Indian Motorcycle will present the “Spirit of Sturgis”, a custom Indian Scout built by Klock Werks Kustom Cycles of Mitchell, S.D., as a modern day interpretation of the Indian Scout owned by J.C. “Pappy” Hoel, founder of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.
Klock Werks based the “Spirit of Sturgis” motorcycle on an original painting, titled “Pappy”, created by renowned artist David Uhl using a well-known photograph of Hoel and his #56 Scout in front of Hoel’s Indian dealership in Sturgis, S.D. Hoel opened the retail location and formed the Jackpine Gypsies in 1936. Two years later, the Jackpine Gypsies held the first rally known as the Black Hills Classic that has now become the largest and most iconic motorcycle rally in the world.
Up front on the “Spirit of Sturgis” Klock Werks utilized a modern front fender with classic braces, a newly designed number plate holder surrounding a D.O.T. headlight, a Klassic handlebar style with Motogadget bar-end turn signals, and Klock Werks’ new mid controls.
Out back, there’s a Klock Werks Outrider bobbed fender with number plates and fender pad color-matched to the seat, and a Vance & Hones Grenade exhaust that has been Cerakoted black and complements the black spoke wheels sourced from the Indian Motorcycle Accessories catalog.
Finally, a red and cream paint scheme by TExEfx was topped with reproduction tank decals and patina on the number plates to further supply an authentic look.
The “Spirit of Sturgis” is owned by Mark Marshall, a friend of Indian Motorcycle Sturgis proprietor Bruce Eide, who proudly owns the “Pappy” painting. The bike will be introduced Feb. 5 at the Progressive International Motorcycle Shows tour stop in Minneapolis and will go on to be displayed together with the “Pappy” painting at Indian Motorcycle Sturgis.
“The ‘Spirit of Sturgis’ is an exciting, modern Scout version of the 1936 original,” said builder Brian Klock. “Mark approached me and told me he was purchasing a Scout and wanted it to look like the bike in the ‘Pappy’ painting. The goal wasn’t to make it look super old, but to be more of an acknowledgment of Pappy and his commitment to motorcycling. I think it turned out great because it’s an absolutely ride-able custom but also tells a great story.”
“I have painted hundreds of pieces from this era and I believe the ‘Pappy’ work epitomizes the aesthetic of the era,” artist David Uhl said about his rendering used as a basis for the bike build. “This piece has an inherent understated narrative that speaks volumes about our unique American heritage. The entire background – his bike, the dealership, the rack on the wall – sums up the true spirit of Sturgis.”
“When we opened Indian Motorcycle Sturgis in 2014, we knew the ‘Pappy’ Hoel legacy would require the very best we could deliver,” added retailer Bruce Eide. “We think Pappy would be very proud to know that these many years later, his vision still inspires us.”
“We have seen many Indian Scout motorcycles customized recently,” commented Reid Wilson, Marketing Manager for Indian Motorcycle. “The ‘Spirit of Sturgis’ is another great example of what can be done to create a legendary custom out of an Indian Motorcycle.”
For more information: IndianMotorcycle.com
