Category: Indian Scout

Damage Control: How the ‘Evel Knievel’ FTR750 was built

Post author By Wesley Reyneke
Post date August 9, 2018

Damage Control: How Travis Pastrana's ‘Evel Knievel’ Indian FTR750 stunt bike was built
It was the biggest moto stunt of the 21st century. In a marketing masterstroke for Indian Motorcycle, Travis Pastrana reprised three of Evel Knievel’s most iconic jumps in one day—including the Caesar’s Palace fountain jump that put Knievel in hospital.

Pastrana picked the Indian Scout FTR750 as his weapon of choice. Why? Because the stunt was an homage to the days before purpose-built FMX machines became a thing.

Damage Control: How Travis Pastrana's ‘Evel Knievel’ Indian FTR750 stunt bike was built
The FTR750 is cleaning up in the AMA Flat Track series right now. But there’s a huge difference between pinning it around a dirt oval and sailing it 149 feet through the air, aiming for a ramp on the other side.

Roland Sands Design was selected to prep the FTR750 for the abuse it would take. And the Californians also had to tweak it to suit Pastrana’s riding style. “We started with a great bike,” the guys tell us, “so it was really about making Travis comfortable, and getting the ergos right.”

Damage Control: How Travis Pastrana's ‘Evel Knievel’ Indian FTR750 stunt bike was built
As you’d expect, significant suspension upgrades were called for, so that the FTR would cope with the rigors of stunt jumping. Get it wrong, and the consequences could be…catastrophic.

Specialist Jimmy Wood stepped in, revalving the stock Öhlins forks to increase stiffness, and building a custom Race Tech GS3 rear shock.

Damage Control: How Travis Pastrana's ‘Evel Knievel’ Indian FTR750 stunt bike was built
Travel now measures 115mm up front, and 118mm out back; “It’s the stiffest set up we’ve ever put on a bike,” RSD tell us. They also gusseted the swing arm, for extra peace of mind. And then installed stronger triple trees, which were originally developed for TT racing by Ricky Howerton and S&S Cycle.

The FTR750 still rolls on flat track rubber, in the form of 19” Dunlop DT3s. But the wheels have been swapped for a set of ‘Traction’ race items from RSD’s own catalog.

Curious about what sort of pressures you’d run for jumping over things? It’s 28 psi at the front, and 32 psi at the rear—considerably lower than the recommended pressures on the road-going Scout.

Damage Control: How Travis Pastrana's ‘Evel Knievel’ Indian FTR750 stunt bike was built
A lot of subtle—yet crucial—tweaking went into the cockpit. Pastrana’s own signature ProTaper bars were mounted up on a set of custom-made risers. “They were taller and went forward, instead of back,” the team explains, “to put the bars in a more comfortable and ergonomic, neutral location, for jumping instead of racing.”

Other components include ProTaper grips, and a TrailTech Stealth Striker speedo. The foot controls are a mix of RSD mid-mounts, with ProTaper platform footpegs.

Damage Control: How Travis Pastrana's ‘Evel Knievel’ Indian FTR750 stunt bike was built
The Las Vegas heat was a concern too, so the RSD crew spent time running the water-cooled V-twin as hot as they could to predict every eventuality. They filled the Indian up with an Evans Powersports ‘waterless’ coolant, a popular choice with race teams, and added a TrailTech electric cooling fan.

In the end, the skies were overcast at the time of the jump, and the temperature in the low 70s.

Equal consideration went into the gearing. RSD fitted Superlite quick-change race sprockets, but shortened the gearing so that Pastrana could get up to 2nd and 3rd for the jumps. That way, they could eliminate any possibility of a false neutral between 1st and 2nd at a critical time.

Damage Control: How Travis Pastrana's ‘Evel Knievel’ Indian FTR750 stunt bike was built
Other upgrades include an S&S Cycle front brake kit with Spiegler brake lines. Look closely, and you’ll notice there’s just one silencer poking out behind the FTR750’s beefy exhaust heat shield: the team switched the stock system out for an S&S Cycle two-into-one TT system.

We rarely profile bikes with stock bodywork. But the FTR750 looks so good out the box—and is so period correct—that there was no need to swap out the tank and tail. The only bodywork change was subtle—but very necessary. Seat specialists Saddlemen built a custom, MX-style gripper seat to RSD’s spec.

Damage Control: How Travis Pastrana's ‘Evel Knievel’ Indian FTR750 stunt bike was built
All told, the team managed to bring the bike down to 350 lbs (160 kilos) on the nose. We asked them how they tested it, and they replied: “You build some jumps and ramps, and hit them!”

With that sorted, Airtrix laid down probably the most important mod of all—an Evel Knievel replica livery.

Damage Control: How Travis Pastrana's ‘Evel Knievel’ Indian FTR750 stunt bike was built
Pastrana donned his matching leather jumpsuit, wheeled the FTR750 out in front of a 25,000-strong audience, and nailed all three jumps on the day (breaking Knievel’s car and bus records in the process).

Neither Pastrana, nor the FTR750, broke. We’d call that a win.

Indian Motorcycle | Stunt images: Getty Images for HISTORY | Workshop images by Roland Sands Design

Damage Control: How Travis Pastrana's ‘Evel Knievel’ Indian FTR750 stunt bike was built

BikeExif Custom Motorcycles Indian motorcycles Indian Scout Other Motorcycle Blogs Trackers

Exclusive: The Indian Scout FTR1200 Custom

Post author By Chris Hunter
Post date November 7, 2017

The Indian Scout FTR1200 Custom street tracker concept
The bike we’ve been waiting for Indian to build is here. Well, almost. We’re told it’s a prototype, but we know it’s also a big step towards a production-ready Indian Scout tracker.

This is the world’s first glimpse of the FTR1200 Custom, to be revealed in the metal at the huge EICMA show in Italy. It’s inspired by the Scout FTR750 flat tracker, the race bike ridden by the Wrecking Crew to the first three places in the American Flat Track Series.

The Indian Scout FTR1200 Custom street tracker concept
The FTR1200 has been built with the help of Indian’s race team, but it’s more than a thinly disguised racer. It’s a street tracker powered by Indian’s regular 1133 cc V-Twin road engine, which now exhales through a stunning set of high pipes.

They come from S&S, who also hand-built the FTR750 race systems, and they’re routed to the right-hand side of the bike as opposed to the left of the race bike.

The Indian Scout FTR1200 Custom street tracker concept
Indian has only revealed top-line specs of the FTR1200, but they’re surprisingly close to the flat tracker—for now. From the side, the 4130 chromoly steel trellis frame and swingarm look virtually identical.

But on closer inspection, the twin front down tubes, widely spaced on the race bike, appear to have been squeezed together on the FTR1200—presumably for tighter packaging and a less agricultural look.

The Indian Scout FTR1200 Custom street tracker concept
The wheelbase on the racer is adjustable from 55 to 57 inches, but on the FTR1200 it’s fixed at 60.

That’s a full seven inches shorter than the regular Scout, but still long for a retro naked. (The BMW R nineT sits on a short 58, and even the Triumph Bobber is a smidge under 60.)

The Indian Scout FTR1200 Custom street tracker concept
The FTR1200’s weight is apparently 427 pounds (194 kilos), which is pleasingly low—especially for a machine with a hefty 69 cubic inch mill. But we don’t know if that’s wet or dry, and we can expect it to rise if the FTR1200 goes into production.

We’ll probably be saying goodbye to the carbon fiber bodywork, and definitely saying hello to emissions control pipework.

The Indian Scout FTR1200 Custom street tracker concept
The road-ready prototype appears to be wearing the same adjustable Öhlins suspension as the racer, which uses 43mm conventional forks and a monoshock. Rake is the same 25 degrees as the race bike, but trail is fractionally more—at 3.7 instead of 3.64 inches.

The wheels are carried over from the FTR750: RSD Traction Flat Track race wheels, which Roland Sands designed way back in 2004 when he was working for Performance Machine.

The Indian Scout FTR1200 Custom street tracker concept
They’re still the industry standard, and still look amazing. The brakes are Brembo calipers squeezing on Lyndall’s classy Crown Cut rotors.

In FTR1200 trim, the 1133 cc road engine develops similar power to the 748 cc race motor, which is oft quoted at 110 hp at 10,000 rpm. But the road peak will be some 2,000 rpm lower down—and we’re pretty sure servicing intervals will be longer than the 30 hours of the racer, too.

The Indian Scout FTR1200 Custom street tracker concept
The bodywork is a two-piece carbon fiber unit that’s essentially the same shape as the racer, but with a slightly shorter tail unit. It has slightly less seat padding but more of a bum stop, and a slight upkick at the tail end. It’s all very pretty.

Tank capacity is listed at 2.2 gallons (8.3 liters), which is well down on the 3.3 gallons of the regular Scout and current model Harley-Davidson Sportsters. If the FTR1200 goes into production, something will likely have to change there.

The Indian Scout FTR1200 Custom street tracker concept
So what are the odds of seeing the FTR1200 in showrooms? The official line from Indian is tight-lipped.

But when we put the question to Reid Wilson, Indian’s marketing director, he said: “We can’t share details of future product launches, but we have been excited by the feedback on the Scout FTR750—and are very interested in what the public thinks of the FTR1200 Custom.”

The Indian Scout FTR1200 Custom street tracker concept
That means Indian are going to be listening to the clap-o-meter at EICMA over the next few days. And maybe also at the Progressive IMS shows, which will snake across the USA during the northern hemisphere winter.

From where we’re sitting, it looks like a better than 50/50 chance we’ll see a showroom FTR1200. Indian has an aptitude for taking risks, an aptitude for performance, and a relentless drive for growth.

The Indian Scout FTR1200 Custom street tracker concept
“Our goal is to build Indian Motorcycle into a global brand, which will mean going into consumer and model segments that we don’t currently compete in,” Wilson added.

We’ll just leave that right there…

Indian Motorcycle | Facebook | Instagram

The Indian Scout FTR1200 Custom street tracker concept

BikeExif bobber Indian motorcycles Indian Scout Other Motorcycle Blogs Production Motorcycles

Review: The 2018 Indian Scout Bobber

Post author By Matt Neundorf
Post date July 18, 2017

Review: The 2018 Indian Scout Bobber
On a hot and sweaty July night in downtown Minneapolis, America’s oldest motorcycle manufacturer pulled the wraps off a low slung, blacked out affair. They told us it was mean, badass and stripped down. They told us it was refined from hundreds of drawings. And that it would expand the appeal of the Indian brand a step or two away from traditional buyers, and lure a younger demographic. They also told us the bike would be called the Scout Bobber.

I feel for the group of minds that signed off the Bobber name. No matter how clear the design, or how capable the bike, they must have known that tagging it a ‘Bobber’ was going to generate a backlash. After all, a bobber is by definition a custom bike.

Review: The 2018 Indian Scout Bobber
Or maybe not. Sales of Triumph’s solo-seated iteration certainly aren’t suffering—and Hinckley flat out scripted ‘bobber’ on it. And as for ‘scrambler’…well, that’s a best-selling lifestyle brand now.

If you followed our coverage of Indian’s Project Scout competition, the design of this factory bobber may look familar. There is a strong resemblance to the custom Scout Sixty by Tank Machine of Paris. And from where I’m standing, keys in hand, that’s not a bad thing at all.

Review: The 2018 Indian Scout Bobber
This newest Scout has a decidedly muscular stance to it. The lack of chrome is a welcome change in my eyes and, thanks to a shorter pair of shocks in the rear, the Bobber seriously hugs the ground.

Up front, a nacelle surrounds the round headlight, and there are bar-end mirrors mounted to the flat-track style handlebars. It wears the requisite chopped fenders (which undoubtedly convinced the committee of its new moniker) and is delivered with a two-tone leather solo seat which we’ll discuss again later.

Review: The 2018 Indian Scout Bobber
Aside from the suspension changes, the differences between the Bobber and the regular Scout are purely cosmetic. This isn’t a bad thing: the Scout chassis is seriously well sorted, so the Bobber is underpinned by a solid riding platform. It doesn’t jiggle like Jell-O when pushed and provides more rider feedback than most cruisers on market. And the engine packs the sort of punch that will have you pushing, all the damn time.

I spent a few days touring through Baja on the standard Scout earlier this year, and was surprised at how willing a dance partner it could be in the peninsula’s twisties.

Review: The 2018 Indian Scout Bobber
The wide, blocky Kenda K761 tires on the Bobber are another new addition. They may not be the best choice on a wet day, but the only moisture on our 93-degree ride was running down the arms of my jacket and pooling amongst unmentionables in my leather pants.

The new shoes convey the right attitude for the bike when standing still, and will happily leave their mark whenever you feel like lighting the wick off the hop—thanks to 73 pound-feet of torque from the 1,133 cc V-Twin.

Review: The 2018 Indian Scout Bobber
Once in the saddle, the bend in my knee tells me that the controls aren’t as far forward as those on the Scout I took south of the border. In fact, they sit 1.5-inches closer to mid-placement, which is a good thing—because the stretch to the wider, flatter bars is increased a touch.

It creates an aggressive rider triangle that is best suited to bar-hopping and short blasts around town. Which is exactly where you’ll be riding it most of the time.

Review: The 2018 Indian Scout Bobber
Any plans for touring on the Bobber will be quickly stymied by those ergos, and the shape of the stock seat. It locks you into position and doesn’t yield any real room for adjustment. There were points in the ride where you could see almost everyone in the group plant their ankles onto the pegs to relieve some cramping, but even that didn’t save my arse and spine.

Review: The 2018 Indian Scout Bobber
Riders have previously lamented the Scout’s 3.3 gallon tank, but Bobber buyers might be wondering if they can swap the tank for something even smaller. Thankfully there is an option: a Springer-style seat (below) that’s a touch flatter and wider. I didn’t call dibs quick enough on the press bike fitted with that seat, so I gave up—and gave in to the fact I’d be sore on the flight home.

Review: The 2018 Indian Scout Bobber
The new suspension set-up has also all but eliminated travel in the rear. With a scant two inches to play with out back—unburdened, I might add—the Bobber isn’t the happiest on unsettled pavement. And yet it didn’t bottom out once, even with this 200-pounder on board.

Review: The 2018 Indian Scout Bobber
A trip back and forth across some railway tracks during a photo stop did have me hoping they’d nail the shot quickly, though. Up front it’s a different story as the new cartridge type forks provided a much firmer and controlled approach, even under heavy braking, despite their 4.7-inches of travel.

On silky smooth pavement, you can grip it and rip it and the Bobber rewards. The lowered stance and firmer ride is communicative and steady. The engine pulls like a freight train through what I can only guess was the entire rev range. A tach can be toggled for on the speedo’s digital display but I wasn’t bothered to look down. Once outside Minneapolis’ grid pattern my eyes were locked on linking lines though the land o’ lakes rural outskirts.

Review: The 2018 Indian Scout Bobber
Pushing it through some sweepers, the 29 degrees of lean angle continuously announced itself, via scraping metal and a show of sparks. If you’re wondering, that translates to 60 mph for on-ramps, 30 mph runs through roundabouts, and a grin about 4-inches wide.

It was the grin that remained when I turned back to look at the beast. My knees were sore, my back was aching and my ass kept me standing for the rest of the night. But it didn’t really matter.

Is the Bobber a perfect bike? Far from it, Few that I’ve ridden are. I’ve turned my own Thruxton into a torture rack and I love that thing. Plus most of this Scout’s shortfalls can be easily fixed, thanks to that solid foundation you can build on.

Review: The 2018 Indian Scout Bobber
We’ve been told that Roland Sands has partnered up with skateboarding icon Steve Caballero to flex some muscle on the Bobber, and based on RSD’s previous Indian offerings, it should be something dope. So watch this space to see if perfection can be achieved.

The Scout Bobber will be available at dealers in the U.S. and Canada starting in September. Five colors will be available, including Thunder Black, Star Silver Smoke, Bronze Smoke, Indian Motorcycle Red, and a Thunder Black Smoke option with ABS. Prices will start from $11,499 to $12,499.

Indian Motorcycle | Facebook | Instagram | Rider shots by Barry Hathaway.

Matt’s Gear Bell Moto III Helmet | Vaktare MG Bomber Moto Jacket | Pagnol M3 Pants | Aether Moto Gloves | Indian/Red wing Spirit Lake Boots

Review: The 2018 Indian Scout Bobber

BikeExif BMW motorcycles BMW R nineT Custom Motorcycles Indian motorcycles Indian Scout Other Motorcycle Blogs Roland Sands Voxan

Custom Bikes Of The Week

Post author By Matt Neundorf
Post date June 12, 2016

A vintage-inspired Indian Scout from Roland Sands, a BMW R NineT given the Dakar Rally treatment, and a custom Voxan with a finish worthy of Rolls-Royce. Meet the machines that revved our engines this week.

Indian Scout by Roland Sands Design If you made the trek to Biarritz for this weekend’s Wheels and Waves festival, this latest creation from the Roland Sands team was sure to catch your eye. Working from yet another Indian Scout, RSD took a grinder to the conservative approach: On this build, just about everything is bespoke.

The custom frame and twin radiators are works of engineering art. Had a conventional set of forks cushioned the front wheel, it would still look as awesome—but no, RSD decided to run with a custom girder set-up. It’s dampened by an Öhlins mountain bike shock, with an Öhlins MotoGP-derived TTX shock out back. (The same set-up RSD used on the Project 156 Pikes peak racer.)

Each detail on this bike is worthy of its own page alone, so pour another coffee, sit back and explore everything that’s been done. I recommend starting up front, with that sneaky throttle cable pull mounted on the number plate. Genius. [More]

BMW Motorrad ‘Lac Rose’ R NineT concept Speaking of Wheels and Waves, BMW wasn’t ready to let RSD steal the entire spotlight: They took the wraps off their concept bike ‘Lac Rose.’

Clearly inspired by BMW’s stints in the Dakar, the bike is named after the Retba salt lake that sits 35 kilometers from the infamous rally’s end point. Working with an R NineT, the Motorrad engineers clearly had hands in the GS parts bin—creating what head designer Edgar Heinrich calls “our laid-back and very individual interpretation of the bike that won the Paris-Dakar Rallye in 1985.”

This Beemer’s off-road chops are more form than function, though: think of it as a roadster that won’t balk at a fire trail. Regardless, hot on the heels of the R5 Hommage, the Lac Rose shows BMW’s dedication to the custom world we celebrate. [More]

Mash 250 by XTR Pepo It’s not often we find a French-designed, Chinese-made motorcycle lying beneath a custom cafe racer. In fact, this svelte Mash 250 build from Pepo Rosell’s XTR Pepo may be the first.

Christened Cafe Noire, this latest creation to roll out of XTR’s Madrid garage is based on the styling of the endurance racers of the late 60s—and weighs about as much as Gidget on a longboard. Tipping the scales at approximately 120kg, Cafe Noire is infinitely flickable and, thanks to an XTR air filter and SuperMario megaphone exhaust, has the hustle to go with that flow. But you don’t need to see it in motion to glom it’s a runner. Thanks to Rosell’s handcrafted fiberglass tank, fairing, seat pan and tail, Cafe Noire looks fast and slippery—even when it’s standing still. [More]

Custom Ducati 600SS by Imbarcardero 14 Pore over these digital pages long enough, and the dream of retiring to your garage to ply your hand at bespoke builds will plant its seed. While most of us snap back to less romantic realities, Maurizio Carraro of Venice’s Imbarcardero 14 (IMB14) has turned that dream into a thriving business.

This is one of IMB14’s newest creations, ‘Hidden.’ It’s based on a 1994 Ducati 600SS and it’s a refreshingly original vision. Over 300 hours of design, fabrication and assembly were devoted to creating the bike for a discerning client.

Where most Ducatis have their trellis frame and L-Twin engine showcased, Carraro has ‘hidden’ these iconic traits with expanded metal-mesh and a beefy belly pan. The lines of the Duc’s tank were softened and the rear wheel was given the full-metal jacket treatment before a bespoke exhaust was fitted—clearly to ensure Hidden could be found. [More]

Voxan by Motorieep When we first laid eyes on what the Parisian garage Motorieep could do with a now defunct Voxan, we were immediately impressed. Apparently, shop owner Pierre was able to scrounge up a couple more of those rare French bikes and his latest, the Voxan M-1000CR, is Motorieep’s most gorgeous work yet.

The fit and finish would make a Rolls-Royce technician blush, whether it’s the front cowl, the suede saddle or the high-mount 2-into-1 exhaust unit. And, since the aftermarket for Voxan parts is non-existent, that means everything has received the hand built touch.

That being said, Pierre benefits from past experience. The underslung rear suspension is a carryover from a previous Scrambler build, and the same high-pressure fuel pump has been fitted—to help that mighty 996cc V-twin flex even more muscle. [More]

BikeExif Custom Motorcycles Ducati Scrambler Harley-Davidson Honda motorcycles Indian Scout Other Motorcycle Blogs Yamaha RD350

Custom Bikes Of The Week

Post author By Matt Neundorf
Post date March 27, 2016

A Mike Hailwood Ducati Scrambler tribute, the winner of Indian’s Project Scout program, and a killer Yamaha RD350 from Twinline Motorcycles. Meet the machines that got our motors running this week.

Harley Shovelhead by Customs From Jamesville Typically, old Milwaukee iron comes to us either chopped to within a degree of collapse or bobbed strictly for boulevard cruising. There’s nothing wrong with either style—but it’s not our general cuppa. This 1974 FX Shovelhead, on the other hand, is right up our alley.

Hailing from Copenhagen, Denmark, James Roper-Caldbeck specializes in the restoration and customization of Harleys built between the Great Depression and that time we learned that ‘greed is good.’ It isn’t the first time he’s popped up on our radar and undoubtedly won’t be the last.

Working with the kick-start-only base FX, James has done some exquisite work on modifying the Shovel’s subframe to fit his custom, tapered tailpiece. The bellypan and front cowl give the bike a racer’s stance, while upgrades to the brakes and suspension boost the dynamics. If you were lucky enough to attend the Swedish version of the Mooneyes bike show, you’d have seen this beast in person—and the award Jamesville took home. [More]

Mike Hailwood Ducati Scrambler Thailand probably isn’t the first place you’d think of to honor Ducati’s racing heroes of yesteryear. And yet, Ducati Thailand’s owner, Apichat Leenutaphong, is doing just that—quietly cementing relationships and creating ‘factory custom’ homages.

Apichat’s first work, the Paul Smart Scrambler sold out almost instantaneously, and we’re pretty sure this one will too. It’s designed to commemorate Mike ‘The Bike’ Hailwood’s ties to the Bologna brand, and sports a well-executed livery inspired by Hailwood’s incredible 1978 IOMTT-winning 900SS.

Of course, there are further changes to this limited edition Duc. A Termignoni exhaust has been fitted to help the 803-cc V-Twin sing, and custom plastics adorn the nose, side covers and tail (which features a commemorative Hailwood plaque). The hunger for factory customs like this is alive and kicking, and Ducati would do well to serve up their own offerings. [More]

Indian Motorcycles Project Scout winner Indian’s Project Scout program has already impressed us with a number of standout builds. They’re not only rolling testaments to the builders’ abilities, but also to Indian’s commitment to individuality and creativity. The trophy hardware was recently handed out, and this board tracker from Terrebonne, Quebec, took home top honors.

Built by Motos Illimitees, it’s a tribute to the white-tired, board track racing Scouts of the 1920s. This homage runs on 26-inch wheels and features some meticulous woodwork: The footrests, grips and number plate are all fashioned from white oak, and the leather seat has been given a matching grainy treatment.

The copper accents are a vintage standout for me. And while I would lose the Jack Daniels branding, the marques are both celebrating milestone anniversaries and a partnership this year. [More]

Honda CB Type II Concept If we had fears that the modern classic movement was about to stall, Triumph’s new Bonneville line has undoubtedly put them to bed. Add Yamaha’s brutish XSR family into the mix, and it seems like things are actually picking up steam.

And now, it looks Honda is poised to get in on the action. At least we hope they are. Why the greenlight hasn’t been lit yet is beyond us, but the Japanese motoring giant has just teased another stylized concept based on its CB1100.

It’s dubbed the CB Type II, and it looks the business. Clearly fashioned with the Ace Cafe in mind, the Type II features top-shelf components from Brembo, Öhlins and Showa—plus a sculpted Manx style tank and humped solo seat. Yes, that reads very similar to the spec sheet for the new Thruxton R that I enjoyed so much and, if Honda has managed to tweak some extra oomph from its bulletproof mill, the Type II should fight tooth and nail with that retro king.

Hey, Honda. Let’s turn the power of dreams into reality, then, shall we? [More]

Yamaha RD350 by Twinline Motorcycles There’s a tasteful elegance to the builds coming out of Twinline Motorcycles. The Seattle-based shop thrives on clean, minimalist construction with an emphasis on performance. Their latest experiment with an oil-burner, a 1973 Yamaha RD350, exudes this to a tee.

This isn’t the first time that Twinline has turned the spanners on an RD, but it is the first time Jeff Pochodowicz has been at the build’s helm. To set this 2-stroke apart, Jeff aimed to maximize performance and reliability while refining every detail to the nth degree. A tall order, to be sure, but we’d say he nailed it.

Woodcraft clip-ons sit atop the Racetech-equipped forks, and shocks from Works Performance keep the polished alloy swingarm planted. The already lightweight bike was given a racers diet and muscle injections, too: The airbox and OE oil tank are gone and the engine’s been ported with Super Webco heads attached. [More]

BikeExif BMW motorcycles Custom Motorcycles Indian Scout Lazareth Moto Guzzi Other Motorcycle Blogs Roland Sands

Custom Bikes Of The Week

Post author By Matt Neundorf
Post date March 6, 2016

A Maserati-powered monster from Lazareth, the one and only custom BMW G 650 Xchallenge we’ve ever seen, and rip-snortin’ Indian Scout Sixty flat tracker. We’d happily put any one of these machines in our garage.

BMW G 650 Xchallenge by Hyde Designs Hyde Designs is small shop just starting up in Cape Town, South Africa. Owner Jens Henkel is a one-man-band and he has a mantra: “To build bikes where detail is important and craft is crucial.” Judging by his work on Octavia, I’d say it’s Mission Accomplished.

Starting with a G650 Xchallenge, Henkel essentially stripped everything bare before creating his vision. The new subframe design was key in this build, and is designed to showcase both the main structural frame and the swingarm. The tank is a one-off, welded unit that gives the Beemer an incredible angular shape and proportions, leading into a compact fiberglass tail that mirrors its silhouette.

Octavia came together in just six months—which is extremely impressive for any shop’s first kick at the cat. [More]

Lazareth LM 847 Back in 2003, Dodge rolled out a concept vehicle at the Detroit Auto Show that strangled everyone’s attention. The Tomahawk was a 4-wheeled ‘motorcycle’ built around the Dodge Viper’s 500hp V10 engine. It was bonkers, but in the best of ways.

At the Geneva Motor Show the other day, the French design firm Lazareth presented a Tomahawk of their own—and it’s the perfect mix of crazy and beautiful. Lazereth is no stranger to leaning things over with more than two wheels, but this is their most ambitious endeavor yet.

The LM 847 is a Maserati-powered ‘leaning quad’ with 470 horsepower, bar-end mirrors and a Panigale tail. Just take a peek at the work involved with the dual-Telelever suspension kits both front and back, and those snaking headers. My favorite touches are the cowl-ensconced intake, and that dinky little kickstand on the front left swingarm (see header shot). Utter madness. [More]

Kawasaki H1 by Mhc Workshop Originally developed by Kawasaki under the elusive N100 name, the H1 was Team Green’s answer to the escalating horsepower war in America. Known also as the Mach III when it debuted in 1969, the 500cc 2-stroke triple would smash through the quarter mile in under 13 seconds.

I don’t even need to hear the angry can of bees on Mhc Workshop’s H1 to know it could best that time. Everything that the Marseille-based builders have touched is in the pursuit of performance. The custom tank is leaner, the suspension stronger, and the overall package noticeably lighter and more nimble. The color scheme is a knockout, as is the weld work on that exhaust—and the intricate milling of the rearsets and head-mounted Mhc badges. [More]

Indian Scout Sixty by Roland Sands Design If you managed to sneak over to the Mama Tried Show in Milwaukee a few weeks ago, you’d have done well to attend the Hooligan Race at the Panther Arena. Meant to mimic a shortened flat-track, the slick concrete floor was coated with a syrupy mix of Dr. Pepper for (some) grip and a checkered flag was waved.

Sprinkled throughout the lineup of pro and amateur bikes was a team of Indian Scout Sixtys, specifically prepped for hooliganism by Roland Sands. The bikes were developed over several months, to coincide with the little Indian’s launch, and have been making the rounds at Hooligan events since. And they perform as well as they look.

The modifications lean heavily on suspension and geometry, to deliver flat-track ride-abilities. But in typical RSD fashion, there’s no skimping on the eye candy: that exhaust is a work of art. [More]

Moto Guzzi 1100 by Moto Studio Garage Bruce McQuiston and Ryan Arends of Moto Studio are no strangers to working with iconic Italians. Bruce demands that every build starts from a bike with soul—and a 1995 Moto Guzzi 1100 has that in spades.

Christened Cafe Nero, this blacked-out and raw aluminum racer is clean enough to eat your dinner off—but wouldn’t protest to a hard ride. Nothing is out of place or haphazardly strewn. Every wire, cable and tube has been routed with intent, to accentuate the work done to slim the Guzzi’s waistline and highlight its transverse V-Twin engine.

The milled aluminum subframe is worthy of its own Instagram account, let alone the carbon fiber work at the tail and front fender. Most impressive of all? This build was turned around in a mere 45 days. [More]

cruiser parts and gear Cruising DEI Design Engineering Inc heat shield Indian Scout Indian Scout Sixty Other Motorcycle Blogs

Heat Shield Liner Kit for Indian Scout

Post author By staff
Post date February 23, 2016

DEI, Inc.

DEI Heat Shield Liners for Indian Scout and Indian Scout Sixty

With fresh styling and low seat height, the renewed Indian Scout has quickly become a favorite for new riders and seasoned riders alike. Like a lot of new bikes, the heat from the exhaust system can become uncomfortable, especially riding in slow traffic. This issue really comes into focus for those with shorter legs.

Not wanting to disrupt the attractive lines and chrome of the stock exhaust, DEI’s Liner Kit insulates the outer heat shield, without disturbing the looks of the bike. Each piece is precision cut to fit in-between the exhaust pipe and the heat shield, blocking heat transfer and lowering the surface temperatures of the outer shield. Easy to install, with no permanent modifications needed. Each kit includes shield liners, stainless steel mounting hardware and installation roller.

For more information on this and other products from DEI, check out their website DEIPowersports.com

DEI, Inc.

DEI Heat Shield Liners for Indian Scout and Indian Scout Sixty

cruiser tips and tech Cruising Indian Motorcycle Indian Scout Leticia Cline Other Motorcycle Blogs pre-ride checklist Scout Sixty Videos

Pre-Ride Checklist with Leticia Cline

Post author By Morgan Gales
Post date February 12, 2016

Safe riders have usually developed a set of good habits to keep them that way. Whether that means visually clearing every intersection before you cross it, or checking your tire pressure before you take off; keeping safety in the front of your mind can do nothing but help.

There are some things that can be done easily while just rolling your bike out of the garage, like checking your front brakes. Others take a little more involvement but will always be worth it in the long run.

If you’re a new rider, it’s good to start developing these good habits now. If you’re a more experienced rider, you probably have a routine of your own, but it’s a good idea to constantly check and update that routine with more safe practices.

We hope this pre-ride checklist is of good use to you and helps you remember what to look for before hitting the road! Ride safe!

2016 Indian Scout Sixty Cruising Indian Scout Leticia Cline Other Motorcycle Blogs review riding impression

Indian Scout Sixty: First Impressions with Leticia Cline

Post author By staff
Post date February 5, 2016

The Indian Scout Sixty is an exciting new take on a model that we have loved since it’s initial release: the Scout. The engine is dropped from 1133cc to 999cc, and the 6-speed gearbox has been replaced with a 5-speed transmission with slightly longer legs per gear. Hitting the market at $8,999, this is a perfect cruiser for those looking for something lighter weight and more approachable than the larger touring bikes offered by Indian.

We hit the road with Leticia Cline on the new bike to see what her initial thoughts and impressions were of this great new addition to Indian’s lineup. For more technical info, check out our buyer’s guide page on the Indian Scout Sixty here, and stay tuned for more from Cruiser and Leticia Cline!

BikeExif Custom Motorcycles Ducati Scrambler Honda Dominator Indian Scout Other Motorcycle Blogs

Custom Bikes of the Week

Post author By Matt Neundorf
Post date January 31, 2016

A pair of ‘official’ Ducati customs, a stunning Indian Scout from France, and a Honda Dominator from a Finnish automotive engineer. Meet the motorcycles that got our motors running this week.

Ducati draXter concept The Diavel has always been a bit of a mystery to me. Riding one, I found it extremely comfortable, delivering copious amounts of grunt and just nimble enough to find its way off the boulevard cruise. But I dare say it’s never been a looker. At least not in my eyes.

The Ducati draXter, on the other hand, fully embraces its steroidal persona. It’s a dragster concept based on the new XDiavel cruiser, and instead of trying to blend in amongst the screaming eagles, it wears its Affliction T-shirt with pride. Raiding the parts bin, Ducati’s Advanced Design unit picked out the Panigale’s suspension and braking components—and then the stylists took the bodywork to the extremes.

The swooping line from front fender to tail is exquisite, and I can’t think of a more entertaining way to melt 240-series rubber. [More]

Honda VRX 400 by La Busca Motorcycles Racing’s past is rich with machines of inspiration. This 1998 Honda VRX400 was built in tribute to the Harley KRTT that Roger Reiman rode to victory at the first Daytona 200 race held at the speedway in 1961.

Crafted by Jez and the lads at La Busca Motorcycles of Lancaster, England, Riff Raff looks like it’d be right at home tackling Daytona’s old beach course. Thanks in part to the Full Bore AT tires and its tracker stance this completely re-built VRX400 can probably handle any terrain you wish. The engine was brought back to within spec, and the carbs re-jetted—to maximize the gains from the slash-cut exhaust. (An admittedly cleaner design than Reiman’s originals.)

The front number board has integrated project beam headlights to deliver a modern, roadworthy touch, but that sprung seat is period correct—so you’ll want to stand on the pegs when heading off-piste. [More]

Mr Martini Peace Sixty2 As everyone knows, the Scrambler has been a huge success for Ducati. It occupies a rarified space: it’s excellent in stock form, and it’s also a stellar base for customization. The dust has now settled after the launch of the 400cc Sixty2 variant, so Ducati has enlisted a handful of builders to show what the smaller Scrambler is capable of.

‘Peace Sixty2’ comes to us from the talented Mr Martini and the retro vibe is strong with this one—check the sixties-era fiberglass fairing, the rainbow racing-stripe, and the John Lennon lyrics surrounding its racing number. In profile, it looks a stunner. But I can’t decide whether I love the simplicity of the headlight treatment, or wonder why the lamp isn’t fully integrated.

Regardless, the work to the subframe and tail looks the business. And if that fairing became a factory option, I’m sure it’d sell like hotcakes. [More]

Indian Scout by V-Twin Garage The Indian Scout is another excellent new platform for riders and builders alike. We’ve already seen a few stunning Scouts on these pages, but this one is ‘official.’ Called Tomahawk, it’s from Bordeaux’s V-Twin Garage and was created for Project Scout, Indian’s global dealer contest.

Thirty-five different dealers are transforming the entry-level Indian, with only one caveat: each dealer must use a minimum of three official Indian accessories. It took four of V-Twin Garage’s builders four weeks to turn Tomahawk into a rolling reality. All the metalwork has been done by hand, including the narrowed tank and the one-piece seat and tail.

Top shelf components from Motogadget, Roland Sands Design, Joker Machine and others are fitted, plus four pieces from the Scout catalogue. Voting for the winner closes February 19th. [More]

Honda NX650 by Janne Hietakangas Proportions on a custom build can be tough to get right—especially your first time around. But Finland’s Janne Hietakangas may have had a slight advantage: he’s an automotive design engineer, which explains why this Honda NX650 Scrambler sits so perfectly.

Being able to manipulate ideas in photoshop and CAD, Janne took his time to dial everything in digitally before breaking out the grinder. Working with his stock Dominator, Janne stripped what wasn’t desired or needed and sold the parts to fund his build. With $550 in his pocket, he set to work using scrapped parts whenever he could, and tackling everything else himself.

The finished product may fall outside of the realm of calendar grade customs, but it’s bloody impressive and incredibly inspiring. Hyvä työ, Janne! [More]