Indian Scout “Black Hills Beast” Custom Motorcycle

1-2015_Scout-BLK_Beast_266-(Large)2-2015_Scout-BLK_Beast_050-by-Todd-Williams3-2015_Scout-BLK_Beast_050-by-Todd-Williams4-2015_Scout-BLK_Beast_050-by-Todd-WilliamsYou saw it unveiled in Sturgis and in my Sturgis Postcards Reports. This custom Indian Scout built by Doug Siddens and Nick Jaquez of forum Indian Motorcycles got a strong reception with several hundreds of attendees taking picture of themselves standing by it. The Black Hills Beast, based on a new 2015 Indian Scout, was customized to emulate the purpose built nature of historic hill climb motorcycles. It was Doug and Nick first build and they knew they had to do something really special. When they got commissioned by Indian to create this theme bike, they had only a few weeks to get the bike apart and back together in their simple backyard shop in a shape that would wow the crowds in Sturgis.

“Building a hill climber seemed easy enough, but it posed some unique challenges,” says Doug Siddens”Enthusiasts know what a hill climber looks like – so some of the mods were logical – but scaling them to fit the new Scout was the key and took a lot of work and planning. We are very proud of the result and the reception that the bike got at such an important Sturgis milestone, the 75th anniversary.”

5-2015_Scout-BLK_Beast_050-by-Todd-Williams6-2015_Scout-BLK_Beast_050-by-Todd-WilliamsFirst major change was to extend the swingarm for hill climb duties. BTR Moto stepped to the plate with a custom swingarm that was stretched a full 10″ over the stock length. Because during the infancy of the sport hill climbers ran beefy chains on the rear tire they chain-wrapped the Scout tire. Since the builders could no longer use the stock belt drive setup, they decided for a chain alternative. Enter Zipper’s Performance offering a Scout a chain conversion kit. For front suspension, they turned to Traxxion and opted for a set of their AK20 cartridges. In the rear, they turned to Fox for a custom built remote reservoir shock setup to contrast the vintage look of the bike. Additional support for the Indian Scout Black Hills Beast came from Aeromach (Floorboards and heel shifter), Dobeck Performance (Engine tuning), RPW USA (Exhaust), Starr Studios (Paint), Ricochet Customs (Powder coating).

7-2015_Scout-BLK_Beast_050-by-Todd-Williams8-2015_Scout-BLK_Beast_050-by-Todd-WilliamsIndian Motorcycle will continue to play with this gritty work of art through upcoming celebrations of custom Scout motorcycles, including the International Motorcycle Shows tour as part of the Scout Custom Series launched last year with the Wall of Death Scout, and now including the USO Scout and the Black Bullet Scout inspired by land speed racing.
10-2015_Scout-BLK_Beast_266-(Large)

16 Responses to “Indian Scout “Black Hills Beast” Custom Motorcycle”


  1. 1 highrpm Oct 7th, 2015 at 8:28 am

    the scout as a dirt bike? someone inside polaris has personality disorders.

  2. 2 Woody's Oct 7th, 2015 at 8:28 am

    Strange, they bring the bike out to a hill and then show us old clips of other bikes going up hills.

  3. 3 Joshua Oct 7th, 2015 at 8:34 am

    Woody’s. You are confused. This bike was not done by Polaris/Indian, but by an independent builder who has an Indian online forum.

  4. 4 Woody's Oct 7th, 2015 at 8:40 am

    I’m confused? I never said anything about it being done by Polaris/Indian, nor do I care. Just thought it sad we had to watch film from the past instead videos of a new bike sitting at the bottom of a hill while listening to copy of it being a hillclimber.

  5. 5 Sharkey Oct 7th, 2015 at 8:52 am

    Says in the text commissioned by Indian. A styling/advertising exercise…
    Still no “Dyna” equivalent in their lineup; but they are making some interesting bikes.
    About 50+ years of heritage and 50 thousand accessories short yet, and the “feel” of the dealerships is still vastly different, too. Glad to have them on the scene though

  6. 6 P. Hamilton Oct 7th, 2015 at 9:16 am

    Hey guys. It’s a styling exercise by an independent builder with the benediction (help?) of Indian. It’s about the Indian spirit, not about competing in hill climb. I like it very much.

  7. 7 John J. TEXAS Oct 7th, 2015 at 9:46 am

    i think at the end it said stay tuned… maybe see it actually climb said hill in a later clip…?
    i dunno…

    smiles everyone… good day!

  8. 8 RK Rider Oct 7th, 2015 at 10:38 am

    Just gotta be careful of the radiator.

  9. 9 X HD Rider Oct 7th, 2015 at 10:47 am

    Not impressed with and of the Polaris / Victory / Indian bikes or especially Dealers.
    Had a Indian for two months had nothing but problems and the Dealer and tech new absolutely nothing about the bike or how to fix it

    As far as that video with out the chain on the back tire it couldn’t go 10 feet up any hill

  10. 10 nicker Oct 7th, 2015 at 12:35 pm

    A case of Function following Form…. (some time later)……???

    -nicker-

  11. 11 Kroeter Oct 7th, 2015 at 2:54 pm

    Hope he fared better than the other Polaris at Pike’s Peak.

  12. 12 Blackmax Oct 7th, 2015 at 3:29 pm

    Nope, not a fan of this bike’s form or function
    Exercise in excess to ruin a perfectly good Scout
    Sorry, just my opinion ….

  13. 13 Blackmax Oct 7th, 2015 at 3:31 pm

    By the way, if they are giving out Scouts to just anybody ???
    I’ll take one, just because !!!!

  14. 14 James just another crazy kiwi Oct 7th, 2015 at 7:06 pm

    Indian don’t need theme bikes, they ride to their own tune.

    Their marketing guys need wising up. Quickly !!

    Don’t do what you don’t need to do or others will start thinking your a poser and laugh at you.

    Applies to all MC’s and Bikers alike

  15. 15 rcupp Oct 7th, 2015 at 7:22 pm

    So instead of taking a new bike and trying to make it look like an old hill climber why not take a new bike and build a new hill climber that works and let it earn its own patina on a hill climbing?

  16. 16 Chris Oct 8th, 2015 at 10:15 am

    Kudos to the builders Doug Siddens and Nick Jaquez . I think the bike looks great, but like Woody said, why no footage of the bike actually climbing a hill?

    Give us more! Prove the concept!

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Cyril Huze