The proliferation of cable biker shows has given mainstream exposure to the motorcycle industry and made celebrities out of many of the builders. Indian Larry has become well known through his exploits with Jesse James and the Biker Build Off series. Larry’s resume also includes stuntman, motorcycle artist, metal sculptor and movie actor. He’s also a member of the Coney Island Polar Bear Club. BTR spent some time speaking with Larry on one of his recent visits to the Sunshine State. BTR: Hey, Indian Larry, what’s going on? How’s it feel with all the media attention that bikes are getting these days to be a motorcycle super star? Indian Larry: I don’t know what’s going on, they’ve got me working too hard, I’m busy signing autographs and posing for pictures with the fans here in Daytona. I’ve always been a motorcycle super star, except I was the only one that knew it so it really doesn’t feel much different today. I’m just a regular chopper guy, I’m just a biker and I’m no different from anyone else really. In my opinion everybody’s a super star in their own realm. BTR: What do you think of the changes that have taken place in the motorcycle industry in the past few years? Indian Larry: Well, there seems to be a big advent in the custom bikes. A lot of what people are calling choppers now are not choppers in my opinion, they’re custom bikes. I really build choppers, that’s what I like to build, like straight up choppers. Not that there’s anything wrong with the custom bikes, it’s just not what I do. I’m all about the motor all about the performance all about the speed and handling of the bike. I’m also about elevating actually the art. I’m the man who coined the term “Motorcycle Artist” in the industry. No one was using that term before I coined it years ago. But I think it’s all great for the industry. I personally think the whole world should be filled with motorcyclists and I think everyone would get along a whole lot better. BTR: What do you have to say to someone who’s just starting out with some original ideas on how to build a bike? What should they do? Indian Larry: What I tell everybody, what they should do not only in motorcycles but in life, find out what you like to do, what you love to do and pursue that with all the passion and heart that you can and your success and your money, and your fame if you want, will follow. BTR: What goes through your mind before you build a bike? Where do you get the con epts and convert it to a rolling chassis, how doesn’t come to your head? Indian Larry: Most of the ideas I have for bike building are already in my head. I don’t know where that comes from whether it would be like a God given talent or demonic possession. I don’t know where they come from, I just have tons of ideas and I just keep building. I don’t even try to build anything so radical, I just try to keep refining it to get the ultimate perfect motorcycle. I’m really on a quest for the Holy Grail, so to speak, for the perfect motorcycle, the perfect day, the perfect bike, the perfect ride. That’s what I’m after. BTR: Can you tell us a little bit about the Discovery Channel Biker Build Off competition between you and Billy Lane? The bike was a really special machine and seemed to show so much of your passion and originality. Indian Larry: Yea, the bike that I built for the last Discovery episode was with Billy Lane, the one where I won the 2003 Discovery Channel bike building championship is this bike right behind us. I had a lot of help on that bike from my painter Robert Padre from Custom Auto Design, my whole entire team, Keeno, everybody put there heart into that bike. We built that bike in 20 days which was a tremendous feat. Any real builder will tell you that’s a feat. Anyway, it’s beyond passion, it’s an obsession building these bikes and I tell people it’s not what I do, it’s what I am. I have no choice, this is really a burning obsession, it’s what I do and I’m gonna continue to do this until I can’t do it anymore actually. BTR: What was behind what you did with Billy and the Build Off trophy? Indian Larry: Well, as far as winning and cutting the trophy in half and me waiting for Billy and helping Billy, he would have done the same thing for me and that’s actually what you’re supposed to do. I mean, that’s what bikers are supposed to do. If you see someone on the side of the road, you help them out. And cutting the trophy up?I don’t feel there were any winners up there, we fixed the bike, we went for a ride, we got there and we partied and we had fun and that’s what it’s all about. You know, build some bikes, have some fun, go for a ride and try to get through this whole thing together. Try to get through life together. Don’t screw around and fight with each other. That’s brotherhood. BTR 8 | BORNTORIDE.COM
BTR: How’s it feel to be working hard for all these years and finally get national acclaim for your bike building now that the biker phenomenon is drawing so much attention? What do you think of the change in the attitude towards bikers? It used to be bikers couldn’t get into some restaurants because we rode motorcycles. Indian Larry: Yea, the change in
In honor and memory of Indian Larry. May we never forget his great vision and impact to the
