Go Takamine Builds Modern Indian Chief Custom

TGR Staff – 12/01/2021

Japanese bike builder Go Takamine, founder of Brat Style, has pulled covers off a custom 2022 Indian Super Chief Limited, bringing his classic minimalist style to a modern Indian for the first time. Go Takamine is well known in the vintage motorcycle world, building countless classic Indians for customers around the world. This latest build was unveiled in Brat Style’s Long Beach, California location for celebrity client Nicholas Hoult.

Takamine, left almost no portion of the motorcycle untouched, reshaping the tank, modifying the frame and suspension, and repurposing a vintage Ford spare tire cover for a fender. While it is a brand new motorcycle, it has a truly vintage look that is really accentuated thanks to the incorporation of vintage parts. Watch the video about Go Takamine’s design process for this build HERE.

See the full list of modifications below:

Converted the rear suspension from a swing-arm/softail to a rigid, hardtail by installing cross members from the rear axle to the main frame.
New Brat Style bars and brass risers
Relocated the digital speedometer to the lower left side of the bike just below the fuel tank. Did this by fabricating a special mounting system for the speedometer, rerouting the bike’s existing wiring to this new location.
Cut two inches out of the center of the tank to narrow it from its stock size.
Installed a new leather spring loaded solo seat.
Utilized the spare tire fender (originally mounted to the back lift gate of the old truck) from a 1937 Ford Truck and converted it into the new rear fender for this Chief. Finished the rear fender with an original ornate fender end piece from a 1940s Indian Chief
Fabricated short, low-profile sissy bar for rear fender.
Fabricated and installed a new set of custom cone-end exhaust pipes.
Installed brass, gnarled foot pegs and shifter pegs, including actual U.S. Buffalo Nickels at the ends of the foot pegs.
Installed new headlamp with integrated vintage Indian Motorcycle brass coin.
Created upper fork leg covers to create a muscular old-school look for the front end.
Installed sidemount (left side) Brat Style/Shi-Sa tail light and license plate holder
Repainted the bike gloss black, with silver scallops on tank and gold Indian script logo.