The Klock Werks Design Team
Brian Klock isn’t working out of a two-car garage anymore . . .
“What people are really learning about us now is that we’re pretty diverse up here in Mitchell, South Dakota. A Sportster chopper, a bobber or a bagger, we’ll do ‘em all.” To stay alive as a custom bike builder in South Dakota you better be ready to work on what ever comes through the door and that’s what Klock Werk’s has done since Day One. “That's why we are so diverse,” says Brian. “That's why we’ve built all those Sportsters, and Dynas, and Softails and baggers. It’s all honed our skills, building everything from nostalgia bikes, to the old-school bobber thing, to contemporary customs to the baggers.” What most people don’t know about these guys and their shop, however, is that they’ve actually been building custom baggers for 10 years. And custom baggers, as we all know, are hot right now.
“I’ve been at this, officially, since 1997,” Brian says. “We started in a 700 square-foot garage, staying there until May of 2004. It was just three of us, and no sign in the door.” Yet Klock Werks stayed plenty busy. They even got the call to build a bike that went on the cover of Drag Specialties' 2006 FatBook. “I didn't want to let it get too big, too fast, though,” says Brian. A couple years ago that decision was taken out of his hands, though, when a book was written about how to customize baggers. On the cover it touted “Interviews with the pros . . . " listing Arlen Ness, Donny Smith and Brian Klock. “And that was huge,” he says. “Those guys are my heroes. To even be named in that kind of company is incredible. And as soon as that book hit I got so many calls. People didn't realize that I was into baggers as long and as hard as I was.”
And now you will find a complete line of parts here in the pages of the website as well as at www.kustombaggers.com. “Take a look at the WFB, our Discovery Channel Bagger, and check out our new ‘Double Backs,’” Brian says, “so far they’ve gotten a great response.” Everyone looks for the mufflers and can't find them. Then they start asking about the head pipes, then asking who makes these things and where can I get a set." “Harley then came out with that Street Glide and the bagger market really took off,” says Brian. “Our web site exploded with inquiries for custom parts. It’s funny, but something like those Under Covers, those neat little parts we have that fit under the floorboards? I’d designed those things four years ago and had them sitting on the shelf wondering what I would ever do with them.” He’s not wondering anymore. They are now production parts for sale. So are the Klock Werks Bag Fillers, the Custom Bagger Dashes, the Handlebars and the Speaker Grilles - and the NEW FLARE WINDSHIELD. And there’s lots more coming. There are Bagger Frames, there’s that exhaust system and the Klock Werks “Curvaceous” Saddlebag Tops with latches to match. And the Klock Werks Design Team isn’t done. Just check out the WFB featured elsewhere. It’s loaded with Klock Werks originality.
“People saw that bike at Sturgis and they really want these things", says Brian. "Many say they already ride a bagger, they just want one that’s better looking, lots faster and still something they can comfortably ride to Sturgis. These bikes fit that bill. As good looking as they are, and as fast, they’re absolutely dead smooth and all-day comfortable."
“It’s all been pretty amazing,” Brian reflects. “We’ve been very fortunate, and this is definitely a team effort. Everything we're doing here is coming from the ‘Klock Werks Design Team,’ because that’s what it is. A team. It takes someone like my wife Laura constantly pushing me forward. It takes guys like Dan Cheeseman, Joe Mielke and Chris Degen out in the shop. It takes John Dean and his wife Luauna taking care of the parts and processing internet orders. Steve Moeckle making sure our finances are in order. Lance Buum making sure everything is shipped. Melissa Waddell keeping our websites updated and the marketing ahead of the game. Vic Briggs and Dustin Wallenburg answering the phones, addressing the questions and processing the orders. Lastly, Dave Sietsema making sure that our sales team is up to date on all our products. Klock Werks is right at the cutting edge of design and manufacturing technology. The gauge housing in the WFB bike, for instance. They worked that up with a company called Stratasys who brought in a rapid prototype reader for a month, letting Klock Werks design parts and then prototype them in plastic overnight. And amid all this there’s John Patton working in his own little division of the shop they call “Quigley Motor Werks” doing all the engine and dyno work. “And there’s Randy Rothlisberger, too,” Brian says. A full-time firemen in town, he’s Klock Werk’s part-time engine builder, machinist, and mechanic extraordinaire. “Randy’s got to be the most particular and exacting guy I’ve ever seen,” says Brian. “Exactly the kind of guy you would want in the shop.”
Looking forward, Brian says the whole Klock Werks Design Team plans to maintain their diversity and just continue doing what they’re doing, building the cool stuff. “But I guess we’re coming out of the closet a little,” he says, although that door actually got kicked wide open - And Klock Werks is ready for whatever comes. “This is all happening at a good time for us,” says Brian. “If all of this would have happened when we were still back in that little 700 square foot shop we wouldn’t have been able to keep up. But now, in our new 7,500 square foot shop just 50 feet away from our original garage, everybody’s pulling together and we’ve gelled into a real team. We’re ready.” So is the entire biker world.
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