It’s not everyday we have dueling bike checks but since Billy and Josh both had their hands in on the design process of our new Voyager team frame, we thought it was only appropriate. Billy and Josh are coming up fast ever since we last saw their sections in the Volume 1 video together, so we started working on something right after for both of them to be apart of.
The newer breed of street riders are after a frame that we didn’t already have in production and to have Billy and Josh’s feedback on the new Voyager team frame with a shorter chainstay than we’ve ever done before, and some other key features they wanted really helped out on making it one that stands out amongst the rest of our lineup.
Below is Billy and Josh’s bike checks as well as a lil interview with them both about the new frame and the design process.
*Voyager frames arrive beginning of April, stay tuned for the exact date soon.
Billy Perry Check:
Frame: Volume Voyager 21” – Glacier Blue
Fork: Volume Anchor
Bar: Volume Mad Dog
Grips: Merritt Crumlish
Stem: Merritt Inaugural MKII top load
Headset: Merritt Hightop
Seat: Volume VLM
Post: Merritt
Cranks: Merritt Battle 165
Bottom Bracket: Merritt
Chain: Volume Half Link
Pedals: Merritt P1
Sprocket: Merritt Might Sprocket 28t
Tires: Merritt Option prototype
Front Wheel: Merritt Battle
Rear Wheel: Merritt Battle/ Final Drive Freecoaster LHD 9t
Guards: Merritt Tension
Add-ons: FTL Bike Lights
Josh Clemens Check:
Frame: Voyager 21” – NW Green
Fork: Anchor
Bar: War Worse, cut down to 27.5”
Grips: VLM NW Green
Stem: Demolition Paradise
Headset: Demolition
Seat: VLM Leather Tripod
Post: VLM
Cranks: Rig 165mm
Bottom Bracket: Demolition
Chain: VLM
Pedals: Demolition Trooper PC
Sprocket: Demolition Markit 28T
Tires: Demolition Hammerhead S 2.25
Front Wheel: Demolition Bulimia
Rear Wheel: Demolition Rogue Cassette
Guards: Demolition Plastic Front & metal rear
Add-ons: FTL bike lights!!! Thanks to Billy
This idea came about with us in the office wanting to do some sort of new team frame but yourself and Billy kinda took the reigns on the project, from specs to the graphics. What were you guys mostly looking for that we already didn’t offer?
Josh: I think Billy and I both have similar riding styles and we both like to ride the same type of spots, so the frame geo came pretty easy, and since Volume didn’t offer anything close to what we wanted, it worked out perfect. We could bring something new to the line as well as make a frame we both were pretty curious to try out. Mostly just that short rear end…
Billy: We were both interested in riding a frame with a shorter chainstay and steeper head tube than the ones already available. Graphics wise, I wanted to pay homage to the NY landscape that helped shaped my riding growing up.
Since this is the shortest chainstay we’ve ever done, can you guys let anyone on the market know what some advantages may be for a shorter chainstay?
Billy: I love the short chainstay and I can’t see myself ever going back to a longer one. My bike feels way more responsive and easier to spin than it did before, especially with hard way spins out of grinds.
You both were very specific on the theme of the frame, what is the story behind that?
Josh: I’m stoked on how the theme turned out. I just wanted it to be something somewhat meaningful, or have a background to the name/theme. I knew Billy loves NY and reps his hometown super hard, as well as myself with Oregon, so I suggested doing an east/west coast theme and we kinda just threw back ideas from there, with the colors and graphics ect. Couldn’t be more stoked on the final product.
Your blue was something that you’ve been wanting to do for awhile, what’s the back story behind that it?
Billy: My favorite color has always been cyan blue. I had an old Garrett Reynolds frame in a similar color when I was 13 and it was my favorite colorway bike I’ve had. The blue we did actually came out better than I could have imagined. The color is even more incredible in person and it gives off a different glow in certain light. I love it.
Your color has been in your head for awhile, what was your inspiration on the colorway?
Josh: Well green has always been one of my favorite colors, and with my version of the frame being themed to the North West, it only made sense to try and do some sort of green. I wasn’t just going for a straight camo, but more of a forest type of color and we actually nailed it first try with the sample. Then the orange sticker just really set it off, I think that was the icing on the cake. I wasn’t sure how it would look when they actually tried to paint it, but it turned out better than I could’ve imagined!!
“I thought it would be cool to make this frame more welcoming to the younger / smaller riders, and maybe the rider who is just building their first custom bike.”
How has the testing process been going and some of the feedback from others?
Josh: I’ve been riding the sample of the black frame for about a year now and just put together the green a few months ago, and I have had no issues at all. The geo felt great from the first sample. I’ve heard some good things about the color so far, I’m just excited to see it in the wild now!
Billy: I have been on a prototype Voyager since April and it’s the best feeling frame I’ve ever rode, and I haven’t encountered any problems with it. I have received countless compliments on the frame since I recently put the Glacier Blue Voyager together.
The Voyager was your idea to make in 20.5” and a bit more affordable to kids, why’s that?
Billy: I noticed that the current run of frames caters more towards riders who may be on the taller and advanced side. I thought it would be cool to make this frame more welcoming to the younger / smaller riders and maybe the rider who is just building their first custom bike.
Since this is kinda your first signature frame colorway, was the design process what you thought it’d be and why?
Josh: The design process is cool, it definitely takes a lot longer than you think from seeing it on paper to getting the actual frame in your hands, but it’s awesome to see it all come together. Would never have imagined I would get to have so much input on a frame with my name on it. I cant thank everyone at Volume enough for all their feedback and help with this whole project. It’s a dream come true!!
Billy: Josh and myself were beyond stoked to work together on this project. The process was definitely a little longer since we had to discuss it through emails and texts rather than in person but I think Josh and myself had pretty much the same vision for the frame which made the process super smooth.
How’s the Voyager promo video coming along?
Josh: I’m pretty sure it’s all done now. We just took a trip to AZ to finish it up, and I’ve been filming with Mike off and on for some time now, and I think it’s just about done. Look for it to drop sometime in April.
Billy: The Promo video is coming along really well! I just got back from a fun filming trip to California and Arizona with Josh and Mike. I got a chance to see Josh’s clips and he absolutely killed it. Be on the lookout for the video dropping soon.
Think that’s it, unless you guys wanna add anything else?
Josh: Like I said earlier, THANKS Brian, La, Kevin, Sean, Mike and the whole VLM fam!
Billy: Huge thank you to Brian Castillo for giving me the opportunity to work on this project and shoutout to Josh Clemens for being the f**king man! Also thank you to everyone who works at Volume for helping this idea come to life. To anybody reading this, consider upgrading your kit with one of the new Voyager frames!
