DMR Bikes SECT 2019
Reviews / Hard Tails
31,744
At a Glance
DMR was born from the world of dirt jumps and messing about in the woods. Recent bike releases like the Trailstar and the Sled represent how far DMR has come over the past couple of decades however the Sect bridges the gap between old school and new school with a modern steel hardtail for dirt jumps, pumptracks and skatepark fun.
Buy Hard Tails on
The Sect is their hardtail jump bike, which for 2019 we see packaged up in a wallet-friendly format for those looking to dip a toe into the delights pumptracks and beyond. Based around the classic Sect frame in 26inch wheels, the steel chassis (4130 Chromoly) features a short 390mm backend and a 69-degree head angle packaged together into a 420mm reach. It\'s only one size but this number should fit a fairly wide range of riders.
Other frame features include a threaded bottom bracket which is always a pleasure to see, but less common these days is a straight 1 1/8 headtube to hold the 100mm RST fork. This means upgrading forks could be an issue long term with most modern forks using a tapered steerer.
The Sect rolls on Alex DM24 26” double-wall rims with KT DJ hubs which get some classic Kenda Small Block 8s tyres. Tektro handles the brakes, of which there are two, and a mix of DMR kit finishes off the build. Crucially the Sect looks awesome, the slim tubes, paint job and stylish lines creating a thing a beauty.
On the Trail
Turning heads wherever it goes, our Sect got a lot of attention from other riders. A trip to NASS festival had it being admired by many a BMXer which is high praise indeed from our small-wheeled cousins. Maybe it\'s the compact nature of the Sect, but the style is high on the agenda for this little ripper.
Swinging a leg over is, of, course a simple affair given the super low standover height. Sizing is good for the average rider, with only those super tall or small may be having some issues. For taller riders getting the bar height up a notch certainly helped get the balance right, but if you\'re above 6 foot and just starting on a jump bike you may want something a little longer for added confidence.
What the small, compact style does is make the Sect immensely flick-able and playful, with manuals and back wheel trickery coming easily. The Steep front end really allows for transitions to be pumped and getting the front wheel down early and weighted on jumps felt good.
If you\'re in the mood for some spins then again the manoeuvrable nature of the bike allows for 360s to be achieved easily. In the right hands (not mine) it was happily spun and tail whipped within a few minutes of getting settled on the bike. That said, you may need to take the front brake off if you\'re going to get proper fancy to allow the bars to spin plenty.
Now DMR claim that there is plenty of space for bar spins, but with size 11s this was never going to work, and even our more skilled bar spinner with his size 9s had to be careful.
Gearing is good if you intend to sprint down a slope to a massive jump, but for messing in skateparks and pumptracks it is a little stiff at 30:13t. Swapping out for a 16t on the back gives a more versatile gearing, but this is a personal choice. A mech hanger is available if you fancy a geared build in the future. This fine-tuning is an issue for the tyres as well, which are good on dirt, feel squirmy in a skatepark or on the tarmac, however, the brilliant SuperMoto from DMR would see you right here.
The brakes do their job, and having two is a nice touch allowing riders to choose how they want to have their set up. They\'re not strong enough for \'street trials\' manoeuvres but will scrub speed when needed.
The RST fork is probably the biggest niggle with the Sect, travel is delivered in an agricultural and clunky way, taking the hits but not hugely plush. At £750 for the bike, it\'s hard to complain and these are ripe for an upgrade however getting hold of straight steerer forks is harder than it used to be.
The Sect represents an off-the-peg jump bike at a bargain price from a trusted brand with some great heritage. With pumptracks popping up all over the place you could do far worse than find a spot in your garage for a Sect!
Overall
An excellent value dirt jump bike for those looking to dip their toe into the world of pumptracks and dirt jumps. The components are appropriate to the cost of the bike but the lack of finesse and quality of the Sect frame and the straight steerer could cause upgrade issues in the future.
Videos
This review was in Issue 60 of IMB.
For more information visit DMR BikesRelated
By Ewen Turner
Ewen Turner is a self-confessed bike geek from Kendal in the Lake District of England. He runs a coaching and guiding business up there and has a plethora of knowledge about bikes with an analytical approach to testing. His passion for bicycles is infectious, and he’s a ripper on the trails who prefers to fit his working life around his time on the bike.
