Advice for buying my son a dirt jumper

[Sunkland]

Hiya. Just joined.

I've spent the last few weeks researching to buy my 11yo son a new bike. (He's had a Trek MTB since he was

He wants to jump. He's a pretty good skater. So I think the thrill to push it is strong. There's a nice BMX & Pump Track in Kensington, next to our local skatepark.

I don't know much about MTB's, but this is what I'm thinking:

Go for a dirt jumper. 90% of the time he'll use around home (Yarraville/Footscray). Parks. Skate Park. Pump tracks. (Been to Forrest a few times. And see my son & daughter (10yo) doing more bush MTB, but COVID, time, maybe it will be few and far between.

So if we do go bush, his dirt jumper will be cool for now. If we go regularly, then maybe he needs a 2nd MTB as well, that is if it's different tracks/trails.

So.. I'm looking at the Norco Rampage 2 via 99Bikes. It's $1150. After researching I didn't want a dirt jumper with coil forks, but air suspension will push the price to $1500 plus.

Marin San Quention 1 looks nice, and $1300, but with coil. Model up is like $1600.

Giant ST26 is $1500 with coil.

Commencal are $1700 with air.

So.. my conclusion is go for the Norco Rampage 2 for $1150.
1. If the coils bung out down the track, replace with air
2. He's only 11, so will only be popping 50cm or so for awhile.
3. He actually may not like the style and want a more XC/Enduro/Trail vibe. (But I'm pretty confident Dirt Jumper is his vibe)

So.. I'm about to buy the Rampage 2 online, but wanted to run by someone. Maybe there's other bikesI haven't thought off. Maybe the Norco is !! BAN ME NOW FOR SWEARING !!.

Anyhoo. What do you think?

[10speedsemiracer]

Hiya. Just joined.

I've spent the last few weeks researching to buy my 11yo son a new bike. (He's had a Trek MTB since he was

He wants to jump. He's a pretty good skater. So I think the thrill to push it is strong. There's a nice BMX & Pump Track in Kensington, next to our local skatepark.

I don't know much about MTB's, but this is what I'm thinking:

Go for a dirt jumper. 90% of the time he'll use around home (Yarraville/Footscray). Parks. Skate Park. Pump tracks. (Been to Forrest a few times. And see my son & daughter (10yo) doing more bush MTB, but COVID, time, maybe it will be few and far between.

So if we do go bush, his dirt jumper will be cool for now. If we go regularly, then maybe he needs a 2nd MTB as well, that is if it's different tracks/trails.

So.. I'm looking at the Norco Rampage 2 via 99Bikes. It's $1150. After researching I didn't want a dirt jumper with coil forks, but air suspension will push the price to $1500 plus.

Marin San Quention 1 looks nice, and $1300, but with coil. Model up is like $1600.

Giant ST26 is $1500 with coil.

Commencal are $1700 with air.

So.. my conclusion is go for the Norco Rampage 2 for $1150.
1. If the coils bung out down the track, replace with air
2. He's only 11, so will only be popping 50cm or so for awhile.
3. He actually may not like the style and want a more XC/Enduro/Trail vibe. (But I'm pretty confident Dirt Jumper is his vibe)

So.. I'm about to buy the Rampage 2 online, but wanted to run by someone. Maybe there's other bikesI haven't thought off. Maybe the Norco is !! BAN ME NOW FOR SWEARING !!.

Anyhoo. What do you think?

The Giant STP has a RockShox Recon Silver RL fork, with what they call Solo Air which is an air spring arrangement. In this price bracket, it's probably as good as you'll get.

It's difficult to compare the STP to the Norco. The STP runs a 1x10 Deore with hydraulic disc brakes versus the Norco's single speed (30t >14t) set up with mechanical discs and a coil-sprung fork.

Looking at it, the RRP of $1199 seems excessive for what you get. But they're different bikes, with slightly different use scenarios. The STP is more of a "multi-purpose" bike, and yet has more travel than the Norco (?).

I'd go for the STP given the usage scenario you've described, which will allow your young 'un to do sick jumps and mad skids, but then also ride around the trails with the family... Given the spec list, I think $1500 for what goes into the STP is fairly good value.

The Marin is interesting, but let down by a cheaper fork and drivetrain (9sp microShift). Again though, the Marin is a multi-role bike (what Marin call "All Mountain"...).

No idea which Commencal you're referencing. So in terms of overall value vs performance vs reliability I'd probably tend toward the Giant, followed by the Marin and then the Norco.

The other consideration here is where you end up buying the bike. Not all sellers are equal. Giant have an excellent reputation for support and Warranty, whereas 00Bikes ... not so much. Marin bikes can be bought from BicyclesOnline (BoA) who are an Aus-based online seller with a good reputation for pricing, service and support.

[trailgumby]

Most DJ bikes are single speed. You don/t want multi-speed and derailleurs - they will only become a point of unreliability, preventing learning and skills progression as the derailleur hanger gets bent if not destroyed, forcing and end to the session.

Singlespeed is preferred. Riders need to be able to toss their bikes aside when they get it wrong, which will happen most of the time until they get their skills up, and then be able to pick the bike up and go again. This is why DJ bikes are made of steel, with high spoke count wheels - to survive being bounced and cartwheeled.

[10speedsemiracer]

Understand your perspective T/G and yes you're right of course.

However, we're talking about an 11yo rider and by the time he's doing proper sick jumps, he will have outgrown whatever bike he has now. At least a geared bike gives the ability to do various rides..

Just thinking is all ..

[bychosis]

Could are considered more robust than air shocks, just typically cheaper to build but at the cost of weight. Don’t think an 11yo will be breaking or seeing them out.

[Mububban]

Will his legs be able to cope riding a 30-14 single speed when he's not at the local pump/jump track? How flat is your area? Thinking of my own almost 11 year old, there's no way he'd be able to ride a proper MTB trail or even climb out of our cul de sac with that gearing!

He's got his XS sized MTB for trails, the daily school ride and various pump/jump tracks around us. The Norco would be awesome if he wanted a second bike, but I wouldn't get it as his only bike.

Coils would be perfectly fine for a kid who doesn't weigh much and isn't getting huge air.

[Mububban]

Hiya. Just joined.

I've spent the last few weeks researching to buy my 11yo son a new bike. (He's had a Trek MTB since he was

He wants to jump. He's a pretty good skater. So I think the thrill to push it is strong. There's a nice BMX & Pump Track in Kensington, next to our local skatepark.

I don't know much about MTB's, but this is what I'm thinking:

Go for a dirt jumper. 90% of the time he'll use around home (Yarraville/Footscray). Parks. Skate Park. Pump tracks. (Been to Forrest a few times. And see my son & daughter (10yo) doing more bush MTB, but COVID, time, maybe it will be few and far between.

So if we do go bush, his dirt jumper will be cool for now. If we go regularly, then maybe he needs a 2nd MTB as well, that is if it's different tracks/trails.

So.. I'm looking at the Norco Rampage 2 via 99Bikes. It's $1150. After researching I didn't want a dirt jumper with coil forks, but air suspension will push the price to $1500 plus.

Marin San Quention 1 looks nice, and $1300, but with coil. Model up is like $1600.

Giant ST26 is $1500 with coil.

Commencal are $1700 with air.

So.. my conclusion is go for the Norco Rampage 2 for $1150.
1. If the coils bung out down the track, replace with air
2. He's only 11, so will only be popping 50cm or so for awhile.
3. He actually may not like the style and want a more XC/Enduro/Trail vibe. (But I'm pretty confident Dirt Jumper is his vibe)

So.. I'm about to buy the Rampage 2 online, but wanted to run by someone. Maybe there's other bikesI haven't thought off. Maybe the Norco is !! BAN ME NOW FOR SWEARING !!.

Anyhoo. What do you think?

I wonder if OP ever bought a dirt jumper? As I now find myself in the same boat! My son turns 12 soon, and loves the idea of saving up for a dual sus but realistically, we don't go trail riding that often. He's got a basic but capable hardtail for that, and riding to school.

He's kept his 24 inch MTB as his pump track/jump bike and he's getting pretty good, and we have more of those around us than MTB trails. So now he's thinking of getting a dirt jumper instead. Which is also about $1000 cheaper thus more attainable.

[trailgumby]

Budget for knee, shin and elbow guards, full-finger gloves and soft-soled flat pedal shoes. Those pin-spike pedals leave nasty bites!

[MattyK]

Seems to be quite a few dirt jump bikes on FBMP, I'd start there... It's gonna get scratched anyway.

PS ever go to Quarry Park and what's it like?