Built for street (urban), skate part, dirt jump and trail riding, DJ bikes are the big-wheeled cousins to BMX bikes.  Some are geared, some are singlespeed, but the major difference between DJ bikes and Freeride bikes is that DJ’s are hardtails.  Most are equipped with shorter-travel suspension forks than Freeride bikes.  Some riders prefer the stability and precision handling of a rigid fork, which encourages better riding technique. 24” wheels are the norm.

Extremely versatile and durable, DJ bikes are stunt bikes, equally at home on pavement or dirt.  Keep the saddle low and you have a bike that can handle DH-style riding and stunts with ease; raise the saddle and you have an Urban Assault Vehicle, commuter and XC bike.  With 24” wheels, DJ bikes are more popular than BMX with many adult riders, simply due to the bikes’ size.  Adult riders often feel like “circus bears” on kid-sized BMX frames with 20” wheels.  Bigger wheels, while slightly less maneuverable than BMX wheels, are more stable, yet still tough enough for the abuses of jumping and hard pavement hits.

Some riders use DJ bikes as their one and only do-it-all bike due to their XC-friendly geometry and beefy builds.  Even though 24” wheels are not as efficient on rocky singletrack as 26” wheels, DJ’s are better suited for jumping and quick maneuvering.

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