Dirt jumping is its own sub-genre of mountain biking.

At the pinnacle of this genre, you have riders like Brandon Semnuk and Matt Jones launching off custom-built jump tracks.

On the opposite side, you have young kids who are just getting into the sport, piling up mounds of dirt in their neighborhood. 

Riding a dirt jump bike is a great way to hone your skills. So this begs the question, do you need a dirt jump mountain bike?

What is a Dirt Jump Mountain Bike?

A dirt jump bike, also known as a Dj, is a mountain bike designed specifically for hitting jumps. It has front suspension, 26-inch wheels, minimal gears, and a robust frame. It has a rigid seat that is usually lowered and fast-rolling tires. 

This bike’s sole purpose is to get airborne. Typically they are only ridden at dirt jumps, pump tracks, and skate parks. Here, the riders hit jumps and push the bike back to the top of the run. 

A Great Tool to Practice Skills

These hardtails are a great way to practice your skills. 

Riding dirt jumps is a great way to progress your jumping skills. Typically these bikes have flat pedals. This forces you to develop good jumping habits and not rely on pulling up with your clipless pedals, which I am quite guilty of.

(Hitting the jumps soon? Make sure you grab yourself a pair of knee pads.)

You can also hone your pumping and cornering skills with this bike on a pump track. It will teach how to weight your outside foot when cornering and work with the trail to generate speed.

But don’t just take my word for it. Check out Cam Zink, a Monster freeride athlete, talking about why he thinks everyone should own a hardtail (starts at the :30 second mark).

Popular Dirt Jump Mountain Bikes

Now that I’ve provided you some background about these bikes, let’s talk about some popular models.

Transition Bikes PBJ

Transition PBJ dirt jump bike

Transition Bikes’ PBJ (Pumps, Bumps, & Jumps) is a trendy dirt jump bike. It comes in three different colors and, unlike most Djs, three different sizes. This lets you choose the bike that will fit you the best.

The Trek Ticket

Trek Ticket Dirt Jump Bike

The Trek Ticket was popularized by Brandon Semnuk, Brett Rheeder, Ryan Howard, and Cam McCaul. Chances are you’ve probably seen this bike in a video or two. Currently, this bike is offered in two styles. The slopestyle full-suspension model and the Dj hardtail. However, it comes as a frame only, so you will have to build the bike up from scratch before you start practicing your cork 7s.

Kona Shonky

Kona Shonky Dirt Jump Bike

The Kona Shonky is one of the original dirt jump bikes. Seeing that Kona hails from Canada, where the Dj scene exploded, this bike will handle whatever your local trails can throw at it. This year, it comes in a gold colorway so you can stand out from the herds of black bikes at the trails.

NS Metropolis

NS Metropolis

Hailing from Europe, NS Bikes offers complete bikes that can ship straight to your door. The NS bikes team is some of the best slopestyle and freeriders in Europe. So if you purchase one of their bikes, you know it’s been put through the paces.

Should You Buy a Dirt Jump Bike?

Like any question, this really depends on you and your situation. If you’re looking to become a better mountain biker and you have the funds and room to add another bike to your stable, I say go for it. Hopping on a bike with flat pedals and minimal travel will quickly highlight what skills you need to improve. 

But moreover, these bikes are just fun. If you want to rip the pump track and hit the occasional jump line at your local skills park, this type of bike is guaranteed to keep a smile on your face. 

I'm Sean. Owner of MTBS&F and self-proclaimed ski/bike bum. Catch me on the trails on the weekends and working out during the week.

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