Interview by Natalie Cuomo
Indian Bike—the legendary model that pulls its lineage all the way in which again to the late 1800s—has lately come out with its most customizable bike ever. With a view to rejoice the reimagined Indian Chief, the corporate reunited legendary builders Paul Cox and Keino Sasaki to customized construct a motorcycle for famend tattoo artist Nikko Hurtado. We enlisted our resident bike skilled Natalie Cuomo to average a dialog between the three heavy hitters. Over the course of an hour they mentioned the 2022 Indian Chief, the similarities between tattooing and bike constructing, and way more.
Natalie Cuomo: Paul and Keino, you’re constructing this bike for Nikko. Are you able to give us somewhat background about the way you got here to work on this undertaking?
Paul Cox: It was delivered to each of us individually if we’d be keen on working with Indian once more, after which if we had been keen on working with one another once more, which each seemed like nice concepts. We’ve been buddies for a few years and it seemed like quite a lot of enjoyable. This new 2022 Chief platform has been superior to work with. The bike itself is such a departure from what they’ve been doing in recent times with the way in which it’s engineered and the way in which it’s constructed. We’re having time with it. We break up up the undertaking in order that he [Keino] has his issues he’s engaged on and I’ve my stuff that I’m engaged on, then we’ll simply come collectively and make the entire thing come collectively.
Cuomo: How are you guys shaping this and the way are you personalizing it particularly for Nikko?
Cox: Keino goes forward and dealing on the gasoline tank and he’s constructing that up from scratch, in addition to the exhaust system, which already seems superior. I’m doing the entrance finish from scratch, and we’re pairing down the entire wiring and infrastructure, the entire thing. We’re principally stripping all of it right down to a bare-bones type of scorching rod.
Cuomo: Nikko, what’s your half within the strategy of this construct?
Nikko Hurtado: I’m actually excited concerning the bike. I tremendous respect what you guys do. I grew up round fabrication and stuff like that, my father owns a fabrication store within the San Fernando Valley and he’s achieved all types of stuff for aerospace. I grew up round steel… simply the odor of it and the welds and stuff like that. I respect bike builders a lot. My dad used to construct bikes only for his pals and I’ve a motorcycle that was constructed by hand, and I’m actually excited to see what these guys pull off and put collectively, as a result of, I imply, steel is in my blood. I’ve photos of me once I was 5 years outdated pretending to weld. It’s so cool. To see these guys who’ve made their life round fabrication and customization, that’s their artwork type. It’s cool to be a part of that.
Cox: Not for nothing, however your work is superb.
Hurtado: Thanks a lot, man.
Paul Cox. Photo by Bryan Helm
Cuomo: I wish to speak concerning the parallel in designing a tattoo and constructing a motorcycle. You understand, the way you’re serving to another person specific themselves, whether or not it’s by way of a tattoo or the bike they’re driving.
Hurtado: It’s form of loopy seeing these guys on Zoom proper now as I understand how a lot coronary heart and soul goes into something you create, particularly when it’s handmade. I may solely think about how they really feel constructing one thing for Indian, the entire course of. I all the time attempt to are available in tremendous respectful as a result of [as a tattoo artist] I perceive how you place your coronary heart out into these items. It doesn’t matter what it’s you’re doing you attempt to do your greatest, as a result of it’s a part of your soul. Once I see this bike in particular person for the primary time, I’m positive it’s going to be overwhelming as a result of it’s anyone’s masterpiece.
Cox: One factor that I like concerning the mixture of positive artwork and the mechanical side of motorcycle constructing and engines is that it’s a must to steadiness the 2. There’s the technical side of engine constructing, bike geometry and every part else, however then you definately deliver your positive artwork into it so far as model, aesthetic, movement and people particulars which are on the opposite finish of the spectrum from the extremely technical. Balancing these two is what makes me enthusiastic about getting up and doing what I do day by day.
Cuomo: How a lot of the construct would you say is impressed by the form of traditional, retro really feel of the unique Indian Chief versus a extra fashionable tackle it?
Cox: I really feel nice about it. I’m tremendous enthusiastic about the entire geometry. Hey Keino, soar in someplace [laughs]. Any time.
Keino Sasaki: You’re actually good with the wording, so I allow you to speak! We’re not chopping up the bikes, we’re utilizing the platform and the Indian design and stylizing it with our concepts and our imaginative and prescient. It’s not essentially that we’re making a tribute to the Indian historical past, however it’s Paul and I working collectively once more. We labored collectively again within the day and moved on in our separate methods, however we nonetheless have a mutual respect for one another. It’s not that we’re impressed by one particular factor, however [we’re inspired] by what we’ve seen and what we tried over time.
Cox: That’s level as a result of we each have our personal aesthetic and our personal model of doing issues over so a few years. It’s very natural that when Keino and I began speaking about what this platform regarded like inside the first 5 minutes we had been choosing it aside and deciding what it might be and the right way to deliver it collectively. Every time is a problem to create one thing new and distinctive however nonetheless within the model of what we do.
Sasaki: It’s like a tattoo. You provide you with a design concept, however does it suit your physique? Generally it doesn’t work out, it doesn’t look good, it’s an ideal concept however it’s a three-dimensional factor.
Cuomo: Nikko, are you able to converse somewhat concerning the crossover between the tattoo world and the bike world?
Hurtado: Once I first obtained into tattooing [the two worlds] had been hand-in-hand. My first introduction to tattooing was going to a tattoo conference in Hollywood on the Palladium, it was run by a biker membership. My cousin took me and there have been tons of bikes and that’s simply who was there. There have been a bunch of people that rode bikes they usually had been getting tattooed. It was a little bit of a circus. To me, what I miss [now] in tattooing is that uncooked really feel. That old-school, circus really feel. Tattooing has positively modified.
I do not forget that outdated grittiness of tattoo magazines. I like these outdated magazines, it provides me a bit of nostalgia. The man that took me to the conference had full sleeves—I didn’t know anybody else who had full sleeves again then—and he was a biker. I simply thought that was tremendous cool and that began my infatuation with tattoos.
Cox: You ever come to the Roseland present right here within the metropolis? That was one, you discuss that circus really feel. It was superior.
Hurtado: You’d see all these folks, just like the cat man and the puzzle man and all these folks, they’d go to that one present. Now you don’t actually see these folks as typically, or it’s that individuals simply have their complete face tattooed now. Again then, man, it was loopy. It was an entire completely different time.
Sasaki: It’s regular to have a hand tattoo or a neck tattoo lately.
Hurtado: It’s regular to have your face tattooed now.
Sasaki: Yeah… that’s somewhat loopy to me. I’d by no means try this [laughs].
Hurtado: I adore it, although. Having sleeves again then was like what persons are doing as we speak by having a small face tattoo. And I’m cool with it. So long as folks love bikes and love tattoos, I’ll be capable to make a dwelling. So I push everyone to maintain getting these issues. Who did your sleeve, Keino? That appears good.
Sasaki: That is by Diego [Mannino], he simply moved again to California. My chest was achieved by Troy Denning…
Hurtado: Yeah, I do know Troy. Legend.
Sasaki: This Japanese man, Takashi Matsuba, he’s a tebori hand tattoo man, he’s engaged on my again. That’ll be it for me after I get my again achieved. Perhaps my legs, possibly my ribs, however I’m not trying ahead to doing a rib tattoo. Once I did my chest and my butt, my God, it was so fucking painful. What am I doing this for? Particularly within the again, I can’t even see it! Why am I doing this [laughs]?
Keino Sasaki. Photo by Bryan Helm
Cuomo: Getting again to the bike, are you able to inform us somewhat about your relationship with Indian and what the corporate means to you?
Sasaki: For me, Indian was all the time the mysterious model for me. I grew up engaged on Harleys and whatnot. Once I began, Indian was a legendary model, however it wasn’t in enterprise on the time. Once they introduced it again to life it was fairly thrilling to see what they may do with the trendy platform whereas nonetheless carrying on that legacy of the Indian model. I used to be lucky sufficient to work on an Indian Scout 5, six years in the past and I didn’t even hesitate to work with such a legendary model.
A number of years later they got here again with the thought to collaborate with my outdated associate, Paul, and I assumed, “That’s a fairly cool twist.” Me and Paul talked about it and we jumped on. It’s such an honor.
Cox: Yeah, it looks like they’ve gone full circle. I like what they’re doing now various years in the past once they had an earlier rebirth of Indian earlier than this one. What they’re doing now’s a lot cooler than what that was making an attempt to be.
We’ve talked concerning the body rather a lot, Keino and I’ve, even that factor itself is superbly engineered and thought out. It actually speaks to the custom of the outdated machines. It’s this tight little scorching rod package deal with this beefy energy plant. Whenever you discuss modifications and making it your individual, it’s intuitively designed to the place it’s actually been a pleasure to work with.
Sasaki: This time they’ve the best folks behind the model. From watching the entire bike factor for the final 20, 30 years… they’ve the best folks, the best firm and the best motivations.
Cox: Yeah, they’re motivated. They appear actually in tune with what folks need as we speak, they’re listening to what persons are saying. They’re considering proper off the bat about folks eager to beef up, tune and rework their current fashions and actually make them their very own. Way more than simply throwing on chrome mirrors. They’re considering somewhat bit deeper into folks, it’s been a blast.
Hurtado: I’m actually excited to be portray one other tank for them. I painted two tanks in the previous couple of years for some charity occasions that we’ve had and I actually loved it. I had by no means actually painted on something steel earlier than. I actually benefit from the course of behind it and I’m excited to be portray one other tank for Indian. I’ve loved watching the model develop. Even the bike Carey [Hart] constructed lately… it was sick. I wish to be part of manufacturers that I really get pleasure from to any extent further. I actually just like the model, I actually like what they’re doing and I actually like working with guys like yourselves.
Cox: Superior. So, you prepared for a jockey shift?
Hurtado: Yeah, man, I’ve by no means ridden one earlier than so I’m excited.
Cox: That’s the best reply [laughs].
Sasaki: You prepared for the loss of life entice [laughs]? There’s no entrance brake, so be prepared.
Hurtado: That’s OK. I’ve ridden with no rear brake, you already know what I imply. My dad constructed me a motorcycle, however all my pals once I first began tattooing had road bikes. I reside on the 15 freeway in Hesperia, which is in the course of the desert, and it’s a straight shot to Vegas. I had no expertise driving bikes on the time. I may trip it, however I didn’t know you couldn’t push a Harley so exhausting. So my buddies take off on the 15 going 100, 110, no matter. I jumped on the freeway—I’m younger, dude, most likely early twenties—and I’m like, ‘Fuck, these dudes left me.’
I take off and I’m getting close to Barstow, no joke, going most likely 100 and the bike blew up as a result of it was the center of summer season. The motor blows up as I’m driving and all I really feel is nothing however scorching on my legs, bro.
Cox: They had been moist, proper [laughing]?
Hurtado: I’m simply dumping oil and my complete rear tire is roofed in oil. So I threw it in impartial and coasted to the aspect, however that taught me to by no means be driving like that. You understand, the little mind buckets again within the day, that’s all I had on. Man, it was loopy, I’m fortunate to be OK now.
All people: [Laughing]
Fortunately every part labored out for the most effective that day within the desert. Not solely did Nikko keep away from any type of disaster, however he realized a lesson about driving and deepened his love of motorbike tradition. Quickly he’ll be capable to recreate that desert run on his marvelous Indian bike constructed by Cox and Sasaki, solely this time round we will assure he’ll make it to Vegas and are available away with greater than only a cautionary story.
