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Step 1
Think about your usual jump bike course, environment or riding style, since this determines whether you should buy a hybrid mountain-jump bike or look to something closer to a BMX-freestyle bike. Basically, if you plan to be riding around the city and focusing on tricks, go for the BMX end of the spectrum. If you're doing heavy mountain jumping, then the look for bigger frames, shocks and T-bars.
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Step 2
Buy knobby BMX tires that will help you keep your traction as you launch off for a jump and correctly land the jumps you perform on your bike. Look or ask about the tire size and shoot for something that runs at 20-by-1.75 to 20-by-2.22 inches to get tires that are suitable for a jump bike.
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Step 3
Get a bike that has no front brakes and even consider using pedal brakes instead of hand brakes so that you have a touch of extra control through your jumps on the jump bike while still being able to spin the handlebars 360 degrees (or more) through one of your bigger jumps.
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Step 4
Check out the range of specially designed jump bikes, such as the Iron Horse Jump bike, if you're looking for something on the less expensive (and heavier) end of the jump bike spectrum or the Intense BMX Felix Dirt Jump Bike for something closer to pro. In all cases, ask about the construction of the frame to see if it's made from either steel or titanium, two of the stronger bike frame construction materials.
