Indian Larry, Builder of Chain of Mystery, Featured Motorcyclist
Larry DeSmedt was born in the Spring of 1949 and grew up in Newburgh, New York, about two hours from metro New York. He was a person driven to live life to the fullest, as they say, and was influenced by many people and things in his life, his environment. Without video games and smart phones to play with, like many baby boomers he enjoyed Lincoln Logs and then took to plastic model motorcycles and cars which were perhaps a first outlet for his creativity. As a teenager in the late 1960’s, his first motorcycle was a Harley Knucklehead, a 1939. Reading his various biographies, it appears this is what brought him focus toward things very mechanical; to ride a 30 year old Harley, you need to have mechanical skills. And as we all know, motorcycles also help in forming ones circle of friends. And so grew the life and reputation of “Indian” Larry. Artist, painter, metal fabricator, probably philosopher as well, if you looked at the work through his eyes. We lost him in 2004, but stories of his life have been written, and much resides on Wikipedia about Indian Larry.
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- “Via Con Dios” by Manon Elder
Gone but never forgotten –TRUE NUFF— Why some are taken before their time & some are left to pound the rock is truly F N Amazing. I myself am a 22 year cancer survivor & I proudly wear a Indian Larry Welders cap DAILY & DO NOT leave home W/O it—– Just Say N. LUCKY RIDER OUT
Out of all the occ or Milwaukee Iron which I helped RANDL FLOYD SIMPSON start in his mothers basement in 1983 we started with my love of antiques motor cycles I HAVE ALLWAYS THOUGHT INDIAN LARRY THE BEST AT MOTOR WORK AND FABRACATION OF SHEET METAL AND THE PAINT I MISS HIM ALL THOUGH I NEVER HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING THE MAN I WISH I HAD I MISS HIM STILL AND PEOPLE WHO CAN WRENCH ON A MOTOR THAT THEY BUILT ARE A THING OF THE PAST I KNOW I FEEL LIKE A DINOSOUR I ADMIRED THE FACT THAT INDIAN LARRY COULD BUILD HIS MOTORS AND DIAGONONOS A PROBLEM SHOULD ONE COME UP THE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT I SEE TODAY ARE NOT INTERSTED IN LEANING I HELPED CARSON LITTLE FROM LYNCHBURG VIRGINIA TO LEARN THE HARLEY I STARTED ON A 47 INDIAN CHIEF ROADMASTER MYSELF I STILL PUT SINGLE FIRE INGITIONS ON MY HARLEYS BUT THIS IS ABOUT A REAL MOTOR CYCLE MAN INDIAN LARRY I THINK HE IS IN HEAVEN RIDEING A KNUCKLE NOW I HOPE HES STILL RAISEING HELL ON TWO WHEELS I KNOW HES GODS MECHANIC THOSE WHO KNOW THE REAL DEAL STILL MISS INDIAN LARRY
The bike is a great masterpiece.
It’s the real work of a true artist who just gave us more hints from his brilliant mind.
Great passionate and deliberate work. The master who detailed his work and made unique creations. A soul rider who lived free and probably smiling, being happy and proud looking at his website 🙂
“A rebel without the cruel”
Rock on!!!
Peter