The Piper

Salutations! Very new to the community I found a near by dirt track. Im 250lbs and 6' (currently working on losing weight) I was looking to spend around +-200 bucks on somthing to mess around with. The bike Im currently looking to buy is the Diamondback Viper or the Viper X (Can't find one at a shop might have to buy online and put it together ). Any Suggestions?

fuzzbox

By dirt track do you mean a race track or dirt jump type stuff. If it is a race track you should look into a cruiser depending on what you'd feel more comfortable with.

The Piper

Both to a degree but nothing series for now I have to break myself in. 24' Ima look into see if I can find some in my area for a decent price. Friday Im going to checkout the track. Any bikes in that class might meet the +-200 range that I should look at?

WilliamH

There's a $159.99 Diamondback Viper BMX Bike at Amazon and also a Diamondback Viper X BMX Bike for $189.99.

Maldives

You do not need to worry about your weight. I see some who is heavier than you.
There are a lot heavy duty bmx out there that can handle your weight category.
Diamondback offers great quality of BMXs a lot of great series to look upon. Good choice!


San Antonio Industrial Space
pull out shelves Miami

mykesbykes

where are ya, I can find something (near local) for ya. 200 will be hard, but I do agree that DiamondBack is still a good brand, things to look out for.

tall wide bars, long top tube (20 inch+), and long cranks (175s).

Just say no to High-Tensil...

mykesbykes

https://denver.craigslist.org/bik/1696649234.html GT Cruiser 200.00

https://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/bik/1697057994.html Mongoose Cruiser 175.00

https://sacramento.craigslist.org/bik/1695298567.html Vintage? Brand? Cruiser, its chrome, but who made it? 140.00

https://redding.craigslist.org/bik/1687636526.html Diamond Back Cruiser 130.00

https://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/bik/1687569352.html Redline Proline Cruiser 200.00

almost one of each..lol..let me know if you need something closer...

The Piper

I think Ima go with the Viper X. Any Upgrades I might need because of my size?

mykesbykes

replace everything with redline parts....just kidding...

lots of high-tensile steel there, heres a review for ya...

https://www.vitalbmx.com/product/guid...k/VIPER-X,1154

excerpt:
The Good: the color maybe?
The Bad: its crappy
Overall Review: i guess if u replaced the frame,tires,forks,bars,sprocket,wheels,chain,seat it would be alright

WilliamH

Ey The Piper? How is it going with you? Bought the bike you liked? How are you doing so far?

The Piper

I didn't buy yet, when I went to the shop to see it the owner there got me interested in the Redline Mx-20 but im waiting for more reviews its a bit on the high end of my budget. How has the Viper X been to you?

WilliamH

I find the Viper X very light and easy to handle. If you are doubtful about the bike's features, I suggest you continue searching and researching. I always compare choosing a bike with choosing your lifetime partner. It's crucial and meticulous, but if you have found it, you have the best!

Sometimes, the cost is also an investment. Most of the time, these products could last for a very long time. Continue to keep looking, good luck to you!

Have you read about some other forums in this site? You can check out the members' reviews about the bikes they used and purchased. Just a thought.

Jennie1991

I found it on ebay - Diamondback Viper X BMX Bike (20-Inch Wheels)

costs around 136 USD, try there...

Dr. Banzai

I'd recommend a cruiser first. Don't be fooled by the name, it's just a 24" bmx. Nothing cruiser about them. People get into bmx when they are small and learn the dynamics of an extremely agile 20" bike. At 250 and 6 feet, you don't sound 12 years old. Start on a 24" and if you have fun in the dirt there will ALWAYS be a guy on a 20 who will wanna try your ride out and swap for 5-10 minutes. Jumping a 24 is far more forgiving for someone "new" to bmx. You might keep your teeth in your head better this way. A 24 won't dead sailor as bad.

Graduate to 20" later.

I_Suck_At_BMX

If you plan on using this bike to do anything other than ride it to a friends house dont get the viper, I don't even think I would recomend it for that... No I have never riden one so dont ask, but looking at the specs alone you can tell this bike aint no better than probably your average walmart bike. For starters, there is only 3 pieces of chromo on the entire bike, the seat tube, the axles of the pedals, and the one piece crank. You should be looking to a bike as close to full chromo as you can, you probably are not going to find a full chromo bike for your price range, but I'd look for a little more than this. Secondly, the wheels only have 3/8" axles, that may be acceptable for the front (if it was a decent wheel) but for the rear you want a 14mm axle. A one piece crank is complete garbage, and the 44/16 freewheel set up is prehistoric, and cheap. On top of all this the bearings are all unsealed, do yourself the favor and dont buy the viper x, its litterally a rolling turd.

As for the redline, it is a far better bike, but it is a race bike. If you dont plan on racing I would advise against this one also. You are a bigger rider (not talking crap) and I dont know If I would trust a cheap aluminum frame. That frame probably wont hold up to much abuse, and keep in mind that aluminum dont bend, it snaps. If you plan on racing this bike is definatly the one to pick of the two. If you plan on freestyle with these bikes, I'd recomend steering clear of both of these, but that being said you are in a price bracket where it is going to be difficult to find a quality bike period, if it HAS to be one of these two bikes, you should probably go with the redline. This is assuming your riding dirt, if your riding street I'd save some more money before buying anything.