All photos by Matt Coplon
If there is one thing we’re a sucker for, it’s a dialed bike! During a recent trip to Athens, Georgia, Matt Coplon caught up with Dillon Leeper to take a closer look at his shiny blue FBM Bellwitch that’s decked out with Profile Racing parts! We couldn’t resist this one, so we figured a bike check was in proper order so everyone can get a look at this bike! Take a closer look below!
Name: Dillon Leeper
Location: Richmond, VA
Sponsors: FBM, Profile Racing, Wolf Brand Clothing
Years riding: About 15 years
Frame: 21” FBM Bellwitch
Bars: 9” FBM U.S Apes
Fork: Odyssey R32
Stem: Profile Mulville Push
Grips: Flatware cufflinks
Headset: Some random headset I had laying around.
Cranks: Profile 22mm Column Cranks
Sprocket: Profile 28t Galaxy
Chain: Shadow Interlock
Pedals: Odyssey Trail Mix
Seat / Post / Clamp: FBM Blackheart seat/ FBM/ integrated
Front Wheel / Tire: Odyssey Aerospace rim laced to Profile Mini front hub/ Tioga Streetblock 2.25
Rear Wheel / Tire: Odyssey Aerospace rim laced to Profile Mini cassette / Tioga Streetblock 2.15
Pegs: Animal MK3
Hub guards: Profile Aegis
Brakes? none
Modifications: I think the only thing I do to my bike is super glue my grips on. In the summer, I would always get moto grip from my hands sweating a lot.
What’s the newest part on your bike?
I recently built up a new bike at the beginning of the year.
What’s the oldest?
My headset
What do you usually go through the fastest?
Grips
Do you have to have your bike setup any particular way or can you just pick up any bike and ride it like your own?
I set my bike up kind of big. I have my bars as high as they can go. I run my bars a little forward, have a tall stand over height and little bit longer backend.
How often do you get the chance to build up a new bike? I’d imagine between the FBM and Profile parts, you probably don’t break much.
I try to build a new bike each year. FBM and Profile parts are the best, I never really break parts.
If you had to pick a favorite part on your bike, what would you pick and why?
I would have to say my favorite part would be my frame. The Bellwitch has been the best feeling frame I’ve rode since my FBM Autopilot. It has a steep head tube, tall stand over height, and a little bit of a longer rear end, and I’m pretty stoked on the seat stay bridge Tom Blyth chose.
How do you feel about the freecoaster trend we’ve been seeing lately? Do you think you will get one or will you just stick to hauling ass forward?
I don’t mind freecoasters, my brother has ridden one for about 5 years. I love hopping on his bike and playing with a coaster when we are at spots. I think when Profile comes out with theirs, I’ll try it out on my bike. But until then I’m going to keep hauling ass forward.
If your bike had a name, what would you call it?
If I got to pick a name, I’d call it the Moon Child
You have been doing it for FBM for a while now and I know they keep you on the move. What’s new with them? Do you have any trips or cool projects cooking you can tell us about?
Things with FBM are good. Steve officially added me to the team at the beginning of the year and I’m so stoked to be part of a team with some of my good friends. I will be working on a welcome edit soon with Steve that should be out in a few months. Trip wise, there will be another FBM/Profile trip happening this year that I’m gonna be going on along with a few other trips that are in the works.
What’s new with Profile Racing? I know Matt shot these photos so I’d imagine you spent some time working out plans for trips and other projects?
I actually just got back from a Profile trip this past weekend, a few of us went down to Athens, GA for the Twilight festival. While we were down there, Matt shot some photos for an article that he is working on for RideBMX that will be out soon. It’s going to be a good article. In June, the Madera team is coming to Richmond, VA for a week and will be staying with me. Then that saturday the FBM/Profile trip will begin, along with that trip, Matt, myself and a few others from the profile team will be joining in on the bus. Also sometime in July I will be joining some of the profile dudes on a trip to Woodward.
Have you been filming much? I could use some fresh Dillon Leeper footage in my life!
I’m going to be working on the welcome edit for FBM soon, and I’ll have a little something made from this past weekend in Athens that Phil Jones is working on for me.
Outside of riding this bike of yours, what have you been getting into lately? Any new hobbies or anything like that?
Outside of riding my bike, I work and I hang out with my lady. If I’m not doing one of those things, Shane and myself are somewhere trying to raise some hell.
How can we keep up with you these days?
Im on instagram @dillonleeper and Facebook.
Do you have any shout outs or thanks?
I’d like to thank my mom and my brother the most! They have always been really supportive of my riding and always helping along the way. I wouldn’t have got this far without them. I want to give a big thanks thanks to Matt Coplon and Steve Crandall for all the support and opportunities they have given me over the past couple of years. I’d also like to thanks all of my friends and anyone who has helped me along the way.
