Indian FTR1200 on Ice

Go to sideburnmagazine.com to see more of Brad Baker having fun on this studded muffin.

Redmax HBC Indian Scout

 This in from Steve Redmax...

HBC Motorcycles in Nottingham commissioned the build from us and did the paint at the end. There is a dealer comp going for Scout specials and they will all be displayed at the NEC next week . It has a Trask pipe 2 into 1 ceramic black . All the fabrication done in house at Redmax mainly by Glenn who also did the seat pad. 

We made a Dummy Alloy C&J-style XR tank shell from one of our tanks and XR alloy seat unit (both Redmax products). Under seat is a new subframe relocating the shocks to a more upright position and containing the actual fuel tank. Seat dzus fastens on and uncovers the fuel cap under the hump. Redmax alloy race numberboards front n sides and Tarrozi rearsets fitted on Redmax hangers that re-located the foot pegs back to a useable position and mount brake reservoirs at same time ... 

Redmax Flanders style black bars changed the look straight away , but the 19" spoked wheels really made a difference as i had 'reservations' about the fat standard ones. She flies straight as an arrow now ! We really like how the bike rides, very streetable and the motor has plenty of poke and revs away below, while the revised seating position make it able the hustle in the bends very well . We like it and feel it's a real feather in our cap to have made one so early on .... excuse all the puns mate , but we did enjoy this one!

There are more work in progress photos and videos here. 

Mees wins on Indian FTR750

Jared Mees has already competed in two big, non-championship races on the new Indian FTR750. Last weekend it was Willow Springs, and he was on the podium, this week the half-mile at Perris (the big track, adjacent to the little one more commonly used for flat track) and he won.

These races offer good prize money and attract top riders including Brad Baker on a Dodge Brothers XR750, Briar Bauman on the Zanotti XR750, Jarod Vanderkooi and Kayl Kolkman among others.

If there was any doubt that Mees would be a 2017 title threat straight out of the blocks, that should be dispelled by now.

Remember, Indian have also signed 2016 champion Bryan Smith and 2013 champion Brad Baker to race the new bike. I've been in Harley Town, Milwaukee, all week, pressing for news on their 2017 team and there have been no announcements or even hints about their plans, but they're taking the threat seriously. It might already be too late for 2017 though.

Sideburn favourite Brandon Robinson would be a good fit, but perhaps he's happy with the Kennedy team. The factory team would offer a rare well-paid ride in the world of pro flat track.  G

Sideburn 26: World Exclusive

Earlier this year Guy Martin established the record for highest speed on a wall of death riding a Krazy Horse-prepared Indian Scout at 70.3mph. He then went out on his own Rob North BSA Rocket triple and raised the record to 78mph and change, while being subjected to 7G.

You haven't read about the Rob North because it hasn't been featured in any magazines in the world. Until now. Guy only wanted the bike in one magazine, Sideburn.

It was shot in Grimsby for Sideburn by Sam Christmas. We also had Mick Ofield create a blueprint of Guy's bike and highly respected journalist Mick Duckworth write about the history of Rob North and his famous racing frames.

There is only one place to read these features - in the beautifully printed Sideburn 26.

Also, in the same issue, is our regular Ask Guy page, where the very British daredevil answers Sideburn readers' questions. If you want him to answer yours, send it in to dirt @ sideburnmagazine.com

CFTA Santa Rosa on Fans Choice

Tonight's Santa Rosa short track is on fanschoice.tv. I was out at Friday night's racing and the track is short and tight, which makes me* a little nervous as I'm racing one of Roland Sands' Indian Sport Scout Superhooligans in a field of fast and rabid hooligan regulars tonight. Big thanks to Indian Motorcycles and Roland Sands Designs for the opportunity. It'll be the first time I've ever sat on one these. What could possibly go wrong?

Practice/Qualifying: 6:00 p.m. ET (3:00 p.m. PT)
Afternoon Heats: 7:00 p.m. ET (4:00 p.m. PT)
Opening Ceremonies: 9:30 p.m. ET (6:30 p.m. PT)
Evening Heats: 9:45 p.m. ET (6:45 p.m. PT)
Super Hooligan Main: 10:30 p.m. ET (7:30 p.m. PT)

Read about Travis's debut on the Indian Superhooligans at the US Superprestigio in SIDEBURN 24.

The short track meeting is organised by our friends at the CFTA, and is the curtain raiser to Sunday's AMA Pro season finale on the mile race, that will see Bryan Smith v Jared Mees, Kawasaki v Harley-Davidson for the 2016 title. Only 2pts separate them. It's a Sunday afternoon race and also live on fanschoice.tv

Practice/Qualifying: 1:00 p.m. ET (10:00 a.m. PT) Pre-race Show: 2:00 p.m. ET (11:00 a.m. PT) Opening Ceremonies: 2:30 p.m. ET (11:30 a.m. PT) Heats: 3:00 p.m. ET (12:00 p.m. PT) GNC2 Main: 4:30 p.m. ET (1:30 p.m. PT) GNC1 Main: 5:00 p.m. ET (2:00 p.m. PT) * Sideburn ed, Gary Inman

Indian FTR750 x Kopp at the Santa Rosa Mile

Big news from AMA Pro Racing. This is taken from the press release, but I cut out some of the over the top marketing hyperbole. This is going to be exciting. Sideburn is going to be there...

Indian... today confirmed that its all-new Indian Scout FTR750 race bike will make its racing debut on Sunday, September 25 at the Ramspur Winery Santa Rosa Mile AMA Pro Flat Track race in Santa Rosa, California. The race takes place at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds at 1350 Bennett Valley Rd. in Santa Rosa, with gates opening at 11 am PDT. The Indian Motorcycle FTR750 will be piloted in its debut by AMA Pro Flat Track racing legend Joe Kopp. Joe is one of 15 riders to complete the Dirt Track "Grand Slam," with victories on short track, TT, half-mile, and mile courses. In addition to his 2000 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship, he took the 1999 and 2000 AMA 600 Hotshot and Supertracker Championships. The Indian Scout FTR750 will feature Kopps' #3 for the weekend.

The Indian Scout FTR750 is a clean-sheet design racing machine developed by the Indian Motorcycle Racing engineering and design teams. The bike is powered by a purpose-developed, high performance 750cc V-Twin engine and features a unique, ultra-light steel frame, large centrally located airbox and sleek lightweight carbon fiber body.  Much like the design philosophy behind Indian Motorcycle's family of production bikes, the design and engineering teams built the FTR750 to artfully combine state-of-the-art technologies with design elements from legendary Indian racing models from history.

Leading up to the AMA Pro Flat Track event, Indian Motorcycle will sponsor the Pro/Am Hooligan and RSD SuperHooligan races in Santa Rosa on September 24. Saturday's action kicks off at 4:30 pm PDT at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in the Chris Beck Arena. Participating in the SuperHooligan race class will be Roland Sands as well as various special guests. Roland Sands and his team from Roland Sands Design (RSD) will be racing their custom Indian Scout Sixty dirt track racers in the SuperHooligan class in what is sure to be an epic day of dirt track racing.

Travis at the Lost Highway Festival

We're going to have a lot more input on this blog from staff poet and test rider, Travis Newbold.
Travis rode the Indian Hooligan at the Supersprestigio in Las Vegas last November. Read the report ins Sideburn 24.

Here's his report from the recent hooligan race in a music festival, the Lost Highway:

A few weeks ago I hopped on an airplane from Detroit to LAX with my leathers and helmet to ride the #47 Indian for Roland Sands again. I rented a minivan (it was actually pretty cool but minivans are still really not cool!). I hit up In 'N Out for a burger, Family Eollar for a blanket and after making it to the track I slept in the back with a fast food bag for a pillow. I awoke with the sun to an empty music arena. I walked the track and noted how slick and off camber it was and then did reverse donuts in the mini van. As people started to show up the temperature rose up into the hundreds. I knew the hill side grasstrack was going to give the Hooligan nutters some hell.

The first practice session was like watching an Arnold Schwarzenegger scene involving a rocket launcher. Sean from Suicide Machine dude crushed his helmet. He said if he could find another lid he thought he was good to race still. No.

I rode smooth but knew I would have to push to qualify for the main as only first place transferred to the main. In my heat I had a shit start and worked my way into 1st and then lost the front coming in. I used every bit of muscle I had to lift the giant scout back up and kept going. It paid as another crashed out and I ended up third. giving me a a transfer to the B main where first place would make the main.

I won the B Main but I was pushing so hard across the finish line that I wiped out. The big girl had my hot shoe pinned underneath of her. It was like being sat upon by a huge fat chick inside a sauna. I got out from under her and heaved her back up. I franticly reattached my hot shoe and with sweat dumping out my face I lined up for the main.

I wiped out once more causing a first corner red flag restart. I was totally exhausted. I made it to the last corner of the last lap and right before the finish line I just had to butt surf the grass once more. I think I ended up fifth and I will tell you cold beer never tasted so good. What a great crowd of racers Roland draws. The track was surprisingly great for racing and taught a lot of respect for soft rider inputs.

As the darkness came and temps dropped below 100 I hoofed it up the hill to a secret weird balcony like spot and watched good ol' Mike Ness and the rest of Social Distortion kick out some good old stuff from the early days. Living the good life. Until a security guard awoke me at 4:30 from my sweaty slumber. "Can't sleep here hon, venue is closed." Well back to the airport and on with the real world. Travis
Photos: Preston Burroughs

Aaron from Suicide Machine Co. Read about them in Sideburn 23.

RSD's Cameron Brewer on the Pickle Tracker Sportster

Andy Bell, Double denim and sleeveless hooligan wrestling. 

Watch the video to see Travis talk words.

Why Anyone Waiting For A Factory Street Tracker Should Stop Waiting...

Someone left a comment on the post below - about the Indian FTR750, that echoes a thousand comments being made around the world, the gist is: If they made a street tracker version it would be great/I'd buy one/I'd give my left ball for it, etc.

Well, sorry to rain on your parade, but Indian never will, and no other OEM will either. A GNC Twin race bike is so goshdarn handsome and lean with an incomparable stance, because it does not look like a conventional showroom-fresh road bike. And vice versa, homologated DOT/EU approved showroom bikes cannot look like dirt track racers, however hard they try.

No factory has built a good looking 'factory' street tracker, since the Bonneville TT of the mid-60s (except the early Honda FTR250s with the duplex frame, though the later FTR223s are kind of cute). When it comes to twins, nobody has come close. VT500 Ascot? Meh. Too heavy above the waistline. The H-D XR1200 was compromised, a midling effort, but not good enough. The Scrambler FT Pro isn't right either. Storz kitted Sportsters can look right, but they're not factory. Plenty of people can build great looking custom street trackers, but manufacturers cannot. The Zaeta is the only thing that comes close, but they're made, and sold, in tiny quantities, and they're singles.

Big factories need to sell reasonable quantities. The man on the street, the kind who buys brand new bikes, thinks they want something that looks like a road legal GNC bike, and perhaps they would right up until they read the first road test or lived with it for a week.

A dirt track bike has a 6 or 7-litre tank. These tiny tanks are essential to the looks, but no one would buy a road bike with a 50-odd mile range. Put a bigger tank on it and the looks are gone (see VT500 and XR1200).

Modern bikes require airboxes for fuel injection and noise regulations, not big K&N filters. Where does the airbox go? Indian are hiding the FTR's airbox in the tank area, but their race bike only needs to run 26 miles (a fast 25 miles and, they hope, a slow victory lap, but only 26 miles all the same), so their airbox won't ruin the looks. Road bikes need indicators, mirrors, front brakes, front mudguards, license plate hangers that extend beyond the back of the rear wheels, lights, electric starter, alternator and a battery big enough to start the bike repeatedly in sub-zero temperatures. It also needs a chassis strong enough to deal with a 30-stone rider riding through potholes for 30,000 miles, unchecked. And road bikes need a big wiring loom to run everything I've described and that needs hiding somehow. Also, GNC bikes have short wheelbases and steep steering. They're as twitchy as the cast of Watership Down. Look at the VT500's rake!

It is not impossible for a clever factory to build a trick street tracker. Ducati are pushing the edge of the envelope of what the public will tolerate with the Panigale, truly a racebike for the road, but it still has a proper tank range and all the legalities.  Plus a lot can be hidden under a Panigale's fairing. A size zero GNC flat tracker is as naked as a jaybird. Look close enough and you can tell what it had for breakfast.

So if Indian do build something they say is related to the FTR, those who reckon they're waiting with credit cards locked and loaded will get a compromise. The compromise might look a lot like Roland Sands' Indian Superhooligans (see SB24). They have a brutal charm, and they're based on decent road bikes. I've ridden a Scout around Oregon, and can vouch for them as a good basis even if I didn't like the riding position of the road Scout. But Superhooligans are not GNC bikes. I do think the Superhooligan Scout would sell. I don't believe the buying public, those with $12,000/ £12,000 to spend, is ready for hardcore street tracker in the numbers that would make it worthwhile for a factory to build.

So stop waiting for the factory to release your dream street tracker and build your own. Or buy a Zaeta. G

FTR750 photo: Indian/Cycle World

Indian FTR750

Cycle World have published a very exhaustive two-piece online feature on the development of Indian's new dirt track race bike, the FTR750.

We told you Indian were coming to dirt track with a factory team in a story in Sideburn 24, in which we interviewed Indian President, Steve Menetto. Jared Mees has been signed to test ride the bike, with speculation that he is already testing a prototype. He's racing a private Harley this year, but isn't contracted to the factory so he's free to test other bikes and work for other manufacturers. No doubt if he is impressed he'll be one of a two-man factory team next year.

CW say the FTR750 is making 109bhp. The don't say if that is measured at the rear wheel or crank. If it is rear wheel it's way up on the what the best Harleys are producing, which is closer to mid-90s, but power isn't everything. The Lloyd Brothers actually detuned their Ducati for a better power delivery and less top-end power.

The chassis, above, looks like something from 1968, but the engine is a thoroughly modern, fuel-injected, liquid-cooled V-twin.

Anyway, go read the tech heavy piece at cycleworld.com.

Thanks to Anthony and Roger for the link. G

Indian Back With a BANG

We ran a big feature on Roland Sand's modified Indian Superhooligans in Sideburn 24, Travis raced one and I interviewed the President of Indian, Steve Menneto,  about his company's entry into AMA Pro Racing. Well, it's just been announced that reigning champion Jared Mees will be their development rider.

In a press release sent today Menneto said "We are very excited to return to the AMA Circuit. We have established the new Indian Chief and Scout series as the cornerstones of our production line-up, and now is the time for us to return to racing in a big way. We know that fans of Indian Motorcycle have been anticipating this announcement and can't wait to see Indian Racing back in action."

Mees is quoted, "I can't express how excited I am to be the guy to bring Indian Motorcycle back into the forefront of AMA Pro competition. We will have a lot of work to do to develop a 100 percent new race platform, but I'm committed and excited at what I have seen on the drawing boards and what the plans are for Indian Motorcycle Racing. This is history for the brand, and being a part of it is truly exciting for me and this sport."

Indian Motorcycles will race the new motorcycle at a circuit to be determined in 2016 in preparation for a full season of competition in 2017. This is on the back of news of the development of the new liquid-cooled Harley-Davidson XG750R. This are getting very exciting. G

Sideburn Special Editions

We have a couple of special edition issues with covers we made with some of our beloved advertisers.
IMPORTANT: Only the covers differ to the regular issues, so these are just for collectors and completists. We only have a handful of each.

One is Sideburn 22 Icon 1000 cover, with their Slow Burn BMW R90/6, the other is Sideburn 23 Roland Sands Designs cover featuring the Geico Indian Chief.
£6 plus post from sideburn.bigcartel.com 

Superhooligans, Austin, Texas

Roland Sands Designs and Indian Motorcycles are doing a great job of pushing hooligan racing over in the US (along with companies like Biltwell, Suicide Machine Co, Rusty Butcher, The Speed Merchant, See See Motorcycles, Harley-Davidson), to the point there is already a backlash from a very small minority of the flat track community. The dissenters are upset that this new amateur series is taking limelight away from the professional GNC racing scene. Firstly, if that's the truth AMA Pro Racing is in a whole heap of trouble.

The RSD-promoted hooligans raced at Daytona and Austin the same day the GNC were in town, and last year Harley-Davidson and The Speed Merchant promoted a race at the South Dakota Black Hills Half-Mile GNC race. From my perspective at least, the hooligans are bringing more people into racing, more sponsors, more spectator interest. The hooligans raced right in the city centre of Austin on a temporary track during MotoGP weekend. What an amazing advert for participation motorcycle sport.

Also, this is Indian's first toe in the flat track water, the advance party that will be followed, Indian promise, by a full factory team. That means there will be at least two more pro riders earning a living in a year or so's time. How is that a bad thing? Perhaps these critics just don't know how modern marketing works. It has to be more sophisticated than a pretty girl in a tight top, or a shout out to the local Chevy dealer between the races. Marketing is crucial to the success of any product - and pro racing is a product.

Flat track had been in decline for 25 years or more, before recent small shoots of recovery, yet anyone who tries something new is shouted down from some quarter. I guess that's human nature. One critic of the hooligans complained that it was disgusting that these 'clowns on street bikes' were taking the place in the GNC schedule that could be occupied by a vintage class. But how would that attract new sponsors? Old guys on vintage bikes? I'm all for vintage racing, I shouldn't even have to say that, and it's important to the history and the current amateur scene, but it's not bringing in more money or more interest to the pro side of the sport. Flat track needs new, loud voices - Roland Sands and his company has one.

Racing street bikes on dirt tracks is nothing new. There was a single outlaw heat race at the very first dirt track race I ever went to, the Skip van Leeuwen-promoted Del Mar Short Track (the weekend of the Wrenchhead Mile, back in 2000), but social media and marketing savvy people are helping this latest push make b-i-g waves.

Superprestigio, hooligans, X Games, Rossi's Ranch, Dirt Quake, Hell on Wheels, Slidetober, The One Pro, Flat Track Frida at Mama Tried - these are all great things for flat track. I regularly speak to racing promoters and amateur racers. I know many people that have competed in a motorcycle race for the very first time at Dirt Quake and have gone on to buy framers and DTX bikes, joined local clubs and gone racing, some have even started promoting their own races. These amateur races show what is possible in the formerly intimidating world of motorcycle racing.

On another point, I've been racing flat track since 2006. I don't have to explain to anyone what flat track is, like I used to back then. Everyone knows what the sport is now. The same cannot be said of, for instance, grasstrack or enduro. I don't believe new riders have a clue what those sports are.

If you don't know, the hooligan class is for 750cc and up street bikes with stock frames. Sportsters are relatively cheap in the US, so they've become the default bike, though Roland has built a fleet of slick 2016 Indian Scout 80s (that are featured in Sideburn 24).

Some guys in the USA are really going to town on their bikes, but many are sticking to the basics, 19in wheels and DT tyres, longer rear shocks, wide bars, mid-mount foot controls, new pipe and air filter, remove as much weight as possible. This is what I've been doing to a 1991 Sportster that I'm hoping to debut at the very first round of the Harley-Davidson-sponsored DTRA Hooligan series at the MCN Festival this weekend. Come along! Former World Superbike champion Colin Edwards is racing in the Transatlantic and so, I'm told, is AMA pro Mikey Martin.

Here is a serious comment - if you don't like hooligan racing, or what it's doing to AMA Pro Racing, suggest an alternative way for the sport to grow. I'd love to hear it. Start the discussion. G

 BMW RNineT built by Revival Cycles.

 Speed Merchant-equipped Sportster

Trying hard!

 Trying too hard.

 RSD Ameritracker Sportster

 The legendary David Aldana got in the act, racing an Indian Scout

Above and below: Dimitri Coste was invited to race and won, first time on the bike. That guy is quite a talent.

Yes, I said modern marketing had to be more sophisticated than a pretty girl in a tight top, but that doesn't mean they can't be part of the message, too. Women racers are a big part of the new racing scene, and we hope to see more women racing every year. G

Superhooligan!

Next Saturday in Vegas!
This will be the ultimate fistfight in a phone booth at the indoor arena at the Orleans Hotel, Las Vegas.

Friday night is the finale of the 2015 GNC series. Jared Mees has to be favourite to take the title. He's 7 points clear of Bryan Smith and has had better short track results for the last few years, but Smith's first ever national win was on a short track (though now he is the undisputed mile master - five wins this season, to Mees' one win). And anything can happen on a track like this.

Then on Saturday night is the first Superprestigio of the Americas. It's not attracting the calibre of names that the Spanish one has, and the support race was supposed to the the Roland Sands Designs/ Indian Motorcycles Superhooligan, but I think most people are going to be looking forward to the nuts on the modified street bikes more than the pros on the 450s.

Sideburn's own poet, Travis Newbold, is going to representing Sideburn on an 2015 Indian. It's going to be wild. Americans! Get out there if you can.

And if you can't, everyone can watch it livestreaming on fanschoice.tv G

Artwork by Adi Gilbert/99 Secs

Brat Style Chout

Stopped by Brat Style's year-old shop in Long Beach, LA, on our American whistle-stop trip. It was great to finally meet Go and Masumi in person.
He was cooly busy with finishing this Indian "Chout" for this weekend's Born-Free 7 show in Silverado, CA. We did a feature on his Tokyo shop in Sideburn #18. BP

Go's daily-ride R60/6 BM'

Barn Find

Jason saw the Sideburn blog post on the art of Stephen Hill, and decided he'd like to have a painting of himself riding the Indian he built (and promptly sold) on the wall of his new barn/garage. This is the result.

You can read about this gorgeous Indian in Sideburn 10. G

Wauseon Swap Meet and Half-Mile

Our friend Roger F in Ohio sent these photos through. Roger and his partner, Patty, took photos and Roger raced.

 The Antique Motorcycle Club of America has a national meet every summer in Wauseon, Ohio at the Fulton County Fairgrounds. The meet's centerpiece is the swap meet and classic bike exhibitions, which go on all weekend, with emphasis on American machinery, culminating with a judged bike show on Sunday morning. To enter, the bike has to run too. 

There are several acres of classic bikes and parts on display and for sale, with flat tankers from the teens to more modern early-'60s bikes, but the emphasis is on American street bikes from the first half of the 1900s. They have chapters outside of the USA too. 

Of course every Midwest fairgrounds has a grandstand and horse track, and they run a vintage half-mile flat track on Friday each year. Where else could you see a full hand-shift class run, or a dozen board trackers circling the track, forming up for a flying start? Very cool! And they also have some celebrity racers run a match race too. This year, Jay Springsteen was lured out of retirement and raced against Geo Roeder on a Norton. 

If you are an enthusiast of such things, check the meet out at http://wauseonnationalmeet.org/ . Gary, trim it how you see fit or summarize it yourself. 

 It was a great day, and my first half mile on my XR500. Very fun on a beautifully prepared crushed limestone cushion with big wide corners and short straights....thanks for sharing the pics....R

A couple of nice KRs...

Late-1920s Cleveland Four

Mid-'20s Excelsior Super X board track racer (replica?).

Indian Four - which was actually an Ace, until the Springfield company bought the rights.

Roger says, 'I asked the vendor about the Excelsior. It's a 1925 machine cut down for his kids in 1936, original since then, handed down in the same family. Totally cool...'

Gives you an idea how the grandstand fills up Friday evening as people get off work and make their way to the fairgrounds.

This is our friend Al Lonneville (#9) on the rigid Triumph battling a KR in the brakeless class. Patty took all of these.

I'm #40 on the pole in my heat. It didn't help. This was taken by our Motorhead friend Tom Beasley.