2021 Drag & Parts Unlimited Indian

bike. “It was just so good,” he says. “The chassis and the motor were terrific. I did almost 400 miles on one at the press ride and asked Indian right there if I could have one. The platform was just great.” Hart took the racer’s approach to modifying the bike. He looked at how to build up the bike with an eye to improving the already strong stock package. “Nothing too crazy with the motor,” he says. It made good, usable power. He wanted to improve the bike’s handling and suspension, and trim some of the weight for overall performance gains. “A racer will want a light, well- balanced, good handling and strong stopping motorcycle over one with just a crazy powerful engine,” he says. A lot of time was spent on the front end. Hart worked with GP Suspension’s Jake Zemke to get the front forks dialed in with custom valving, tuning and fork leg friction coatings to improve response and feel. The brakes were enhanced with Brembo Monobloc calipers, Beringer The 2021 Indian Catalog Bike was designed and built by Drag Specialties brand ambassador Carey Hart. Hart is probably best known for his freestyle motocross competition championships and as the first rider to attempt the backflip in freestyle motocross. He’s also had a long-term interest in American V-Twin motorcycles. “I have always been a fan of the V-Twins,” Hart says. He has owned baggers and built custom bikes. But a ride on a friend’s Indian Chieftain in 2016 really sparked his interest in the Indian brand. “I really liked his bike, the feel of it, even on slippery stock tires. And when I looked into the brand, the direction they were going … I was the one that actually pursued Indian motorcycles to be a partner with them.” That partnership leads up to Hart being involved with the Indian Challenger model introduction. He rode the new model at the official launch and was hooked on the ON THE COVER Paint: Chris Wood at Airtrix, Santa Barbara, California 2020 Indian Challenger Custom by Carey Hart

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