2022 Ares Game Changer

The Game Changer is a newish aluminum flatland frame frame from Ares

I recently restarted flatland after a long break and unfortunately a lot of modern BMX stuff still seems to be designed indestructible, meaning it’s over-engineered and weighs too much, at least IMO and especially for flat. I’d rather have ergonomic vs. “guaranteed forever” so when Ares put out an aluminum frame I decided to build a weight weenie bike to see how light I could get it without spending a fortune on custom or titanium stuff. These frames are only $350 which is less than many CrMo frames.
The punchline: as pictured, with four pegs and full brake system, it weighs in just under 22 pounds. I could probably shave another pound with a carbon seat and post, but I’d rather be comfortable LOL. I estimate I could get it to sub 20 pounds with titanium bars and forks, but I like the OG Marton bars too much, and can’t justify spending $450 for Ti forks.
Anyway, parts are as follows:
Frame: Ares Game Changer 19.3” top tube, aluminum and weighs just 2.9 lbs. Geometry is in details link.
Fork: Odyssey F25
Cranks: Profile Mini Magnutanium with hollow titanium spindle. Ares 23t sprocket and Stolen thermalite pedals. Generic chain.
Seat: generic seat, post, and clamp off Amazon.
Wheels: front wheel is a Rant Party On. Back wheel is a custom job from Flatland Fuel. It’s a G-Sport Bird Cage laced to an FEC alloy freecoaster. This back wheel is so light that when the package arrived I thought the Flatland Fuel guys got drunk and mailed me an empty box LOL. Maxxis Grifter tires, old Infinity pegs.
Steering: Colony Exon II stem, ODI Mushroom grips, and OG Marton M18 bars. I REALLY like these bars. They’re not cheap but worth every penny - best flat bars since Graveyard IMO.
Brakes: frankenstein brake system. 282S levers, Odyssey cables, Shadow Sano2 gyro, 990 arms in front with upgraded springs and cams. Odyssey A-pads. The back brake is an old-school Odyssey 1999 caliper…so about that:
This frame comes brakeless, no mounts or gyro holes, but it has a seat stay bridge with a center hole and a caliper brake just barely fits. So I ended up drilling and tapping the gyro holes myself and running a back caliper 80s style. Not the best setup but beats falling on your ass when you overcook a megaspin.
I’ve been riding this setup for a few weeks now and am really digging it so far.

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