Bike Check: S&M Dagger BMX Build for Flatland Freestyle - After 30 Years Off!
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- Опубліковано 2 сер 2024
- 🚲 Join me as I dive deep into the world of BMX with a detailed bike check of my custom-built S&M Dagger. This isn't just any bike; it's a 20" masterpiece, tailored for modern Flatland Freestyle and inspired by the old school charm that many adult riders like myself reminisce about.
If you're curious about the components, I've chosen some top-tier brands, including the reliable Odyssey brakes and gyro, and the impeccable FIT Bike Co. wheels. The Vans grips and seat bring a touch of skateboard nostalgia to this BMX gem. Growing up, BMX was more than just a sport; it was a lifestyle.
Taking a long break might've dimmed the passion, but jumping back on and custom-building this beauty has truly been a ride down memory lane. And for those of you wondering, no, I'm not having a midlife crisis, it's more like a midlife revival! 😂
If you've been away from the BMX scene or you're an adult rider contemplating a return, this custom build might just inspire you. With brands like S&M Bikes championing the cause, the sport's future looks brighter than ever.
Subscribe and ride along with me as I rediscover the joy and freedom of Flatland Freestyle after a long hiatus.
Shout out to my fellow BMX UA-cam friends - Kevin and Bernie at / @cruisinginthe808 and Brandon at / @bmx_dreaming . Their passion for BMX inspired my own journey and I hope they, and their wonderful channels, inspire you as well.
=TIMESTAMPS=
0:00 - Intro
0:24 - Background
4:24 - Components and Bike Check
12:52 - Shopping & Build Process
14:05 - Riding and Next Steps
15:13 - Outro
I’m 45 and just decided to give Bmx one more go! Loved Bmx since I was a teenager.
Awesome!!! 🙌 Hope you have a blast getting back into it 👊👊👊
Yes buddy get on the train, I'm 46. Got a bunch of bikes and skateboards now 👍🏼🍻🇬🇧
👈my mid life revival 😊
Right on!!! 👊👊👊👊
43 Here, didnt Ride for about 12 years. Bought a complete new Bike. And iam Back and Feeling great 😊
That is so awesome! I love to hear it 🙌
I skateboarded too! I had a old Tony hawk board the one with the fist I remember everybody thought it was too wide boy did I love that board ! I ended up buying my son a remake one couple years ago for Christmas🎉
That's awesome. I remember that feeling going from my sister's hand me down 70s banana board to my first wide deck, and it was like... whoa, this is a game changer. But it looked funny at firstl.
cool to hear you mention Albes! I live 10 minutes from their shop and its so nice to have a close brick and mortar that carries just about everything youd ever need Bike and BMX related! Stellar bike!
Wow, that’s awesome to have such an awesome shop so close. 🤩🤩🤩 Thanks for watching and commenting.
I'm 49...bought a Jamis hybrid for myself and a Trek for my girlfriend.
Not a month later I started reminiscing about my old Dyno and Robinson.
Grandson didn't know how to ride a bike at 12 years old sadly, my daughter and her husband hadn't taken the time to teach him. Well I couldn't let that stand.
Went to a bike shop, cuz there was no way I'd stick him on a Wal mart bike. Ended up buying him a Haro Annex.
Imagine being able to learn on a Haro, I know the Annex is low end, but I couldn't help but to think to myself "lucky kid".
Anyway had him riding in a total of 2 weeks from scratch, no training wheels.
Just fueled that fire in me, so I did as much research as I could, because I couldn't understand the new bike thing with the small sprocket a fat tires. I was like" wtf happened to BMX bikes?"
Did alot of research...ended up buying another Haro, a Haro Race lite pro this time for my grand daughter. Taught her to ride it in about a week...she had some practice, not alot but some on the previous Annex of her brothers.
Long story short, ended up buying a Kink Launch for another granddaughter and a GT hybrid for another.
Bought a Kink Whip for myself...I just had to freaking have a 20 to scratch my itch.
Did this all within about a month and a half.
Now Jonesing for a S&M ATF build for myself.
As they say I suppose, once an addict always and addict. 😅
Oh, also this is after having a quadruple bypass in September of 2023.
Oh wow, this is such a cool story. Glad that you’re overcoming the setback from heart surgery. Stay well, my friend! 👊 I hear you on the addiction. I didn’t set out to start collecting bikes, but it seems I’m heading that way. Enjoy your Kink, and an ATF would be amazing 🙌
Stoked that you are getting back into flatland! I just built up an S&M dagger for flatland as well! You did a great job making a really nice looking bike.
Awesome! I just subbed to your channel. Love that you’ve got a Dagger too. I paid a lot more for mine, you got one heck of deal 🙌
My first real bmx bike was a candy red S&M challenger, built it up right when I turned 16 and got a job, I still have a old photograph of it from back in 1997. I just recently built up a red supercross rs7 with all the best race parts, it kinda reminds me of a old midschool redline, I love it. 🤘
🙌🙌🙌 That’s so awesome, and cool that you have a photo of it. Those supercross bikes are beautiful too 👍
So rad I did the same 🎉 that’s a rad bike ! I have around 10 vintage bikes they all need repair , whenever I do work on them boy makes me feel so free
That's awesome. I find working on bikes and mechanical stuff to be a great stress reliever. Very therapeutic! :)
I’m happy to hear you got better from that crazy Covid !
Thanks so much. Yes, it was pretty crazy and scary at the time, as I got pretty close to kicking the bucket when I was in the hospital. But thank God, I came through and I'm all good now.
Great job Matt 👏..
Thanks Stuart. Much appreciated 🙏
Thanks for sharing your story. I'm actually going through the same thing. In August 2020 I was diagnosed with Covid, was in bed in Isolation for 3 weeks. Jumped outta bed the day It was safe to, went outside to mow my yard and after 20 mins I collapsed and barely made it inside the house. Over the years I've seen 2 different heart Drs and neither could find anything, i still felt horrible and i was basically in bed until a few months ago, but I still have rough days. I have gained 50lbs, started walking at the track again and decided to get back into BMX just a couple of weeks ago when I found your channel. My goal is to get back into shape so I can get back to work.... Hopefully. That S&M is killer by the way , I really do hope you get to feeling better as well. Hope you have a great rest of your weekend.
Dang! It sounds like your case of long Covid was worse than mine. But glad to hear that you’re making progress. Yeah bike riding is a nice workout for me. Gets my heart rate up and it’s fun at the same time. Hope you’re new BMX adventures go as well as mine have 👊🏻
@TheNostalgicNeighborhood I wouldn't necessarily say worse, just letting you know you're not alone, it sucks. Also to help with rough days I read the Archie Double Digest comics. Can't wait for the Halloween editions.
Right off the top, I love the black and white.
Thanks!!! 🙏 Yeah, I love how it turned out. Still kinda think it needs a white stem for a little more balance. 👍
Great video! Congratulations your almost to 1000 subscribers!
Thanks so much. Getting closer and closer with every video 😁
Another great vid!! Glad you made through the funk!!
Thanks so much! Yes, very glad to be past the funk for sure 👊
Another great video. Awesome build.
Thanks so much. Really appreciate it! 🙌👊👊👊
I’m really enjoying this channel man!!! I also am getting over Covid. 3 yrs I avoided only to get it last week and it’s knocked me on my duff! Keep up the good word bro!!
Thanks so much for the feedback. Welcome to the Neighborhood! You you have a super speedy recovery 👊🏻
Great video...killer build.
Thanks bro 👍 👊👊👊
51 years old here, never stop riding.
Right on brother 👊👊👊
@@TheNostalgicNeighborhood ua-cam.com/video/Jfnq4YoGcEI/v-deo.htmlfeature=shared
Same, never stopped👍
Awesome bike … can’t go wrong with s&m❤
💯 Totally!!! 👊
Nice bike, Dia comp tech 77 levers are bomb proof! Plus have that old school cool, they work really well too!
Some griptape on those pegs will finish it off nicely😎
Thanks so much for watching and commenting. Grip tape on the pegs is a good idea! 👊
Also the shorter top tube length makes tricks that involve standing over the head tube when the bike is vertical like death trucks, dump trucks, or smith decades, a lot easier especially for shorter legs, which is a really key point, Mathias Dandois is like 6’-2 and so him using a 20” TT “street” frame is really different than if you’re 5’-8 or something. Reviews/ers don’t address the sizing to the rider’s body enough. RL for example is fairly tall, 6’-0 or more? Whereas Eddie Fiola is a much shorter guy. BITD, it was really hard to find the specs or to know what was a better fit. I remember having a Haro Sport, a longer top tube length when I was 15 and when I was 16 and 17 “upgraded” to a GT Pro Freestyle Tour and then a Master cause I loved the double top tube, but I was also in a growth spurt and shooting up to 6’-0. The Master and GT are both around 18-19” top tube where the Sport is longer and probably would’ve been a better fit for me as I grew. I was mostly a flatland rider, so the shorter frames were great, but I’d probably outgrew them by the time I was 18. I can see why RL had the RL 20-II with the taller head tube and bigger overall feel. Chris Moelller did a bike check with a prototype a couple years ago, something like a MD2022 (MD = Mad Dog) with a taller top tube, as he said, a little easier on my old back and knees :)
Anyway, nice build!
Holy cow, what a treasure trove of insights you just shared. 🙌 Thanks for taking the time to share all that with us. Great stuff!!! ❤️
Yeah, Matthias Dandois is really impressive in freestyle bmx ! 🤯 🇫🇷
Absolutely!!! 🤯🤯🤯🤯
Love the bike and the components you've selected. That's one of the reasons why I got back into riding was to be more active and to stay in shape.
Right on. It’s great exercise, that’s for sure 🙌
Thats Awesome, I still have my 99' GT Show frame and the Suelo Simple V2 I built back in the day to replace the GT Show.
Nice!!! How do you like the Suelo Simple?
@@TheNostalgicNeighborhood I love it but I have not rode flat in years. Might dust it off once the heat chills out a bit in south louisiana
S&M good quality bmx brand that been around for awhile
Yes indeed. Great customer service too. I had a question after I purchased the frame and they were SUPER cool ❤️
I'm going through the same thing right now. I've always skateboarded over the years but never really did bmx. I've always really loved flatland but never got into it so i'm currently learning bmx flatland as a 42 year old man to give me something to do to get me back in shape.
🙌 Right on!!! I love hearing this ❤️ I definitely want to spend more time working on flatland in 2024 too.
Had to re visit this one Matt...I've just added a 20 " gt to my collection
Right on Stuart! Which GT did you get?
Hi Matt I bought a performer 21 tt ..and a set of skyways
I like everything except for the white chain That's a great build
Thanks! If you were to swap out the chain, what would you pick? All black, silver, white and black, another color, etc.?
@@TheNostalgicNeighborhood I like the white pegs, calipers....Black I'd say.... white and black might be Amazing/// I used to only follow Retrobikes UK...Now i'm into BMX also....
@@BasicBeachCommunity1 yeah, black and white could be it for the chain 👍
Awesome channel, great build! You are the one that is responsible for me re-igniting my love for BMX. We could never afford any of the "good" BMX bikes when I was a kid. Your Monza videos are what did it! When the girlfriend said she wanted to ride bikes for exercise I said "then I'm getting something that I am going to hurt myself on!" lol. Anyway I got a used (almost new) Kink Drifter 26" for a great price to get me started riding with her. Looking for a used 24" now and then this video has inspired me to build something. Thanks again for the great content and let us know when The Nostalgic Neighborhood stickers or t-shirts are available! (hint, hint!).
Wow, I absolutely LOVE this!!!! This makes me so stoked to keep making videos 👊 congrats on the 26” Kink Drifter, love it! Hope you don’t hurt yourself 🤣 I just might have make some stickers!!! Thanks again for watching and commenting. 🙏🙏🙏
Nice bike,the springfield levers are trash.Mine broke the same way so i used an odyssey modulever with the blade from the springfield.The calipers are decent though but if the spring breaks you can use a small bungee cord as a replacement for it.
Thanks for the insights! The spring is in good shape, but that’s a good tip for the bungee cord. I haven’t purchased them yet, but I’ll probably replace the levers with some Tech 77’s.
Good job, by you.
Thanks so much for watching and commenting. Really appreciate the feedback! 🙏
Dude, I just recently started watching your channel which I love. Not sure if you remember, But I'm in the market to buy a flatland bike and my choices are the Big Daddy HB bike, Haro ground Master, and now this Bike!!!!!! ahhhhhh what do I do?????? lol
Right on!!! Thanks for watching! I do remember talking about how a friend has the ground master. He loves it. I’m loving this dagger. It’s not really designed specifically for flatland, but the geometry suits it well. A couple of my friends who are talented flatlanders gave it a ride and they liked it and had no trouble doing tricks on it. I picked it as I wanted an all arounder bike that was still good for flatland. I don’t regret it in the least. But if I was going to do it all over again, I’d maybe get something more flatland specific as I don’t really ride it at the skatepark or anything like I had thought I might.
@@TheNostalgicNeighborhood Ahhhh, see this is another thing. I was thinking of getting an overall bike but wasn’t sure. Maybe this one will do! Thank you for the info! 🤘🏽🙏🏽🤜🏽🤛🏼💯
I’m 49 and wanting to get riding again , get a little exercise .. just picked up a practically brand new complete Sunday Darkwave for $500
Oh wow!!! $500 for that bike is a deal! 🙌 Hope you have a blast getting back into it!
Thanks .. I am .. so much so I’m picking up a S&M atf 24 .. Dream bike from childhood is the Redline rl20ii .. will eventually get the reissue
I'm getting back into building and riding again at 53 😆
Awesome!!! I love to hear it. What’s your latest build ?
@@TheNostalgicNeighborhood I'm currently building a We The People Utopia.
@@FlatlandCustomBMX Sick!!!!
73.5 headtube is extra mellow. Think you meant 75.5. That's steeper.
Good catch! Sometimes dyslexia gets the best of me 🤣 It’s 75.3. Thanks for pointing that out 🙌
I just got my first dirt jumper and I'm 40 so next is a BMX I think I'll be tuning into your channel
Very cool! 🙌 What did you go with for your dirt jumper?
@@TheNostalgicNeighborhood stock haro, 1.2 i think it's called...fun bike...chromoly
How's the learning curve on getting into flatland? As a fellow old dude, I'm thinking of doing the same.
I’m not gonna lie, it’s much steeper than I expected. Although, to be fair, I’m not putting in as much time as I should. But it’s a lot of fun and I’m not gonna give up. I’ll probably make a video about my progress this summer. If you’re interested, I’d definitely suggest you give it a shot!!! 👊
20 " frame....Oh i think I'm 21.5" ....I gotta get one....I grew up in HB ca...home of BMX...lol never got one....too much money at the time....
Awesome!!!
Hey man,
Love your channel. We're probably around the same age, as I can relate to so many of your videos.
I'm looking to get a big wheel BMX. I've never been on a big wheel BMX. And the local bike shops don't carry them in the showrooms. What would you recommend - a 26 or 29 inch? Any insight?
Thanks for watching and leaving feedback. 🙏 Here are my two cents: The bigger the bike, the less nimble and responsive it will be. Not that this is a bad thing. If you’re mostly wanting to cruise around the neighborhood, go on longer rides, and pop a wheelie here or there… then either a 26” or 29” will be great. If you’re taller than 6’, you might like the space the 29” gives you. I’m 5’11” and my 26” is a nice fit. But it does feel more like riding a mountain bike than a BMX, and doesn’t feel like the rides I remembered as a kid. A 24” is a good compromise if you want something a bit more lively. But unless you’re really tall, a 26” might be a good sweet spot.
@@TheNostalgicNeighborhood Appreciate the insight. I'm 5'9. Really just looking to cruise through town with my son on his 20". Sounds like a 29 would be a little much.
Wow! Fantastic machine.
Ever put together a rat bike?
Thanks! Do you mean one of those hot rod style bikes? If so, no, I haven’t… but they look fun!
@@TheNostalgicNeighborhood No, not a hot rod bike but rather an old paper boy bike with a coaster brake, or not, and pieced things together like a Klunker. They're lots of fun.
Cult on s&m is a crime ! s&m and primo is like peas and carrots
I guess Im a rebel 👮♂️🙌🤣
the spring field brake lever are cheaply made.
Yeah, so it seems. They were cheap, so I guess you get what you pay for. Thanks for chiming in.
@@TheNostalgicNeighborhood I learned the same way.
I'm sorry I had bad covid...also...terrible mess
Yeah, I had a bad case of it too, I totally understand 👊
Donate it to me I use to be number 1 in the state of FL racing bikes in the nbl but haven't road in 20 years like a idiot
Nice!
Great channel, you can see how much joy these bikes still bring you
Thanks so much for the feedback. Yes, riding bikes certainly is a lot of fun!!!