Welcome back to WE Ride (Whites Employees Ride), the series in which we share our passion for two wheels by introducing a team member, what they ride, wear and use in the shed.
In this issue we get to know one of our Hamilton warehouse crew and arguably our fastest rider.
Meet Liam and get motivated to get in the shed, in your gear, and out riding!
What’s your name, what do you ride, and what do you do at Whites?
Liam Calley, a 2023 Kawasaki KX250XC and I’m a Warehouse Assistant at the Whites HQ in Hamilton.
I float around wherever I’m needed at the time — sometimes I’ll be picking and dispatching orders and other times I’ll be working hard to resolve issues for customers in our returns department.
How long have you had your bike and what mods have you made to it so far?
I’ve had the Kawi since early 2024 and I’ve been steadily adding parts to make it my own and Enduro-ready. So far, I’ve added:
- ZETA Pivot FP lever set.
- ZETA SX-3 handlebars.
- ZETA brake and clutch reservoir covers.
- ZETA brake clevis and clamp.
- ZETA disc guard.
- ZETA bottom rebound adjusters.
- ZETA dual handle airbleed system on forks (not pictured).
- DRC radiator hoses.
- ZETA foot pegs.
- Bridgestone Battlecross X31 tyres, front and rear.
- MTX Hornet Lightweight Steel sprockets.
- RK UW-Ring Gold Chain.
- ODI Motion Pro Grips, since replaced with Whites Lock-On Grips (not pictured).
- Premier Brake Pads.
Do you have more plans for your KX?
Continue to spec it out for enduro racing with an AXP Enduro Skid Plate with linkage protector, Ride Engineering radiator guards, Trail Tech Fan, ZETA adjustable link, and a new Polisport plastics kit.
What sort of riding do you enjoy and where do you like to do it?
I’m mostly into Enduro and off-road riding and racing but love to lap it up on the moto track too.
My favourite place to ride would be the family farm (AKA: Area 27). We have a moto track and bit of bush that always provides a variety of riding to practice on — it’s been a huge help in the development of my racing in last few years.
Are there any notable products that you use on the regular to enhance your riding?
I use all sorts of lubricants and workshop consumables from the Putoline range. My favourite is the Brake Cleaner and the DX11 chain lube.
Tell us a bit about your life on two wheels...
To sum the story up a bit...
Earlier days I remember ripping around the paddocks on a Suzuki 70 quad, hitting a few fences and the occasional shed wall!
Mostly it all started when I headed out to a twilight motocross with school mates after school when I was around eight years old. Shortly after that Mum and Dad picked up a Honda 70 and I started participating in the Te Pahu twilight motocrosses.
A few years later at the age of ten, I started racing more often aboard a KLX 110 and raced most weekends. I then progressed onto 85s and then to 250s and sustained a lot of injuries which put me out for quite some time.
Funnily enough, as part of the sport, injuries are something I am now grateful for, and I’ve found some development in such experiences.
Moving forward to 2018 through to present day, I made the switch to enduro/off-road style racing. I secured my first New Zealand Cross Country Championship title in the under 200cc class in 2021 and was third in the E2 class and seventh overall in the 2023 NZ Enduro Championship.
I’m very grateful to all the people and companies involved in making things possible.
Tell us about your gear — why you chose it and what you like about it.
- Leatt 5.5 Pants and Jersey.
- Leatt 5.5 FlexLock Boots.
- Leatt 8.5 and 9.5 Helmets.
- Leatt 3.5 Lite Gloves.
- Leatt X-Frame Hybrid Knee Braces.
- Leatt 6.5 Neck Brace.
- Leatt 3.5 Chest Protector.
- Leatt 6.5 and 5.5 Velocity Goggles.
Leatt head-to-toe! Why? I’m a big fan of Leatt and how year-to-year the brand is bringing the highest technology to the market! I have trust when I get on the bike each time that I’m protected.
Leatt 5.5 Pants and Jersey are so comfortable, long-lasting, and most stylish kits. Best way to describe a Leatt gear set is like getting a Tailored suit... the gear fits so well!
Leatt 5.5 FlexLock Boots. These are so comfortable straight off the shelf compared to so many brands that normally have such a lengthy break-in period.
The FlexLock pivot system is amazing and has protected me from blowing my ankles a few times!
Leatt 8.5 and 9.5 Helmets: Such comfortable helmets and allow good ventilation and I never have head pain as I’ve had in some other brands. Have had some big crashes with a Leatt helmet on my head and they have definitely done their job.
Leatt 3.5 Lite Gloves: These provide so much grip in the wet and dry, blisters are never too bad, and the knuckle protection is great when punching into trees!
Leatt X-Frame Hybrid Knee Braces:
Knee braces are something I recently started using last year and I would never go back. The hybrid knee brace is so comfortable, and I prefer having the pivot between my legs and the bike as some manufacturers are making bikes so skinny these days.
Leatt 6.5 Neck Brace:
A neck brace was the first Leatt product I started running. After using one of the earlier model braces, it’s cool to see how much development has gone into the neck brace that’s on the shelf today.
I don’t run into any issues with it restricting my movement. I believe in the movement of Leatt neck braces a lot!
Image: Flame Photography
See Liam’s Shopping Lists
Check out all Liam’s bike mod parts in one place » mods product collection.
Browse all Liam’s gear in one place » gear collection.
Update: Liam’s big stack
While competing at the first round of the 2024 NZ Enduro champs earlier in the year, Liam unfortunately had a big stack, lacerating his spleen, fracturing ribs and experiencing some good old-fashioned whiplash while making his best ragdoll impression.
At the time of publishing, he was on the mend and will hopefully be on his bike by the time you read this.
You can follow Liam Calley:
On Facebook, here.
On Instagram, here.
On TikTok, here.
On LinkedIn, here.
See what else WE Ride
If you’ve enjoyed learning about Liam, his machine and gear, have a gander at our earlier issues of WE Ride and see more of our team and their bikes.
View WE Ride Issue #1
