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Tuesday, 24 September 2024

Indian Motorcycle

Indian Motorcycle - More Forged


Last month, AMD showed the first of three 'Scout Forged' named builder collaborations, we can now share the next bike reveal for Indian Motorcycle’s Scout Forged custom build series, based on the "all new" Indian Scout platform.

The first was designed by Roland Sands, and here we see two follow-ups by vintage specialists Brittney Olsen and Ronna Noren of Unique Custom Cycles in Sweden.

Roland took the inspiration for his build from legendary Indian Motorcycle road racer Ed Kretz. In Brittney's case, it was the iconic Cecelia Adams that gave her the inspiration for the build, and she says she hopes she "can be the ‘Cecelia Adams of the 21st century."

“You have these guys throughout the history of motorcycling, showing what the Scout can do. But then here’s something that doesn’t really get hit on. The historical foundation for my bike build are the early 40s, early 50s women riders that would ride Sport Scouts back in the day,” says Olsen.


Brittney Olsen's custom Sport Scout, received by Nikki Lane



Receiving this custom Sport Scout is country music singer and songwriter Nikki Lane.

In Ronna's case, his chopper-styled 2025 Scout was triggered by Stan Dishong, an early adopter of the chopper scene in the 50s and founder of Stan’s Cycle shop. Ronna’s custom Scout build "echoes elements of the early chopper scene with longer forms, narrow tank, taller bars and dual exhaust."

To reflect the era she is building for, Brittney has incorporated real 1946 to 1948 Indian Chief springs, shock and risers on a custom handbuilt girder front end with factory textured powder- coat to match the stock frame.


The modified stock Scout gas tank uses stock Springfield Chieftain tank panels to get the original Indian Sport Scout teardrop shape. "We kept the top and bottom tunnel ram of the stock Scout gas tanks to keep the stock fuel pump, air intake box and the stock Scout GPS panel that originally came stock." 

There are custom underseat frame covers, custom made seat mounts, custom vintage Bates seat and rear fender pad, extended rear subfender, custom black paint job and custom lettering, striping and gold and silver leaf done by Jeremy Pederson.

Additional modifications include handbuilt struts for the rear end, custom license plate mount, factory mid-controls, longer custom brake line, custom stainless exhaust, custom front turn signals and stainless steel bars, custom gauge/counsel relocation and handbuilt rear subfender panels.

Indian Motorcycle says that this new, next evolution of Indian Scout with its new steel tube frame "delivers an approachable platform for customization, as the tank, fenders and subframe can be easily removed and replaced."

Ronna Noren's chopper style custom Scout interpretation was received by legendary heavy metal Swedish drummer Mikkey Dee. 

Ronna Noren's chopper style custom Scout interpretation was received by legendary heavy metal Swedish drummer Mikkey Dee.





Frame mods included 33 degrees on the neck, 37 degrees on the fork and 4" stretch and a one-off custom narrowed upper frame. Built around a Trask Powerflow airfilter, the shock mounts on the swingarm have been moved back and 'Keeping it Swedish', there are 8" over Tolle Engineering fork legs and hydraulics and one-off billet triple trees with 4 degree rake.

The shocks are black anodized IMC/Fox units, and the wheels are Cerakote finished hubs and rims - 80/90-21" front, 180/55-18" rear - with stainless spokes. The brakes are legendary Swedish made ISR one-piece radials - 6-piston front, 4-piston rear - with ISR 320 mm full floating disc and ISR prototype billet adapter kit for Scout applications, and an IMC master cylinder.

Ronna shortened, narrowed and sectioned the stock Scout tank with a custom tunnel repositioning fuel pump - the Tolle Engineering pop-up fuel cap is a nice touch. The rear fender is custom-modified stock, with a modified custom fender at the front.

The seat has a one-off steel base plate and upholstery is by Silver Machine. The heavily modified stock handlebars have integrated risers and a one-off speedo housing. There are full custom one-off headers and mufflers in stainless steel, modified Scout pegs and controls. Custom paint and gloss black frame/swingarm is by Hakan Lindberg.