Indian Scout “Neoracer”

From Bobber to “Neoracer” — Indian Scout from Lord Drake Designs… 

Introduced in 2016, the Indian Scout was designed to be the “best in class midsize American motorcycle” — an answer to the long-running Harley-Davidson Sportster. The 1133cc liquid-cooled 4-valve V-twin offered a stout 100 bhp, and the Scout handled much better than the cruiser riding position might suggest.

“Handling-wise, the Scout reminded me most of a Triumph, bikes renowned for their handling aplomb. Think of the Bonneville America but with extra oomph, style and substance, extra everything really. That’s praise indeed.” –Motor Cycle News

We’ve always appreciated how the Indian designers steered away from fake fins on the water-cooled engine, which has a beastly presence and can rev past 8000 rpm. When it came to power and handling, the Scout out-sported Harley’s Evo Sportster by leaps and bounds.

The Scout has also proven itself a great canvas for customization. The machine you see here comes from our friend Fran Manen of Lord Drake Kustoms (LDK), whose Spanish workshop remains one of the most prolific and multi-talented in the world, churning out a host of machines in different styles on a wide array of platforms.

Fran’s favorite style might just be what he calls a “neoracer” — a modern custom with a bold and aggressive race-inspired aesthetic. It’s a blend of the racing and custom worlds, as championed and exhibited by builders like Roland Sands, and has arguably influenced not just the bikes rolling out of custom workshops, but helped lead to racing series like the Super Hooligan National Championship and Bagger Racing League. This Scout is a prime example of the style.

The bike’s custom wheelset immediately draws the eye, especially the addition of a big 18×8.5 rear rim designed for a 240 tire. The meaty rubber gives the bike a muscular and aggressive appearance, and we’re told it actually improves stability and handling on the road. It certainly enhances the attitude and visual presence of the machine.

The big rear wheel has been combined with a clean and sporty rear tail section and solo seat design, making for one of the most visually striking Scout customs we’ve seen. Other details worth highlighting include the radiator cover, headlight fairing, custom exhaust system, Öhlins rear shocks, Brembo front caliper, LED lighting, custom paint, and even an electronic quickshifter.

Fran was a world-class mountain climber before a devastating injury led him to pivot to building custom bikes, but he’s lost none of his daring over the years, pushing forward with bold designs like this one. You’d never expect a big 500-lb cruiser like this one to look so muscular and streamlined, and with plenty of performance enhancement to boot.

We’ll be looking forward to the next creation to roll out of the LDK workshop in Vélez-Málaga, Spain. Below you’ll find a spec sheet for the build and an assortment of additional photos.

Build Sheet

• Large radius exhaust
• Fairing
• Front fender
• Custom radiator cover
• Rear tail
• Custom seat
• Black LED VRod type favor
• Custom rims with 240 rear
• Rear suspension modification
• Öhlins shock absorbers
• Quick Shifter
• Kellerman handlebars, turn signals and 3-in-1 rear lights,
• Side license plate holder
• Brembo front brake caliper

Full Gallery

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