/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/octane/SKIPX32OQRANXNUV2HO2FW6LOA.jpg "Twitch Stenberg’s Custom Indian Sport Chief")
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“Take it simple, it’s acquired 40 miles on it,” says freestyle motocross legend Carey Hart to pal and fellow FMXer “Twitch” Jeremy Stenberg as they head out for a primary journey. Hart built Stenberg a custom 2023 Indian Motorcycle Sport Chief as a part of Indian’s Cast video collection—and it’s a beaut. A full frame-up construct, Hart has put 400 hours into the bike, constructing a machine that may stand as much as Twitch’s abuse. However nonetheless, it’s brand-new and the disclosing of this practice Sport Chief was simply minutes in the past for the cameras taking pictures the finale of the Cast collection.
Twitch simply laughs, “Uh huh, certain buddy.”
Twenty minutes later, Hart’s greatest pal and rapper Huge B will get a video textual content of circle burnouts and a pegged rev limiter. “A lot for taking it simple,” he says displaying me the video.
At the least I received’t have to fret an excessive amount of about my journey on the one-off Sport Chief later within the day. Pre-abused is how I desire to roll on a bike that Indian’s PR firm was very fearful about me using. We even needed to present proof of insurance coverage that might cowl the price of substitute.
And the concerns are properly based. Hart took the Sport Chief right down to the body earlier than constructing a club-style customized that enhances the efficiency of Indian’s newest Chief mannequin. The checklist of elements and mods is in depth together with a machined billet-aluminum Trac Dynamics swingarm, Fox rear shocks, Brembo Monoblock calipers, Beringer controls, knee cutouts on the gasoline tanks, and paint by Schultz Designz.
Associated: 2023 Indian Sport Chief First Look
Hart’s privateer motocross racing days instilled the worth of doing issues the fitting means and never reducing corners. And that is the place all unseen work is hidden behind the silver leaf and shiny paint. Titanium fasteners are used almost in all places with threadlocker and the correct torque values. Each pivot is greased. Each contact level is perfected for the rider.
After Twitch returns, the movie crew will get some interviews and sound bites as I gear up for my flip after getting a behind-the-scenes take a look at the manufacturing of this ultimate episode for Indian. Having ridden a Sport Chief for a number of hundred miles, I’m properly conscious of my likes and dislikes of this mannequin. I really like the torquey grunt of the Thunderstroke 116 engine, however the vibes via T-bar controls at 3,500 rpm forces a short-shift or to rev the engine previous the meat of the ability. It’s additionally a stretch for my 5-foot, 10-inch body to these vibrating grips, and the footpeg place doesn’t match my knees or hips. Braking on the entrance is spectacular for a cruiser with robust energy and nice suggestions, however the rear is much less so with a light-weight change really feel.
Instantly it was clear the Hart-Luck handlebar matched to Kraus Motor Co. bar clamps and risers brings the bars right into a extra snug and commanding place with much less of a stretch ahead. The peak of the risers is a bit tall whereas sitting, however when it’s time to face up and burn the rear tire off, your palms are proper the place you’d need them to be. Hart’s signature-model ODI grips are much less cumbersome and match completely with the thinner Beringer levers. That extremely annoying vibration is now gone as properly.
A Hart-Luck Saddlemen seat provides a extra snug perch whereas the San Diego Customs footpegs and foot controls are extra motocross than avenue—once more, including extra management and luxury.
On the highway, the Hart-Luck Bassani exhaust is raspy as you roll on and off the ability in Temecula’s hillsides and canyons. Whereas the general energy hasn’t elevated a lot, the lighter chassis and stiffer suspension reacts faster to throttle inputs. Though the bike has extra snap, ultimate gearing via the Barnstorm Cycles chain conversion is equivalent to inventory.
The place Hart’s creation actually shines is in dealing with. Hart-Luck five-spoke wheels wrapped in Dunlop American Elite tires enable the Sport Chief to alter instructions and drop into corners faster than the bulkier inventory mags. The 1.5-inch-longer fork with GP Suspension valving, springs, and DLC coating raises Twitch’s journey for elevated cornering clearance. General, the journey is way sharper and responsive.
Slowing Hart’s construct is dealt with by a revamped braking system. On the entrance, twin Brembo Monoblock calipers squeezing Galfer Wave rotors actuated a Beringer grasp cylinder. On the rear a Beringer grasp cylinder is matched with a twin-piston Beringer caliper. With this setup, the entrance brakes are actually a one-finger squeeze with a formidable preliminary chunk mixed with distinctive suggestions and glorious energy; suppose superbike ranges of cease. On the again the Beringer setup is extra progressive in energy than the on-off operation of the stocker.
Suspension motion is markedly stiffer than inventory, maybe slightly too stiff on the rear as there’s much less squat via the Trac Dynamics swingarm and absolutely adjustable shocks. This makes hookup out of corners at full cease harder than inventory. That rear Dunlop spins up simply—nice for burnouts and slides, but it surely does require extra throttle consideration and finesse when blasting out of corners. Hart acquired the setup proper for the proprietor and what he desires to do—use lots of the rear Dunlop tire. Even with the dearth of hookup, the Hart Sport Chief waxes a box-stock machine within the twisties.
As I turned extra snug with Twitch’s Sport Chief, I started pushing tougher, lighting up the rear tire out of quick sweepers. Thank goodness the clock ran out for my time with the bike, as I used to be changing into too acquainted with a motorbike that was not mine. That’s when dangerous issues can occur, and I completely didn’t wish to put that insurance coverage coverage to work.
Carey Hart has elevated the efficiency of the Sport Chief considerably. In the event you’ve acquired a Sport Chief, I might recommend following Hart’s lead. You don’t must do the entire checklist, however simply copying a number of of his methods will enhance your enjoyable, even should you don’t beat in your Sport Chief like Twitch does.
Hart-Luck Indian Sport Chief Components Listing
| Paint: | Schultz Designz |
| Tires: | Dunlop American Elite |
| Wheels: | Hart-Luck 5-spoke |
| Fork: | GP Suspension w/ 1.5 in. longer, coated decrease tubes, spring, and valving |
| Shocks: | Twin Fox Manufacturing facility 13-in. piggyback shocks |
| Swingarm: | Trac Dynamics billet aluminum |
| Entrance brake calipers: | Brembo Monoblock |
| Rear caliper and hanger: | Beringer |
| Rotors: | Galfer Wave |
| Brake traces: | Galfer |
| Shift/brake levers: | San Diego Customs |
| Chain conversion: | Barnstorm Cycles |
| Air consumption: | Indian excessive movement |
| Clutch cable: | Barnett |
| ECU program: | Dynojet |
| Exhaust: | Bassani/Hart-Luck |
| License plate mount: | Drag Specialties |
| Pegs: | San Diego Customs |
| Decrease body cowl: | Hart-Luck customized |
| {Hardware}: | Professional-Bolt black anodized titanium |
| Bar clamps and risers: | Kraus Motor Co. |
| Bars and grips: | ODI/Hart-Luck |
| Gauge bucket: | Kraus Motor Co. |
| Clutch perch and entrance grasp: | Beringer |
| Seat: | Saddlemen/Hart-Luck |
| Entrance and rear indicators: | Rizoma |
| Rear grasp: | Beringer |
| Rear grasp reservoir: | Rizoma |
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