Indian Larry: The Fall of a Legend

As most of you know, Indian Larry passed away recently. On Monday, August 30, 2004 Larry died of head injuries he incurred during a stunt on the previous Saturday. Larry was performing at the Liquid Steel Classic and Custom Bike Series at the Cabarrus Arena and Events Center. Although common for most old school bikers, Indian Larry was not wearing a helmet. Who knows? Maybe his life would have been spared if he had been wearing one. In any case, he wasn’t and he sustained major head trauma after a fall off his bike while standing on the seat in front of 8,000 people. The biker community has been hit hard with this loss.

Indian Larry or his given name Larry Desmedt was known for his stunt work, but mostly for custom building bikes in the 50’s and 60’s. They had and old-school feel to them. This long-haired tattooed slim biker did not actually begin to receive recognition for his work until the bike building craze took off. With the introduction of bike building from Jesse James and West Coast Choppers and the even more recent American Chopper which features Paul Teutul and sons, Indian Larry was finally noticed and showcased in the media. He won numerous custom bike building shows.

His appeal to both men and women is truly astounding. I wonder how many of them know that he had been around for so long and accomplished so much. Larry designed his bikes with the ability to create from the ground up. He did the machine work, custom paint, all in addition to simply being a phenomenal motorcycle mechanic. In looking at his bikes you can see why he endeared by so many. From the handlebars that are lifted high above the shoulders to the gracefulness of the gas tank down to the ever so special seat, it is obvious that this man took great pride in what he did.

Desmedt didn’t stop with bikes. He appeared in movies, magazines, TV, etc. Indian Larry has been seen in a number of commercials like Burger King and held roles in Quiz Show, 200 Cigarettes, Blood Sport and among others, Motorcycle Mania with Jesse James of West Coast Choppers on The Discovery Channel. Indian Larry is featured along with Jesse James, Billy Lane, Chica of Huntington Beach, and Arlen Ness. A tribute to Indian Larry will air Winter 2005.

Indian Larry will surely be missed among all of his fans and fellow custom bike builders alike. His skills and talent will live on through his bikes and all those who strive to be just like him. Larry was an eccentric and likeable man that was loved by all this in the biker community. The Coney Island Polar Bear Club is now one great man short of their annual dip.

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