2022 Kink Williams BMX Bike Review


The 2022 Kink Williams BMX Bike is Kink’s best of the best. Sitting at the top of their complete bike line, the Williams has full chromoly frame forks and bars. Ensuring a long life. It weighs 26.9 lbs and comes with 4x pegs & hubguards. This is one of the best BMX bikes available.

Skip right to the good stuff where I give the bike a Dougsterbob Score based on 20 different aspects that determine how good the bike is overall.

Review Video

Overview

Kink Williams 21″ BMX Bike Matte Rattlesnake Brown: The Kink Williams is the flagship model in our line and our only signature bike with Kink Pro team rider Nathan Williams. The Williams is a no compromised bike, that gets as close to Nathan’s personal ride as possible with a much more friendly price tag. Stacked with aftermarket parts, and superior manufacturing and materials, the Williams bike is the best of the best in BMX, no question. The Matte Rattlesnake Brown colorway is truly unique and shows off the craftsmanship of the frame. 

from: Dan’s Comp

Highlights

  • Full Chromoly
  • Double Wall Rims
  • Pegs + Hub Guards
  • Aftermarket Parts

Other 2021 Kink Bikes

Bike ModelBike PriceBike Quality
2021 Kink Coast $149.99Kids
2021 Kink Roaster $199.99Kids
2021 Kink Pump$259.99Kids
2021 Kink Carve$319.99Kids
2021 Kink KickerKink Roaster$319.99Kids/Beginner
2021 Kink Curb$289.99BeginnerOpens in a new tab.
2021 Kink Launch$329.99BeginnerOpens in a new tab.
2021 Kink Gap$379.99BeginnerOpens in a new tab.
2021 Kink Gap FC$399.99BeginnerOpens in a new tab.
2021 Kink Gap XL$379.99Tall BeginnerOpens in a new tab.
2021 Kink Whip$439.99Mid-levelOpens in a new tab.
2021 Kink Whip XL$439.99Mid-levelOpens in a new tab.
2021 Kink Switch$499.99MidOpens in a new tab./high-level
2021 Kink Cloud$599.99High-levelOpens in a new tab.
2021 Kink Williams$749.99Pro-levelOpens in a new tab.
2021 Kink Drifter$449.99Mid-levelOpens in a new tab.

Specs

Price

The 2022 Kink Williams will cost around $900.

Get it hereOpens in a new tab.

Colors

  • Matte Rattlesnake Brown

2022 Kink Williams Parts List

Frame:100% 4130 Chromoly Double Butted TT / DT
Fork:Kink Foundation II 1pc CNC Steerer Tube
100% 4130 Chromoly Butted & Tapered Legs 26mm
Handlebars: Kink Williams Bars 9.25″ 100% 4130 Chromoly 13-Butted TruTherm
Grips:Kink Ace
Barends:Kink Thrust
Stem:Cinema Martinez 48mm CNC 6061-T6
Headset:Mission Sealed Integrated (41.8 x 45)
Brake Lever:Mission Token
Brake Cable:Mission L4 Linear
Brakes:Mission Cease V2 (Removable Mounts)
Cranks:Kink Ridge 3pc Tubular Chromoly 170mm – 48 Spline
Bottom Bracket:Sealed Mid 19mm
Pedals:Cinema CK Pedals
Chain:Cinema Sync Half-Link
Sprocket:Cinema Rewind 25T CNC 7075-T6
Front Hub:Cinema ZX Sealed Bolt-in Hub
Rear Hub:Cinema ZX Sealed Freecoaster 14mm
Driver:Sealed 9 Tooth
Front Rim:Cinema 444
Rear Rim:Cinema 444
Seat:Cinema Waxed Canvas Stealth
Seat Post:Kink Stealth 3D Forged
Seat Clamp:Integrated
Front Tire:Cinema Williams 2.5″
Rear Tire:Cinema Williams 2.5″
Pegs:4 x Cinema C4 Pegs
Gyro Tabs:Tapped For Tabs
Weight:26lb 9oz

Frame Geometry

A: Top Tube Length:  21″ – Learn what size is right for you here.Opens in a new tab.

Check the size guide to see if its right for you..

Getting a top tube that is taller than suggested will make the bike feel more controlled and less responsive

Getting a top tube size that is smaller than normal will make the bike feel a lot more snappy and responsive.

B: Chain Stay Length: 12.75″ – Learn About Chain Stays HereOpens in a new tab.

This is a short chainstay.

A short chain stay makes the bike feel twitchy. Spins will be easy, but airing and jumping might feel hard to control.

A long chain stay will make the bike feel really controlled. Spins will feel sluggish, but manuals and air tricks will feel nice because it will be more stable.

C: Head Tube Angle: 75.5° – Learn About Head Tube Angles HereOpens in a new tab.

Steep head tube angles make the bike “snappy” meaning more responsive to fast turns. 

A less steep head tube gives you more control.

D: Seat Tube Angle: 71.5°

E: Bottom Bracket Height: 11.7″

F: Stand over height: 9″

This is a tall standover. 

A tall standover gives you a little more stability & controll. Barspins will be easier but whips can be harder.

Bar Geometry – Learn more hereOpens in a new tab.

G: Rise: 9.25″

Riding a tall rise, will give you more leverage on the bike. Making it easier to pull back and lift the front wheel up.

H: Width: 29″

This is a wide width. 

Narrow bars make barspins easier.

Wide bars give you more control and stability when steering.

I: Backsweep: 11º

What does backsweep do?

As far as I know, there is a sweet spot for backsweep. Too much will make the bike feel weird, and too little will make the bike unstable. It seems like the sweet spot is around 11º to 12º. If you need something a little more aggressive and straight feeling, go for 10º, but only do this if 11º is uncomfortable.

J: Upsweep: 1.5º

What does upsweep do?

There is a lot of discussion about 1º upsweep vs. 4º upsweep. Some people are running experiments and testing if the greater upsweep will make drops feel better. It seems like a lot of street riders run 4º to 5º upsweep. This helps for wrist pain and lessens the impact of big drops.

Dougsterbob Score

Now everything above the line is pretty basic info. I break down the specs, geometry and some highlights. But that doesn’t really help you find the right bike. So I created the Dougsterbob Score.

What is it?

The Dougsterbob Score is taken from Doug Demaro’s “Doug Score” (He already had the name so I had to get creative with mine haha) Anyway, this assigns a score to the bike based on 20 different aspects. This way you will know exactly what this bike is good for and how it holds up.

Read how I score the bikes hereOpens in a new tab.

2022 Kink Williams Rankings

CategoryScore
Dougsterbob Score6.25
Street Score9.25
Park Score5.00
Dirt Score1.67
Quality Score7.75

Dougsterbob Score

Dougsterbob Score: 6.25

The 2022 Kink Williams BMX Bike scored 6.25. Which is really high, but about average for a bike this price. When a bike scores this high, it is usually really good in one or two disciplines with full chromoly and after-market parts. This is a great bike.

My favorite thing about the Williams is the amount of quality that Kink put into this bike. It comes with pegs, hub guards, double wall rims, Chromoly, double-butted tubing on the frame and so much more.

It scored really well in street but not so good in park or dirt. In the end, I’ll say whether or not I recommend it.

Street Score

Street Score: 9.25

Kink’s Williams bike scored a 9.25 which is almost 100%. The combinations of a freecoaster, 4 pegs, and 4 hubguards make it an excellent choice for anyone who likes fakies and grinds in the street.

This quality is so good that you will not have to worry much about the bike breaking when you send it on big drops and gaps.

I recommend this bike for street riders who need a strong BMX bike. It will perform best in the streets although you can ride it on the skatepark.

Park Score

Park Score: 5

The Kink Williams scored 5. It is not MADE for park riding though you can ride it on park occasionally. If you are a street rider who dabbles in park here and there the Williams is a solid choice.

Keep in mind that the geometry is fairly responsive, but it is not park-specific like other BMX bike geometries. For a park-specific bike, we are looking for a smaller standover, gyro, and better tires for park.

Buy the Kink Williams if you primarily ride street and would like a bike with some minor park abilities.

Dirt Score

Dirt Score: 1.67

For the Dirt section, the Williams scored a very low 1.67.

The Kink Williams is a moderately responsive geometry that will make it hard to control when riding dirt. But the freecoaster is also a nightmare for hardcore dirt riders.

All and all, there are much better choices for riding dirt. I do not recommend the Williams for dirt-specific BMX riders.

Quality Score

Quality Score: 7.75

The 2022 Kink Williams only scored 7.75 in the Quality section. I was kind of disappointed that this “signature” bike did not have many signature “after-market” parts.

You can replace all of the parts that come on this bike with almost any aftermarket bmx part. However, the one-color option is kind of lame.

This looks to be a very solid bike and I’m sure that it can withstand the test of time with the proper care and maintenance. 

Value

Value: 7/10

When you compare the Williams to other high-end bikes, it seems like a no-brainer. But many of these more expensive “pro-level” bikes have fully aftermarket parts packages.

For $800 you are getting a quality bike with a good amount of after-market parks. I know for sure that this bike will last as you progress. the 2021 model had a freecoaster issue but I’m sure Kink has fixed that now.

Overall the Kink Williams is a great VALUE purchase since the price to quality ratio is very good.

Should you get it?

The Kink Williams is the most expensive Kink bike out there. It comes with very strong parts and a good geometry for riders looking to progress in the streets… Here’s who it is for:

This bike is perfect for someone who is riding at a high level. It cost’s a lot so you must have a pretty big budget and plan on riding BMX for many years. The geometry and parts are best for street-specific riders who might ride a tiny bit of park.

Would I recommend it?

YES.

For a high-end street-specific BMX bike, you cannot go wrong with the Kink Williams. I definitely recommend it as long as you don’t plan to buy it, ride for a tiny bit and then quit. Get this bike if you plan to stick with it and need a beast of a bike.

Common Questions

What is the Price?

The 2022 Kink Williams is for sale right now at $800. This is a really high price for a bike. It puts it up there with bikes like the WTP VersusOpens in a new tab..

I found the Williams in stock here: Dan’s Comp

How Much Does it Weigh?

The 2022 Kink williams weighs 26.9 lbs. But keep in mind, this weight includes the pegs and hubguards. It is not a good bike for someone who really hares about a light bike.

Where to buy it?

Buy if you are learning:

  • 360
  • back lash
  • grinding rails
  • manual combos
  • grind combos
  • barspin
  • 540

Don’t buy if you are learning:

  • Good for any trick

Conclusion

I love the Williams since it always comes in at a good price with an insane level of quality. This might be a little over budget for you, but investing in it will ensure that you have a reliable BMX bike. I’m very happy about the number of aftermarket parts and how “street ready” this thing is right out of the box.

You will suffer on this bike if Dirt riding is your calling, but fortunately, most people will be picking this up to grind rails, ledges and get technical in the plazas.

 

Douglas Laird

My parents bought me my first BMX bike in 2011 and it changed my life. This bike has taken me all over the world and introduced me to cool places and cooler people. My goal is to help get 1,000,000 people into BMX so they can experience the joy and freedom that comes from a progression based sport.

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