A commemorative motorcycle for a legendary motorcycle rally

For more than 85 years, the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally has brought generations of riders together to celebrate freedom, community and the open road. This year, Indian Motorcycle is honoring that legacy with a special limited-edition motorcycle created as a tribute to the riders, and the bikes they rode, who have made Sturgis, South Dakota an American icon since 1938.

Indian Motorcycle recently unveiled the limited-edition Indian Chief Vintage Sturgis SD Edition, an exclusive, commemorative bike honoring the origins of America’s most legendary motorcycle rally. It’s such a captivating bike, we just had to share it.

It was an Indian Motorcycle dealer and a band of Indian riding brothers that first gathered in Sturgis, South Dakota in 1938, out of a simple desire to go racing. The new Chief Vintage Sturgis, SD Edition draws inspiration from these early riders, whose passion for the brand and for racing sparked what would become the world’s most legendary motorcycle rally.

Serialized badging 1 to 125 commemorates the brand’s 125-year anniversary, while a painted number 56 on the side plate pays tribute to the hand-painted numbers that original racers ran on their bikes in Sturgis during the rally’s earliest beginnings. The limited edition model features a classic two-tone Indian Motorcycle Red and Cream paint scheme and a multi-colored Indian Motorcycle headdress logo reminiscent of the prominent aesthetic featured on Indian motorcycles of the 1930s. This is such a beautifully-done tribute motorcycle.

“When you look at how far it’s come and how much it’s grown over almost 90 years, it’s amazing to think that it was an Indian Motorcycle dealer and a group of Indian Motorcycle riders that literally started it all,” said Mike Kennedy, CEO of Indian Motorcycle. “What’s even cooler is the fact that back then, it was all based on a simple desire to come together in celebration of a lifestyle and a spirit of freedom that can only be found through motorcycle riding, and it remains the same to this day. This bike is special in that it pays homage to those origins and to that spirit that all riders share.”

Organized by a local Indian Motorcycle dealer and a legendary motorcycle club, the inaugural gathering in the Black Hills was built around nine riders and attracted approximately 200 spectators. The event combined scenic riding, racing and camaraderie and laid the foundation for what would become the world’s largest motorcycle rally. The Indian motorcycles at the first event cemented the brand as a key pillar in the history and origins of America’s most legendary motorcycle event.

For all of the specs and details on this commemorative Sturgis bike, see Indian’s page on it here:

Indian Chief Vintage Sturgis SD edition

(All photos and details provided by Indian Motorcycle)

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