It can be a lot trickier than with other bicycle types to find a jump bike that is the correct fit for your height. Ideally you are looking for the seat of the jump bike to be as low as possible without it hitting the seat, allowing you to squeeze out as much mobility as possible when tricking out.
To get a favourable reference frame for your height, the basic rule of thumb is to take the frame size that you would normally ride on a mountain bike and subtract 2-3 inches. So if you usually ride a 19″ mtb frame, jump bikes with a frame size of 17″ or lower would be a good place to start. Generally, large jump bikes have a 17″ frame, medium 15.5 to 5″ and small 14″ to 15″ – these are the manufacturers recommendations.
Despite this, many tall riders prefer a smaller frame than the manufacturers suggest. A smaller frame requires less effort to spin and pull tricks on, due to the rotational mechanics involved. In reality, a suitable frame side for a jump bike is only limited by how close your feet are to the front wheel – you will know when a frame size is too small for you when your feet are hitting off it!
So with this in mind, it is worthwhile having a good idea what kind of use you expect to get out of the bike – will it be used for racing or for tricking out on? Racing jump bikes will perform better with a longer top tube length since this gives the rider added stability when cornering. Dirt jump bike riders will prefer a frame with a shorter top tube, since this will make it a lot edgier when spinning and attacking jumps mid air. Not all manufacturers list the top tube length in their catalogues so the local bike shop is your friend. If you are looking for some suggested models that can be found ‘off the peg’ , have a look at the P1 jump bike made by Specialized, or any of the Kona jump bikes.
If you are looking to buy your first dirt jumping bike, start by going for a bike frame 2 inches less than the size of mountain bike frame you would usually ride. Next, depending on what kind of rider you are, select a top tube length to suit your style of riding. There are a couple of good makes of jump bike available in shops these days, so the best thing to do is to go out and test them before buying – there is nothing worse than getting a new bike delivered only to discover it’s an unsuitable size!
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