Imagine what your best day ever looks like. Is it transforming a stock motorcycle into a piece of mechanical art? Spending sun-up till sun-down in your garage oasis? Then you’re probably one of the badasses of custom motorcycle building.
There’s great honor in cultivating a skill without seeking acclaim, and by this standard, none are more respected than the men who cultivate a pure love for chopping, welding, and grinding on sheet metal with zero interest in fame and fortune.
But Indian Motorcycle wants you to get some fame — and fortune for that matter. America’s first motorcycle company (founded in 1901) is looking for these skilled, passionate motorcycle mechanics to compete in an epic build-off (on Indian’s dime).
The Wrench: Scout Bobber Build Off will award three everyday wrenchers, home-builders, and amateur customizers a $10,000 build budget to create a stunning two-wheel dream ride out of a stock 2018 Indian Scout Bobber (pictured above). The final motorcycles will be judged by fans, and the winner granted a grand prize of $10,000.
We absolutely dig this competition because it’s based around finding explicitly non-professional builders who don’t make a living in the custom bike world, although motorcycle industry professionals like mechanics or salespersons are welcome to join the running.
“We wanted to create a program that would celebrate the unsung heroes who spend countless hours wrenching on their bikes. The men and women who don’t do it for recognition or notoriety, but solely for self-expression and the pure art of customizing a motorcycle,” says Reid Wilson, senior director of marketing and product planning for Indian Motorcycle. “Last year we saw what professionals could do with the Scout Bobber platform when Kraus Motor, Keino Cycles, and RSD unveiled incredible designs at the Brooklyn Invitational. This year, we’re turning the spotlight away from the pros and shining it on everyday wrenchers.”
If the results are anything like the sleek rides of last year’s customs, we’re in for an auto-treat (just see below).
Here’s how it works: Between March 15-30, amateur builders submit an application to be one of the final three Build-Off competitors. These applications consist of a simple 500-word explanation of your building plans and why you deserving to be one of three finalists, plus a sketch or digital rendering of your customized Scout Bobber concept. (Tip: Add descriptions and imagery of previous builds to highlight your skills — don’t be modest.) Then, between April 3-13, the top submissions will be showcased online and open for fan voting. If your design is chosen, you’ll get flown out to Minneapolis for an unveiling party.
The winner will be revealed at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, which runs August 3-12 in South Dakota. Along with dinero, the winner will get a feature spread in Hot Bike Magazine. (Which shouldn’t matter, since they don’t care about acclaim anyway.)
Now if only there was a competition for drinking margaritas …
