Indian Larry was a motorcycle builder and artist, stunt rider, and biker. He first became known as Indian Larry in the 1980s when he was riding the streets of New York City on a chopped Indian motorcycle. Respected as an old school chopper builder, Larry sought greater acceptance of choppers being looked upon as an art form. He became interested in hot rods and motorcycles at an early age and was a fan of Von Dutch and Ed "Big Daddy" Roth, whom he would later meet in California.
Indian Larry at bike rally in Daytona Beach, Florida, 2003
The Daddy-O (Rat Fink) bike was Larry's tribute to Kustom Kulture icon Ed "Big Daddy" Roth. It features dual carburetors and late 60s style paint.
Wild Child chopper which Larry said in 2003 was the best bike he'd "ever built". Features root beer metal flake paint; also visible is the chromed, twisted down tube and two different head styles on the engine.
Chain of Mystery: the last chopper that Larry built (2004); shown here during a temporary exhibit. As Larry described it, "You don't see bikes like this that often. That's what I shoot for, something that's just mind-bending".
A chopper is a type of custom motorcycle which emerged in the US state of California in the late 1950s. A chopper employs modified steering angles and lengthened forks for a stretched-out appearance. They can be built from an original motorcycle which is modified ("chopped") or built from scratch. Some of the characteristic features of choppers are long front ends with extended forks often coupled with an increased rake angle, hardtail frames, very tall "ape hanger" or very short "drag" handlebars, lengthened or stretched frames, and larger than stock front wheel. To be considered a chopper a motorcycle frame must be cut and welded at some point. I.e. the name chopper. The "sissy bar", a set of tubes that connect the rear fender with the frame, and which are often extended several feet high, is a signature feature on many choppers.
Peter Fonda rides a replica of the "Captain America" bike used in Easy Rider
The heavily valanced fenders of the 1940 Indian 440 four.
One of the earliest choppers, built by Wild Child's Custom Shop of Kansas City, Missouri.
Leather clad, metal lowered seat, and 24 inch rise Ape Hanger handlebars.