Dirty Bird Concepts Scout Racers
Here’s a great way to gauge how popular flat track racing is in the motorcycle world right now. When one of the leading custom bagger shops in the U.S. up and dives into starting a flat track team with a couple of Indian Scouts, that’s how.
Shope did up one of his racers in blue…
Photos: Paul Morton
…the other in red.
Photos: Paul Morton
After years of being one of the leaders in the custom bagger genre, John Shope has gone to the race track. The Dirty Bird Concepts boss has gone full Hooligan on us with these two 2016 Indian Scout tracker bikes. Not only are they excellent race bikes, they’re also textbook examples of what smart bike builders do: when a fad dies, branch out and make parts for all kinds of scoots.
The Scout motors were left stock.
Photos: Paul Morton
Progressive Suspension shocks and forks were teamed with PM wheels front and rear.
Photos: Paul Morton
Racing and customizing are both very competitive animals, often teaming hand-in-hand to make customers take notice. It’s a routine as old as motorcycling itself, with both Harley and Indian leading the way in the early days. You race, you get noticed, people buy your parts for their bikes. That’s why Indian was eager to get involved when one of the best and brightest in the custom bike game got into racing.
Color accents added throughout the sides of both bikes.
Photos: Paul Morton
Just like you’d expect on a racer, the mirrors and lights are gone.
Photos: Paul Morton
John had already lined up Kuryakyn’s sponsorship for his racing effort when Indian reached out to get involved. Kuryakyn had told the folks at Indian what was up and the story progressed from there. John Shope already had a good relationship with the factory due to his line of custom Scout parts. Moving ahead with a new line of tracker stuff was win-win for everybody. “I saw those other guys doing it, and figured, you know what? I can do this,” John says. “I’ve done motocross. It’s a good promotion. I want to make the parts for Scout owners. If I have to beat my body up to get them to notice them, so be it.”
Team Shope
Photos: Paul Morton
We’d be remiss in not giving you an action shot, now wouldn’t we?
Photos: Paul Morton
John Shope’s finished racers are what you see here. His shop, Dirty Bird Concepts, made the top trees, mid controls, the fork brace, and pipe, among other things: “We made that whole ass end for it. It’s pretty crazy. It took forever. You gotta set these bikes up. There’s no front brake. A lot of changes have to be made to make them race ready. You can’t just take a Scout and go out there. Well, you can but not if you want to be competitive.” Just look at the footpegs. The right one sits low while the left is positioned higher. It makes the continuous left turns on the flat track easier. Also, Dirty Bird Concepts is actually making and selling said ass end for those who want the tracker look on their own Indians.
Indian kicked over two 2016 Scouts for the job. That way, when one is away or offline, Shope can still run the other for practice. Jeff Reynolds helped Shope put these machines together and races the other for the team. The Hooligan game has changed since it heated up a few years ago, though. “It’s tougher than I thought it would be,” John says. “Those guys are crazy, they’re pros. Hopefully I didn’t bite off more than I can chew.” Given Shope’s previous experience racing motocross and his wealth of experience designing and fabricating parts, I’m sure he’ll work it out.
Or maybe his son will pilot one of these Scouts for the team someday. John likes watching the other classes race and his son is getting into it too. “I have a vintage 500 I race and my son is starting to race. It’s evolving into a cool family deal.”
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Owner | John Shope, Dirty Bird Concepts |
| Shop | Dirty Bird Concepts |
| Shop Phone | (623) 465-5263 |
| Website | dirtybirdconcepts.com |
| Year/Make/Model | 2016 Indian Scout |
| Fabrication | Dirty Bird Concepts |
| Build Time | 3 months |
| Engine | |
| Year/Type/Size | 2016Indian V-Twin / Stock |
| Builder | Indian |
| Cases | Indian |
| Carb | EFI |
| Air Cleaner | Trask |
| Exhaust | Dirty Bird Concepts |
| Transmission | |
| Year/Type | 2016 Indian |
| Clutch | Indian |
| Frame | |
| Year/Type | 2016 Indian Scout |
| Rake/Stretch | Stock/None |
| Suspension | |
| Front End | Progressive Suspension |
| Length | stock |
| Triple Trees | Dirty Bird ConceptsIndianProgressive Suspsension |
| Swingarm | Indian |
| Rear Shocks | Progressive Suspsension |
| Wheels, Tires, and Brakes | |
| Front | |
| Builder/Size | Performance Machine 19-inch |
| Tire/Size | Dunlop Tires 19-inch |
| Calipers | Indian |
| Rear | |
| Builder/Size | Performance Machine 19-inch |
| Tire/Size | Dunlop 19-inch |
| Caliper | Indian |
| Finish/Paint | |
| Colors | Red and Blue |
| Paint/Graphics | Sinthium/Epic |
| Accessories | |
| Front Fender | Front Fork Brace |
| Rear Fender | Dirty Bird Concepts |
| Gas Tank | Indian |
| Handlebars | Dirty Bird Concepts |
| Hand Controls | Indian |
| Foot Controls | Dirty Bird Concepts |
| Pegs | Dirty Bird Concepts |
| Seat | Mustang |
