It's always a good feeling to launch a new bike project. When you launch the bike with great companies like Indian Motorcycles, Geico insurance and the legendary buffalo chip campground for the 75th anniversary in front of 50 thousand tuned up bikers, it amplifies that feeling.
The real kicker and what makes this project special to the RSD team is Geico signing off on Roland racing this new center piece at the AMA halfmile in Rapid City with the Inaugural Hooligan Halfmile.
RSD is excited to work with GEICO to introduce the 75th Anniversary Sturgis Buffalo Chip custom Indian Chief Racer debuting Sunday August 2nd, 2015 at the Buffalo Chip. We’ve pulled the motor and a few spare parts off the stock Indian Chieftan and re-imagined the machine from the motor up. Nearly every part of the bike is designed, fabricated and machined by the RSD team to realize the Chief Racer.
It’s heart features a pumped up Indian powerplant showcasing some new Indian speedparts. The Stock Chieftan gas tank is a beautiful shape and we have used much of the OE tank to recreate a low and slim tank that nearly blankets the motor. A completely one-off RSD chromoly chassis was constructed around the 111 cubic inch engine. We’ve also thrown our prototype Roland Sands Racing quick-change flat track wheels at the project, coupled with a solo RSD brake caliper and Lloyd Brothers Motorsports / Johnny Lewis drilled, slotted & vented brake disc at the rear. Being it’s built for flat track, we’ve left off the front brake and utilized a traditional but highly modified Kiwi Indian leaf fork controlled with a Fox Shox DHX shock. Seat was custom pressed by legendary skateboard maker Paul Schmitt of Schmitt Stix. A Fox Float air shock has also been utilized for the seat. RSD Prototype engine covers as well as era inspired floorboards round off some of the many details.
To build a bike for such a historically important event is something we take very seriously. For us, this machine needs to represent not only our partners and RSD, but the history of Sturgis and Indian Motorcycles. This bike isn’t going to be strictly a show bike, it’s really inspired by racing and built to ride hard. At the moment we are flat out trying to get this machine finished for its Debut at The Chip.