2017 Indian Scout Custom Bobber From Tank Machine

A little incentive is all it took to get more than 1,600 riders into Indian Motorcycle dealerships over the past six months to take a spin on a new motorcycle. The carrot dangling in front of each person who registered for the drawing was this 2017 Indian Scout Sixty, a custom bobber that was built for the World Motor bike show in Paris.

The Scout Sixty bobber is the work of French motorcycle designer Clement Molina who runs a shop called Tank Machine. He built the bike in partnership with Indian Etoile (a Paris-based dealer) for the Project Scout competition and was then named as the main prize for Indian’s test ride campaign.

Molina’s goal was to give the Scout a new naked look, first taking an original raw metal tank and then adding the Indian Warbonnet design accented with matte black elements replacing most of the chrome. The bare-look bobber style was enhanced with wide white-wall tires, a brown leather solo seat, straight handlebars and a wrapped Supertrapp exhaust system.

The winner of the custom motorcycle was announced earlier this week and 33-year-old Michael Wirth was presented with the bike and keys at Rothsee-Choppers dealer in Hilpolstein, Germany.

Wirth who manages a construction company, says that riding is his pastime and he finds it difficult to do anything else, except during the winter when he parks his bike in favor of a snowboard.

“I am really impressed to see the bike live,” said Wirth. “I can’t really believe that I am the lucky guy who won this beautiful Indian Scout Sixty.”

The chopper lifestyle served as inspiration for Wirth. “I had always wanted a chopper,” he said. “After a big night out with friends, we challenged each other to pass the motorcycle test and we each had our licenses three months later. Our group of friends grew and this draw introduced me to Indian Motorcycle, where I met Jürgen and Uwe from the Franconia Chiefs, a riders group affiliated with the IMRG (Indian Motorcycle Riders Group) and we spent some good times together.”

When asked what he likes most about motorcycling, Wirth replied, “Everything, especially when I’m riding with friends. We go to meetings such as ‘Bike and Music’ in Geiselwind. Every year, I reserve a week in which I travel on my bike and last year I rode along the lakes and mountain passes in Switzerland and Italy.”