How To Build A ‘Supercross Shine’ Dirt Jumper From Scratch!
- Nate Fegan
- May 4
- 8 min read
Updated: May 9
Are you ready to build your own fully customized dirt jumper, complete with a sensational Supercross Shine DJ/4X bike frame - and, all you need now is 'a super quick way' to 'get it all figured out' so that you can 'get out and ride' just as soon as possible? If so, read on!
In this article, we are going to embark on adventure from ‘start to finish’ and from the ‘planning stage’ all the way to that ‘very first ride’! So, let’s jump right in!
I have done most of the legwork already - so, hopefully sharing this is about to save you a lot of time! With that said, here – in a nutshell - is everything you need to know in order to create your own fully customized Supercross Shine dirt jumper (or 4X) bike!
1. Choose Your Frame Size!
The 26” Supercross Shine DJ/4X frame comes in three different sizes [top tube lengths] for you to choose from: Short 21.75”, Long: 22.75” and XL 23.75. Which is best for you? On various DJ bikes, I have test ridden the equivalent of a “short” frame as well as the equivalent of a “long” frame and - at my height of about 5’ 11” - my clear preference is the long frame. Hopefully this gives you a good starting point for figuring out which size is going to be best for you.
Here Is Your Link To Visit The Supercross BMX Website!
2. Choose Your Frame Color, Choose Your Dropouts & Place Your Order!
Your choice of color is of course your own personal preference. One consideration, however, might be the answer to the following question: For this build, do you plan to use parts that you already own? If so, which frame color is going to fit those parts the best in terms of color scheme? For example: At the time of this writing, I am building my own Supercross DJ around a wheelset that has purple Profile Elite hubs. This, in a good way, narrowed my frame color choices quite a bit!
Once you have chosen which frame color you plan to go with, it’s important to know that you may, or may not, need to order a specific set of rear dropouts depending on what your preference happens to be. The Supercross Shine works equally well with three different dropout options, which makes this frame quite versatile:
1) Your Supercross Shine frame is going to be shipped with 135/9 vertical dropouts.
2) BMX [Horizontal 3/8th] dropouts are available for easy purchase on the Supercross website: https://www.supercrossbmx.com/products/supercross-shine-26-bmx-dropouts?variant=15109033091
3) A third dropout option exists as well, and that is a SRAM 142/12 dropout which is also available for easy purchase on the Supercross website:
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3. Choose Your Headset & Front Fork!
Whether you choose to purchase a new fork or to use one that you already own, it’s important to know that this frame is designed to work with an 'Integrated 1 1/8” – 1 1/2” Headset'. This means that the Supercross Shine has a ‘tapered head tube’ and that the sealed headset bearings are going to fit right into the head tube without the use of additional bearing cups.
As for choosing your suspension fork, one with a tapered 1 1/8” – 1 1/2” steerer tube is recommended. However, it appears as though it is possible to find headsets with an adapter that allows forks with a straight 1 1/8” [non-tapered] steerer tube to be used.
Also, your Supercross Shine frame is designed to work with forks that have 100 – 160 mm of travel. This is important because fork manufactures are also creating suspension forks for other types of bikes as well. In this way, some fork options might have too much travel for your Supercross Shine build. With that said, most fork manufactures are clear about which forks, from their line-up, have been designed to work well with Dirt Jumpers.
4. Choose Your Stem, Handlebar & Grips!
Since the steerer tube on your fork is going to be 1 1/8” in diameter, you can plan to purchase a ‘threadless stem’ that is designed to fit a 1 1/8” steerer tube. The next question is going to be about the diameter of your handlebar [the part that fits into your stem]. If you have a certain stem already in mind, the specs of that stem will likely decide what handlebar diameter to purchase. On the other hand, if you have a certain handlebar already in mind, then the specs of that handlebar will likely decide what stem diameter to purchase. Keep in mind that threadless stems, like the one you are chosing for your Supercross Shine bulid, have a number of measurements to consider:
- Steerer Tube Size [In this case we know that 1 1/8” is needed]
- Handle Bar Diameter [For the ‘handle bar clamping’ portion of the stem]
- Reach [length of the stem]
- Rise [how much higher the handle bar will be compared to the clamping portion of the stem]
- And, Stack Height [if you are fitting a new stem to a fork that has already had its steerer tube cut, then ‘stack height’ is important for knowing whether the new stem is still going to fit properly onto the precut steerer tube. Stack height, however, is not likely to be of much concern if a new fork with a still uncut steerer tube is going to be part of the build.
Once all of the stem and handlebar questions are worked out, you can then have fun choosing which grips you are going to use on your customized dirt jumper!
5. Choose Your Bottom Bracket, Crankset, Sprocket, Pedals & Chain!
Your Supercross Shine frame is designed to fit a 73 mm, European Style, Threaded Bottom Bracket. For reference, if you choose to go with a classic Profile Racing type crankset, then something along the lines of a Profile RHD Race Crankset with a 6” Crank Axle is going to be a great fit! If you choose to go a little more modern, then Supercross’s recommendation to go with a Speedline Elite Crankset is going to provides yet another great reference! Profile Racing, it should be mentioned, offers a 'more modern' option called the Profile Elite AL BMX Crank Kit - it looks fantastic and the reviews have been truly great! The bottom line is that we are building our crankset around a 73 mm European Bottom Bracket and that the width of the crank axle is going to be consistent with what is commonly used for most framse that have '135mm rear hub-width'!
So, with the type of cranks that are compatible with a European bottom bracket, your ‘pedal spindle size’ is going to be 9/16ths. With this knowledge you can simply have a blast shopping for whichever pedal set is going to be best for you and your customized build!
As for the sprocket size, it’s going to A: come down to what sizes are compatible with the cranks you have chosen and B: come down to what kind of gear ratio really is going to be best for the type of riding you have in mind.
Once you have chosen your sprocket, you will know more about what chain size is going to be compatible with the width of your sprocket. For example: the Profile Racing sprocket shown above calls for a 1/8th wide chain. Happy shopping!
6. Choose Your Seat, Seat Post & Seat Post Clamp!
Your new Super Cross Shine frame is designed to accept a 27.2mm Seat Post and a 31.8mm Seat Post Clamp. With this info in hand you can get right to shopping for the seat, seat post and seat post clamp combination that is going to be just right for your new custom build! Keep in mind that 'certain types of seats' are designed to go with 'certain types of seat posts'. The distinction is how the seat mounts onto the seat post. For example: the 'pivotal style seat' shown below is designed to pair with a 'pivotal style seat post'!
7. Choose Your 26” Wheelset, Tubes & Tires!
The rear wheel choice is the easiest part of the 'wheels equation'. The rear hub spacing on this frame, with the BMX dropouts in place, is 135mm. This means that it is ready to receive a ‘non-boost’ hub [just in case anyone asks]. You need a rear hub that is 135mm wide along with an axle that is compatible with the Supercross 3/8" BMX horizontal dropouts.
If you already have a wheelset that you hope to use with your new Supercross Shine frame, but your rear hub does not happen to match the '135mm width - 3/8"axle' requirement, it is possible that an adapter might exist to help you make the conversion! Companies like Profile Racing are fantastic when it comes to extending the compatibility of their products, so be certain to inquire with the company who manufactured your hubset!
The front wheel choice as far as hub width, axle style and axle diameter goes, is going to depend entirely upon which front fork you plan to use. If possible, you might do best to choose your front fork first and then buy a front wheel to fit your chosen fork. Or, if you already own a front wheel that you want to use, check to see if your preferred front fork option happens to fit your current front hub width, axle style and axle diameter!
I my case, my current [at the time of this writing] Profile Elite front hub is set up for the use of a thru-axle that is 20mm in diameter and 100mm in length. However, the front suspension fork that I chose for this build calls for a thru-axle that is ‘15mm by 110mm'. After receiving more than one dose of outstanding technical support from Gus Lanzillota at Profile Racing [responsive, knowledgeable and treats you life family], I have now purchased two adapters that make it easy to convert my front [Profile Elite] hub from '20mm by 100mm' to a now compatible '15mm by 110mm'! Life is good!
Have A Question About Profile Racing Products? You don't have to be in the dark! Contact 'Profile Factory Race Team Manager' and 'Profile Racing Tech Advisor', Gus Lanzillota, directly by phone [727-391-7370] or email [Gus@ProfileRacing.com]!
As far as tubes and tires go [or just tires if you happen to go tubeless], the frame specs have the max tire width set at 2.5”. With all of this mind about 'wheels, tubes and tires' you can now ‘really go town’ and have a blast choosing the perfect combo for your new Supercross Shine build!
8. Choose Your Disk Brakes!
Your new frame is designed and ready to accept your choice of post-mounted disk brake calipers. If you choose to mount your caliper directly onto the frame, without using an adapter, your rotor size is going to be 160mm. If you want to run a larger rotor size, ask your particular brake company about which ‘160mm post mount’ adapter you can use to bring your brake caliper into perfect alignment with the increased rotor size that you have in mind!
That’s It - You Are Now On Your Way!
In ‘less than ten steps’ you are now on your way to owning and riding your own fully customized Supercross Shine DJ/4X! Congratulations - and, get ready to have absolute blast for many years to come!
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Do You Want To See My Own 'Supercross Shine DJ' Build?
Stay tuned! I have a frame on the way, a bunch of parts stacking up in my shop and even more on the way! Check back and/or subscribe for the rest of the story!
Check Out The Following Posts!
How To Build A 'Supercross Shine" Dirt Jumper From Scratch!
https://www.natefegan.com/post/how-to-build-a-supercross-shine-dirt-jumper-from-scratch
DJ-BMX Riding Over The Age Of 50!
https://www.natefegan.com/post/dj-bmx-riding-over-the-age-of-50
DJ & BMX Micro-Adventures - A Video Series! https://www.natefegan.com/post/dj-bmx-micro-adventures-a-video-series
'Haro Steel Reserve' Dirt Jumper Build w/ Made In USA Parts! https://www.natefegan.com/post/haro-steel-reserve-dirt-jumper-build-w-made-in-usa-parts
DJ & BMX 4 Fun & Fitness! https://www.natefegan.com/post/dj-bmx-4-fun-fitness
The BMX Spirit Of Freedom & Adventure - Keeping It Alive & Well! https://www.natefegan.com/post/our-bmx-spirit-of-freedom-adventure-keeping-it-alive-well
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