Okay, so, I’ve been messing around with motorcycles for a while now, and I recently got my hands on this Indian Sport Chief. Man, this thing is a beast, but you know me, I can’t leave anything stock. I had to make it my own. I started by looking at it, and thinking, “What can I do to make this bike truly mine?”
First things first, I went online and started browsing through all the customization options. I spent a good chunk of time just scrolling through different handlebars, grips, you name it. Indian Motorcycle’s website has a whole section dedicated to customizing their bikes, which was super helpful. There were so many options, it was a bit overwhelming, to be honest. I took my time, saved some links, and slept on it.
Thinking about the ride
The new Chief is supposed to be a step down from the big touring bikes, sort of like what the Dyna was for Harley. But, let’s face it, it doesn’t have that same raw energy the Dyna did, or the sleek look of the Softail. It’s kind of in its own category. After some more digging, I found some really cool custom parts from a German manufacturer. The craftsmanship looked top-notch, so I bookmarked that page too.
- Handlebars: I’m thinking something a bit more aggressive, maybe some T-bars or something with a bit of a rise.
- Grips: Definitely need some new grips. The stock ones are fine, but I want something with a little more personality.
- Seat: The stock seat is okay, but I’m thinking a solo seat would look pretty slick. Maybe even a custom stitched one.
Diving In
So, I finally pulled the trigger and ordered a few things. I started small, you know, just to get a feel for it. I snagged a new exhaust from Fab28. Heard good things about them, so I figured I’d give it a shot. Then I went over to DeanSpeed and picked up some cosmetic stuff. They had a bunch of cool little pieces that I thought would really make the bike stand out. But I wanted to do something about those rear shocks, the silver decals just didn’t do it for me. So, I swapped them out for gold ones, and while I was at it, I replaced the screws on the windshield with gold ones too. It’s all about those little details, you know? It makes a difference.
Now, I’ve heard some chatter about the Lloyd’z 131 kit. Apparently, it’s a real monster. I’m still on the fence about that one. It’s a big commitment, and I want to make sure it’s the right move for me. My buddy Jeremy, he’s all about performance, he’d probably tell me to go for it. But I also like to ride comfortably, and I’m not sure if that kit is going to make the bike too much of a handful.
I looked at what Carey Hart did with his Sport Chief. That thing is a total head-turner. It just screams performance. It’s definitely an inspiration, but I don’t think I’m going to go quite that far with mine. At least not yet. My goal is to ride around and enjoy it.
Anyways, that’s where I’m at with my Sport Chief project. It’s a work in progress, for sure. But I’m having a blast with it. I’ll keep you guys posted on how it’s going. And if any of you have any suggestions or ideas, feel free to drop them in the comments. I’m always open to new ideas.
