Custom 2023 Indian Sport Chief Dark Horse Icon Build

In July of 2024 Torqued revealed it’s custom Sport Chief Dark Horse Icon build. This custom build takes the stock performance of the Indian Sport Chief Dark Horse Icon to a level no other sport chief has achieved to date.

In the early stages of this custom build every aspect of the bike was evaluated. The stock sport chief offered a great base, but we knew it could be made better, much better. We looked at everything from performance, handling, braking, chassis, styling, and even many minor details.

We started off by stripping the bike down to its frame and removing the motor. We re-engineered the brakes with race-spec Beringer components utilizing a Beringer clutch perch and levers to deliver a more moto-like feel. To improve the braking capability, we installed dual Galfer solid mount rotors in the front and a Galfer floating wave rotor in the rear along with upgrading the brake pads to ones utilizing HH sintered compound.

Next Barnstorm pull back risers were integrated for improved riding posture and reach. Then the handlebars were replaced with ODI V-Twin Moto Hart-Luck Edition Handlebars. Then Hart-Luck signature waffle grips were installed on the bars. MZS mirrors were installed to finish off the new bars.

To maximize the sport chief’s torque and horsepower the engine was upgraded with a Lloyd’z 131” Big Bore Kit, Lloyd’z new 605 Cams, Lloyd’z Round facet-cut airbox with vented Cover, and a custom Lloyd’z ECU tune. For improved shifting a Barnett performance Kevlar extra plate clutch kit, and Barnett clutch cable were installed.

The suspension was then raised 3” in the front and 1.5″ in the rear using a custom Ohlins front suspension that was built as a prototype by our friends at ForeverRad and Big Bear Performance. In addition, Ohlins fully adjustable rear shocks were mounted to a Trac Dynamics Billet Aluminum custom swingarm for increased rigidity and to minimize flex. The swingarm raised the rear an additional 1″. Doing all of this allowed for a better lean angle. To help with the performance and lean angle the stock exhaust was removed and replaced with a Fab28 Industries 2-into-1 black ceramic coated exhaust. This exhaust not only sounds amazing but mounts higher up on the frame giving additional ground clearance.

To make sure that all that extra torque and horsepower was being firmly planted on the ground, we replaced the stock wheels and tires. The wheels were replaced with BST carbon fiber Torque Tek wheels. A 19”x3” wheel was used in the front and an 18″x5.5″ wheel in the rear. These wheels dramatically reduced the weight of the bike. The wheels were then wrapped with super sticky Dunlop American Elite tires. For the front a 130/60B19 was used and for the rear a 180/55B18. TPMS sensors were added to ensure safe tire pressure while riding.

We then decided to color match the left & right side covers, and the coil cover in the Indian Icon one year only Spirit Blue Smoke.

For a more comfortable ride Lawless Garage OG Honeycomb V3 Mini Floorboards, San Diego Customs 2” moto shift and brake pegs, and a Saddlemen / Bornscum step up seat were added.

To further streamline the look of the bike, the large round Indian LED front and rear turn signals were removed and replaced with Combustion Industries Mini LED signals.

The license plate was relocated from the left side of the bike to over the rear tire using Combustion Industries Tidy Tail relocation bracket.

For dramatically improved night riding visibility a Baja Designs LP6 Pro LED Headlight with blue backlight was installed. The LP6 Pro is a 6-inch powerhouse featuring a total of 11,225 total lumens and a 200-degree spread of usable LED light. I have to say it is like having the sun strapped to the front of the motorcycle.

And of course, with all the extra horsepower being produced an Indian Quarter Fairing Tall Flared Wind Deflector was installed to block the wind at high speeds.

Out on the road, the Fab28 2-into-1 exhaust paired with the Lloydz 605 Cams and 131ci Big Bore Kit has a deep and mean sound as you roll on and off the power. This combination dramatically increased the overall power. We are anticipating 120Hp and 150Ft Lbs. of Torque which will be verified on a Dyno once we get the bike through its break-in period. The lighter chassis, BST carbon fiber wheels and stiffer suspension reacts quicker to throttle inputs and braking. This Indian Sport Chief is all about performance!

This Sport Chief doesn’t skimp on handling either. The BST Torque Tek Carbon Fiber wheels wrapped in Dunlop American Elite tires allow the Sport Chief to maneuver and corner faster than the much bulkier stock mags. The 3 inch longer Big Bear front forks utilizing Ohlin’s components and the 1.5 inch longer rear Ohlin’s raise the Sport Chief for increased lean angle and ground clearance going into the corners. Overall makes for precision handling and responsiveness.

Check out a startup and walkaround video of this Sport Chief here

So I guess you would think at this point we would be done, that there was nothing else we could possibly do to this sport chief build, well you be wrong. This is where things really get interesting. We couldn’t leave well enough alone and had to take the build to the extreme.

So next we removed all of the body panels: front fender, rear fender, side covers, coil cover, fairing and gas tank. Why you might ask. Well simple, it was time to replace them all with Carbon Fiber to give the bike a whole new style!

First the gas tank was overlayed with carbon fiber, then we contacted our partners at TNA Custom Inc to get carbon fiber body panel replacements for the front fender, rear fender, side covers, coil cover, and dash. Lastly our partners at Klock Werks and Ghost Composites got us the new carbon fiber FXRP fairing, mounting hardware, windshield, and light bubble.

So the badass icon spirit blue sport chief you read about throughout this article became the bike you now see below.