Japanese custom builder involved in new Indian FTR project
A custom Indian FTR is set to be the result of a collaboration between Indian Motorcycle, Sideburn magazine, and Cheetah Custom Cycles.
Indian Motorcycle UK has announced a new collaboration with the magazine, Sideburn, to create a custom Indian FTR.
Flat track racing plays a significant part in the history of both the Indian FTR and Sideburn magazine. The Indian FTR is the model with which Indian competes in American Flat Track, and Sideburn was born out of the love of its creator, Gary Inman, for flat track racing. The parallels are clear.
The collaboration will also involve Japanese customiser, Toshiyuki “Cheetah” Osawa, who has worked with Indian before on a number of custom projects out of his Cheetah Custom Cycles workshop in Tokyo.
The progress of the build, from beginning to its unveiling at the Bike Shed Show London, will be documented via a series of videos which will be posted to the Indian EMEA Youtube page. The first video in the series, featuring flat track racer Leah Tokelove, can be viewed below.
Gary Inman, founder of Sideburn, said: “Sideburn grew out of my love of flat track racing and the aesthetics of the sport, so our relationship with Indian Motorcycle, who absolutely dominate in the sport, has always been a natural fit. Being able to collaborate with Indian Motorcycle and my favourite custom builder is a real high point in Sideburn’s history and I can’t wait to bring Cheetah’s sketches to life.
“Despite the wildly varied custom scene in Japan, Cheetah and I are on the same page, and we are keen to create a custom that, while celebrating the moto cultures of the US, UK and Japan, still retains all the great elements that make the FTR such a desirable motorcycle.
"Alongside a plan to add some choice components, the real highlight for me will be when Cheetah flies into the UK to fit the aluminium bodywork that he’ll be fabricating in Japan.”
Claire D’auria from Indian Motorcycle UK added: “We’ve always had a great relationship with Gary and Sideburn and when the idea for this FTR build was first discussed, we all knew it would be a very special project.
“It’s also very exciting to have Cheetah involved in the project bringing his highly creative design and fabrication skills to the FTR. I can’t wait to see the reaction at the Bike Shed show in May.”
