Jump bikes are a type of hybrid bike, somewhere in-between bmxs and standard mountain bikes. As the name suggests, they are mainly used for jumping stunts, although there are also a wide selection of tricks that a jump bike rider can pull off. While initially it may seem as though they are similar to a mountain bike, if you look closer you will find that there are a lot of differences in the design of a jump bike. They are smaller, more mobile, and are specifically designed to handle the stress of repeatedly landing on their tyres from great heights.
Jump bikes feature several characteristics that separate them from other bike types:
Lower, reinforced frames: The upper tube of a jump bike frame slopes upward from the seat post, giving the rider more room to manoeuvre. The frames themselves tend to be stronger than regular bike frames, so that they can withstand the large forces involved when landing stunts – they are built for rugged use
Smaller wheels: Jump bikes feature small wheels; around 24” to 26” wheels in considered best.
Firm suspension: To help to deal with high jump bike tricks, most frames have a suspension forks for the front wheel. They are typically set to the least springy setting to give the bike a better feel.
Fewer gears: High torque gear ratios are all that are needed to flip the jump bike up fast and give the rider instant control over the bike’s balance.
There are two main styles that involve the use of jump bikes:
Urban jump riding takes its name from the streets, with riders performing all manner of skilful tricks and jumping using everyday objects such as benches, stairs, walls, and so on. A street jump bike has a lot of similarities with trial bikes.
Dirt jump biking is a relatively new sport where jumps are done in parks, woods, and trails, with ramps specifically designed to get as much height as possible for the rider. Competitions involve high or long jumps where the riders of jump dirt bikes are graded on the difficulty of the tricks performed.
Jump bikes may be a new type of hybrid bike, but their popularity is increasing every day with more manufacturers releasing specific models all the time. Mountain bikes enjoyed rapid growth when they first appeared – expect the same from jump bikes!
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