Forever Rad's Indian Challenger

hen Indian dropped the new Challenger, many folks weren’t as keen on it as I was. The second I saw it I was a fan. While w it is nearly impossible to deny the resemblance to a certain other popular bagger-style bike manufactured by a certain American company, I’m not bothered one bit. Besides, who doesn’t like a good competition? I mean doesn’t Burger King need McDonalds? The Challenger came to party. Brembo radial mount calipers, mono-shock rear suspension, inverted forks, overhead cam fourvalve engine with 120 horsepower… need I continue? This Challenger is owned by Kyle Bertsch. Most people know Kyle by his Instagram handle: @instahavinkyle. Kyle is a super talented guy and an avid skateboarder too (he skates daily when his body allows). His new (epically cool) shop “Forever Rad” is in Hillsboro, Missouri just south of St. Louis replete with a car hoist and several skate ramps as well as every tool one could need to customize…well, just about anything you can sit in or throw a leg over.

After a ten-year stint working east of the mighty Mississippi River with his friend and mentor Jason Sprengel at Sprengel’s Innovative Kustoms in Illinois Kyle made some moves in 2021. This year Kyle moved west of the Mississippi and branched out on his own to start his first solo shop; Forever Rad which will specialize in

everything from custom lay frame Harley’s to Hot Rods and Classic cars. While you may not already know Kyle, it is entirely possible that you may have seen his work and may already have met or been standing next to this fella at any number of rallies or events around the motorcycle community and not even known it. It is also likely that you may have heard him on the Fast Life Podcast. He and Jace Hudson are homies and the photo spread you see before you is courtesy of Mr. Hudson.

Kyle is no stranger to travel, in fact it was during his rigorous travel schedule that Kyle kept encountering Indian bagger owners over and over. Each time he would meet someone new riding an Indian he would ask “why?” “Why an Indian and not a Harley?” Each time he got the same, or similar response. Once he finally had the chance to ride one, he got it right away. The aforementioned factory equipment on the Challenger

made the bike he was currently riding simply below par for the kind of riding Kyle was ready to start doing. After his first 100-miles, he decided that the Challenger handled awesome, stopped awesome and overall was just better than an M8 motorcycle. That is a bold statement for sure! He also liked the idea of “poking the bear” so to speak. It is impossible to deny the resemblance to a certain other “fixed fairing” bagger.

For starters it is impossible to miss the killer paint scheme on Kyle’s Challenger. The subtle use of denim finish on the body parts paired with the race number graphics scream performance. This paint job is a collaboration between artists, Jason Sprengel, Austin Polen and Kyle. Kyle told us that watching Jason and Austin work on this paint job together could be compared to having two tattoo artists work on a back piece at the same time. Once the graphics were decided upon, Kyle needed something to break up the flow of the paint job. The 21 symbolizes a big

instahavin challenger Tech Sheet Owner: Kyle Bertsch City/State: St. Louis, MO Fab. By: Forever Rad Year: 2020 Model: Indian Challenge Value: Priceless Time: 4 Months

Engine Year: 2020 Model: 108 Power Plus DOHC Builder: Owner/Indian Ignition: Relocated OEM Displacement: 1769 Pistons: Stock Heads: Stock Carb: 2 Throttle Bodies Cam: Indian Stage 2 Air Cleaner: Indian Stage II =3 Exhaust: CMP 2 Into 1 tuning: Lloyd’s Garage Transmission Year: 2020 Make: Indian Shifting: Frame Year: 2020 Make: Indian Rake: Stock Stretch: Stock

Forks Type: Indian Modified Builder: Owner/Bare Knuckle Performance type: Stock Triple Trees: Stock Extension: +2” Front & Rear

Wheels, Tires, Brakes Front Wheel: BST TorqueTek Size: 19” Front Tire: Metzeler Cruisetec Front Brake: Galfer/Brembo Rear Wheel: BST Size: 18” Rear Tire: Metzeler Cruisetec Rear Brake: Indian/Galfer

Paint Painter: Jason Sprengel-SIK/Forever Rad color: Asian Desert Type: Axalta Graphics: Polen Designs/SIK/Owner powder coat: Metro Metal & Resto

Accessories Bars: Performance Machine Dash: Barnstorm Cycles Risers: Boosted Brad hand controls: Boosted Brad Fuel Tanks: Stock Front Fender: Klock Werks Modified Rear Fender: Hewily Modified Seat: Saddlemen Foot Controls:Barnstorm/Boosted Brad Windshield: Klock Werks Headlight: Eagle Lighting Taillight: Kuryakyn Mirrors: Arlen Ness year for Kyle it is the year he completed this build, and it is also the year he started his first professional shop as a solo shop owner.

Even though the Challenger comes factory equipped with a ton of top shelf components, Kyle didn’t let his Challenger rest on its laurels. Of course, no new motorcycle comes equipped with suitable exhaust for an aggressive enough sound, so Kyle installed a one-off CMP Motorcycles stainless steel 2 into 1 exhaust to give this already “torquey” power plant some extra umph as well as the right exhaust note. Risers and foot controls are from Boosted Brad’s Death Metal Racing. Brad’s parts are 100% made in the USA and they are of very high quality. They look perfect on the Challenger as do the risers (also from DMR). The stock hand controls on the Indians are one specific place that the masses find fault in. Aesthetically speaking the words “cheap looking” and “too plastic” are conjured up in most conversations around the table. Kyle turned to Beringer for hand controls and to Arlen Ness for the mirrors. The grips are from ODI which suit the flow of the bike, are high quality and very comfortable enough to ride long distance.