When building a custom motorcycle for speed and power or for puttin’ around the racetracks at accelerated speeds, there are certain components and requirements that cannot be omitted. Choosing the correct engine is extremely important. Fred has used a variety of S&S engines in many of his previous custom-built bikes, and he knows how they perform, so a 103” S&S S-series was the right motor for this build. “The S&S 103 cubic-inch motor is a very powerful engine, and fits with the profile of this custom bike. It has great response, and can propel the Overmile custom around the racetrack or down the European autobahns almost as fast as high-speed turbo Roadrunner Internet can send an email from El Paso, Texas, to Belgium,” said Fred.

Primary belts can slip and chains can break, so builders have to decide which to use, depending on their desired end results and how the bike will be ridden. Depending on which report you read, belts are just as strong or even stronger than chains. A special constructed chain-driven Krugger primary was used on the Overmile custom to prevent any possibility of slippage during hard and fast take offs.

The “Krugger from Italy” headlight has a slant-cut design and a small fairing to help reduce the wind drag. As the rider leans forward and lies on the faux gas tank (the two-gallon gas tank is located in the tail section) the wind from the small fairing bounces off the goggles and helmet of the rider cutting down on the drag. These are the little things that make such big differences. Carefully mounted and situated underneath the right side portion of the dummy gas tank is a powerful 25-amp gel battery. This heavy-duty battery is to ensure quick starts every time the bike is fired up. Hidden underneath the left side of the dummy gas tank is a 3.2-quart oil tank.

Since the Overmile is also built to ride out on the open road and not just on the track, comfort becomes somewhat essential. This meant building a custom bike with a suspension system that supports both styles of riding. Fred considered several different types of suspension systems, but settled for a Fournales Air Ride system with an onboard compressor. This air ride system is capable of expanding a total of four-inches. This air ride suspension can be adjusted to riding styles and to desired comfort levels. The rear suspension is very similar to that of the Harley-Davidson Softail models, because it’s hidden away in a very similar manner. “When the Overmile is on display at a bike show or some type of motorcycle event, the suspension system is always in its lowest position, because it provides a better appearance,” said Fred.

Bikes that are built for power and speed must have a frame that can accommodate and provide proper fitment for all components, and be able to withstand rigorous stresses. When a builder goes to the drawing board to start constructing a new custom, the frame is one of the first components developed. Many builders outsource for their frames to trusted firms who specialize in this field, but Fred builds all his own frames.

Once Fred completed his frame, and acquired, or built all the other required parts, the Overmile custom was born. On a side note, if you would like to see Overmile in action, Fred makes some of the best YouTube motorcycle videos you’ll see. Punch up YouTube and type Overmile in the search box and a couple of cool Overmile videos will pop up.

 

It’s great when factory production motorcycle manufacturers wake up after years of sleeping and not hearing or listening to their customers and finally start producing a product that’s long overdue for their machines. Yep, I’m talking about the 6-speed transmission, and you know the motorcycle manufacturer I’m referring to. Custom bike builders such as Krugger Motorcycles and many others are long time fans and customers of BAKER Drivetrain. It’s undisputable that BAKER is the stand-alone leader when it comes to producing dependable and innovative motorcycle drive trains, and that’s the reason Krugger Motorcycles selected the BAKER 6-speed PowerBox for the Overmilecustom. There are a few other reasons why this model transmission was chosen for this build, but the most important one is because of the torque throughout all six gears. Fred Krugger wanted a transmission with power on fast take offs, and one with torque in the overdrive gear. This BAKER PowerBox provided Fred his cake and let him eat it too. Fred also wanted a transmission that would present a neat appearance. He was able to accomplish this by flipping the drive train 90-degrees so that it could be closer to the engine. Flipping the BAKER transmission also made the starter disappear. Sure, the starter is still there, but it’s located on the bottom backside of the BAKER drivetrain, and so is the wiring, which gives the bike an overall sleek look. “BAKER also stands behind their products. Their drivetrain comes with a five-year or 50,000 mile limited warranty, which ever comes first. This is another reason my customers feel good about BAKER products,” said Fred. For more information on all the BAKER Drivetrain products, log on to www.bakerdrivetrain.com or call 877-640-2004.

The economic downturn has cause many bike builders to drastically reduce production or completely cease operations, but there are still enough remaining to meet the needs of those who crave something different when it comes to custom-built motorcycles. The reasons many builders shut their doors range from not having enough operating capital to producing mediocre products, and the inability to develop, adjust, and maintain the right attitude and relationship with their customers. There are builders in the industry who produce some the most exciting and rare machines found on the globe, but some of their chauvinistic and macho attitudes can sometimes put a real damper on their potential to achieve total success. We’ve all seen our fair share of those bike builders who think that their human waste produces the same odor as a bottle of Clive Christian’s Imperial Majesty perfume ($215,000 per bottle) and that their machines are always better than all the rest.

Fred Bertrand is Krugger Motorcycles. He is one of the top custom motorcycle builders in the world and his business keeps moving forward even during a world financial crisis. “I always try to build the best possible product. My bikes are reliable, and each of them has their own special styling and designs. I also like to think that I have a friendly personality,” said Fred.

First impressions are everything. Back in 2005, I visited Fred’s shop in Basse Bodeux, Belgium, to photograph his CAD 22 bike for the cover of issue #43 of Barnett’s Magazine. I immediately noticed his friendly, but serious and positive attitude. He had a one-man shop back then and he still has a one-man shop operation today. Fred builds several custom bikes annually, two exclusive models, a one-off model, and a few R&D models for private and/or professional industry. For more information on Krugger Motorcycles, visit www.krugger.net.

 

SPECIFICATIONS
Owner: Albert Alberty Year/Make: 2009 Fabrication/Assembly: Krugger Motorcycles Build time: 4 months Engines: 103″ S&S S-Series Cases/Rods/Pistons: S&S Cylinder/Head/Cam: S&S Ignition: S&S Carb: S&S Shorty E Pipes: Krugger stainless steel/ceramic coated Air Cleaner: Krugger Transmission: BAKER 6-PowerBox 90-degrees flipped Primary: Krugger Clutch: Barnett Frame: Krugger Rake: 27.5-degrees Forks: Ohlins Rear Suspension: Fournales Air Ride with inboard compressor Wheels: H-D/Krugger Front Tire: 120 x 21 Avon Rear Tires: 220 x 20 Brakes: Beringer inboard Fuel Tank: Krugger 2-gallons/Tail section Oil Tank: Krugger		Handlebars: Krugger Risers: Krugger Headlight: Krugger from Italy Taillight: Krugger/H-D Hand Controls: Beringer radial Grips: Renthal Foot Controls: Krugger Pegs: Krugger Electrical: Krugger Painter: Krugger Color: White VW Graphics: El Cheapo Seat: Wild Hog Italy Special thanks to: Beringer, BAKER, S&S, Wildhog Leather, Bike The Best, El Cheapo, Fournales shocks, and Ruby helmet