Taiwan, 180km off the coast of China, is an archipelago of many islands, the largest of which, at 36,000km², is 3.5 times smaller than England, slightly larger than Belgium. With a population of 23 million, its economic influence is recognised the world over, as can be seen from the 510m-high skyscraper in the capital, Tapei 101.

Stretching over a length of 394km and a width of 144km, the island formerly known as Formosa offers a highly-developed road network, allowing you to discover the island from every angle, from the sea to the mountains, with the highest peak, Yu Shan, rising to almost 4,000m.Formosa is the name given by the 13 local IMRGs (Indian Motorcycle Riders Group) to a challenge held between January and March, the Formosa Grand Prix.
The aim is to cover as many kilometres as possible in 68 days, but also to discover the island in all its variety and richness, with all its people and cultures. This year, 99 Indian Motorcycle owners signed up to take up the challenge. It's fair to say that they set the record straight, covering a total of 416,520km. Six of them covered more than 15,000km each, which shows real commitment.

But one very committed rider, Ya-Hui Yang, reached the record of 30,572km ! On her Chief Dark Horse, but also sometimes on her Indian Challenger.

Even more impressive was the fact that after taking leave from the jeweller's where she works, she undertook a real endurance test, covering 6,100km in a single week, during endless days and nights.
She was the logical winner of the 1st prize, bringing a message of hope to women motorcyclists in Taiwan, a message that will be relayed by the Indian Motorcycle Ladies First community on all five continents.

Patty Dimitriou & the Thunderbird Throttle

Patty Dimitriou is a member of the Navajo Nation tribe, a small business owner, and an Indian Motorcycle rider. She is a driving force in the Southwest’s Native American circles, showing her passion for community and culture time and again. We’re proud to have Patty riding with us. Here, she honors the Indigenous tradition of storytelling, sharing her journey in her own words.

Being a Navajo woman, there’s not a breath you take without experiencing how we’re all connected. Being Native American, it’s in my DNA to be a contribution, to remember my relatives and my roots.
As a rider, I am so proud to ride a bike that has an identity that is representative of my heritage.
For generations, our heritage, our culture, and our teachings are passed down through an oral tradition, storytelling. In my family, most of that is through the women and that’s how I learned a lot of what it means to be Navajo, what it means to be Native American, through the stories that my grandmothers shared.
And honestly, it wasn’t until I became a mother that I understood the true importance of our traditions. For example, we don’t cut our children’s hair because it represents their connection to learning, developing strength, and their intuitive connection to nature. So when I hold my son, when I see his hair blowing in the wind, my heart is full.

There are certain aspects of childhood that give all of us a sense of freedom, adventure, play, and for me, that was riding horses, feeling the wind on my face, feeling that thunder underneath me. So when I grew up and moved away, I found another way to experience that through motorcycle riding and what we call our “iron horses.” I saw modern day warriors travel the land, chasing spirits, and spreading incredible stories.
I thought, “Yeah, I think I want to do that.” I finally came across an Indian Scout and my god, she was beautiful. The chrome, the pinstriping ... I named her Sage. Sage taught me a lot about myself and really helped me grow as a rider. With experience, I realized that a bigger motorcycle with more capacity for longer rides was something I really wanted to experience.
And that’s where the Chieftain Dark Horse showed up in my life. It’s next-level. It’s truly being connected to incredible power.
She’s an extension of who I am as a Native Woman and what I want to experience on my journey.
I left the reservation at a young age and moved to the big city to go to school. I noticed there were not a lot of people out in the world that looked like me, nor came from my background and essentially realized that my capacity for storytelling was incredibly important in order for Native peoples to have a voice in the world.
So I started riding, I started telling stories from the Native perspective, and it opened up my eyes and my heart to a really significant issue in our community; this issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP), a movement that advocates for the end of violence against Native women. It also seeks to draw attention to the shockingly high rates of disappearances and murders of Native people, particularly women and girls.

A conversation with Patty Dimitriou:

IMRJ: Of all motorcycle manufacturers, why did you choose to ride an Indian Motorcycle?
PD: I actually tried out a couple of different manufacturers, makes, and models before deciding on an Indian Motorcycle. I did a ton of research, especially from the perspective of women riders, and I found Indian Motorcycle to be the best fit for me. Lightest in its class, lower seat which worked out better for my height, great dependability in maintenance concerns, and still had plenty of power and performance. My Chieftain truly outperformed in every single category, there was no question. I also am really happy to be able to spend money on an American company with such an incredible legacy.

IMRJ: Do you prefer to ride solo, with a friend/partner or with a larger group, why?
PD: Any real rider will tell you there are benefits to all riding experiences, whether it’s solo, with a partner, or in a group. I don’t ride alone very often and so much of my riding is a social experience, so the small group dynamic probably suits me best. I ride a lot with a group of women, most of them are really seasoned riders who are completely comfortable with long, cross-country rides in any and all kinds of weather. This is great for me, because it helps build my confidence as a rider knowing I’m with a group of experienced women who can handle whatever the road throws at us and will always be both prepared and responsible.

IMRJ: You’ve obviously gone deep into customizing your bike, what was your experience customizing and building your bike the way you wanted it? Where did you find your inspiration?
PD: I’ve always preferred unique bikes and rides that stand out in a crowd, and there was no difference when it came to my Chieftain Dark Horse. I really loved the look of some of the custom baggers I saw in Southern California, and when it was time for a bigger bike for longer rides, I hoped I could find a touring bike with that stretched-out, road-eating look … and boy, did I find it! My bike is actually a custom Dirty Birds Concepts build with a ton of high-performance aftermarket enhancements and one-of-a-kind paint by Joe Blunt Designs, who’s known for his incredible custom paint, flake, airbrushing, pinstriping, leafing, and bodywork in Phoenix, Arizona. I bought the bike from a small dealer in Pennsylvania called Warhorse Indian Motorcycle and had the bike shipped out here to Arizona for a custom paint job. The rest is history!

THE WILD AND METICULOUS

BUILDING BIKES, DOING WHEELIES, AND MAKING VIDEOS

PHOTOGRAPHY BY AARON ROMO AND SEAN MACDONALD

Aaron Colton has been a professional Red Bull athlete since he was 15 years old. The man can do standup wheelies in a 10x10 room. But equally impressive as his stunt riding is his bike knowledge and meticulous nature. Watching Aaron work on a motorcycle is like watching Beethoven play piano (probably). His shop is perfectly organized. Every tub, bin, or tray is labeled and exactly where it should be.

In its fourth year, the massive Indian Riders Fest drew more than 1,500 Indian MOTORCYCLE owners from right across Europe to converge on Budweis in the Czech Republic.

It was staged in a park in the heart of the town, and was a huge success, as ever.

The brainchild of Jean-Marie Guyon and a bunch of his friends – founders of one of the first IMRGs in Europe – this meet has now reached an epic scale.
“My primary motivation for organizing this enormous festival is wanting to share my enduring passion for motorbikes. It’s really satisfying to see all these Indian enthusiasts forging new connections, even though most of them didn't know each other when they first arrived.”
Now Indian Motorcycle sponsors this June fixture that’s highlighted in every biker’s calendar. This year, brand ambassadors Carey Hart and Jeremy McWilliams were in attendance all weekend, meeting and chatting happily with attendees.

The sprawling wooded park where the Indian Riders Fest was held allowed people to ride around freely on their bikes along the two main avenues, and park with ease. There were plenty of food trucks, bars and eateries within easy reach, all fronting the big main stage.

A host of activities, showcases and rides were laid on across the two wings of the festival site. Recalling the brand’s historic legacy, an authentic wooden Wall of Death was erected where two riders thrilled the crowds on vintage Scouts throughout the weekend. Competition models such as the Challenger RR and FTR Flat Track bikes were also on display, while Martin Krátky performed stunt after stunt, displaying his prodigious skills astride the FTR S.
The official Indian Motorcycle stand was located at the other side of the grounds. There, visitors could admire the five versions of the new Scout range on display and take any of the other models for a test ride. In a large glass hall opposite, forty motorcycles were entered in the AMD-approved Custom Show, whose judging panel was chaired by Indian Motorcycle’s Director of Product Design Ola Stenegärd. It was clear that unprecedented levels of preparation and customization had gone into the amazing builds on show.
A few steps away was a big Indian Motorcycle clothing store that you accessed through a wide corridor. Walking down it was like stepping back in time, with an extremely rare lineup of about fifteen Indians on display on either side. All perfectly restored, these motorcycles retraced the brand's first few decades.
Partner brands sold equipment and accessories at their stands, and there were also tattoo artists and barbers on hand. Set back a little from the fray, the lounge space with its multitude of sofas proved a popular spot for relaxing late into the evening, with a DJ serving up mellow, laid-back vibes.

The highlight of the weekend came on Saturday, when all the festival-goers came together on their bikes for the traditional parade. Everyone gathered on Ottokar II Square in Budweis’ historic centre. The procession was led by Carey Hart and Jeremy McWilliams, followed by the Indian Ladies First. Local police offered a secure escort for the endless procession, which stretched as far as the eye could see along a scenic 40-km route. Locals came out to share the excitement when it passed through surrounding villages.

Before the closing gig got underway on the Saturday night, everyone’s eyes were on the main stage for the much-anticipated Grand Lottery draw. Winners were picked at random to win a number of exciting prizes, presented by Jean-Marie and representatives from Indian Motorcycle. The grand winner was announced with a final drum roll: Przemek from Poland, who had the golden ticket, won an Indian 101 Scout motorbike to take home.

Garden party

In the heart of England’s leafy countryside, a hundred kilometers south of London and not far from the Channel coast, lies the village of Goodwood in Sussex.

Its old Royal Air Force airfield was turned into a racetrack for motorsports in 1948 by the ninth Duke of Richmond. He owned about 12,000 acres of farmland and forest in the area, and decided to repurpose a road that ran across his estate and up the hill to historic Goodwood House. The Duke’s son and successor Charles Gordon-Lennox – also a lover of beautiful engines and adrenaline-driven motorsports – set up the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 1993 and this high-octane event now attracts more than 200,000 spectators each year. The circuit’s narrow asphalt strip winds up the slope of the vast estate, over grass-covered expanses and through thick woods, passing under a stone bridge, running along the estate’s centuries-old buildings and at one point nearing the approach to Goodwood House. This 1.8 km-long track is transformed into a secure speedway with rows of straw bales laid along the sides to protect spectators. Grandstands are erected along the circuit. The vast forested areas, lawns, and gardens all around are taken over by a sprawling village, with impressive stands where the most prestigious car and motorcycle marques showcase their finest high-performance machines.

Every single motorsport champion, without exception, comes to Goodwood at some point to commune with fans. This year saw legendary racing driver Max Verstappen and his Formula 1 team, but many other elite drivers and motorbike riders have thrilled crowds here down the years. The Festival of Speed offers a unique atmosphere and setting. Its combination of old-fashioned British charm, power-packed machines, and the smell of burning rubber is one that motorsport fans never tire of. Goodwood is a standout event and a pilgrimage site for many motor buffs.

This year’s high-profile participants included Indian Motorcycle’s two official champion riders, King of the Baggers Jeremy McWilliams (UK), and Brandon Robinson (USA) of American Flat Track fame – both competing on their own racing machines.
The American title-winning Challenger RR, with a production run of just 29 units, was much admired by collectors wanting to snag one of the few still available. And the FTR750 totally crushed its competition. Having won 8 American Flat Track titles and triumphed in 100 races out of 135 since 2017, this bike had crossed the Atlantic to run its first laps on British soil.
When Jeremy and Brandon climbed onto their machines, one after the other, and revved their engines, the crowd was blindsided. The awesome sound of their V-Twins reverberated through the stands as the riders blasted off from the starting line in full throttle. On approaching the main grandstand, Jeremy and Brandon both ripped an epic burnout right along the start-finish straight, sending up plumes of smoke that had spectators roaring. It was Indian Motorcycle's moment to make history honoring the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

A Scout is for exploring

So what could be more natural than to set off on a 25-day discovery tour of Western Europe, taking in seven new countries? Luxembourg, Belgium, France, Spain, Portugal, Gibraltar and Andorra. I clocked up around 9,500 km. I mostly camped out with my tent, without any problems – sometimes on the beach. I also slept seven nights in guesthouses or hotels. I had to change my rear tire and brake pads at Indian in Malaga, which went smoothly. Lots of good memories along the way, and it was great to meet new people like Rouven and Sabine, who were also riding Indians. This roadtrip was a fantastic experience. In future I plan to make my meals more comfortable though, with a barbecue and a folding table! I still have a few things on my bucket list for the coming years, as I continue exploring the continent of Europe.
Enrico Königswartha - Germany

Hi everyone!

This year I headed up to the North Cape on my Scout Bobber with two friends. We left in June from Staig, near Ulm. After cruising up through Germany to Denmark, we caught a ferry across to Sweden and rolled on into Stockholm. Then we took the coastal road along the Baltic up to Kallix, just before the Finnish border. From there we headed into Norway and pushed on to the North Cape. Having torn up 3,749 km of road in seven days, we’d arrived at the most northerly point in Europe.

Our epic journey continued back down the coastline of the North Sea, weaving around its huge fjords and down the Lofoten islands, through Trondheim, Geirangerfjord and Bergen to Lysefjord, where we went out on a boat to admire the 604m-high Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock). When we reached Kristiansand in southern Norway, we jumped on a ferry to Hirthals in Denmark. We were on the last stretch, and when we got home we toasted the 9,012 km we’d covered in 24 days with a nice, cold beer!
Martin Staig - Germany

I wanted to share a little
about my wonderful 15-day trip to the US in May.

I went with a few members of IMRG Pontault in France, and some friends – three Belgians and one from Lausanne; altogether, there were 17 bikes and 25 people in our group. We organized the trip with the West Forever agency, and they drove us from Los Angeles to the Indian dealerships in Redlands and Orange County to pick up our bikes. I had a superb Challenger waiting for me. From there, we rode to Palm Springs, which was the real starting point for our ride through the legendary national parks of the American West. The landscapes were mind-blowing, and as we cruised through Nevada, Arizona and Utah, our guide Gian Paolo made sure we caught every highlight. We cruised along a stretch of Route 66 to Monument Valley, on Navajo territory, and up to Moab; we flew over the Grand Canyon in a helicopter; we rode through Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park at altitudes of over 3,000 meters on some stretches, then down into Death Valley, 73 meters below sea level; in Las Vegas, the mecca of excess, we caught a Cirque du Soleil show. That was all in the first leg. After stopping off at Sin City’s Indian concession, we headed towards the mountains and Mammoth Lakes, visited Bodie, then rode down to Twain Harte and headed west to San Francisco with its Russian Hill dropping down to the Pacific. We visited the Indian dealerships in San José and Hollister, and of course we had to stop off in the beautiful oceanside town of Carmel. Then we cruised down the scenic Pacific Coast Highway in the ocean breeze with a stop at Prismo Beach, Santa Barbara. Our final destination was LA, where we dropped off the Indians with 5,200 kms on the clock and our heads swirling with great memories.
Philippe - IMRG Pontault - France

Hello everyone!

I’m from Hungary. When I turned 40 in 2019, I bought my first Indian, a Scout Bobber, and it’s the coolest motorbike I've ever owned!
In 2021, after recovering from an accident, I set up IMRG Budapest with about a dozen friends. That’s when I switched to a Chieftain. Then after two years and 28,000 km, I treated myself to a Dark Horse Roadmaster. I've already done nearly 15,000 km on it since the beginning of the year. I only ride it on long road trips with friends, with the IMRG, or if I head out exploring on my own. I’m very happy I chose Indian Motorcycle and have every confidence in the brand.
See you soon on the roads of Europe!
Peter Veszprém - Hungary

"Our goal in engaging with Indigenous people is to champion and collaborate with Tribal communities, by, for instance, identifying and donating to nonprofit organizations doing amazing work in their Tribal communities, among other collaborative efforts,” says Mike Dougherty, President, Indian Motorcycle.
"Our partners, made up of the Indian Motorcycle Advisory Council, Indigenous-serving philanthropic partners, and Native American-led consultants, play a key role in educating, guiding, and providing an Indigenous perspective to the team, which serves as a guide to how we can partner with the larger community. Everything we do is community-led and authentic to who we are as a brand.""

“Behind the brand is a people. My hope is that riders take time to learn about our rich history and the diversity of our people and cultures. I personally know community members who are proud of the brand and proud to ride Indian Motorcycles.
I hope that every rider holds reverence for Indigenous people in that same esteem.”
“Cultures do not exist in a vacuum”, says Chad Poitra of partner InnoNative Consulting.
"The free exchange of cultural ideas, when done respectfully, is an essential part of the human experience."

"When a brand like Indian Motorcycle seeks truly authentic connections to Indigenous communities to better honor its name, it is blazing a trail for more respectful cultural representation in the world. I am honored to be a part of this process, and hope we can create a lasting positive impact together."
As I reflect on my journey since visiting the Makah Tribal Nation nearly a year ago, I am honored by the steps we’ve taken in collaboration with those passionate about Indian Motorcycle and our partners. I am excited for Indian Motorcycle to support more Indigenous-led rides, like the Thunderbird Throttle during Arizona Bike Week, and to continue to grow our partnerships into the future.
I invite you to learn more about the ways Indian Motorcycle is taking action and how you, our owners and riding community, can join us by visiting our website at indianmotorcycle.com/en-us/community-engagement.

By Micki Dirtzu
Community Engagement Manager

A collection of vintage Indian Motorcycles reunites a filmmaker and his long lost cousin.

Distant relatives are easily dismissed when you’re young. You see them every few years to hear the same tired stories recycled over and again. But take the time to listen — really dig in, and you’ll find depth, value, and heritage in those tales. It was late fall of 2022; my grandmother had passed away the winter prior and I was back in Upstate New York for her memorial services.
I grew up in New Hampshire, but my family has occupied the Capitol Region of New York as far back as any of us can remember. It was here, at my grandmother’s funeral, that I reconnected with my mom’s cousin, Tom Hope.

For the next year, I thought often of Tom and his collection of Indian Motorcycles. What were they? Did any of them run? He was sort of a mythical character in our family — an eclectic who liked old machines and spent a lot of time alone with them. “His house is like a museum,” my mom would say. And so, on Memorial Day weekend in 2023, I booked the cheapest Airbnb I could find in Chatham, New York, and drove through the back roads of Vermont to a corner of the Hudson Valley few have ever seen, aiming to make a film and tell the story of “My Cousin Tom.” Tom and his wife Lynne live in an 1872 Gothic Revival home with authentic wallpaper, antique furniture, and World War II-era black-out blinds.

He heats the home with coal and most of the furniture and artwork in the house are either his collectibles or his own artwork. The house also has an attic like that seen in so many movies, the kind where they find the artifact that opens a pathway into the fourth dimension, or what have you. Out back, beyond his apple orchard, is the barn.
As I pulled up to the property, Tom greeted my crew and me outside. He slid open the barn door to a showcase of seven Indian motorcycles sitting crooked across the old barn board floors. One bike was pulled over next to his workbench with a few wrenches lying around the tires.
“This is my ‘51,” Tom said proudly. Before us sat a 1951 Indian Chief, a machine so unique it was quite possibly a two-wheeled manifestation of Tom himself — and a bike that surely carried just as many stories. Tom wheeled the bike out to get it started.

We spent the morning filming Tom in his art studio, which sits on the top floor of his home. He told stories of a series of paintings he had been working on for the past 20 years. As a filmmaker, I like to think of myself as creative, but when I saw Tom’s artwork and the sheer size of some of these pieces, I began to think of myself as more of a tradesman. His work varies in color, mood, and spacing, but one common thread is Tom’s visionary artistic style.
“I go to a place where I sort of leave my body,” he said.

“It’s like someone else is taking control. The spirituality when I was doing my series — that was my church I was going to, I knew I was doing something bigger than me.” Tom showed us his collections for a while, and we watched and filmed as he finished up some touch-ups on one of his favorite pieces. In between shooting, we chatted about life and family. He is incredibly proud of his Welsh background and his heritage in the Hudson River Valley. He knows almost everything about the area’s history and is a remarkable person to engage in conversation. Tom’s connection to the place he lives goes far deeper than even he may understand. “I was having dreams about the future, and I saw this house in my dreams,” he said. “I sort of walked around in here like a ghost, just admiring my art and the house.” The house is truly a character in itself; there are ancient artifacts, whimsical decor, and interesting items around every corner. Tom’s bike collection is equally as impressive as his art, and is perfectly hand-picked. Each bike represents something meaningful to him. Besides his 1951 Chief, Tom owns a 1936 Jr. Scout, a 1940 Jr. Scout Military 741 bored out to 675cc, and a 1947 Chief. The latest addition is his 1941 Indian Scout, which is perhaps the most sentimental of his collection.
“An Indian Motorcycle was something my father wanted forever,” he said. “Just before he went into the war, a friend of his bought a brand new Indian Scout. My father said it was just absolutely beautiful. He really wanted a motorcycle but he was giving his money to his family to support them.”
“I was never really into Indian Motorcycles,” Tom recalled. “But then one day back in 1968, I had an opportunity to buy a used one. And the guy I bought it from said, ‘Get on the back, kid,’ and he rode me home on it. I’ve been an Indian Motorcycle fanatic ever since.”
“And I bought this last Indian — the ’41 Scout — I bought it for my father. When I’m riding my bike, I’m riding with him.
“They are just gorgeous bikes, man. They look like they are going 100 miles per hour down the road sitting still.”
Over the next few months, my team and I went to see Tom two more times. I never could have foreseen this project evolving the way it has. My original goal was to make a short film about a family member who shared an interest in vintage motorcycles. But this project has helped me form a deeper, more meaningful connection with a family member whom I barely knew, and from that came a legacy-worthy piece that can be shared for generations to come.

Words by Josh Bogardus - photography Josh Bogardus & George Watts

Cruising along turquoise waters

When Karine, the founder of Indian Ladies First,
called for women to join International Female Ride Day

– which is marked worldwide in early May each year – she got responses from French, Italian, Luxembourgish, Polish and Slovakian riders. The rallying point this year was the village of Agay on the French Riviera. Although this region is very touristy, it’s still relatively quiet in spring, before the summer peak. This calm period is ideal for really appreciating the scenic Côte d’Azur’s turquoise waters and inland mountains. Around forty female riders joined the ride on their Indians, cruising along the stunning, jagged Mediterranean coastline in glorious sunshine.

I’ve ridden the equivalent of 6 times round the world on my Chieftain.

Frenchman Alain Wundrack is a native of Saint Avold in north-eastern France who’s lived in ‘exile’ in Narbonne in the south of the country for over 40 years. He’s been burning up the rubber ever since he got his licence riding his first 125cc, a Motobecane LT2.

One bike led to another and capacities grew along the way, right up to an ultra-fast Hayabusa in 2014. It was then that Alain realised that there might be more to a good bike than seeing how fast it would go. He spent a few days visiting motorcycle dealerships in search of a motorcycle that would give him a different kind of ride experience as his well-deserved retirement drew near. He needed a machine that would be fun, characterful and torquey, with good roadholding, braking, and comfort.

A few miles riding a Chieftain (and a couple of laps of a roundabout at a good lean amid a shower of sparks as the Indian dealer in Montpellier looked on in alarm) convinced Alain that he’d found what he was looking for. 270,000km later (the equivalent of almost seven times round the world) the same Chieftain is still eating up the asphalt with the same majesty. Alain is careful and meticulous, enhancing the bike with a few accessories to embellish its lines and cleaning it on a daily basis. After nine years on the road throughout Europe (venturing as far afield as North Cape in Norway), his Chieftain is still as shiny as ever. While he’s usually a solo rider, Alain sometimes travels with his partner at the helm of a Springfield, or with a few friends in the Basque country. Some of those he meets ask him what issues he’s had after doing so many miles. Alain always has a proud (and slightly testy) one-word answer: none. Short, clear and to the point! The fact is that he’s painstaking when it comes to upkeep and maintenance and has never had any problems on the road. His dealer had to persuade him that the drive chain needed changing after 200,000km (of course, the sprockets were replaced at the same time).

Alain is a real ambassador and has plenty of stories to tell when he meets others on his travels. Last spring he had an even better idea: spreading the word by visiting 36 Indian dealerships across France, sharing his incredible and unique experience riding his Chieftain. Logged in to Waze, he completed his 7000km mission after 11 days in the saddle. When not astride his Chieftain, Alain is usually to be found in his studio engaging in his other passion: sculpture, creating real works of art devised during his journeys on long and winding roads where his mind can wander free.