Tyler McCaul and Amir Kabbani: Traitors 2 - Video

May 9, 2017
by GT Bicycles  

Hailing from different sides of the world, Amir and Tyler grew up in very different places with a distinct variance in cultures. They've been competing against each other at various events across the globe for years, always trying to edge each other out in the name of competition.

However as time passed, there were two things about their individual character traits in which they realized they reach a common ground; the love for riding, and the love for digging. In this two part web-series, Amir and Tyler aren’t only traitors to their own countries and principles as competitors while visiting each other’s hometowns, but they’re also traders of riding spots, ideas, and cultures.

In the first installment, Tyler McCaul visited Amir Kabbani in his hometown of Boppard, Germany. In part two of Traitors, we join Amir while he visits Tyler in his hometown of Aptos, California…

Hong Kong 2016

bigquotesThe winter was still in full swing here in Germany, so I was pretty pumped to fly over to Tyler and ride my bike in California. I knew Tyler was going to make sure all the ride spots were in perfect shape, but the weather definitely made us work for it! The crazy rain might have ruined his work but did not stop us from getting the video done in time. I guess that’s what this video series was about. We both like to dig and make stuff work once we know it’s worth it. This trip is surely going in my collection of good times. Thanks to T-Mac for making this whole idea work! –Amir

Tyler McCaul and Amir Kabbani Santa Cruz CA

bigquotesAfter shooting with Amir in Germany for part 1 of this series I knew I had to build some pretty good stuff in order to follow it up for part 2. Our winter in Santa Cruz was insane this year (by Cali standards) and it made building tough, but I got as much done as I could before Amir got here. Once he arrived it rained for a week straight, leaving us with only a few days to finish all the digging and filming before he had to fly home. It must've rained at least 10 inches that week with wind speeds up to 70 mph. All my tarps had blown off the jumps and the water damage that followed was pretty insane. 

The reality of getting it all done in time wasn't looking likely, but luckily Amir is an incredibly hard worker and together we were able to get everything running and rideable just in time. Pretty much everything shot at the jump spot was on the first session we had riding there and it was crazy soft most the way down the line. Amir is one of the best I've seen at tricking sketchy setups though so it was fun to watch him ride there and start tricking everything right away. In the end, I think Amir had a good time during his stay with me, even though I made him work for it! -Tyler


Hong Kong 2016

Hong Kong 2016

Hong Kong 2016
Hong Kong 2016

Hong Kong 2016

Tyler McCaul and Amir Kabbani Santa Cruz CA

Tyler McCaul and Amir Kabbani Santa Cruz CA

Tyler McCaul and Amir Kabbani Santa Cruz CA

Tyler McCaul and Amir Kabbani Santa Cruz CA

Tyler McCaul and Amir Kabbani Santa Cruz CA
Tyler McCaul and Amir Kabbani Santa Cruz CA

Tyler McCaul and Amir Kabbani Santa Cruz CA

Tyler McCaul and Amir Kabbani Santa Cruz CA

Tyler McCaul and Amir Kabbani Santa Cruz CA
Tyler McCaul and Amir Kabbani Santa Cruz CA

Tyler McCaul and Amir Kabbani Santa Cruz CA

Tyler McCaul and Amir Kabbani Santa Cruz CA

Tyler McCaul and Amir Kabbani Santa Cruz CA

Tyler McCaul and Amir Kabbani Santa Cruz CA

Tyler McCaul and Amir Kabbani Santa Cruz CA

Tyler McCaul and Amir Kabbani Santa Cruz CA
Tyler McCaul and Amir Kabbani Santa Cruz CA

Watch the first installment of Traitors below.


Video by Root One Productions
Photography by Long Nguyen


MENTIONS: @GTBicycles



Author Info:
GTBicycles avatar

Member since Apr 2, 2013
264 articles

31 Comments
  • 33 0
 Double downside oooshhh
  • 2 29
flag wilflucky (May 9, 2017 at 9:57) (Below Threshold)
 Stolen from Emil Johansson Big Grin
  • 23 0
 @NoBikeNoFun: I really don't wanna be a smartass but Tyler has been busting that move for 4+ years now, I like both riders but considering Emils age ... I'm pretty sure he still had trainingwheels when Tyler started learning that trick Wink
  • 2 1
 @asapyohanes: Okay, didn't know that dude, thanks! Smile
  • 10 0
 is that a GT Deception? Are they about to start making those again? If they do I'm all in I'd buy one in a heartbeat
  • 14 0
 In the videos, Amir and T-Mac ride a few different bikes - Sanction, LaBomba, or a Distortion. We currently make the first two, and right now we only make Distortions for our athletes.
  • 10 0
 @GTBicycles: Well then please make the Distortion for all of us. And since we are here, I have a Sanction ('15) and love it. BUT if you make the chrome (silver bullet?) ones available I am going to get another!
  • 9 0
 @magiko9: we always welcome the feedback. Re: the Sanction - well, on that one, I'd say keep your eyes open, you never know ... Wink
  • 10 0
 @GTBicycles: Damn now I have to refresh GT website every 15 seconds. Smile
  • 5 0
 @GTBicycles: I LOVED my old distortion. That was one of my favorite bikes.
  • 4 0
 @sixstringsteve: same, but still rockin it
  • 1 0
 @steezysam: Glad to hear you've still got yours. I wish I had the space to have kept mine. That distortion was a riot. Enjoy yours!
  • 6 0
 didn't see t-macs 3 double down whips in a while, such a crazy looking trick Big Grin
  • 6 0
 Why haven't we seen more of Amir in the FMB tour??
  • 1 0
 I think after his last broken bone he turned it down a bit...
  • 2 0
 1) Awesome video! exceptionally good
2) Never understood why we don't see Amir in more high coverage races and events. he rocks.
3) Awesome video!
  • 2 0
 Did T Mac pick up a sponser during the production of this exquisite little number. Great job. Peace!
  • 1 0
 I think the fox mechanics got sick of rebuilding the Marzo every three minutes.
  • 1 0
 Neat...much like the first video though, it still seems like they thought of a cool sounding name and made up some half baked back story to get it to work though.
  • 1 0
 That moment when you go from a savage mountain biking hero in the eyes of your sales team to mountain biking zero compared to these true heroes...
  • 3 0
 Yeah T-Mac!
  • 2 0
 Wow! That was some serious shredding.
  • 1 0
 Double downside whip on a enduro bike...Now I can't say I don't have bike for slopestyle riding Big Grin
  • 2 0
 Style for miles.
  • 2 0
 Legendary!
  • 1 0
 Sick vid, but what's the deal with T-Mac and a Fox fork?!
  • 1 0
 Very ,very,very nice ,good tune, great filming ,good vibes ,good job.
  • 1 0
 Who owns that farm? I want to ride there! ....I know where it is ;-)
  • 2 0
 ummmm…unicorn?
  • 1 0
 mad skills!
  • 1 0
 Great video.







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