Kim Suter had no idea that a trip to Sturgis would totally change his life. Having never been there before, Kim arrived in 1986 with lofty expectations of a custom bike Mecca. When he got there, he felt a small measure of disappointment when he saw a sea of Harleys that, to his eye, were all the same except for paint, chrome doodads, and the amount of dirt on them. It was this small grain of disappointment that led to the pearl that is now KC Creations, home of Big Inch Bikes.

This 2007 Big Inch Bikes Bagger is a custom-built piece from the KC Creations lineup of semi-custom bikes that are all built to order. With extensive customization available from their huge catalog of components, it is a one-of-a-kind motorcycle that was shown at The Bikers Ball at the 2007 Daytona Bike Show. The level of detail throughout this piece rivals that of any full custom and it rides better than any hand-built bike ever should. This is a very special machine.

If you’re not familiar with Kim Suter, then you haven’t been following custom bikes for very long. As one of the most highly respected names in custom bike building in the Midwest, his shop has been turning out high-end machinery for years. He was invited to participate in the 5th season of the Discovery Channel series, Biker Build-Off, where he faced-off against an up-and-coming female bike builder from Texas. His bikes have been photographed by just about every motorcycle publication, including Easyriders, V-Twin, American Iron, Iron Works and Hot Bike just to name a few. He has been included in two Books, Choppers Heavy Metal Art by Michael Lichter and The Art of the Chopper II, written by Tom Zimberhoff.

This bike features a ton of high-end equipment and parts. It started with a 200T Tire dropseat chassis with a rubber-mounted drivetrain. KC Creations then added their custom bagger sheetmetal, giving the bike a long, sleek, powerful look unlike anything else on the road. The Bagger model is unique in their lineup, as it is somewhat less radical and more practical, while still offering a completely custom appearance. If there’s a custom bike you can easily and comfortably ride cross-country, this is it.

Knowing that there’s no substitute for cubic inches, Kim chose a polished 124 cubic inch S&S motor to fill the frame. He completed the power package with an S&S carburetor and air cleaner, and a Crane Hi-4 ignition. Exhaust duties are handled by a Rinehart system that extends beyond the saddlebags, ending in trick billet aluminum Rinehart tips. To translate power into motion, he installed a Baker six-speed transmission and tied the two together with an enclosed chain primary and belt final drive. It uses rubber engine mounts for comfort and isolation from vibration. KCC rotors were installed, with the rear using a drive-side rotor/pulley combo. To stop the bike, RC Components four-piston calipers were tucked around the rotors. The front suspension consists of a chrome hidden axle fork assembly topped by 1-¼ handlebars with hydraulic clutch and chrome hand controls.

The custom-looking sheetmetal is all part of the Big Inch Bikes lineup, so it was sprayed in that incredible Candy Cobalt paint, detailed with airbrushed highlights and hand-painted pinstripes, then it was all buried in several coats of clear. When it was dry, everything was polished to perfection; with a flawless surface you can’t even feel the pinstripes under there.

Once the bike was assembled, details like the LED taillights built into the rear filler panel were installed, giving the bike its great one-of-a-kind look. A set of chrome wheels finishes the look, with a 21-inch front with a 120 Metzeler, and a 240 on the 18-inch rear. For long-haul comfort, a CD player with four speakers was installed in the fairing; while a complete set of Dakota Digital gauges watch the vitals.

Having just over 1000 miles on it, this bike is fully sorted and ready to enjoy today. There is a definite difference between even the nicest production bikes and customs like this Big Inch Bikes Bagger. Wherever you go with it, you’ll draw a crowd, and the outstanding details and craftsmanship will have everyone talking about the custom bike they saw. That big S&S motor makes it a blast to ride, either on a twisting mountain road or on the open road. If you’re looking for a custom bike but don’t want to pay a custom price tag, give this Bagger a second look. You’ll never see another one like it.