There’s something about building up a brand new setup that creates a feeling that makes it hard to stop smiling. The other day we caught up with our favorite front brake magician, Kent Pearson, and found out just build himself up a brand new Kink Titan setup. There’s no way we could pass up getting a look at this thing, so we got a fresh bike check together for you guys to get a closer look! Check it!
Name: Kent Pearson
Location: Athens GA
Supporters: Profile Racing, Kink Bikes, Empire BMX, Tifosi Sunglasses, Outlaw
Years riding: 29
Frame: Kink Titan 20.5 TT.
Bars: Kink Wolf.
Fork: Odyssey at the moment.
Stem: Profile Acoustic (53 mm).
Grips: ODI Longneck.
Headset: Kink Ti Ceramic.
Seat / Post / Clamp: Kink Stealth (no hole in top) / Kink Stump post / integrated clamp.
Pedals: Fly Ruben PC
Cranks: Profile 170mm arms / Profile Ti GDH spindle / Profile BB / Profile 6mm Alum with GDH flush bolts.
Sprocket: Profile Spline Drive.
Chain: Plain old KMC Z410
Front Wheel / Tire: Profile Mini Hub / Kink Orion Rim (Cross lace) / Kink double butted spokes / Kink Lyra Tire (2.3).
Rear Wheel / Tire: Profile alum hub shell w/ Nankai internals / Kink Orion Rim / Kink double butted spokes / Kink Lyra Tire.
Pegs: Kink Drift Pegs.
Hub Guards: none.
Brakes & Lever up front: Kink Desist brakes / Kink Linear Cable / Odyssey Modulever.
Brakes, Lever & Gyro for the back: Kink Desist Brakes / Snafu Mobeus detangler / SST cables / Odyssey Monolever.
Modifications:
I added a cable guide under my top tube that’s not stock on the frame. I give the levers just a little more bend to keep them off my “grip fingers”. Ti axle in the freecoaster. I tighten down my pedals to where they don’t spin freely with my feet off. I do so much with my feet off of my bike and I like them to be where I left them when it’s time to get back on.
What’s the newest part on your bike?
Newest part is the new Raw Titan Frame. I’ve wanted a raw with weld burn bike for a while and I waited it out to get this frame specifically. The newest actual PART would be the tires. Yes, I wear out the front one the fastest.
What’s the oldest? Does it have any sentimental value?
Oldest would be the back hub. There’s so many freecoasters out there and in the works right now that I’ll wait for the dust to settle. Ton of them have tried to reinvent the wheel and a ton of them are just sticking the same internals in them (not that there is anything wrong with that) so I need to see how that goes. The Nankai internals have worked so good for me for so many years that I won’t say “sentimental” value as much as I would say “trusted” value. I also have to admit that I’m picky enough that with the aluminum Profile Shell, it keeps my hub set matching!
I’d imagine you have a pretty particular way you like your bike setup by now, huh? Do you need a certain top tube length, bars in a certain spot, wheel in the drop out just right or are you pretty flexible?
I admit I’m super picky about my set up. I like to jump and stuff and if that’s all I did then set up would be easy and I wouldn’t care as much. But, with all the technical stuff that I love doing, every little thing can make a difference for me — at least in my head, haha.
Does your setup change much or are you pretty consistent with the gyro, number of pegs and everything?
Overall my setup is consistent as far as brakes, gyro, peg count and all of that. But, depending on what I’m trying to learn at any given point, I will change my bar position, seat height, brake tension, tire pressure, etc. My setup is about the tools to do what I want to do and not about what everyone else does or rides.
What is your favorite part on your new bike?
The Desist brakes have worked really well for me and have been so good. (everyone knows I use them enough, ha!). The new raw/weld burn color on the frame makes me happy too.
Do you keep your bikes pretty dialed in for the life of it, or do you like to beat them till they’re dead then build up a new one?
I keep my ride so dialed. Everything working the way I want 24/7. Oil the cables, rotate the tires, all that… Everyone loves the feeling of a dialed in bike, just sometimes laziness gets in the way of keeping it that way.
So obviously Kink came through huge for the new kit. How are things going with them these days? Do you have any cool projects or trips in the works with them at all this year?
Everyone at Kink Rules and some of them love talking about all the technical stuff on my bike like I do and the others have to tolerate my pickiness, ha! You gotta love how much stuff they always have in the works and always driving to make things fresh and better. Hopefully I’ll get to spend some time with the crew either out in Vegas at Interbike or at Texas Toast.
How about Profile Racing? I know Matt always has something cool cooking with the team?
Matt and Profile are having such a busy year. I got to do the “Southern Charm” trip with Matt, Zach Rogers, Dillon Leeper, and Niles Harper and whole bunch of our Profile friends from around the Southeast and it was a really great time. We shredded and I was on home turf for most of the days and it was awesome for me. Bunch of dudes were riding with us and so cool to each other. Matt and Profile are so supportive of me and what I do.
How about the rest of the sponsors? Anything you’re working on for them?
I’m lucky for a dude like me to get the support from anyone, much less from the respectable people that help me – I always try to keep something going.
I feel like it has been a minute since we have seen a new edit from you! When can we expect some fresh footage to surface?
It may be too soon for some since I did the Kink Desist brake edit and then followed it up pretty quick with the split edit with me and my son, Mason, but I’ve just started getting clips for a new Profile edit. I’m always excited to film and it seemed like Matt was ready for me to get it going so that will be coming hopefully sooner than later.
I know you and your son spend a lot of time riding together. Has he started showing you up just yet or do you still have a few tricks on him?
Ha, awesome question. I can’t begin to describe to you, how lucky I am that we get to ride together and what a relationship that creates. I know it could go away and I soak up every second of it that I can. Everyone around down here in the South just treats him like any other rider now and he’s so good on road trips and I don’t really have to ever get in “Dad Mode”. In my head I always like to think I have a few tricks on any one (JUST JOKING) but a good example is whenever we play a game of B.I.K.E., Mason puts letters on adult and experienced riders (including me) every time! Ha!
Where have you been getting most of your sessions in lately? Anywhere in particular you have been really psyched on lately? Do you have any trips you’re trying to make happen here before the summer winds down?
We’re lucky that our park here in Athens is just minutes from my house, but Mase and I are on the road almost every weekend. We’re lucky to have friends all over the place and we pretty much try to get out of town every weekend and get to ride with a different crew of friends everywhere we go. Especially since I started filming again lately, I’m all over the place and Mase is my go to filmer. (Learn from that BMX dads. Raise your kids right to be able to film your clips so you don’t have to worry about filmers making it to meet you when you need, haha!)
What have you been up to when you aren’t riding these days?
I work during the week and the rest of the time is either riding or working on the house and property. Seems like there is always something to be done when it’s summer and you own a house. I never have enough hours in the day but I like it that way.
How can people keep up with you?
I’m still shunning most of the social media but on Instagram @kentpearsonbmx. Mostly BMX related photos of course…
Do you have any shout outs or thanks?
Shouts and thanks to Christy and Mase. Everyone at Profile Racing. Everyone at Kink Bikes. Everyone at Empire. Everyone at Tifosi. All of the Ninja Crew. All of the Athens Family. Outlaw BMX and boards. Sunshine Cycles. BMXunion for this bike check. All of the awesome riders that I get the honor of riding with. Everyone that has my back – you know who you are.
Anything else you want to say?
Don’t shape your life to others – usually you have no idea what their journey is all about.
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