These measure 19 inches at the front and 18 inches out back, offering a significant change from the standard 21- and 17-inch units. They’re laced to the standard wheel hubs and enveloped in dual-purpose Dunlop DT3-R rubber on both ends. Of course, it only made sense for Krugger to retain the XE’s original Ohlins suspension, but the forks and piggyback shocks have all been lowered to achieve the desired stance.
In terms of bodywork, we find a Bonneville Bobber’s repurposed fuel tank sitting center-stage, topped with a flush-mounted filler cap for an impeccable silhouette. Right behind the retrofitted tank is a new bench seat with plentiful padding and black leather upholstery, all sitting atop a modified subframe. The saddle was fabricated by Wild Hog over in Italy, hence the small metal badge showing the Belgian and Italian flags.
Fred came up with a bespoke rear fender, whose underside carries a CNC-machined assembly with twin LED taillights and the workshop’s logo engraved in between. The front fender is actually stock, but it’s been raised a tad by means of handmade mounting hardware. A pair of aluminum fork guards can be spotted lower down, while a custom-built nose fairing sits above the factory LED headlight.Much effort went toward manufacturing a fresh exhaust system, as well, with Krugger’s material of choice being stainless-steel. He shaped a high-mounted setup with pipes running on both sides of the bike, which provides more symmetry than the standard plumbing. The Scrambler’s side covers had to be tweaked in order for the new pipework to fit, and the silencers were covered in custom aluminum plates.
Things remain largely unchanged up in the cockpit area, with the original instrumentation, handlebar, and heated grips still making an appearance. Fred did install Kellermann bar-end turn signals and replacement handlebar risers, though, while swapping the brake and clutch controls with higher-spec Beringer alternatives. This isn’t the last you’ll see of this brand, because it supplied some premium braking equipment, too.
We come across top-shelf rotors and calipers fore and aft, but there is also a thumb-operated mechanism actuating the rear brake. Although the usual pedal is still where you’d expect, this is a neat little touch showcasing the builder’s modding abilities. Unessential items like the chain and heel guard have been swiftly removed, so as to keep this reworked Scrambler 1200 XE looking as tidy as possible.
Notably, the factory skid plate was kept in play, just in case its bearer ever finds itself on a gravel road and in need of some armor. When it came to the paint job, Krugger turned to Rebellion Timepieces for inspiration. The company’s logo was translated into white graphics for the Bobber fuel tank and aluminum side covers, all laid over a gloss-black background. Gold highlights finish things off, perfectly complementing the Ohlins suspension goodies.
Look up close, and you will also see Rebellion and Krugger decals on the Excel rims. By Fred Bertrand’s standards, this project wasn’t too complex from a mechanical standpoint, but the visual side of things is genuinely outstanding! The XE didn’t exactly need too many performance upgrades, either, because its running gear and 89-hp, 1,200cc parallel-twin mill are more than enough to offer a thrilling ride.
Now, if you asked us whether we’d take Fred’s masterpiece over a stock Scrambler 1200, we wouldn’t think twice about giving an affirmative answer. The factory-spec model is undeniably alluring, for sure, but this customized specimen from Belgium really dials the aesthetics to eleven. Should Triumph ever decide to add a street tracker to their lineup, they should certainly use something along these lines as the blueprint.
