Adding itself to this latest trend of the factory customization war, Indian Motorcycles called for non-pro builders to customize the Scout Bobber. Indian teamed up with Hot Bike magazine for “The Wrench: Scout Bobber Build Off” contest that began on March 15th, 2018. The top three designs were then awarded a new 2018 Scout Bobber to customize along with $10,000 for the build.

The Springfield company has finally unveiled the builds at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally 2018 after three months and they include builds from a NASA engineer from Las Cruces, NM, an OSHA safety inspector from Avon, OH, and a mechanical engineer from Buffalo, NY. Let’s find out how they stack up against each other.

Out of the 100 or so submissions, 12 semi-finalists were showcased online for a fan vote to determine the final three finalists. These three builders got a full paid trip to Minneapolis for an unveiling party of their customized Scout Bobbers at Sturgis.

1. Far-out Scout Bobber by Alfredo Juarez

A NASA mechanical engineer from El Paso, Alfredo, aka Fred, began turning the wrench at the age of 12. He took auto shop classes to understand the working of an engine, and during college, he bought a MIG welder and got to fabricating. Slowly, he began working with sheet metals, roll cages, working on a mill, lathe and eventually got the job to run flammability tests for NASA.

Fred here has built an alienated Scout cruiser drawing his inspirations form the Indian Scout FTR1200 Custom, RSD Indian Scout Customs, and David Beckham’s garage company, Knuckle. Dominated by the generously used brass and copper components, the built sees custom Chromoly frame and wall girder front end.

The copper headlight fairing houses Hogworkz Blackout Halo passing light and finishes off with a mounted speedo pod. Both side panels and the seat pan also use copper along with the heat shields on the 304 SS exhaust system. Excel 19” spoked rims with aluminum hubs are tethered with Dunlop tires and 5” over rear brake line with Earl’s brake units and Tusk front and rear rotors.

The fuel tank was painted by his wife, who had never done it before, and is modified to cover the frame tunnel. The engine gets Zippers intake manifold with open element K filter and primary sprocket, gold o-ring chain, JTR final drive sprocket and Spal radiator fans. The reversed and inverted handlebars get modified to accept stock controls from the original Scout.

2. Classic chopper by Christian Newman

A full-time mechanical engineer, Newman picked up his passion for motorcycles from his dad who bought him a ‘70s Honda CB, and he made his first build on it. Being a tinkerer his whole life, he just figured his way around fabrication without any real training. He would also often post how-to’s or the details of his work online for others to benefit from.

For the Wrench build, Newman took a rather surprising approach of attacking it with manual machinery. This meant fabricating every little detailed metal component, polishing it, welding it and grinding those welds to perfect finishing, all of which needed more skill and time. But the result has been an unparalleled attention to detail that Christian is becoming well known for.

Newman made use of the stock Scout chassis and gave it a custom swingarm, fender and wheels to completely change the character of the machine to an ‘80s swingarm chopper. For which, he custom fabricated the Crazy Frank rear fender, triple trees, fork lowers, swingarm, sissy bar, handlebar, frame inserts, footpegs, grips and levers. Tomfork nacelle headlight with adjure turn signal mount completes the package.

The engine received multiple component upgrades including Exile internal throttle, Zippers performance intake, Power Commander V, Sprocket guard, o-ring chain, Stainless exhaust, Skidplate and ARP hardware. A major upgrade was seen in the suspension department with 11” Progressive suspension, Lowbrow customs fork tube caps, Hard Drive 29mm fork uppers, Regatta Garage risers and Form stem with fluid pass through.

15” Weld Racing rear wheel gets the Hoosier rear slick tires while at the front, it was Excell Rim and Buchanan spoked wheel with Metro rubber. EBC rotors were tethered to a V-twin rear master cylinder and GMA calipers at the front and a V-twin drum brake at the rear, all operated with stainless brake lines.

3. Full-fairing classic race bike by PJ Grakauskas

Gakauskas works as a safety inspector for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). At his teens, he raced dirt bikes until a couple of pretty serious crashes made a full stop to his racing career. But he wasn’t the one to quit on his passion. Working in his 10x12 shed, he would time and again build vintage heaps that he saved from the junker or crashed bikes.

This wrench build would be his first ever working on an American V-twin but not building a custom on a new platform. Deciding to go with a full-fairing café racer, Grakauskas fabricated the entire fairing by hand and gave his build upgraded suspension, brakes, intake and exhaust. And of course a beautiful Black and Gold paintjob.

The vintage racing design cues are all hankering to the custom handmade fiberglass molded full fairing with belly pan that plays along with the low-profile café style seat with upholstery. The fairing comes with custom quick release brackets as well. The fuel tank received a custom knee indented design with a beautiful old-school logo in gold.

The front fender, hubs and the offset triple trees come from Cognito Moto while the front end is borrowed from a 2007 GSXR. 18” Sun Rim with stainless spokes wheel gets wrapped around with Pirelli Sport Demon tires and the braking department sees Beringer complete brake system front and rear, including Aerotech calipers and master cylinders in gold.

The engine gets Zipper performance intake, gold chain, oker Machine front drive sprocket cover, DynoJet Power Commander and a custom 2-1 exhaust with SuperTrapp aluminum race muffler. Woodcraft clip-ons with Avon grips and Analog Motorcycles rear light and mini LED signals complete the package.

These builds submitted were showcased online where the public got an opportunity to weigh in their votes. The creations were also scrutinized by a panel of highly acclaimed names in the custom motorcycling business like Roland Sands, Jason Paul Michaels, Jordan Mastagni and Satya Kraus. They are also currently showcased on IndianMotorcycle.com for fans to vote until August 16th for their favorite and help select the grand prize winner, who will be announced via social media on August 21st.