Bike Check: The new Federico Villegas designed Crupi BMX

Jun 12, 2020

Written by Bart de Jong

Read 4605 times

Name: Federico Villegas
Age: 25
Hometown: Mendoza, Argentina
Sponsors: Crupi BMX, Fly Racing, Tangent Products, Tioga, Atlas Brace, UnderFeet, Bike Art, ENARD.

Do you remember the day that you were offered to come up with your own frame at Crupi Bikes?
Federico Villegas: Yes, around May 2019 I was looking for improvement areas. I always focused more on my body than my bike, but then I realized there were some things to be done that could make my bike fit better to my riding. I suggested to Greg that I needed something extra on my frame design and he said yes right away.

Did you already know exactly what you wanted at that point?
Federico Villegas: I had some ideas but I had to study a lot on frame geometry to come up with a frame that works the best. I also knew we had room to improve in components, for with myself and Crupi are very excited to add the new disc brake mount, along with the Quad disc brake hub on the rear and the 20mm quad hub in the front, plus some nice Ikon carbon rims.

Did you have a possibility for hydro-forming, butting, or other tubing to make your frame the way you wanted it exactly?
Federico Villegas: In order to do it in a relatively fast time I had to work with the tubing we had on Crupi (which I really like anyway), but changing the measurements.

How many are produced?
Federico Villegas: To this date I believe just my two. Maybe some other 3XL have been sold already.

Do they come in different sizes?
Federico Villegas: Crupi has added some aspects of my frame design to the other sizes, I know these little improvements will work awesome.

Are they available in different colours?
Federico Villegas: YES! Crupi has a new custom colour option for costumers with over 20 colours available!

It is generally hard for Argentineans to order BMX parts, where can people from your country get their hands on your frame?
Federico Villegas: In Argentina we have some BMX dealers such as DLRacing, Ok Bike Shop and Bruna Bikes, these guys are the ones to call. Of course you can also order straight from crupibmxracing.com with shipping world wide.

Are you the first BMX racer from Argentina with a signature frame?
Federico Villegas: From a big BMX brand, I believe I am ???.

BMX Frames that are used on the BMX SX tracks with the 8 meter hill seem to be getting longer and longer. Does your frame work on tradition tracks as well?
Federico Villegas: This frame is longer than my old frame, and feels really good on big and small tracks. I raced in USA some states champs and Grands last year and it felt great.

What parts of the frame are changed compared to your previous frame?
Federico Villegas: The major changes include :
•Different angles of head tube and seat tube
•Different BB placement.
•Longer rear
•Longer front
•Different welding places of front and rear tubes to seat tube.

Are they USA-made or overseas?
Federico Villegas: Tubes are made overseas separately, but the welding and finishing of the product is all USA Made.

Do you have an idea of how much the frames are retailing for?
Federico Villegas: Yes, they’re $ 554,99 USD with the custom painting option included.

When will they be available?
Federico Villegas: All sizes are available now! The 3XL is just like mine, the rest of the sizes have the best of the improvements.

Please take us through your parts list:

Frame - CRUPI BMX
Fork - Speedline
Bars - Tangent new 31,8 flat iron bars
Grips - Odi Ruffian
Stem - Tangent new 31,8 stem.
Headset - Crupi BMX
Brake lever - Tektro
Brake - Tektro disc brake
Cranks - Crupi’s for now
Pedals - Tangent flattys
Sprocket - Tangent Products
BB - Crupi BMX
Chain - Crupi Half link gold
Seat - Crupi Pivotal
Seatpost - Crupi BMX
Seatpost clamp - Crupi BMX
Front hub - Crupi Quad Hub 20mm
Rear hub - Crupi Quad Disc Brake
Front rim - Ikon carbon
Rear rim - Ikon carbon
Spokes - Crupi BMX
Tires - Tioga Fastr X and Power Block
Tubes - Vee tubes
Chain tensioners - Crupi BMX

Number plate - Tangent 194

Weight - Not sure yet, can’t wait to check.

Thanks to: CRUPI BMX for trusting me in the constant improvement that bmx demands. And of course to Tangent Products, Tioga tyres, Ikon rims, Speedline and ODI for the components. Also to the rest of my sponsors Fly Racing, Bike Art, ENARD and Atlas Brace. To Bart from FATBMX.