Big Z Bikes

Big Z in action at Tamarack Resort

Big Z on the Big Z "DeZender"

Greetings from "Big Z". My kids gave me the nickname a few years back and it kind of stuck. This page is kind of a introduction to my world. I love to tinker and I take fun seriously! From my revolutionary three wheeled Z Boards to the wildest ride on snow....The Big Z "DeZender", I live to invent and play. Who knows, perhaps it was too many hard landing from my BMX and skateboard days but I look at life from outside the norm....I tend to think outside the box. When people say "why"?, I say "why not" and start drawing?

Big Z Bikes is an off shoot of Boulder Creek Bike and Boat Works, llp. BCBBW is the same company that started the modern Snow Bike revolution. My SnoXcycle motorcycle conversions were the first of the modern snow bike kits on the market. We were on the snow before most of the current versions were even on paper. We pioneered and opened the door for all the others that followed and to this day the SnoXcycle kits are still the best handling kits on the trail. After licensing my patent to SnoXcycle, Inc. of Richfield, Utah I turned my attention back to my first passion, bicycles.

I have always loved bicycles. I raced BMX for many years, started my own bicycle repair and parts business while still in high school, and built my first full frame at age 17. Now, 32 years later I am still building bikes and riding whenever I can.

What is the Big Z "Dezender". It is one of the wildest rides on the snow. In 1999 I set out to build a bicycle built to for riding at my local ski resort. It had to be easy to ride, very controllable, and most important....FUN! What evolved from a simple 20" BMX conversion has became a special purpose built downhill mountain bike for the snow. Best of all, if you can ride a bicycle, you can ride and enjoy the "Dezender", it is so easy and stabil and with the ability to slow and stop with the brake it gives a level of confidence not found in any gravity assisted snow sports.

So then what is the "Dezender"? Gravity enhanced fun, excitement and adrenaline. A fully functional, pedal powered downhill snow bike. The "Dezender" is at home attacking black diamonds, playing in the trees out in the fluff, pure fun and control on the blue squares, and peaceful relaxed descents on those green circle runs. Easy to ride with true bicycle feel and performance. Featuring an eight speed internal gear hub, pedaling is actually pretty easy and yes you can ride up hills too if you want, but what fun is that? Okay, kind of fun if your into that kind of thing.

Sorry, the "Dezender" is not a cross country hammer out the miles type of bike, it is a purpose built DOWNHILL Mountain Bike which feature nearly 6" of mogul eating suspension travel.

Perhaps one of the most exciting feature is a hydraulic disc brake provides amazing control of decent speeds. This is not a "ski-ski bike" that has no brakes and limited control; which while they are a blast, honestly they do not ride much like a mountain bike (I build and ride them as well so I know).

Spring of 2013 brought a whole new level of fun with the completion of the third generation version of the "Dezender" Snow Bikes equaling unbelievable performance!!! The G3 "Dezender" is no longer a kit installed on a conventional mountain bike, the G3 is a purpose built downhill snow bike. Hand-built aluminum frame featuring 125mm wide ski and track, 150mm of front and rear suspension travel. The Dezender G3 will creat a new sport! Imagine being able to ride a downhill mountain bike with no limitations, able to pick your own lines without the limits of a single track or trail to restrict your ride, With the G3 you pick your own lines. No dust, no rocks, no logs and no damage to the enviroment if you ride off trail, a MTB rider's dream.

CLICK HERE TO LINK TO OUR YOUTUBE VIDEO and check out the Gen 3 in action at Tamarack Resort. Big Z on the slopes, January 2014!

The Big Z Gen 3 Prototype.

CLICK HERE TO LINK to the video of the first test ride of the new DeZender Gen 3 in 2013.

Hoodoo, OR 2012

Soldier Mnt, Idaho

Testing 2012

Testing at Tamarack Resort

Tough job but someone has to do it!

Hoodoo 2012

Playing at Hoodoo, Oregon

Hoodoo 2012

Playing at Hoodoo, Oregon

Brundage Mnt, Idaho

Winter 2010

So whats next? I am currently building a adaptive ski bike which will feature a non-driven track in the rear which is controlled by a hyd. disc brake. It will feature all the cool features of a ski-bike but with the control and safety of a working brake. Nearly completed, it will be on the snow in Febuary 2015! Photo's coming soon!!!

Not all of our dreams are toys for the snow. I recently had the pleasure of meeting a young man by the name of Daniel. I met Daniel through his mom who worked with my wife. We learned of his desire to have his own bike. Daniel had riden a handbike at wheelchair camp and had came home excited about the possibility of finally being able to ride with his brothers and sisters. The problem is that handbikes are a very specialized and expensive and the family just couldn't afford a new bike for him. After meeting with his mom, I decided this was a project that we wanted to make happen. Daniels birthday was just over a month away so the work began. One thing they did have was a spare chair that he had outgrown and no longer used. With the chair as a starting point I was able to complete the bike with spare parts, donated parts, and from used parts from the awesome "Boise Bike Project" store. We surprised Daniel with his new bike for his birthday. All the hugs, high fives, and tears made the project completely worth it. I love to tinker and try new things and when it helps someone else then its a win-win for all. Pay it forward!

Daniel and his new ride.

Custom hand-bike built in less then 30 days from spare parts.

Daniel and his new ride.

Daniels first ride on his new bike.

I had the privilege this year (2014/2015) of working with Recreation Unlimited and their adaptive ski school as a ski instructor. What a great bunch of students and instructors. Recreation Unlimited has been serving Bogus Basin for over 30 years and I am proud to be a part of this wonderful team.

SNOXCYCLE: My snow bike history took a turn in 2003 when I built my first motorcycle conversion kit. At the time I was living in prime snowmobile country but really didn't enjoy riding the big beast's, I missed my dirtbike in the winters. So I fabricated a kit on my old Yamaha TT600 and took it out on the snow and as they say the rest is history. It had worked so well that I built a couple more prototype kits the next season and then started marketing. In 2006 we were the first of the modern snow-bike kits on the market and available to the public. To this day they are still the best kit on the trail and have the most motorcycle feel of any kits on the market. What they lacked in deep snow performance they made up for in their ability to rail the trails. After manufacturing kits in a small shop, using all my spare time to market and build, I was approached by a Utah company about licensing the patent.

It was time to move on so I licensed the patent and the "SnoXcycle" name. I took some time off from building kits, moved to Oregon and persued other interest. But the itch to be on the snow brought me back to my roots and so I work began on the next generation of snow bicycles. I relocated back to Idaho and that path has taken me to the point I am know, with a production ready downhill snow bike the performs beyond expectations.

Whats next? Time will tell but I am currently am looking for a manufacturing partnership to bring this experience to the masses.

Year around fun for your dirtbike.

SnoXcycle makes kits to fit most any dirtbikes

Big Z Bikes, aka, Boulder Creek Bike and Board Works licenses it's patented technology to SnoXcycle of Richfield, UT. For information and to purchase SnoXcycle Motorcycle Converion Kits and products please visit their site at www.snoxcycle.com. Big Z Bikes is not affiliated with snoxcycle, but we are proud to support these fine people making a awesome product for dirt bikers everywhere.