We love seeing how riders customize their SE bikes, and this build completely blew us away. Keith Warren from Las Vegas took his Colossal Ripper to the next level—not only converting it to a geared drivetrain, but a WIRELESS one. Keith was kind enough to answer a few questions about his personal masterpiece.
Where do you live and how old are you?
I’m based in Las Vegas, Nevada, and I’m 60.
What made you buy a Colossal Ripper in the first place?
Honestly, it was the size and the presence. Being 6’9”, the 32” platform actually fits me perfectly—which is rare. Most bikes feel too small, but this one finally feels right. The baby blue color sealed it for me. It felt like a bike that was meant to be ridden different, not just built stock.
Have you been an SE rider for a long time?
I’ve been around bikes my whole life. I actually raced for Race Inc. when I was a kid, but I always loved SE bikes, too—they had a style and culture that stood out. I remember wanting one of the fat tire bikes back then but never pulled the trigger. In a way, this build feels like coming full circle.
When you bought the bike, did you originally plan to do a conversion to gears?
At first, no. I bought it for what it is—a big, fast cruiser. But once I started putting real miles on it, I knew I wanted to take it further and make it more functional for longer rides.
Can you describe which parts you used?
The biggest upgrade was adding the Wheeltop EDS OX 2.0 wireless drivetrain along with a cassette setup. I wanted something clean, modern, and different—no cables, no clutter. It completely changed the ride. Now I’ve got the range for distance and still keep that smooth, clean look. Huge credit to my local shop, The Vault Bicycle Shop, for making it all come together right.
Was this process harder than expected?
It definitely wasn’t your typical install—there’s not exactly a playbook for converting a 32” BMX into a geared setup. There were some challenges dialing everything in, but that’s part of the fun. Once it came together, it was 100% worth it.
Do you have a history of customizing bikes?
Yeah, I’ve always liked building bikes that are a little different. I’ve been customizing bikes for years—one I built for my wife was a Denver Broncos Big BMX. For me, that’s the fun part—taking something and making it your own. I like having something no one else has.
Where do you like to ride?
Around Vegas—cruising the city, longer rides on open roads, just putting in miles. With the gears now, I can go a lot farther and handle different terrain without killing my legs.
Are you done customizing this bike?
I don’t think builds like this are ever really “done.” I’ve got a few ideas still. One next step I’ve thought about is adding a Bimotal e-bike motor—just to be different and push it even further. Always looking at ways to make it cleaner, lighter, or just more dialed.
Anything else?
For me, this build was about blending old-school BMX roots with modern tech. A 32” bike with a wireless drivetrain isn’t something you see every day. It turned the Colossal Ripper into more than just a cruiser—it’s something you can really ride hard and long. And at the end of the day, it’s just a blast—and a bit of a throwback to where it all started.
