Indian Kawasaki custom by Dr Robert Harms
Sometimes motorcycles are designed, sometimes styled, sometimes they're built with detailed plans, ... but every now and then, they just grow. This custom seems to be the result of a challenge, "Let's see you make something from that!" but in reality, the only challenge came from the builder himself, Dr. Robert Harms, who decided restorations had become "creatively confining and ... [he] wanted to engage in projects that required a greater physical and intellectual skill set." This Indian Kawasaki is just one result.
This is a fun bike, the more you look, the more you see, like the fully functional Ford airbag mounted where the tank would sit (the sensor is on the front fork), the taillight mounted inside a piston, the now solid plunger rear suspension acting as part of the swingarm controlled by a single shock. The list goes on and on.
Who says you need a plan to build a motorcycle? What you need are tools, a parts pile (omelet pan, saucepan), a healthy dose of creativity and a willingness to roll up your sleeves and see what works. Yep, you guessed it, it takes a "doer attitude."
I'm tempted to call this art, but it's a fully functional, ergonomically correct motorcycle, so it's more than just art, but however you classify it, this is cool.
Well, who better to tell you about the bike than the builder?
From Dr. Robert Harms:
All [of my] bikes are fully functional and thoroughly tested. NOTHING is done for appearance only. Nothing is a shortcut because "it's a show bike" as none of them are shown or displayed. All lights work, they start and stop and the dimensionality and ergonomics are correct and realistic.
Indian Kawasaki custom by Dr Robert Harms
Essentially all parts are either made, adapted or extensively modified. Nothing other than hardware comes off the end of a UPS truck. Parts are predominantly cheap and come from a multiplicity of sources and did not necessarily begin their existence on donor motorcycles. My major parts source is probably my lifetime stash, augmented by eBay .
All of this is built alone with the assistance of a 9" and a 10" South Bend, a small Enco Mill and a J model Bridgeport.
The Indian Kawasaki
Indian Kawasaki custom by Dr Robert Harms
This bike was the least planned in a series of unplanned bikes. I had purchased several new 2007 Kawasaki KLR 650's that had been in a warehouse fire. After assembling one for my use and parting out two others I was left with a complete new smoke damaged motor. I also had a '49 Indian Scout plunger frame and a DKW Earles front end in the to-be-used-someday pile.
When I began I had a vague idea of a Scout with the KLR and the DKW front end. It progressed from that point in a 10 month series of twists and turns.
The frame was modified to accept the KLR but it became immediately apparent that the tall KLR was not only "too high" but water cooled both of which presented design strictures.
Indian Kawasaki custom by Dr Robert Harms
After the aforementioned starts and stops and dead ends, the frame was modified to accept the motor by removing the center backbone tube and replacing it with paired of siamesed tubes that carry the water to and from the side mounted Suzuki radiator. The frame was later converted to swing arm after the OEM Indian plunger rear was welded solid, exorcised from the frame and converted to a swinging section using a KLR rear swingarm pivot. The rear wheel ( Yamaha Seca 19" front) uses GSXR brakes The rear swingarm (Indian) box assy is now controlled by the sole HD shock which is mounted laterally under the seat. The DKW front end was widened to accept the Seca wheel with GSXR brakes and converted to a leaf spring suspension using a modified trailer spring. The front shocks are fabricated Houdaille style friction units.
The small tank at the top of the frame is the water circulation tank built from a cast aluminum omelet pan sourced from eBay. The rear gas tank (Indian camelback style) was made from sheet aluminum and TIG welded. The toolbox door was originally a derby cover from a damaged 101 Scout primary cover. The actual toolbox , like the headlight (turned from a cast aluminum saucepan) and most other parts were made on site. You may also note the piston taillight (real piston) and the 1927 Matchless shift gate and the dimensionally shrunk "Dawes" cast tractor seat.
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Thanks Doc, for the up close look at this amazing bike. Projects like these just motivate more potential builders to get building instead of thinking about it. Very neat. - kneeslider
Indian Kawasaki custom by Dr Robert Harms
Kickboxer Subaru WRX Powered Motorcycle Concept
{ 47 comments… add yours below ... }
Reminds me of the “Everything Car” from a Shell commercial about 30 something years ago! Anyone remember that?
It looks fun with a Dr. Suess-like quality…I wouldn’t be surprised to see the airbag burst with multi-coloured scarves.
With the gas tank where it is he could call it a “Pinto”. I guess being a doctor he gets all the good drugs.
Stellar execution, especially for having no plan for the desired finished product. I would complain about the colors, but the contrast makes it easier to see every detail. And a question, was the exhaust at any time in its life a griddle? Was the fishtail a dustpan?
Kudos for creativity! Sort of Stempunkish, looks a bit scary to ride however. Wish I had space to tinker.
Love it!
I love it, and I love anything that is a successful attempt at creativity and looks like it was fun to build. Just think about all the grins that must have crossed his face as the idea for each feature of the bike first crossed his mind. If I were him, I would get on my bike, enjoy the ride, and give a big F U to anyone who stuck their nose up at me or questioned how I use my spare time.
Hey Doc, Can I come and play at your house. Great Stuff. That’s what I want to do when I grow up. RideSafe, Mark.
Johnny Cash wrote the song about a CAR, not a bike…!
Really out of the box. Short of rearranging the procession of wheels and motor this is very unique and I like it a lot. I could not have done anything similar to this myself.
Kudos
Though I usually prefer the less-is-more / minimalist look, I can also appreciate the “if it’s worth doing, it’s worth overdoing” design philosophy.
Nice work Doc !
Kslider, man, Builders can build that, and then go ahead and keep it. Looks like the parts shelf fell over onto what used to be a motorcycle. Entertaining. Wouldn’t be caught riding next to it, much less on it. I’m more envious of the time and money represented by this effort.
It’s probably better than any other “Indian” built in the last 20 years or so; but that’s just a tongue-in-cheek joke.
Frankenbikes are awesome. I love stuff like that.
No offense, but it reminds me of a cultivator that we used to drive around on the old produce farm.
I’d like to test ride it…. I think!
I like it!
I love it. You damn sure won’t run into anyone else with the same bike in the same color like you would on anything you rode out of a shop.
yup…it takes all kinds…doc, you’re my kinda builder! i wanna see some more!
Engineering beauty is working art in at least three dimensions, and this machine is beautiful. One name not mentioned though – red frame + yellow wheels = Bohmerland.
Wow, that’s hideous, but in a hilarious sort of way. Some of the individual styling touches, like the piston taillight, are really cool. The overall execution, well, I can’t really fault it for looking like a mess because it wasn’t planned out to any great degree, but it looks like a mess :-p If someone intended to build a bike out of as many mismatched parts as possible, or wanted to make something look as un-roadworthy as possible while still being roadworthy, I’m not sure they could have done better.
cl
It’s beautifull, I agree, I think it would be best with not so bright colors, red frame and yellow wheels a bit too much… Would be perfect after a few rides in the rain maybe?
Jeeeez, Doc, are you riding it, or is it just for the show ?
I’m kinda speechless …
(from a (re-) builder)
Without DOT approved mirrors and Federal regulation compliance stickers, it is neither finished or roadworthy.
And I thought Corbin built hard seats ….
Wow.
What an excellent rolling reminder that parts don’t need to be model-specific (or even application-specific) when you’re building something for yourself, just for the fun of building it. Knowing that every one of those bits is functional and on purpose, rather than cosmetic, makes it even better.
I’m sure a plastic or CF “skin” could be added, but covering up all that Rube Goldberg complexity just for the sake of aerodynamics or a more conventional appearance would be a terrible shame. I bet it takes awhile to wash, though.
The article doesn’t mention what kind of doctor Dr. Harris is. If he’s a surgeon…
I’m as impressed with the brain that built the bike as the bike it’s self. Eccentricity and genius usually accompany each other. Nice piece.
I think the exhaust fish tail is from a vacuum cleaner. Looks like the bike was (still is) fun to build.
Hey Doc, you wouldn’t happen to be a plastic surgeon would you?
-todd
Nice to see a custom that looks both “home made” and like it handles. I too played with meccano as a child! I think it needs an army mess tin for a battery box cover just to complete it. I like the colour scheme it reminds me of an exhibit at a science museum or the sectioned jet engine from my old college.
I just noticed the aluminum vane on the side-mounted radiator (ingenious), I assume to duct air through it. Is it still backed with electric fans? Also, as a caution, I noticed the front fender is solid mounted to the bottom of the leaf spring. If the bike takes a hard dive, the tire will rub the fender. Maybe a pivot at the current mount with reticulation arms to the front of the leaf spring? That’d keep the wheel and fender moving on the same arc.
quick, somebody photoshop Ronald McDonald onto this thing….
This totally reminds me of a post-apocalyptic bike that was built from whatever was available from the ruins of the land. Very creative and crazy– in a good way. My god, an airbag! I applaud your work. Way to march to the beat of your own drum. I like it.
http://mightymichaelis.com/pictures/fang/09.04.20_ronald_moto/Ronald_moto.bmp
Larry Рwas that the car with a Rolls grille and a Citro̻n 2cv center part?
Ok, so this is where The Doctor is now: His Mad Scientist period. Can we convince him to show some of his other creations, like the neat and tidy Yanmar diesel powered Ariel?
I like it a lot, but, what really matters is that he enjoyed building it, and he still enjoys it.
I like the piston for a speedo housing, but the airbag and gas tank sound like trouble if he, heaven forbid, ever dumps the thing.
That thing is awesome. Build another one!
It’s like Tolstoy meets Ed Roth! Thanks Doc. for advancing the culture.
as somebody who still hasn’t gotten rid of his busted ‘92 goof2, and as somebody who day-dreams of being an artist of some sort or another but never does much, i am in awe of your abilities and motivation. thanks for posting these things as inspiration to anybody who thought there were limits
Having spent several weeks on a hay rake, those seats are surprisingly comfortable …if you fit!!
I love it!! I could use it to take my GF home to her redneck folks!!
rafe03
Looks like it’s made from mechano…
What a beautiful Frankenstein’s monster… or should i call Harms Monster?
The true Picaso of the motorcycle world !!
I think the only way to ride this bike is to have a clown costume on. I see a spring with a punching glove shooting out from the headlamp, and the seat seconding as a ejection seat with a parachute. What a great concept! Now I’m craving McDonalds!
Hi Doc, I’m suprized you didn’t throw a few Buell Blast parts in there. Seems like you had quite a pile of Blast components at one point, eh? Great Bike..
be a blast plowing my garden with that!
Dr. Seuss lives….crazy but would certainly be a head turner
” chris 04.21.09 at 9:34 am
I think the only way to ride this bike is to have a clown costume on. I see a spring with a punching glove shooting out from the headlamp, and the seat seconding as a ejection seat with a parachute. What a great concept! Now I’m craving McDonalds!”
I think the airbag would function as an ejector seat in the event that it ever went off
For sure you are in the mood to weld,I would like to ride in on it at my next poker run!
O yea that the reason for the vented gas cap.You must have an old Massy Harris on the property also.(the paint)
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