Indian Motorcycle has announced that Grand Prix legend and crowd favourite Randy Mamola will be campaigning the Workhorse Speedshop racer in the full Sultans of Sprint series as the modified Scout Bobber, named ‘Appaloosa’, made its first public appearance today at The Reunion in Monza. Built by Brice Hennebert of Workhorse Speedshop to honour the Indian Scout’s 100th anniversary, ‘Appaloosa’ is named after the famous breed of horse.
Brice explains, “I wanted a name that could link Workhorse, Indian Motorcycle and speed. As soon as I discovered that the American horse breed Appaloosa was one of the world’s fastest horses, I knew I had the name for an American sprint bike built by Workhorse. After putting so much into this build, I’m excited to see the reaction to it and I can’t wait to see Randy blast it down the racetrack.”
Randy Mamola says, “I’ve always been a big fan of Indian Motorcycle and I’m really looking forward to racing this amazing creation. It’s great to be part of this project, especially during the Scout’s 100th anniversary. With the Sultans of Sprint being such a unique series, it’s going to be a lot of fun soaking up the atmosphere, meeting the crowds and putting on a show for them.”
Outfitted with a bespoke racing suit created by Alpinestars, inspired by the racing suits they provide for the Indian Wrecking Crew, Randy will be competing in the Factory Class under race number #19 to celebrate 1919, the year the original Indian Scout was first revealed. In the Factory Class, motorcycles must be four-stroke (air or water cooled) with no limit regarding the engine capacity providing that the tuned bike does not exceed a power-to-weight ratio limit of 0.65bhp/kg. ‘Appaloosa’ is the culmination of over 700 hours of design and fabrication by Workhorse and has been supported with technical expertise and premium components from project partners Akrapovič, Beringer Brakes, MOTOREX, Öhlins, and Vibrant Performance. After completely stripping the Scout Bobber, Brice cut and narrowed the original fuel tank, retaining the side profile, to create a cover for a new aluminium fuel cell which holds just 2.5 litres for sprint racing. With the fuel cell in place, work focussed on the riding position, a critical element for quick starts.
A new sub-frame was fabricated to better support the rider under hard acceleration and combines with lower clip-on handlebars and drag-style foot controls to tilt the rider forward and keep weight over the front wheel. To further enhance traction when the flag drops, Brice designed and welded an extended aluminium swingarm. With parts CNC machined from his drawings by Beringer Brakes, the swingarm is mated to advanced, fully adjustable suspension technology from Öhlins. Matching the STX 36 piggyback rear shock absorbers, Öhlins also supplied Retro 43 front forks and a steering damper to ensure the best possible grip and stability enabling the full performance of the bike to be utilised.
With a rolling chassis and elements of the streamlined fairing starting to take shape, Brice took Appaloosa to Akrapovič where a bespoke titanium exhaust system was created for maximum power and the best possible sound. Without making any internal modifications, engine power has been increased to 130hp with a combination of the Akrapovič exhaust, a racing ECU, Power Commander, direct intake, Nitrous Oxide Injection system and MOTOREX oil. To get the power to the tarmac, the original belt drive has been converted to chain drive and a quickshifter ensures swift and precise gear changes. Bringing the rapid racer to a controlled stop is the complete 4D Aerotec braking system from Beringer Brakes.
The 4D system features two Ø230mm discs per caliper for increased power over standard single discs as well as reduced inertia to aid acceleration. Beringer Brakes also supplied the handlebar controls and buttons as well as CNC machining many of the parts designed by Brice. Using hosing supplied by Vibrant Performance the cooling system has been simplified for weight reduction and for a cleaner look around the engine. Additional components from Vibrant such as welded dash connectors, fuel and water tank caps and heat protection hoses add finishing touches to Appaloosa. As well as competing in the Sultans of Sprint championship, Indian Motorcycle also plans to have the bike on static display in the UK at The Bike Shed (24 – 26 May) and during Wheels & Waves in France (12 – 16 June).
