This feature was written a couple of days ago. Without knowing for sure that yesterday Sunday October 5th in Cologne, Germany Fred Krugger would be voted the winner of the “Freestyle Class” of the AMD World Championship Of Bike Building. It’s the second time that Krugger wins the championship, the first time in Sturgis in 2010. For one-off motorcycles, problem(s) solving is the name of the game. Some custom builders will not venture far from what they know by fear of failure, especially for a commissioned project by a retail client. Some will never touch any motorcycle from a brand that they don’t know very well. Some will not work for a manufacturer whose briefing include some constraints regarding motor, driveline, components or aesthetics.
Fred “Krugger” Bertrand will tell you that building a custom bike to only impress others is relatively easy . He belongs to a very small contingent of custom builders who challenge themselves into extremely complex tasks while still frightened by the tasks to accomplish. It’s not the first time that Krugger is called by a major motorcycle brand to create a concept motorcycle. And he works on each project as it is intended to go mass market, his absolute professional dream…
About 1 1/2 year ago I talked to Krugger. He was nervous but extremely excited at the idea of working for BMW Motorrad. Last September 25th, BMW eventually unveiled the Krugger’s BMW K1600 project featured here, dubbed NURB in reference to the very famous Nurburgring Race Track located northwest of Frankfurt, Germany. The BMW K1600 is the brand’s ultimate touring machine with a legendary in-line compact 6-cylinder 1,649 cc, 160 hp engine and a maximum torque of 129 lb/ft. A transversely installed engine delivering dynamic performance as well as refined running smoothness. Over 70% of the maximum torque is available from just 1500 rpm. For eceptional touring, yes, but also for Sport riding if you are in the mood.
The factory K1600 bike is an extremely sophisticated machine, featuring several drive modes, a very complex electronic system and a wiring loom (with no less than 7 computer chips) and even an adaptive headlight for safety during night riding. No way, BMW would let Krugger touch this motor and these electronics, and I doubt very much he would have want to… For the rest, he got complete freedom of expression under reserve – of course – that the Krugger branded custom version work as good or better than the original machine…
Krugger belongs to this category of builders who doesn’t know how to sketch or draw, or even use a CAD program. He works from his imagination, getting from his brain a visual representation of the finished product, then of each task to accomplish and how to execute them. During the last 18 months, in his shop of Basse-Bodeux south of Liege, Belgium he led a solitary life, obsessing about each body line, about each custom part to be fabricated. All this without altering the factory K1600 vital components and electronics, just making them being “disappear” under a slick one-off chassis.
At more than 700 lbs, the factory BMW K1600 deserves a lighter weight for improved performance and handling. Mission accomplished via a new one-off low and long frame and swingarm. From the original suspension, only the front shock was re-used. Like many European builders, Krugger loves and is largely inspired by the curves and details of the original art-deco style as it flourished from the 20’s to the 40’s. An inspiration translated in beautiful curves, surfaces, recesses, geometric shapes and lavish ornamentation, all made first from cardboard then formed on steel .
Such machine could only roll on custom wheels (21” front & 20” rear) cut from blanks. The BMW NURB is slowed via heavily modified brake systems from Beringer, a six-piston caliper at the front, a four-piston at the back with fluid pushed from radial master cylinders. The new brake setup was hooked to the original standard BMW ABS, a very difficult job that required many trials and errors before becoming satisfactory. If BMW K1600 tourer guys don’t recognize their preferred machine, I guess they will not be offended. I am pretty sure they will all admire the NURB neo-retro racing version built by one of the best motorcycle designers and builders of this generation. Krugger Motorcycles (Photography copyright Thierry Dricot and Onno Wieringa for Cyril Huze)
Congratulations Fred! You always do amazing work.
Joe
After seeing all the entries in freestyle last week, there was no doubt that this bike would take the top honor. Congratulations Freddie
Certainly deserves the recognition. working with the BMW 1600/6 must have been a huge challenge. The art deco industrial look is perfectly executed. But beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
It’s not for me, but what an incredible and perfectly executed concept
Bravo mon cher Fred … encore un bel exercice de style réussi haut la main
Very very kool! Later Jay
Stunning sums this bike up quite well
A Wow factory
Damn, c’est vraiment sweet ca!!
It says the original K1600 weighs 700 pounds and it implies that this weighs less — what is the final wet weight?
By far one of my favorite all time builders. When i hear he is building a new project i can’t wait to see the results. Im still in awe of what he does. Been to his shop and makes you owner how this stuff comes out of that little basement.
Beau travail mon ami. J’ai hâte de voir ce que vous venez avec la prochaine!
Michael
Yuk!
I have nothing but admiration and respect for Fred both as a person and as a bike builder…highly inspired, forward thinking and craftsmanship second to non….Wonderful work my friend ! CONGRATS !!!
Wow!
Art Deco in a contemporary presentation… Very nice indeed.
-nicker-
Strong work — would love to hear it run!
Wow! Art form, function, power, and ridability — all rolled into one.
absolutely remarkable // love the inspiration and the art deco lines.
fab u lous !!
x
WOW! The attention to detail and design is just SPECTACULAR!! He just turns out spectacular work.
Hello everybody,
thanks for your kind comments ! This is a great feature from Cyril !
This bike has been a huge challenge, very exciting !!
I’m so happy with the AMD result and the good feedback…. and very surprise because , until now , there are any haters on that post…. 🙂
Cheers from Belgium and now, back at work , the new bike will be S&S motorised
If that motorcycle was in a movie it would be the star !
he is belgian, me too. very proud , i am…
Beautiful bike and I’m sure it rides just as well as it looks. I would love to take this on the Dragon, but as for their “exceptional touring” claim…..that’s very suspect. While the power plant is well designed for touring, the build is certainly not.
I have been following Fred’s work for many years and he always amazes me with his creativity and craftsmanship. Yes he’s a champion and wold class builder and also a down to earth nice guy. I was at INTERMOT / AMD Championship and the minute I saw this bike I knew he would win and he had some tough competition. Way to go Fred
This is pretty cool Fred
“the new bike will be S&S motorised”…
an X-Wedge in a cafe-sized bike, mounted sideways like a Guzzi?
The K bike above is very cool. Congratulations.
tres belle machine,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,from Belgique (belgium)
Just fantastic, I love it.
Great! This is a completely new way of customisation (electronics etc). We can admire entire motorcycle history on this bike. Pure retrofuturism.
has the qualities of an extreme production bike of the future, very nice.
I can not come up with enough superlatives to describe this bike, after40 plus years building custom motor cycles, this is likely the finest and most imaginative piece I have ever seen. it gives new meaning to the phrase Master Builder, so often lavished upon “new guys” who after maybe five years on the scene and three nice bikes built are dubbed ” Master Builder.” Congratulations Fred on a fantastic piece! BC
Damn I will bet that is fast…..Looks great as well……
Brad Pitt will be calling with an offer soon for this bike.
I like the looks of the motor the most. I hope more production bikes show off the motor more – the Scout did a great job. Maybe BMW will take a queue from this bike and start showing off that fine motor in a production release.
Oh and the exposed exhaust is awesome.
Bravo Fred!
So ugly, it’s cool- I dig it.
Fred good guy,great builder! Always next level. We’ll done my friend. Good design= simple solutions to complex problems.