FATBMX Your Online BMX News Resource Since 1998

Brakes: Fly Manual
Seat: Shadow Combo
Sprocket: Tree 28 Tooth
Cranks: Profile 165mm w/ Titanium Spindle and Bolts
Pedals: Generic
Chain: KMC Kool Lite

Tires: KHE Owes Me Money Tires
Rear Hub: Profile Mini 36H
Rear Rim: Alienation Runaway
Front Hub: Kink Viridian II 36H
Front Rim: Alienation Deviant
Spokes: Titanium
Pegs: Tree Trick Sticks

Your bike is ultra light, how much does is weigh?
Dhers: 19 pounds even with brakes and pegs!

How much of a difference do titanium spokes make?
Dhers: Big time! Rotational weight is the most important weight on the bike, you do have to be a little careful so if you are learning flairs it might not be right for you but I've ridden wheels for 4 years without any problems on the spokes!

Didn't you have a bet with Dave Mirra about going brakeless once?
Dhers: Haha, I came up the resi and he was like “Daniel, 5 grand says you won’t ride Dew Tour brakeless.” Orlando was like 2 days away so there was some pressure. I did a couple runs white knuckled and he was like “You won’t do it” until I told him to put his money where his mouth was and we shook hands right then and there. I took my brake off on the spot and the rest is history!

The brake is back, but the pegs are missing? You don't fancy pegs?
Dhers: Pegs are there!

When the Specialized deal was over, was the Laird Frame the only way to go for you?
Dhers: It wasn’t but when I saw Laird’s first frame I was like, maybe when the deal is over I'll try one of your frames. A year or so went by and after all the frames I saw holding up I liked the flexibility of my own geo so I went with it!

What geometry/sizes do you run? Seems like a small bike?
Dhers: Yes! It’s pretty tight, I always liked smaller frames because it made it easier to spin and whip around. I came up with some serious geometry for this frame and so far I love it!

-Headtube - 76 Degrees
-Seattube - 71 Degrees
-Top Tube - 20.25”
-Chainstay - 12.5”
-Bottom Bracket - 11.75”
-Standover - 7”

Multiple X-Games gold medals, Dew Tour Cups, international wins, and no bike sponsor. How weird is that?
Dhers: Haha true! BMX has changed a lot in the last few years, companies don’t have the same budgets for riders anymore. You see all over the BMX news about bike sponsor change here and there like there’s a big thing but besides 4-5 riders out there no one is getting anything decent anymore. The few times I talked to companies they would be like “We can’t afford you” but yet there’s always a way to make it happen. The crazy part is it not always about the money, I happily paid for my Laird Frame because I knew it was going to be a quality frame to the exact specifications I wanted. At this point I'm not going to ride for a bike company I don’t like so money is secondary.

You don't seem to be bothered blacking out the KHE logo on the tires, all good there?
Dhers: Are they still in business? To my understanding you can’t even find the tires anywhere anymore so why bother? Talk about a shitty company owing money and screwing riders, people like this are the ones who give BMX a bad name and keep dragging us back. If you get an email from them, run!

What are the three best inventions in BMX (bike/parts wise) in your opinion?
Dhers: The Gyro, Titanium parts and the Combo seat.

Thanks to: Laird for building such a great machine, friends and family and all the supporters of the Complex, riders and staff alike! Keep the bike rolling!

By BdJ