The Polaris->ke4818-owned Indian Motorcycle->ke3292 announced a new campaign meant to pay tribute to the long and rich history of the company. Based on the Scout model, these bikes pay tribute to different Scout milestones, and various custom-bike->ke296 builders around the U.S. will build them. The Custom Military Scout is the first bike to come out of the project. Designed and built by “Klock Werks Kustom Cycles” of Mitchell, South Dakota, it commemorates Indian's support for the U.S. Armed Forces and its partnership with the USO.

Each bike within the project will be released with an accompanying vignette, and none other than well-known motorcycle enthusiast and Indian brand ambassador “Marky” Mark Wahlberg narrates the Military Scout vignette. Far from being just a “face man” for the brand, Wahlberg has his own signature limited-edition clothing line through Indian, and he made sure that the brand was featured prominently in the movie “Daddy's Home.” It makes sense to use someone with such a vested interest in the brand, and star power, to launch this epic campaign. The public can get a first-person peek at this ride at the Quail Motorcycle Gathering in Monterey, California, on May 15th and 16th. Visit the Indian website for more information.

Continue reading to learn more about Indian's new Scout Inspired Custom Series.

Why it matters

I make no secret of the fact that I like historical details on my bikes and have an affinity for military(ish) hardware, and the fact that this is a tribute piece for our armed forces makes it even sweeter. The taillights, seat and leather windshield cover look like they were torn from a page in history, and the olive drab paint brings it all together nicely. These details are cool and all, but honestly, my first reaction to this bike was “Yes, I'll take the one with the Thompson, please!"