There is always a first time – but some “first times” are more special than others: Like the first Custombike you built by your own ideas and specifications. But if you handed your dreams and notions to the ones who build and paint, there is just one thing you may need: Patience. Something that Michael Lorum – owner of the latest Fred Kodlin Top Custom learned the hard way. From the initial contact at Saalbach-Hinterglemm 2006 to the introduction of the bike during the European Bike Week at Lake Faak in September, there was no second wasted in building this spectacular Chopper Ride: And the time from the introduction to the first “Best of Show” Trophy was less than 24 hours!
“The initial spark for the bike was lit at the Custom Chrome Europe Show and the European Championship of Custombike Building in march 2006”, remembers Michael, “but it took until the end of may ‘06 to take all the ideas and concepts to the annual “Bikermania” at Saalbach-Hinterglemm. Saalbach/Austria usually assembles quite a selection of the best german Custom Shops, yet mot of the guys Michael was introducing his ideas, waved him off: Such an ambitious project in the limited time available – impossible.
The project Michael had in mind should be ready to rock (and roll!) at Lake Faak. Roughly three months to go. But german Master Customizer Fred Kodlin – what Michael didn’t know – is no stranger of working under pressure and stress: In fact, most of his best bikes were built under severe time-pressure. So Fred gave the matter some thought – and after Saalbach agreed to take the project into his workshop. The “Guilty” project was on its way.
Adding to Freds Team, austrian Airbrush-Pro Marcus Pfeil was already briefed on the paintjob Michael and Kathi had developed – and he agreed to take care of the extensive aribrush artwork, “actually one of the biggest paintjobs I’ve ever done”, said Marcus. And one that would be almost as time consuming as the actual construction of the bike. Following a visit to Freds Facility at Borken/Hessen, when the frame was bent and welded, Michael joined a trip to Sturgis – more impressions, more bikes, more inspirations. The 17-day trip left Michael with an even bigger urge to take a seat on his own Custombike-project – and back from South Dakota, there was very little time left before the bike would be introduced…
If Fred Kodlin of Marcus Pfeil would have allowed Michael to sleep in the workshop, he would’ve done it. Not just for controlling the production first hand, but to follow the process of customizing through every step. But since his own business was calling too, telephone calls and e-mails had to do – sometimes the flow of information got stuck: “I always told Fred “send me images of the progress”, I want to know what’s going on”, remembers Michael, “but he sent me close-ups of the engine or just the tire-profile – I was going mad!”
“Well, you want to surprise the customer at least a little bit,“ grins Fred, “where’s the surprise when the owner knows every detail before the unveiling?” The stress was fueled by news that the paintwork was taking more time than expected – and the painted bodyparts and framework still had to be assembled. Tension was mounting in the first days of september, when the BikeWeek at Lake Faak started: Would there be a Bike to introduce at all?
“Patience is not my strongpoint”, confesses Michael, “and when Fred said, ‚take a bike from my booth, we will introduce your ride on Friday at the Casino in Velden,’ I was counting every minute, if not second.” Using the F-Bob as his daily transport didn’t calm him down, but finally, the big night was there: “When the cover was lifted from the bike, I was unable to speak and move,“ remembers Michael, “the feeling was just overwhelming…” Adding to the stunning introduction with the complete Custom Press, local newspapers and several TV-teams was the first Bikeshow participation: At the Custom Chrome Europe Ride-In Bikeshow.
In just a few years, the CCE Bikeshow has become one of the highlights of the European Bikeweek – selected Journalists and Specialists make a tough Jury and the best bikes from around the lake, thus from all over europe, attend the event. In the morning sunset, Michael has taken his first ride: Turning the key, the digital Speedo called “my Name is Guilty, lets have a Ride”, adding another detail to the bike. “Nothing beats the first ride on your own Custombike”, remembers Michael, “it was such a cool experience, but little did I know there was more to come…”
“I attended the CCE bikeshow several times in the past, always eager to display a bike myself”, he ads, “and today would be the day!” Excitement started to build when the trophy presentation started and Michael had to push the bike upon stage for the “Best Chopper” trophy,
From introduction to “Best of Show” in less than 24 hours – that must be some kind of record too! But what made the bike so special that almost all Jury members placed this at the top-spot?
The history of Fred Kodlin and his “Murdercycles” knows plenty of them: Extreme bikes are his business. Brake discs on interim axles, rubber drum wheel drives , hidden cables and brakelines and clean looks plus – last but not least – the combination of all in show-stopping hubless ultra-custom. Can this be surpassed? For Fred: No problem – he does it on an annual base. And sometimes more than once a year…
Planing a bike of that magnitude takes a lot of experience: The huge aftermarket supplying all components like engine, gearbox, wheels and many other bits and pieces does help, but if you want to have something really special, things look different. Fred started building the frame based on his own Chopper and “Fuck-U” frames, but refined the theme again.
Main point: There are no visible straight tubes. Every tube arches in graceful arches from the steering head to the swingarm pivot – very difficult to calculate and to manufacture. The swingarm is so smoothly integrated to the bodywork it looks almost like a rigid frame end. Everything you see is sheet metal: Bent, hammered into shape, welded and grinded.
The oiltank is placed in the middle between the fuel tank halves, lines and cables run inside the tubing. The 42° angle at the steering head allowed the use of a 16-Inch over fork: The US-aftermarket Springer was dissassembled and painted to match the design.
Just recently, Kodlin Motorcycles has become European importer for Performance Machine products, resulting in the use of the 1st-ever set of 3-D design PM “Del Rey” design wheels which grace the superb ride. Fitting brake rotors and belt pulley included. Some details are so well-hidden, that you really have to look for them: The missing brake pulley at the rear is hidden inside the frame bodywork. Despite the “conventional” look, the rear wheel is driven through a intermediate axle located on the swingarm. With the pivot on the swingarm, the belt doesn’t wear out as fast as on other motorcycles.
There are many options for the power source, especially if you are one of Custom Chrome Europe’s partners for designing Customparts, but none of them would come close to a show-polished 121 Cubic Inch Total Performance V-Twin, which is delivering more than 120 horsepower to the rear end with plenty of torque for the rider who can sit down relaxed, well knowing that there are plenty of horses available by every twist on the throttle. But this time the engine didn’t come from the european importer.
Fred got the powerplant straight from the production line: “Since I know Tom Pirone of TP – it was just a telephone call to get a partially completed engine”, says Fred, “several modifications could now be performed without taken a engine apart.” Even in the polished version, with the cooling surface minimised, the engine performs its task of delivering the thrust to the RevTech 6-speed gearbox, but on this bike via a very special primary drive. What looks like a outer primary cover is in fact an sophisticated oil cooler – with oil running in and out through different hidden lines inside the CNC-machined part.
Smooth lines and integration of the complete bodyparts are a “must” for all of Fred's customs – this time, the paintwork was playing a major part in the design, with Austrian Airbrush pro Marcus Pfeil setting new standards: Even gemstones and LED's are integral part of the design and the paintwork, forcing creator and painter working together as close as possible. That the bike would be rather a rolling piece of art than a daily ride was planned from the start:
“I was developing the idea of the artwork with my girlfriend”, says Michael, “and Marcus painted the idea to perfection.” Graphics with silver leaf, candy red and gold metalflake create an almost 3-dimensional effect. All the different panels show the “trial of mankind”, with the verdict handed out at the fender: “Guilty”. Not to forget another result of the trial: A unique custombike that will make headlines and magazine covers all over the world! A special thanks from Michael, who is in the shoe-business was given to Fred at Faak on Friday, after he finally had arrived after a grueling end-run in his workshop to assemble the bike in time for Faak: Some custom-made shoes with Fred’s Skull Logo and “Fuck-U” signature on the leather, all heavy duty style. These boots are made for riding.
“But the best thing is that through the project, I have met a lot of new friends,“ Michael finishes, “people who know the Custom scene and who are just great characters. I am kooking forward to riding with them in 2007. If you ask me if I became addicted, the answer too must be Guilty but I like it…”
SOON AVAILABLE: DVD Custombike “Building by Fred Kodlin” – Bikefeatures and creation of “Guilty” documentation by Gerd ScheidelBiker Lifestyle TV Studio 1; www.studio1-Scheidel.de
Technische Daten/Technical
data/Spécifications/Technische
Specificaties/Formulario Dati Tecnici
Allgemeines/General/Generalitè/Algemeen/Generalita:
Name/Bezeichnung/Name/Nom de la moto/Naam van de motorfiets/Nome della Moto: Guilty
Besitzer/Owner/Propriétaire/Eigenaar/Proprietario: Michael aus Salzburg
Ort/Location/Ville/Stad/Citta: Salzburg/Austria
Auf-/Umgebaut von/Assembly Fred Kodlin Motorcycles
Jahr/Year/Année/bouwjaar/Anno: 2006
Bauzeit/Time/Terminé/bouwtijd/Periodo di lavorazione: 90 Tage
Fertigstellung/Finishishing date/Finissage/afbouwdatum/Dati di completare: European Bikeweek Faaker See
Modell/Model/Modèle d'origine/model/Marca e Modello: F. Kodlin Chopper
Wert/Value/prix/waarde/valore: Noch nicht verfügbar
Sonstiges/Other/Autres/ovenig/Altro:
Motor/Engine/Moteur/Motorblok/Motore:
Baujahr/Year/Année/bouwjaar/Anno: 2006
Block/Lower end/Bas moteur/onder blok/Blocco Motore: Total Performance
Kurbelwelle/Crankshaft/Vilebrequin/Ceruleas/Albero motore: Total Performance
Zylinder/Cylinder/Cylindrée/cilinderse/Cilindri: Total Performance
Kolben/Pistons/Pistons/zuigers/Pistoni: Total Performance
Hubraum/Displacement/Cylindrée/cilinderinhoud/cilindrata : (121 Cubic-Inch)
Pleuel/Con Rod/Bielle/dryfstangen/Biella: Total Performance
Zylinderköpfe/Heads/haute Cylindrée/cilinderkop/testata: Total Performance
Ventile/Valves/soupapes/kleppen/Valvole: Total Performance
Stößel/Pushrods/Tiges de poussoir/klepstoters/regolabili: Total Performance
Nockenwelle/Camshaft/Cames/nokhenas/klepstoters: Total Performance
Vergaser/Carburator/Carburateur/carburateur/Carburatore: Mikuni HSR 45
Luftfilter/Air cleaner/Filtre à air/luchtfilter/Filtro Aria: Fred Kodlin Motorcycles
Zündung/Ignition/Allumage/ontsteking/Accenzione: Crane HI 4
Krümmer/Pipes/ Pipes d'échappement/uitlaten/scarichi: Fred Kodlin Motorcycles
Endtöpfe/Mufflers/Silencieux/demper/silenziatore: Fred Kodlin Motorcycles
Leistung (PS)/Horsepower (hp)/Chevaux/vermogen/Cavallo vapore: 129 hp
Sonstige Bemerkungen/Other/Autres/ovenige bejzonderheeden/Altro: Cylinders diamond shaped, all cases show polished to perfection.
Übersetzung/Getriebe//Transmission/Transmission/Versnellungsbak/Cambio :
Baujahr/Year/Année/bouwjaar/Anno: 2006
Typ/Type/Type/type/Typ:Rev Tech
Gänge/Gears/Vitesse/aantal versnellingen/rapporti: 6 Speed
Schaltung/Shifting/changement de vitesse,/schaledwijze/azionamento: Foot
Primärantrieb/Primary Transmission/Transmission primaire/primaire overbrenging/trasmiss. primaria: Tauer/Fred Kodlin Motorcycles
Kupplung/Clutch/Disques d'embrayage/frizione: Barnett
Sekundärantrieb/Secondary transmission/Transmission secondaire/sekundaire overbrenging/trasmiss. secondaria: Fred Kodlin Motorcycles Beltdrive
Sonstige Bemerkungen/Other/Autres/ovenig/Altro:NEUHEIT!!! Die äußere Primärabdeckung dient als Ölkühler- Öl fließt durch etliche Kanäle… // NEW the outer primary cover acts as oil cooler where the oil is directed through various channels.
Fahrwerk/Frame; Brakes/Cadre; Freins/frame en remmen/Telaio e freni :
Rahmen/Frame/Cadre/frame/Telaio: Fred Kodlin Extrem Chopperframe NEU! / NEW!
Baujahr/Year/Année/bouwjaar/Anno: 2006
Lenkkopfneigung/Rake/Chasse/balhoofdshael/inclinazione: 42°
Verlängerung (Verkürzung)/Stretch (Shortage)/Allongement 5“ (Abréviation)/verlenging (inhoulang)/allungamento (riduzione): 10“ stretch
Sonstige Umbauten/Other/Autres/andere wegrigingen/Altro:alle Rahmenrohre zieren eingelassene Led´s und zusätzlich echte eingefassene Brilli´s // Frame tubing integrates LED lights and, if you look closer, set with real gem stones (Brilliants)
Schwinge/Swinging arm/Bras oscillant/achtenbrug/Forcellone oscillante: Neu, von der Smoothend abgeleitete , sich in die Rahmenrohre übergangslos einfließende… NEW Fred Kodlin design, developed from the “Smoothend” swingarm, smooth flowing look with the frame design.
Stoßdämpfer/Shock absorbers/Amortisseurs/schokdempers/ammortizzatori: Progressive Suspension
Gabel/Fork/Fourche/vork/Forcella anteriore: Nagelneue superschöne Springergabel mit Billet Brücken und Rockers und lackierten Rohren. // brandnew superb springer fork, featuring billet triple trees & rockers with painted fork-tubing.
Hersteller/Type/Constructeur/merk/Marca: Fred Kodlin Motorcycles
Verlängerung/ Stretch/Extension/verlenginging/allungamento: 16-Inch-over
Sonstiges/Other/Autres/ovenig/Altro:
Räder/Wheels/Roues/wielen/Ruota: Performance Machine
Vorne/Front/avant/voor/anteriore: Performance Machine “Del Rey”… die einzigen wirklich 3D- bis ins äußere Felgenbett gefrästen Räder… es handelt sich um den 1. Radsatz dieser Serie, den Performance Machine Europa-Vertriebspartner Fred Kodlin zur Verfügung stellt // 1st set of Performance Machine “Del Rey” 3-D designed wheels, offered to PM European distribution partner Fred Kodlin.
Größe/Size/Dimensions/maat/dimensione: 3.5 X 18''
Nabe/Hub/Moyeu/naaf/rotore: Performance Machine
Speichen/Spokes/rayons/spaken/raggi: “Del Ray” 3-D billet design
Reifen/Tyre/Pneu/banden/pneumatico: Avon 130- 70 18
Hinten/Rear/arriere/achter/posteriore:Größe/Size/Dimensions/maat/dimensione: 10.5 X 18
Nabe/Hub/Moyeu/naaf/rotore: Performance Machine
Speichen/Spokes/rayons/spaken/raggi: “Del Ray” 3-D billet design
Reifen/Tyre/Pneu/banden/pneumatico: Avon 300
Bremsen/Brakes/Freins/remmen/Freni:Vorne/Front/avant/voor/anteriore: Bremsscheibe(n)/Disk(s)/Disque(s)/remschiguen/Disco: PM Del Ray
Bremszange(n)/Caliper(s)/Bloc(s)/remklaumen/Pinza freno: PM 4-Piston
Hinten/Rear/arriere/achter/posteriore: Fred Kodlin hidden Brakesystem featuring PM 4 Piston caliper
Bremsscheibe/Disk/Disque/remschiguen/Diso: Fred Kodlin
Bremszange/Caliper/Bloc/remklaumen/Pnza freno: PM 4-Piston
Sonstige Bemerkungen/Other/Autres/ovenig/Altri: —
Accessoires:
Lenker/Bars/Guidon/stuur/Manubrio: Fred Kodlin mit eingelassenen Blinkern // integrated indicators
Spiegel/Mirrors/Rétroviseur/spiegel/Specchietto: Arlen Ness
Armaturen/Griffe/Grips/Poignées/handgreepen/manopole: Rebuffini
Fußrasten/Pegs/Repose-pieds/voetsteunen/Pedaliera:Vorne/Front/avant/voor/anteriore: Fred Kodlin Motorcycles “Guilty”
Hinten/Rear/arriere/achter/posteriore: Fred Kodlin Motorcycles “Guilty”
Tank/Gas Tank/Réservoir d'essence/tank/Serbatoio: F Fred Kodlin Motorcycles
Sitzbank/Seat/Selle/zadel/Sella: “Custom Leather” Armin Dobstetter
Öltank/Oil-tank/Réservoir d'huile/olie tank/Serbatoio olio: Zwischen den Tankhälften // located between the tank halfes
Schutzblech/Fenders/Garde-boue/spatborden/Parafango: Vorne/Front/avant/voor/anteriore: Fred Kodlin Motorcycles Hinten/Rear/arriere/achter/posteriore: Fred Kodlin Motorcycles
Elektrik/Electrics/Electricité/electrciteit/Elettrico:
Lampe vorne/Headlight/Phares/koplamp/Faro: NEW Fred Kodlin Motorcycles design!
Rücklicht/Taillight/Feux arrière/achterlicht/Luce posteriore Fred Kodlin Motorcycles
Blinker/Indicators/Clignotantes/richtingaanwejzers/Lampeggiatore: Integrated
Kabelbaum/Wireing/System électrique/kabelboom/Imp. elettrico: Fred Kodlin
Sonstiges/Other/Autres/ovenig/Altro: —
Lackierung/Painting/Peinture/spuitwerk/Verniciature:Idee/Idea/Idée/idee/Idea: Michi and Kathi in Bed… // Michi und Kathie im Bett
Ausführung/Painter/Peintre/spuiter/Autore: Pfeil-Design
Basislack/Base laquer/Laque basique/basiskleur (soort)/Colore base: Metalflake
Farbe/Colour/Couleur/kleuren/Colore: House of Kolours
Airbrush-Gemälde/Design/AirbrushArt/Design/Peinture speciale/ontwerp/Aerografie: Markus “Pfeili” Pfeil
Sonstige Bemerkungen/Other/Autres/ovenig/Altro: The most advanced and extensive paintjob he ever did // die aufwendigste Lackierung, die er je gemacht hat
Kontaktadresse/Adress/contact/contactadres/Indirizzo
FRED KODLIN Motorcycles
Fred Kodlin
Rudolf-Diesel-Str. 1
D-34583 Borken
Germany
Phone: +49 (0)5682 7071-0
Fax: +49 (0)5682 7071-29
E-Mail: support@kodlin.com
Internet: www.kodlin.com
