Gym equipment: 6 favourite dirt bikes at a glance

Dirt bikes were all the rage at the end of the 2000s, but then the hype was suddenly over. Thanks to the many new pump tracks, demand is now on the rise again.

Canyon Stiched: The all-round carefree package

"The Canyon Stiched is a success. It's a good all-rounder at a fair price. I've already had the opportunity to ride it myself. The components are high quality, the weight is light and the noise level is low. Nothing rattles here. The geometry is suitable for a wide range of applications. You can have fun on pump tracks and jump dirt tracks. Manuals are easy thanks to the short chainstays. I would recommend the 360 Pro model, as it allows you to do footjams in the skate park because the fork bridge is on the right side. The Stiched comes with front and rear brakes."

Price: from € 999, € 1399 (Stiched Pro 360)

Rose The Bruce: Tip for beginners

"The Bruce is the workhorse of FMB stars Lukas Knopf and Erik Fedko. The designers have not dared to experiment with details, but the concept is coherent. Beginners will certainly find the bike easy to ride. The weight and spec are good, and the high-quality fork means you can have a lot of fun for a long time. The geo is acceptable - attention has been paid to riding stability. The bike is rather long and flat. The price: great!"

Price: from € 829

Radon Slush: The geo-miracle

"The Radon Slush is full of useful details, such as the interchangeable dropouts with integrated chain tensioner. I also like the cable routing. The geo is one of the coolest on the market. The top tube is slightly longer and the head angle is rather slack. If you want to try your hand at pump tracks and dirt jumps are also on your to-do list, then the Slush is the bike for you. I've already tried the bike from Radon pro Lukas Schäfer and was totally convinced."

Price: 299 € (frame)

YT Dirtlove: The skatepark weapon

"The Forchheim-based mail order company relies on steel. In contrast to aluminium bikes, dents are not an issue for the Dirtlove. This is a particular advantage in the skate park - due to the hard edges of the ramps. The geo is tried and tested and works well. Pump track sessions are no problem. The equipment looks coherent. However, if you mainly want to concentrate on dirt jumps, I would recommend an aluminium bike. They are lighter. For everyone else, this model is a good choice."

Price: from € 1399

Beddo Sway: The extravagant

"Beddo was my brand, and of course I have to mention it here, because the bike is my design and the coolest shit. The Sway is ideal for dirt jumps, pump tracks and the skate park. The geo tends to be flat. Special feature: It has a mechanical BMX rotor inside - no one else has that. The rotor turns the thing into a barspin weapon. What's more, the Beddo Sway is not a bike that just anyone can ride. It's available as a frame kit and recently also as a complete bike."

Price: € 2799, from € 479 (frame)

"The geometry has to suit you."

Interview with Marius Hoppensack, ex-professional and dirt bike expert

Marius, the golden age of dirt bikes is over. What is your explanation?

At the end of the 2000s, the trend was already fully in favour of freeriders and downhillers - because the suspension elements and chassis were getting better and better. Now you could also jump on them. People were drawn to the forest. The bike industry could only be happy with this, as the profit margin was much greater with fullys.

Now the dirt bike seems to be celebrating a comeback. What do you find so appealing about dirt bikes?

Dirt bikes are uncomplicated. You need a helmet, pads and a bike. That's all you need. You can always fit in a dirt bike session. Provided you have a spot nearby.

Many people want to buy a dirt bike for the pump track, are there special models for this?

There have always been dirt bikes with different orientations. If you want to do tricks, get a frame with a short wheelbase and steep steering angle. If you want to be more stable in the air when jumping, you should go for a model with a slightly slacker steering angle and longer reach. For pump tracks, you should look for a good fork, a torsion-resistant frame and a light weight.

The geometry of dirt bikes seems to have matured.

That's true. But over the years, dirt bikes have also experimented. Initially, the bikes were very long, then they became short and now they are a little longer again. In contrast to the bikes we rode back then, however, the stability has been improved and they are much lighter.

Is a second-hand purchase worthwhile?

Basically yes. But you should have someone with you who knows their way around. You should take a closer look at the weld seams in particular.

What should I look out for when buying a new one?

The geo must suit you. Pay attention to the frame size, a light weight and a solid suspension fork. You can always customise the remaining components such as handlebars etc.

Now the question of all questions: Do you need a front brake on a dirt bike or not?

Haha, everyone really has to decide that for themselves. I say no. But if you feel safer with it, you shouldn't do without it.