We are back with another Hard Tale and this time it’s the turn of the new Sect from DMR, we have already looked at the Nukeproof Solum the Stanton 4X and Cotic Soul but this moves us firmly towards dirt jumping. DMR have been at the heart of the UK dirt jump scene since it began, with riders like Jimmy Pratt, Olly Wilkins and more recently Brendan Fairclough throwing shapes on their products in everything from Sprung to 3 Minute Gaps, DMR are embedded in all things MTB. Their well known roots might be set in making some of the best pedals out there but DMR are changing. Olly Wilkins has come onboard in recent years to develop the Sect brand, pure competition DJ bikes with the components and angles ready for both your local woods and the biggest jumps you can sculpt from dirt. We have just taken delivery of a new build from Sect and it’s got a few special things that we are testing exclusively.
GROUNDWORK
As Olly know’s his shit this bike has been built from knowledge not a catalogue, years of riding experience has delivered the angles on the Sect and they should set you up for all the dirt jumping or wanging around the woods you could ever wish for. It’s got a 69˚ head angle, the slackest yet but only by half a degree over the Solum and 1.5˚ compared to the Stanton. The back end is short on this bike, and that’s reflected in the wheelbase of 1041mm and a rear centre/chainstay length of 390mm. The Nukeproof is shorter out back but only by 5mm and you could get away with a few more mil a the back as the bike comes with sliding brake mounts.
NUMBERS
Head angle 69
Seat tube angle 71
Top tube length 570mm
Front centre 652mm
Rear centre 390mm
Wheelbase 1041mm
Headtube length 115mm
FEATURES
Olly and the guys have spent time on this bike to get it just right, the neat bridges in the rear end that keep things compact, gussets under the downtube and above the top tube mean any unwanted impacts will be dealt with. Similar to the Nukeproof and Stanton the strength is placed where it’s needed, straight seat and chain stays things are kept stiff too. DMR have also used the patented Taperlock dropouts that mean the wheel can’t move once tightened into place, it’s a pretty neat system and a bit simpler than the chain tensioner used on the Nukeproof. As for the rest of the bike it’s well put together, DMR have saved some money on this frame and it comes in £100 cheaper than the 898 frame it replaces at £299.99. This is achieved by using heat-treated tubing rather than heat treating the whole frame once it’s welded. Getting a bike together from all ‘in house’ parts could be seen as a way of getting the price down but with DMR’s heritage this thing has a stamp of quality and dependability.
We are getting the first ride of the AXE cranks and the new Zone rims on this build, both seem good after a few spins. The Zone rims are welded rather than pinned and will be available with a DMR hub soon.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
It’s light for starters, 23lb 10oz this build tipped the scale at and the frame is claimed to weigh 5.22lbs. Everyone seems to like the colour and the matte finish is a perfect fit for this bike. After a quick belt around on it and the obligatory manual test it feels good, Olly has done a good job with the numbers and his grips finish things off well. We are yet to hit the jumps on it but for now it feels good. Light, stable and solid yet manoeuvrable this could well be a hit.
The Sect is currently only available as a frame but with all these parts from DMR out in the shops too you can build your dream bike pretty easily. Here’s the video of all the new stuff from Sect.
£299.99 – frame only
