How Cheaply could I build up a starter DJ rig?

[babel]

So beyond my short commute to classes, and the occasional easy single track I’m pretty much a bike JONG. You folks have me interested in building up a hardtail that would hopefully see some combo of dirt jumping, the occasional XC trail ride (Although I have another bike that can fill this role that I will likely bring up from home.), as well as just general dicking around on campus. That said I’m not able to drop a grand on a bike right now, so how cheaply could I build up a bike to work on skills, and just see how much I like spending time on it/this style of riding?
I’m willing to put the research time into figuring out the details of this (beats doing HW) but I’d appreciate a ball park estimate of how much of an expense this is likely to be. Additionally if you could just point me in the direction of the biggy best bang for your buck items it’d make my life searching this and other forums a bit easier.

Thanks-
babel

[beast]

http://www.ridesoul.com/

Call them up, get your self a closeout '05 loki frame - $185 bucks, great frame for the dollars

[Dromond]

http://www.danscomp.com/cgi-bin/haze...IL&item=107060

[marshalolson]

tons of azonic steelheads on ebay for $150 frame.

then put some $100 deore disc/sun rhyno lite's on there and a few year old marzocchi z1.

prolly under $500 if you shop around and through deore and lx level stuff on there.

[mntlion]

http://www.brodiebikes.com/2006/2006.../miscreant.php $800 MSPR

http://www.brodiebikes.com/2006/2006_bikes/menace.php $700 MSRP

just a few exampes, kona stuff. specialized P1,2,3 and many many more ....

used for 1/2 that, or last years for 20-30% of that ....


biulding up a bike is a PITA, more so if you are a bike Jong.
Does that der fit? top pull or bottom?
4 bolt rings or 5, 110 spacing or 94mm
68 or 73mm bottom bracket?
does the fork disc adapotr fit the hayes or magura brakes?
are the rims disc only or V brake.
are the hubs disc? 4 bolt or 6?

the options just keep going.... just buy a built bike

[kidwoo]

I'd get a complete. Like mtnlion said, unless you're proficient at bike building, it will be much easier (and cheaper) to just get a bike rather than bits.

Gt chucker
specialized p.1, p.2, p.3
Giant STP
Cannondale Chase
Kona Cowan

These are worth checking out and all good bikes. The only usual weak spot with dirtjump completes seem to be the forks. But if you're just getting into the sport/genre, what comes on these things will be fine and you can always upgrade later.

[babel]

Thanks for the replies. Helps me narrow things down.
Good call on buying complete, I'll keep my eye out for those models. Not gonna rule out building one up though, I have time on my hands, and friends who know their shit, plus I think that sort of thing is fun.
The good news is I just found out I'm gonna start working so I can actually pay for the thing.

[kidwoo]

If you do buy a frame and need bits, let me know. I just sold a frame from a bike I wanted to sell complete so I've got a lot of parts that are dj worthy.

[ctarmchair]

Kona Scabs/Norco Sasquatch's are pigs, but decent for both trails and dirtjumping depending on tires and fork choice among other things. Used completes roughly 300-450ish on ebay.

As with so many things, it ain't the bike, so these can give you a decent intro, then you can decide what you want to spend real $$ on. Alternatively, a BMX dirt jumper should be available with a little judicious shopping for perhaps even less.

[fondigley]

I just picked up a 24" dj complete bike (Norco Two50), it's a used 2003 model, I found for a little over $400. It has discs, 4" fork, single speed and built pretty beefy. I found it in denver on craigslist. That was the cheapest I think I could have found, I thought for sure I was due to drop close to a grand to get something decent. But yeah you can find something, definitilty check the web. Check craigslits, mtbr, ridemonkey, pinkbike, and ebay, a few places where you might come up with a killer deal.

[bagtagley]

Keep an eye on the bike forums and classifieds. You see people unloading hardtails for cheap all the time.

[mntlion]

killer deal: I found a new banschee scratch, single speed, 24" 48 spoke wheels, rigid fork for $600 US to my door....

then found a 24" wheel marz fork for $150 almost new

if you look for a while, deals will show up

[marshalolson]

24" wheels suck balls on xc rides. go 26'' if you'll be riding trail