Page 59 - Issue 34

Chris

DeBruler
DeBruler
DeBruler

(RATTY SHACK)

INGENUITY AWARD
WINNER

C C C C C C hris DeBruler and the guys at Ratty Shack Customs s at Ratty Shack Customs fi rst attempt at building one on
fi rst attempt at building one on
hris DeBruler and the guy
may have showed up late to the party, but they
may have showed up late to the party, but they
his own. Since time was the most valuable
his own. Since time was the most valuable
soon found out it’s not necessarily where you fi nish,
commodity, he leveraged the work already done on
C but how you fi nish. The night before they were due
in Grafton, they found out that their engine wouldn’t fi re.
in Grafton, they found out that their engine wouldn’t fi re. it and built the rest of the bike around it. He made a
twisted hexagonal down tube, which required placing it
Dejected, Chris made the decision not to come to the in the frame jig. While in the jig, new motor mounts were
Dejected, Chris made the decision not to come to the
build off. The next day, he received word that his presence
build off. The next day, he received word that his presence made. The rear wheel was a disassembled freebie that
w just required lacing, truing, and cleaning. The front was
was still requested. His spirit renewed, he re-rounded up as still requested. His spirit renewed, he re-rounded up
was still requested. His spirit renewed, he re-rounded up
his troops and made the 20-hour drive from Raeford, purchased as an assembled unit that has sat outside for
his troops and made the 20-hour drive from Raeford,
North Carolina to St. Louis in about 15 hours. years and just required soap, water and air.
North Carolina to St. Louis in about 15 hours.
His build is pretty much resourcefulness, defi ned. For The motor that gave them so much trouble is a
His build is pretty much resourcefulness, defi ned. For
example, he completely scratchbuilt his girder front end. xample, he completely scratchbuilt his girder front end. Honda 1980 CB750 that is basically stock, save for a
example, he completely scratchbuilt his girder front end.
e
But he did so without the aid of a lathe in his shop, and
But he did so without the aid of a lathe in his shop, and mild cylinder bore, new seals, and a ported and polished
there were over forty hand-machined pieces. That meant head. The stock trans has been augmented with a
there were over forty hand-machined pieces. That meant
that he had to rely on the kindness of friends, spending
that he had to rely on the kindness of friends, spending handmade hand shifter and suicide clutch. Much like
over seventeen hours in travel time alone. It’s just doing everything else, the pipes, sissy bar, chain tensioner and
what you have to do. every cool part you can fi nd on this thing was made
The frame was a stalled project that was actually his from scrap metal by Chris.
Jeremiah Gardner about the bike he created for last year’s competition:
Jeremiah Gardner
“Everything was just nasty. The brakes were terrible
and it just wasn’t ridable. Even though I won, as a
rider I failed.” With that in mind, he started with a ’79
(GARDNER ROAD KUSTOMS) Yamaha XS650 that was sitting around his shop for the
better part of a decade. With the frame, used center
ROAD WARRIOR AWARD
& CANADIAN CHOICE AWARD cradle and built from there. Everything was designed
and built with functionality in mind.
WINNER ride height. He was aiming for low, and low is what he
One of his biggest challenges was establishing the
2 014 Build-Off Champ Jeremiah Gardner and his got. The fi rst time he dropped it off the table, the bike

stood up without the aid of a kickstand. He obviously
crew at Gardner Road Kustoms gave it everything
they had with their modern interpretation of an
fi xed that and the bike runs and handles fl awlessly,
2 early 1900’s board track/salt fl at racer, in a more
screaming up and down the main drag of Grafton that
than respectable bid to defend the title.
than respectable bid to defend the title. as evidenced by the silver and blue fl ash that was
Jeremiah did a complete 180° from last year’s ratty,
Jeremiah did a complete 180° from last year’s ratty, weekend. A painter by trade, he rattle-canned the
s
steampunk-ish look to something cleaner, lighter, and
steampunk-ish look to something cleaner, lighter, and teampunk-ish look to something cleaner, lighter, and fi nish on this year’s entry just to prove that you don’t
more rideable. He offered up this candid evaluation need a $10,000 paint job to have a cool bike.
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