Indian Larry Went to the Great Biker Build-Off in the Sky

(Photo: American Motorcycle Network)

Did you ever see Indian Larry on The Great Biker Build-Off or Monster Garage (okay, two hidden pleasures...along with American Chopper...it's all about the art, man). Well, I watched an Indian Larry tribute show last night. I didn't know it, but in August 2004, Indian Larry was performing in front of a crowd of about 8,000 people, doing what they always showed him doing on The Great Biker Build-Off: Standing on his motorcycle's seat as it wheeled down a highway. So, he was doing that stunt at some motorcycle show. No helmet. The bike wobbled. And Larry cracked his punkin'. In front of everyone. Hmmm. I wonder if there's a lesson in this?

(I crashed my motorcycle a couple of years ago by going too fast around a sharp turn, hit some water in the apex, and was flung into a row of fenceposts. Headfirst. But I had on the finest helmet I could buy. It got a huge gouge in it, and the left side of my body was one giant bruise, but other than the rock that got under my kneecap, no damage. Indian Larry would likely be alive if he'd had a helmet on, too...and yes, I know the motorcycle purists out there who say they Ride To Be Free. Okay, just making a point. Don't lose your head over it.)