Nema Podium Jersey

The Nema Podium Jersey is a fantastic piece of kit. It's comfortable and light, as any race jersey should be. The resistant material comes in black/white, red/black, yellow/ black, white/blue, yellow/cyan and white/black colouration. The UK stockist Hotlines has them for £45 for a standard Jersey, and the matching shorts at a very reasonable £55. If you want a name or logo on the Jersey, this is no hassle for Nema - they provide a printing service for a small additional charge. I found the fit was very good, with room for pads without being too baggy. The lycra collar was a very useful and comfortable addition. After using rival products, I won't look back. Nema have made a fantastic jersey, and for a tiny additional amount it can be customised to make it personal to you. The Hotlines site makes it easy for UK buyers, and Nema themselves include tax, shipping and additional cost within the final price to make purchasing the jersey incredibly simple. Don't just take my word for it, the jersey is worn by a variety of top athletes and teams - including Deathgrip Racing.

Spank Tweet Tweet Single Speed Chain

As yet another successful component in Spank's renowned Tweet Tweet range, this chain provides some low cost bike bling. A £27.99, you're paying a little bit extra for a chain that really finishes your drive train off nicely. Having ridden one for a few weeks, my initial findings are impressive. It's brightened up what's usually a dirty, gritty part of my bike, and has performed faultlessly. There's none of the stretching that's all too common in cheaper chains, and no corrosion either. Regular oiling is an obvious necessity, but it hasn't affected the colour significantly on my (red) chain. The available colours are: red, black, orange, blue, purple or chrome.  It doesn't cost much more than a standard single speed chain, and that bit of extra cash really brightens up the bike. It also coordinates the colour scheme on my bike really well, and gives the impression that a lot of attention to detail has gone into the build. A coloured chain may not be the first item on a custom build list, but once you've got one, the difference it illustrates is very eye-catching.

Answer Pro Taper 780 DH Riser Bar

I've ridden this bar for two months. At £54.99 (on Hotlines) and 335g, it has a light weight that's reasonably light on your pocket. The wide choice of colours make it easy to suit one to your bike, and at £54.99 you won't be disappointed. It's cheaper than similar DH bars out there, and lighter too. The colour retention is fantastic, and the finish is very scratch resistant. Despite the light weight and considerable width, there is absolutely no flex in them. The bars lead to some seriously responsive handling that really increases confidence. The choice in rise is really useful, as now you needn't buy a new stem to facilitate these (must-have) bars. Answer provide good marks if you wish to cut the bars down to size, and because of the durability of the finish, you don't have to decide straight away: fit the grips for now, and the marks will still be there in a few months time. I can't see how these can be beat, unless you try the carbon version?

Wellgo CNC Platform B47 Flat Pedals

593g weight competes with much more expensive pedals. Such a low weight at £29.99 is exceptional value, particularly when each pedal contains eight replaceable pins for added durability. I've reviewed a lot of pedals on here, covering a huge price range. I still maintain that if you don't like the feel or looks of DMR v8's, these are THE budget pedal to have. I bought them as a cheap replacement for my DH bike pedals, and found them so good I didn't change them. A year later, the black anodised finish has worn from the edges, but they're still spinning on freely on their 'high quality' bearing axels. For a dh pedal, the pins were pretty short. Due to all of them being replaceable, however, buying some longer ones and fitting them is cheap and easy. The platform, which I find to be the most important part of any pedal, is fantastic. The slight curve on such a wide surface area gives a comfortable and stable area for the foot. Slipping off the pedal, even with standard pins, is extremely rare. For those of you not used to big platforms, settling your feet on the pedal may feel weird initially. After a couple of rides though, it was easy to find that comfortable position and I was able to take advantage of the stable platform that Wellgo provides for a mere £30. The styling is very safe, but at least it's not going to fade or chip and look rubbish. Black suits me fine, and I can't think of many bikes I've seen where there hasn't been a black part. It's a universally appealing pedal at a universally appealing price.

Deity Components Alibi LT Sprocket 2012

RRP: £42
I've been using one of these for a couple of months now, and it's done the job faultlessly. Designed for eight or nine speed systems and specifically compatible with certain E*Thirteen and MRP chain guides, it's the perfect addition to any fourcross, downhill or enduro bike. 34, 36 or 38t sprockets sit on a 9mm spindle. Machined from 7075 aluminium it has a competitive price of £42, although many shops have reduced it to half of that. Enough of the facts, what's it like? Really, really good is the answer. A couple of months in, that cool anodised finish is still there with only a bit of fading on the tips of the teeth. The spacious design makes it easy to clean, and also allows you to clean behind the sprocket where oil and grit can build up - something you can't do with a lot of similarly priced sprockets. I haven't weighed it, but it seems pretty light, and I can't fathom how it could be heavier than a lot of the completely flat sprockets I've used in the past. The bright design and shape really changes the aesthetics of the bike, which people can spend a lot more than £42 and still fail miserably at. There is  no flex in the sprocket, and the teeth are as straight as when it left the factory, despite it being forced to run with a dodgy chain and being scraped over logs and rocks. For £42 (or a lot less now) you do get a fantastic piece of kit. It looks good, does its job extremely well, and will outlive most of the other components on your bike. £42 may seem a lot, but buy cheap and feel the difference, and you'll be rushing out for this.

Deity Components Rally i-Beam Saddle 2013

Why would anyone buy SDG after trying this? The I-Beam saddle weighs in at a very light 223g whilst still having a little bit of padding. The choice of colours is a fantastic feature, and the design sits well on any bike. A month on a downhill bike and no problems so far. It feels like other iBeam saddles I've ridden, with a bit of flex making up for the lack of padding. It needn't be for just downhill though, Chainreaction states that it has Slopestyle and Dirtjump. It's difficult to say after only a month, but I sincerely think that this is a durable seat. Despite the bright colours, it hasn't faded, stained or marked. Impeccable performance. How much? Rrp £34.99 for any colour. How could you go wrong? Buy two instead of a more expensive saddle, and have a choice of colour! I'm getting another one for my enduro bike.

DMR Comp Front Wheel

The DMR Comp front wheel weighs in at 1310g, which is heavy for a front wheel. It is 36h, and intended for dirt jump applications. The double wall and 'D' section give it good strength, something I cannot disagree with. The £99.99 rrp is very cheap, and DMR do offer the pro range for the rider with a little more cash who wants to save some weight. The wheel's been run for ten months, but was second hand before I bought it. The bearings in the hub are beginning to go now, but it has been ridden in rough conditions and even Hope hubs need attention from time to time. The wheel has taken a complete battering, including a high speed crash straight into a tree. Despite a series of huge impacts, it has only developed a slight wobble. I know from experience that wheels twice the price of the DMR's couldn't survive that impact. The wheels themselves look good with the red hub and black rim with white graphics. My main niggle is the weight - because the strength is exceptional. If you don't care about it, then buy them for sure - £100 for a brand new wheel is fantastic value. If weight is an issue, spending a little more on a different wheel may be the answer.

DMR Moto SuperMoto Tyre

The DMR SuperMoto tyres rrp's at £24.99 - a very reasonable price when you compare it to downhill and cross country tyres from popular brands. Low block height (allegedly) leads to more stiffness and better grip. There are two choices, black or tan (whitewall). I've used a SuperMoto rear tyre for just over a year, and found it fantastic. Designed for dirt jumping and street, it does the job perfectly. The pattern allows for grip through turns (even on a gravel bmx track) whilst being a fast rolling tyre on the flat. A year later, it's still got tread left, possibly due to it being used irregularly and mainly on road or dirt. In dry, dusty conditions it's fantastic, although can be dicey in the wet, especially on tarmac. It only comes in a 26 X 2.2 fitment, but it is designed specifically for dirt jumping. On the trails it left a bit to be desired, but it's not designed for that - it would be like criticising a Swamp Thing for not being fast rolling enough. The low weight is a real bonus, but the real benefit comes from how fast rolling it is on smooth terrain. You won't be replacing it anytime soon - although I have heard reports of them being shredded by rocks.

Truvativ Boobar

Used mainly for downhill, but I have a set on my dirt jumper - crazy right? The stability that the width provides is inspiring, although I won't be doing any barspins! Weighing in at a very respectable 290g with 20 or 30mm rise options, I'm impressed. They keep a low front end  without using a completely flat bar - something that seems to have gone out of fashion. I like the decals, and the finish is average. There are scuffs on the bars, as there have been scuff-worthy incidents. They haven't exceeded my expectations, yet haven't disappointed me either. The £68 rrp does heighten expectations which would be impossible for the bars to fulfil. The Boobars are great, but the pricing is a little steep compared to some other bars out there that do the same job. It's a solid handlebar from a reliable company.

 It won't let you down, but it won't blow you away either.

Truvativ Holzfeller Pedal

Wow, what a piece of kit! I was unable to fathom how someone could spend £80 on a set of pedals before I tried this, now I wonder why you wouldn't. Currently, they're reduced almost everywhere, making them a complete bargain! I had these on a second hand bike I bought, and have kept them ever since. They were initially used for hard downhill and freeride, but also used on a regular basis. This is enough to wear any pedal down, but not these. They still spin freely, despite running on standard (non-Ti) axels. The downside is you can't buy parts to fix the bearings, when they're broken that's it, although I think you'd run the bike they're on into the ground before these pedals show any weakness. There are a few snapped pins here and there, but they snapped off near the pedal body, so are easy to replace. I hadn't noticed until I inspected them before writing this - they really do grip that well. When I was rebuilding the downhill bike, I stuck them on my dirt jumper. They were an instant hit, that huge platform giving me massive amounts of support and confidence. They're an average weight, at 590g the pair. I had the raw pedals, not white, and found the finish was incredible. Rock gardens that have wrecked my saint cranks don't seem to have affected them, and throwing a jump bike across the tarmac hasn't left a mark.  They seem pretty faultless - although stiff competition from Superstar and DMR (with their vaults) means that a pedal of this price has to be exceptional to compete. The Truvativ's were good, but did lack the bling finish and range of colours on the vaults, or the replaceable titanium axels from Superstar.   Yes, it's only my experience, but they definitely prove that you get what you pay for.

DMR V8 Pedal

With an rrp of £27.99 the v8's represent amazing value for money. The range of colours is phenomenal: if you can't find a set to suit you - you have the wrong bike! It's an entry level pedal that's cheaper than rivals Nukeproof and NS, but doesn't feel that way. In my experience, it's more durable than the plastic Nukeproof offering - and I can't judge the more expensive NS because I haven't tried them. After months of crashing through rock gardens on a downhill bike and being scuffed across tarmac on a dirt jump bike, they weathered really well. The paint finish scuffed round the edges, but held up far better than offerings from any other manufacturers. One also has to acknowledge that these are DMR's cheapest, entry level, pedals. You have numerous models in between the v8's and the (mind blowing) vaults. Even on a budget, DMR offers a pedal to suit you. The v8's are very grippy. I liked the smaller surface area with the long pins. The pedals almost felt like being clipped in, and my never foot slipped or was uncomfortable on the pedal. Rumours of the v8's hurting the riders feet on impact proved, in my experience, to be completely nonsensical. Apart from the range of colours, value and grip, these felt like any other pedal in the variety of situations that I used them in. I'd happily buy another set, as at £28 you can buy a set every couple of months and keep your bike looking fresh - instead of gradually wearing one expensive set down. The bearings held up well (despite them being used in very sandy areas), and being able to apply extra grease is a real bonus for this price. If you don't like the standard pedals, DMR do a 'pimp my pedal' kit with pins and end caps in a variety of anodised colours (aimed at the more expensive v12's, but it's only the axle on the v8's that differentiates the two models). The v8's weigh I at 528g, but the v12's have magnesium and ti axle options that improve durability and reduce weight. Bottom line: give them a go! They're always on offer somewhere, and you won't find a better finish for the price.

DMR Muta Grips

Like any product from DMR, these come in a wide range of colours. Despite the brightness, the colour on my grips didn't fade, even when I washed the ingrained mud off by rubbing them with water. The bar clamp cleverly doubles up as a mini flange. Even on a dirt jump bike, this provided sufficient security. A huge positive to this is that the grips can be used with gears, as was proved when I bough another set for my downhill bike. You might be worried about the weak looking lettering, and how it will wear? Fear not! I had no problems with that, and the material that's used is great: even on a jump bike it was soft and forgiving on my hands. The grips have outlasted Nukeproof grips I've used, and match most grips out there. At £15.99, some faults can be forgiven. On my jump  bike, after over a year and a half's use, the material twists in my hand. However, how many grips last over a year and a half? Very, very few. The graphite bar end may look odd in photo's, but on the bike actually looks pretty good. It doesn't wear like painted or anodised bar ends either, so still looks good now. Bottom line? I'll keep buying them. There are competitors out there for sure, but the low price definitely gives them the edge. You can really 'fit and forget', and not have to worry about constantly tightening the clamps etc.

Nukeproof Grips (Skinny With Hard Compound)

 I've tested the standard white grips and found them to be disappointing. I've always rated Nukeproof highly and enjoyed their products, this grip is (hopefully) the only blemish on their spotless record with me. The grips cost around £15, so are right in the middle price-wise. They arrived well packaged with a free sticker - always a welcome bonus! - and I couldn't have been more pleased. I found fitting a bit of a fiddle with the bar end compared with other grips, but they looked good on the bike and really cleaned it up. On the first few rides they were really good. They gripped well, and the white colour held up when the muck was hosed and wiped off. I found the material a little unforgiving, but a soft version is available. It was entirely my choice to use the grip I did, and I did so in the hope that it would be more durable and accentuate the value for money I hoped that this would provide. A month of irregular, disjointed riding later, and I'm looking for new grips. The material, despite being a more durable one, has worn down to a smooth surface and is no good. This just isn't good enough. I really appreciated the quality of the finish on the bar ends, which are hardly marked (despite them being led down on rocks / leant against concrete etc) and puts many (much more expensive) grips to shame. The clamps, despite being initially fiddly (although this could just be me acting like a gorilla with an Allen key), have not needed adjustment or tightening once. The nukeproof finish and design is undermined by poor durability, especially when other brands offer so much more for the same price (particularly DMR with the Muta grips). I definitely wouldn't buy these grips again, or recommend them, until the durability of the material is sorted out. If it was, you'd be getting a fantastic grip for a low price.

Nukeproof Generator 2012 Wheelset

A solid wheelset at an understandable price. I've tried a lot of different hub / rim combinations, and this is one I've settled on. Straight out of the box, it's great. They come in any fitment you want, with a choice of silver, yellow or black. They're a fairly heavy wheelset, but won't let you down. They really shine compared to the more expensive mavic 721 / Hope Pro2 build they replaced. They haven't dented (like the mavic did) and don't require bearings, even after lots of use on dry dusty, gritty trails and tracks. They stayed true after some phenomenal impacts, and have a great freehub sound (if you're into that sort of thing). I think they're a really good looking set of wheels, and they are basically rebranded Sun MTX rims. A colour choice in white would be great, but the paint and decal finish on the existing colours is exceptional. The standard spokes have proved strong, and have been tightened once in a years use. There are lighter or cheaper wheelsets out there, but these were great. As a go-to wheelset for pretty much anything you can think of, you can't go wrong. They won't break the bank, and won't break physically either.

DMR Spin Chainring

The DMR spin chainring is designed for the Microdrive system that features in all DMR bikes, although it fits almost all 3pc cranks with a range of teeth to suit your preference. The anodized finish comes in a range of colours that can match perfectly with other DMR components on your bike, but shouldn't differ too much from other anodized colours. The CNC'ed 7075 alloy takes a real beating, and the colour retention is fantastic. There is no teeth bending, and the chainring is really easy to keep clean and looking fresh. Rrp £29.99 is a reasonable price, as I can't see how another chainring could be any better unless it's far cheaper ( and if I'd found one, I'd be riding it!). It's never let me down, and the colouration can really make a difference to your bike's aesthetics.

Saint Brake

Saint sits at the top of Shimano's gravity range and, of course, you pay a premium for that. You won't be disappointed, however. The saint m810's have blown any other brake I've used out of the water. Personally, the Ice Tech rotors that came as standard look awesome, but I don't feel a massive difference. The range of adjustability on these brakes is unbelievable, making it difficult to review them. Everyone that has a go will have a different experience. Mine were set up for a 'stop-start' feel, with the lever a fair way away from the bars (similar to formula levers) and bite set for a slight touch on the lever. If you like the feel of Avid's, it's easy to replicate their lever with a twist of the adjustment knob. Mine are completely standard, down to the pads. The pads haven't worn out in a year of riding (despite me riding and checking them regularly) and they've had one bleed (more for peace of mind than because they really needed it). Despite the high original price, anyone can maintain these brakes. There are no fiddly bleeding kits, like you'll find with Avid, and spare parts won't break the bank (looking at you, Formula). The saint lettering can scratch off of the lever easily, but performance-wise, they are just awesome. I run an Ice Tech rotor rear and Avid Cleansweep front, and the brakes have never faded or burnt out. If you really, really worry (but trust me - you shouldn't) Goodridge and other manufacturers provide braided hose kits. The lever fits comfortably, and for four pot brakes the weight is good. Tempted by Avid's low weights? By all means compare them, but these are clear winners for me. Often people who use the new m820 brakes run m810 levers - they're that good! If a part breaks, and you can't afford saint, all Shimano brakes are interchangeable (as long as you purchase the correct brake hose fitments). I found them faultless, and so do many podium securing riders around the world.

Saint m810 Shifter and Derailleur / Mech

Everyone knows saint is Shimano's top of the range gravity mech and shifter, and this doesn't disappoint. Faultless, easy shifting and low maintenance - exactly what I look for in a shifter / mech combo. My Saint kit hasn't had an easy life. Rock gardens, sand, mud, loose sticks on the trail and puddles have given this mech their best shot at killing it, and it just hasn't worked. Three years on, and the shifter has worked perfectly. The mech has needed a new inner half of the cage, but this was from a stick that would have shredded anything. Despite the stick (which incidentally, ripped the spokes out of the rear wheel as well), the derailleur has needed nothing else. Even more impressive is that I rode it home fine - this mech will take a complete beating and you'll still finish the race. After the recent incident I stripped it down for a check, and it was immaculate. The jockey wheels ran smoothly, the spring was fine, all the bolts were rust free and had retained the threads. I cannot fault this at all. I know that Sram offers the X0, a mech I have not tried personally but have been assured is equally good. Now the m820 range is out, the m810 kit is going cheap. I'd urge anyone to buy it, you'll never have to do crummy maintenance jobs or time consuming gear adjustments again. Set it up, and don't touch it until its time for new jockey wheels (which is over three years in my case!). Oh, and the saint logo and black / gold / silver colour scheme doesn't detract from the bikes looks.

DMR 898

I love the DMR 898. I've had one for a while now, and can't believe how good it is. Mine is custom, but standard spec is fantastic. Mine has Argyle solo airs, and the weight is ridiculously low. The frame itself is 5.06lb's, which is great for a dirt jump frame. More importantly, it feels light. Jumping feels so easy and natural, and its really good fun round the bmx track. I also used mine around town and on the trails (although it's still got a single speed set up and single brake). It's just an easy riding bike, and the Microdrive gearing works really well. Somehow you can ride to and from the jumps easily on the flat, yet you never struggle on the downhills. Standard kit on one of these should last you years, and the £1200 price tag is well justified. DMR components all round on the grips, bars, stem, chainring, chain, wheels, cranks, seat and post. The only non-DMR kit is the Marzocchi Dirt Jumper forks and Tektro rear brake. People spend a fortune upgrading their frame to this kit, yet you get it all standard! None of the kit needs much maintenance, and is very durable. My bikes had no work on it at all, bar a tyre. It's an incredibly agile machine, and if you can afford it as a beginner, by all means go for it. It really inspired me to keep dirt jumping, everything just becomes that bit easier. The paint on the frame is average for a jump bike, but the frame's integrity is fantastic. I haven't ridden this bike as smoothly as I should have, yet it's remained crack and dent free (in situations when any other frame would have broken). It's outlived other jump bikes from people around me, and the scratches on the paint match any other dj bike. Trail riding on it is great fun, because you can get air on the smallest obstacle yet it manoeuvres like a dream. I'd advise a stronger back brake if you're riding trail all day long - or why not go for the DMR Omen? Not that the Tektro brake is poor, but you're asking a lot of that single rear brake with it's 160mm rotor to stop you repeatedly without any rest. Other brakes I've had have been far worse, but I'd recommend a high end Shimano or Avid rear brake, or add a front brake to reduce the load this brake has to cope with. Overall, a fantastic frame. It'll do pretty much anything with components that'll never wear out.

Alex Rims Supra D vs Halo SAS

It's only personal experience, but I was underwhelmed with the Alex rims. At 570g (32h), their weight is proportional to their price. They come in 32 and 36h fitments, and I tested the 36 for just over a year. They have been subjected to some hard use, and it's showed. They were built up with double butted spokes and on 'Chosen' hubs. The lack of dents is a testimony to their durability (possibly due to their welded joint), but the decals and paint have really suffered. They have not dented like Mavic 721's I've owned, but not stood the test of time as well as Halo SAS, Spank or Nukeproof rims that I've ridden. They have buckled badly, worse than the other listed rims would, although some allowance must be made to their cheaper price. Other reviews rate the Alex's highly, however, so don't write them off completely! MTBR reviews and other sites claim they're better than a lot of Mavic and DT swiss rims. Personally, my advice would be to spend more and buy quality, or seriously consider the Halo's. I know they're out of production, but my, what a wheelset! Brand new, but old stock, or just an old wheelset will do. They'll give you the looks, performance and value for money that the Alex rims lack. I've ridden 48h (indestructible) and 32h Halo rims. I used the 32 and 48h rims for another year, and found them to be reliable and trouble free, even when built onto Halo Spindoctor hubs - which are comparatively cheap. For both of which the paint finish and durability have been fantastic (and I owned purple haze and plain white). The 48h Halo pays a huge weight penalty when built into the wheel, but you do get peace of mind.

 

Why not try:

 

Halo offer purple, white, black and gold finishes in 32 and 48h fitments. From the weight conscious fourcross rider to the destructive downhiller, there's a wheel for everyone. Plus, they're very cheap and still available new.

 

 

Alex Rim Weights (approximations I've found, possibly unreliable):

570g - 32h

588g-36h

RRP $73.62 (listed from MTBR)

 

Halo SAS prices vary, due to being manufactured no longer.

 

Spank Smoke

The Spank smoke frame is difficult to review. It's a classic trade-off between weight and strength. The 08 frame allegedly weighs in at 6.5 lb's (1.54lb's more than a DMR 898). However, it gives you the chance to build up a heavy hitting hardtail downhill machine or (with lightweight components) a respectable dirt jump bike. The adjustably dropouts and v-brake mounts allow for 26 or 24 inch wheels which is really useful. The paint finish on the frame was fantastic, you shouldn't be put off by spanks 'tweet tweet' range's poor reviews. Personally, I was unimpressed. The weight really showed, and it just felt unwieldy on the trails. It was built up with bulletproof components, so did pay a weight penalty. However, an rrp of £319.99 doesn't seem justified. It wasn't especially good on the jumps, although it's weight did hamper it. It didn't have the stable feel of other bikes, or the ability to pop up off of the obstacles. Even when considerations are made for the weighty components, it just didn't work. It was no fun to ride, which is essential in any bike. The range of colours (green, gold, white and black) and adjustability are cool, although the bike is an overall disappointment - particularly with it's price tag. I found the graphics a little childish, although you can always try the tweet tweet (which is notorious for it's paint wear). It's such a shame, because Spank make such good
components. For now though, buy a different frame and build it up with Spank parts!