Klock Werks Team
BRIAN KLOCK comes from a small rural community of 389 people in Eastern South Dakota. His first home was located in the upstairs of his parents' gas station so one might think that he was destined to be in this field of work. Influenced by his father's love of cars and motorcycles at an early age, he became fascinated with hot rod cars and kustom bikes.
After building his first FXR in 1990 and achieving award-winning status, he was called upon by his friends to lend his imaginative eye to their creations. In 1997 Brian decided to take the plunge into entreprenuership and opened Klock Werks in its first location in a mentor's garage. By 1999 Dan Cheeseman came straight out of a local university to join Brian in his design efforts. For the next 5 years, they proceeded to take their talents to the streets from a 700 square foot garage without even a sign. Their creativity was recognized and Klock Werks was, and consistently continues to be, featured in numerous national and international magazines. Relying on word of mouth and a strong underground following, they remained one of Mitchell, South Dakota's best kept secrets until the crew decided they had done enough to dispel the myth that a business with no sign is a sign of no business. Klock Werks now has 14 employees and designs from a 7000 square foot facility in the heart of Mitchell.
Brian has become known as one of the country's most diverse builders. He states that it comes from serving a small population with varied tastes and a need to customize anything that comes along. The team at Klock Werks prides themselves on not only building great one-off choppers, but also baggers, sportsters, bobbers, the "newstalgia" buzz they have created with their vintage style Twin Cam bikes, and a complete line of parts available for you to kustomize your own ride. Klock Werks bikes and parts are Kustom by Design, readily identifiable by their fine detail and innovative interpretation of theme.
LAURA KLOCK - Laura is a lady that loves a challenge, loves to ride, and has a gift for inspiring others. She grew up in the country in Wisconsin where riding and wrenching on anything motorized was THE pastime, so it seems only natural that we find her where she is today. True to her love of the sport, she is currently Vice President of Klock Werks Kustom Cycles in Mitchell, South Dakota, and holds AMA and SCTA National Land Speed Records from the Bonneville Salt Flats. Laura has worked for several years alongside long time friend and one of the premiere builders in the industry, Brian Klock. In the last few years, they have taken their business and friendship to the next level, partnering officially as President and Vice President of the company, and husband and wife. The latter took place in Bonneville. Their partnership has resulted in completing 238 new part numbers (so far!) distributed through Drag Specialties and on their web site www.kustombaggers.com. After winning the Discovery Channel’s Biker Build Off with their bagger in 2006, the Klock Werks Krew headed to the Bonneville Salt Flats. Laura piloted the “WFB” World's Fastest Bagger to an AMA National Land Speed Record. In 2007, Laura piloted the bike again to an SCTA National Land Speed Record of 146.297, with her personal best, so far, at 147.359 mph. Brian and Lauras 16 year old daughter, Erika, also set an AMA National Land Speed Record in 2007 of her own!
Laura would tell you her 2 daughters, Erika, now 17, and Karlee, 14, are her greatest accomplishments. Having them follow in her footsteps - riding and racing, has made her proud beyond words. Laura has been featured in magazines such as Hot Bike Bagger, American Bagger, American Iron, IronWorks, Cycle Source, Biker’s Ally, as well as PowerBlock TV, Speed Channel, and the History Channel. She was part of the XX Chromes All Woman Bike Build in 2007, setting a bike build record of 5 hours and 5 minutes, and just completed a second build with the xx Chromes at a Chicago IMS Show. Laura is scheduled for appearances nationally. Laura serves as an ambassador and speaker inspiring women nationally.
JOHN DEAN - John will tell you that he was actually born on a motorcycle, although the truth is that he didn't go for his first long distance trip until he was six months old sandwiched between his Mom and Dad on their new Duo Glide from Norfolk VA to Augusta KS, since then he has always loved to have the wind in his face looking towards the horizon.John and his wife Luauna met Brian and Laura in June of 2007 while doing charity fund raising for the Seattle Children's Hospital; the Klock Werks Krew had built and donated a stunning 2007 Road Glide for the fund raising auction, which Brian and Laura hand delivered to Seattle. The bike sold for $67K! And a friendship was born. It soon became apparent that the Klock's and the Dean's had a vision and tools that when teamed together would be unstoppable. John and Luauna joined the Krew in October of 2007 and it's been a whirlwind ever since, going from 37 part numbers to 238 and counting!
If you ask JD his favorite biking memory he'd say riding route 66 with his dad or taking him to Sturgis to celebrate his 65th birthday, were you to ask his dad his worst he'd tell you it was the time John traded a classic 1957 MGA roadster for a chopper, they knew then he was a hopeless biker. In John's own words his greatest achievement since joining the Klock Werks
family is his Baptism and dedication to Christ.
DAN CHEESEMAN - Dan has been at Klock Werks for over 10 years. He has been biking for 13 years now and had his first motorcycle at the age of 16. A memorable moment in his career is completing his project "Hobo" and seeing it on the cover of Iron Works.
JOE MIELKE - Joe has been at Klock Werks for 3 years. He has been biking for 20 years now and had his first motorcycle at the age of 18 (although his mother did not approve!) A memorable moment in his career was in May of 1994 when he harpooned a toyota pickup with his 92 FZR at about 30 mph as the Toyota ran through the intersection. He then barrel rolled through the aluminum topper oly to black out hearing sirens. He was fortunate to leave the emergency room with only a concussion, some scrapes, and of course a few bruises. Joe was also fortunate enough to run the Cherry Bomb Bobber and the WFB last year at the Salt Flats.
LUAUNA DEAN - our new customer service/dealer development expert. Luauna and her husband John met Brian and Laura in June of 2007 while doing charity fund raising for the Seattle Children's Hospital; the Klock Werks Krew had built and donated a stunning 2007 Road Glide for the fund raising auction, which Brian and Laura hand delivered to Seattle. The bike sold for $67K! And a friendship was born. It soon became apparent that the Klock's and the Dean's had a vision and tools that when teamed together would be unstoppable. John and Luauna joined the Krew in October of 2007 and it's been a whirlwind ever since, going from 37 part numbers to 238 and counting!
LANCE BUUM - Warehouse Manager. Lance was working with us part time and with the growth of our parts business we stole him from his day job as a plumber (his nickname is Plumb Bob) and now he is here full time.
CHRIS DEGEN - Chris has been biking for over 10 years, and had his own motorcycle at the age of 10. His most memorable moment thus far at KW is just having the opportunity to work with great people and to have fun doing it.
VIC BRIGGS - Vic is the "Partsman". He has been at Klock Werks since April. He answers the phones, internet inquiries and does a whole lot of customer service with Luauna at the front desk.
MELISSA WADDELL - Melissa is a recent addition to the Klock Werks Team. She will be working with the media relations and development of Klock Werks and focusing on the websites and development of the websites.
STEVE MOECKLY - Steve is the newest addition to the Klock Werks Team. He will take over the accounting and bookkeeping duties for KW. Steve has an extensive background in Accounting, IT, and HR. He most recently worked at Wheel City in Sioux Falls in the automotive industry and has over 12 years of experience as a financial controller.
Brian Klock
Here you’ll find what you need to go from stock to klock-ed, make your bike stand out in the crowd!
Phone: 605.996.6000
915 S. Kimball
Mitchell, SD 57301
Inquiries.