Neik Kimmann, the Olympic and current World Champion has been taking some well-deserved time away from the riggers of Elite BMX Racing recently, but we expect that he will be fully rejuvenated and ready to do battle when the 2022 UCI BMX World Championships roll into Nantes, France this coming July.
In anticipation of the fast-approaching return of the Champ, we’ve been delving into the bike setup that has been serving him so well … what he runs and why he runs it … ‘I’m a big feel guy. If I feel good, I’ll ride good. That’s how I base my bike set-up and even when I change gears’, Niek told us.
Meybo HSX Frame 23″
‘I’m running a 23″ top tube. I used to have a custom rear end the last two years, to match the chain length because I knew what gear I wanted to ride in Tokyo. Now I just ride the stock frames, it was only a 3mm difference anyway … just to make it easier if I’d have to change frames or anything.’ … ‘Currently I’m one of the few riders who haven’t switched to carbon yet. I knew I wasn’t doing the World Cups, so I told them not to rush with it, but I expect to try the carbon frame in the next month’
Box One X5 Pro Carbon Forks 20″ 20mm
Box One Oversized 31.8 x 1-1/8″ Top Load Stem 60mm
Box One Oversized Chromoly Triple Taper Handlebar 8″
ODI AG-2 Grips (in photos) but ODI x Box Grips currently
Meybo HSX Frame 23″
‘I’m running a 23″ top tube. I used to have a custom rear end the last two years, to match the chain length because I knew what gear I wanted to ride in Tokyo. Now I just ride the stock frames, it was only a 3mm difference anyway … just to make it easier if I’d have to change frames or anything.’ … ‘Currently I’m one of the few riders who haven’t switched to carbon yet. I knew I wasn’t doing the World Cups, so I told them not to rush with it, but I expect to try the carbon frame in the next month’
Box One X5 Pro Carbon Forks 20″ 20mm
Box One Oversized 31.8 x 1-1/8″ Top Load Stem 60mm
Box One Oversized Chromoly Triple Taper Handlebar 8″
ODI AG-2 Grips (in photos) but ODI x Box Grips currently
Vee Tire Speedbooster Elite Tyres
Hex Lab Carbon BMX 20 x 1.75″ 36H Rims
Box Two 20mm Front Hub
SD Sniper Rear Hub
‘I haven’t really changed (bike set-up) much since 2019. I tried a lot of different options as a Junior and in my first three years in Elite, but now I just know what I like and never really change it. If I’m not going fast, it’s usually because of me, and not because of my bike set-up’ … ‘And if I change anything on my bike, it’s normally because of Willie, the founder of Meybo, changes it. He’s one of the few people that I trust fully with my bike.’
Vee Tire Speedbooster EliteTyres
Hex Lab Carbon BMX 20 x 1.75″ 36H Rims
Box Two 20mm Front Hub
SD Sniper Rear Hub
‘I haven’t really changed (bike set-up) much since 2019. I tried a lot of different options as a Junior and in my first three years in Elite, but now I just know what I like and never really change it. If I’m not going fast, it’s usually because of me, and not because of my bike set-up’ … ‘And if I change anything on my bike, it’s normally because of Willie, the founder of Meybo, changes it. He’s one of the few people that I trust fully with my bike.’
Box One Large Saddle Carbon Post 27,2mm
HT pedals
Box One M35 Crank Set 177.5mm
‘Crank length is 177.5mm. I used to ride 180mm as first year Junior, then I went to 175mm as second year junior. I knew Worlds was going to be a small track in Rotterdam, so I wanted to make sure I would get out of the gate as fast as possible, so went a little longer to 177.5’s, and stuck with them since then.’
Box One Large Saddle Carbon Post 27,2mm
HT pedals
Box One M35 Crank Set 177.5mm
‘Crank length is 177.5mm. I used to ride 180mm as first year Junior, then I went to 175mm as second year junior. I knew Worlds was going to be a small track in Rotterdam, so I wanted to make sure I would get out of the gate as fast as possible, so went a little longer to 177.5’s, and stuck with them since then.’
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