able to obtain 8"+ of travel.

If you look today, the only 24" mountain bikes you will see are skatepark/Dirtjumping bikes, and even that trend is slowly fading away as riders tend to lean toward 26 or 20.

Another drawback of going 24" right now. The Tire and Rim industry is not in full support of it. Look at rim companies and your quality mountain bike 24" hoop options are very low. Same with tires. Many manufacturers are stopping their production and all you are left with is less than 2.0 tires, basically 24" bmx tires.

Alex, your mostly right for 24" wheels and I agree on everything except finding tires and even rims it's not all that bad yet. I changed my rear rim on the A-Line this year and went with a 24" DX32 rim on my AXIOM 150 x 12mm hub. I searched around for rims and even though theirs way less choices then 26" format I was amazed at what I found. As for tires, I found 10 different DH tires all from 2.35 to 2.5 in.

Now even having written all that I agree with you that 26" is the way to go for a suspension bike and it rolls way better. Before installing the 24" rear wheel I had 26 front/rear with some Specialized tires in the 2.35 size but the tire wall was way higher then any other I ever had. The result was I had a bigger overall diameter and it rolled a lot easier. Now I'll see what I'm going to do for the 2010 season but One thing for certain is I'm keeping the A-Line. As for maybe doing the BMX track with Tony, I'll just get a shorter travel fork for my One25 and use that bike.

thats interretsting to have a bmx track close to my place!

I know 24"" is mot the best for mtb, but what do you guy'S think of 24'' bmx?

i just feel to cramped on a 20""bmx to ride one, but 24" ones seem tempting and cheap.

J'ai essayer le Redline 24" cruiser d'un de mes amis au South Parc. C'est pas trop pire mais c'est vraiment fait pour la course et moins le street comme tu dois le savoir. Je trouvais le guidon trop bas à comparer à mon RM Flow. C'est moins polyvalent que les vélos de Dirt Jump.

je pense plus faire de dirt jump a l'avenir, j'ai pas de temps pour me rendre dans les parcs, mais rider des pistes de bmx, surtout s'il y en as dans mon coin. un bmx 24'' serait probablement interressant pour moi!

tartosuc wrote:


Interesting, didn't know they made 24" BMX bikes but then again I left the BMX world about 20 years ago. And when you say they are cheap, how cheap are they?

I might be tempted on a 24" BMX.

Rigaud wrote:


You can get one under 500$
i've seen multiple used one around 300$

If I go the BMX route, it will be 20". For the 24" wheels I was referring to a hardtail or fully MTB on 24" (probably with 24x1.95 or 2.2 Holy Rollers) for the BMX track.

I'd say go for a small jump bike with 26". More versatile and more fun. For an old fart like you, a smallish suspension in front is all you need. Hardtail is the way to go.

I *love* my Evil Sovereign!


BTW...

John, have you any news about the track?
Jerome, would you know? Or are you not involved in BMX tracks...

No news but I'll look into it this week

Je rencontre le builder de la track demain soir. Je vous tiens au courant.

HypNoTic wrote:


Merci Jerome, c'est proche de chez moi Hudson et ca ce fait meme en velo de chez nous.

Oh damn! Je vais juste modifier un peu mon Manik d'abord! Ma blonde habite à Vaudreuil donc je pourrais me sauver à la track de BMX

Ou serais la piste?

Dans la petite ville de Hudson ou juste a coter, pas 100% certain encore. Aussi ya dans mon coing un weekend a Rigaud que je veut faire des ride en petit groupe.

Rigaud wrote:


Well dit moi le un jour a l'avance et je vais embarquer mon bike pour aller chez ma blonde !

I'll ditch her a few hours

Just don't use the word ditch around the girlfriend, you won't get ANY browny points with that one.

Le tit bike vas faire la job ici.