We’ve all heard of the industry legend, the late Indian Larry. In 1993 he hooked up with a group of other bike builders including Paul Cox and opened a shop Psycho Cycles, and then in 2000 Paul and Indian Larry opened their own shop called Gasoline Alley, eventually changing it simply to “Indian Larry.”
Joining them was a third member of the team, Master Builder Keino Sasaki, each of the trio bringing their own perspective to the brew of one-off bikes that rolled out of the shop. With the tragic passing of Indian Larry the shop became “Indian Larry Legacy” with Paul and Keino maintaining the momentum, building quality bikes of distinctive character. Currently Paul and Keino are producing 8-10 bikes a year
Paul and Keino build bikes that percolate out of their heads and don’t box themselves into labeling a project as a chopper, bobber, pro street or whatever. Owners usually get a choice of a front brake or maybe the color while beyond that it’s whatever stroke of inspiration fires the builders’ imagination. They start with a general plan based on the customer’s vibe, then begin kicking around design ideas. Keino often zeroes in on the bike’s engine and drive train, the centering point for the project.
Keino does work within some parameters. Powerplants are definitely pre-Evo and the frame is rigid, and one built in-house. The menu also usually includes a springer or girder frontend. Old School is the name of the tune.
Keino and the crew have been clocking the bike show miles, for example last year participated in over 30 events, but now are staying closer to home in the Big Apple to concentrate on developing parts and cranking on bikes.
Recollecting the path he took that led to a life in motorcycling, Keino says, “I grew up in Japan in the city of Fukuoaka and my Dad had a Yamaha. When I was five I went for my first ride on that bike…to the hospital. I was sick and my Dad had to get me there on his bike. I remember the helmet was so huge and I was just holding on, both scared and excited at the same time.” While a lot of kids would have sworn off bikes at that time, not so for Keino who went on to wrench on bikes in Japan.
In 2004 he was in the States working at a Harley dealership in the Big Apple but went looking for a job at a custom bike shop. “I found a job in Soho and on the first day I met Indian Larry. I started working as a regular mechanic/apprentice fabricator and did everything from sweeping the floors to changing spark plugs.”
As for his “motorcycle philosophy,” Keino says, “Probably it’s a more traditional hot rod in New York City style, a bike you can ride in the conditions of the city. I most like working on engines. If I can get to my hands on a motor, take it apart, soup it up or do something special like our PanShovels. I also like doing sheet metal work, fabricating things like gas tanks. The best part is getting to ride the bike.”
Keino usually can be found riding his Shovelhead that he describes as “made from all mixed up parts” including one of his gas tank, frame and 39mm front end, a bike he calls “The Phantom.”
Asked what he does when not building bikes, Keino laughs and says, “Pretty much I live here at the shop. This season I’m getting back on my baseball team after being so busy last year on the road. And for fun I ride my bike down to Coney Island or cruise upstate New York.”
Describing working with Paul Cox he sums it up saying, “Interesting and inspirational. He’s my business partner but also my mentor. And on top of that, he’s a good friend.”
As for his future goals, Keino says, “I look forward to keep doing what I’m doing and building what we believe are the most beautiful motorcycles in the world. I guess the big news is that at the end of the year I will heading out on my own, staking out my own shop here in New York City area. It’s going to be a challenge.”
Speaking of a challenge, take one scan at Keino’s “Real McCoy” custom and its seriously unusual PanKnuckle TwinCam engine. A mouthful of a motor and a unique piece of ingenuity. In this case he handled both the powertrain and the hand made sheet metal that followed, many of the components bearing the designation “Keino Special.” And that they are. Very special.
Asked what prompted this new project Keino explains, “I wanted to build a bike for myself and for Michael Lichter’s exhibition at Sturgis after he called me with the opportunity. I just jumped on the idea and went for it.”
As for his choice of engines, and also the source for the bike’s name, “Real McCoy” he went to STD for the Panhead part of the plan. “I wanted something updated and rock reliable so went with the STD Pan. As for the Knucklehead component, it’s special item developed and built by a leading edge company in Tokyo, Japan called Sundance.
“I wanted to use their Knucklehead because it features many innovative improvements plus it was cast from aluminum, something I could polish. (Soon Berry Wardlaw, from Accurate Engineering, will launch a series of Knuckle Engines with aluminum heads.) While they usually only sell a complete motor they liked my idea for a crazy engine so they sold me just the head. In the end, the 88-cubic-inch motor is a real Knucklehead, a real Panhead and a real TwinCam merged together. I’m not the first to do a Pan Knuckle combination, but with the TwinCam included as far as I know it’s the only kind like it in the world.”
He took another path with the starter/tranny as well. The whole transmission is raised an inch higher than normal so that the starter can go underneath and also clear the downtube frame so it doesn’t stick out. It’s much cleaner and looks like a kickstart only but has an electric start as well.
”It was something we worked up with Tech Cycle. It’s like a stealth starter since you don’t see it, and now the kit is available.”
When asked if he was planning to build any more of the tri-hybrid engines, Keino says, it’s a one-off deal. “I’d like to keep it as an exotic, unique engine. Most people when they see it don’t know what they’re looking at, but people in the industry do understand and appreciate the effort that went into it. That makes me happy.”
Other design innovations include the front end, Keino’s own variation on a classic theme. While a conventional design has the springs placed side-by-side, Keino’s version places the springs in-line, in a front/back configuration.
“This was the first time I tried this design, and I’m looking into putting together a production model available to the public.”
The “Real McCoy” is in the shop awaiting final adjustments. “I’ve got so much stuff to do here, working on that bike is a luxury,” laughs Keino. “If I can afford to keep it, I’ll be showing it at Daytona.”
Owner: Keino Sasaki
Designer: Keino
General
Fabrication: Keino
Year and Make: 2007 Indian Larry Legacy Custom
Model: Real McCoy
Assembly: Keino
Time: 4 months
Chroming: Wilco
Engine
Year: 2007
Model: PanKnuckle TwinCam
Rebuilder: Keino
Ignition: Morris Magneto
Displacement: 88 ci
Lower end: S&S
Balancing: S&S
Pistons: Ross/Keino Special
Heads: Pan/STD – Knuckle/Sundance
Cam: Andrews/Keino special
Lifters: S&S
Carbs: S&S B
Air cleaner: velocity stack
Pipes: Keino
Transmission
Model: 2007 Baker
Modifications: 6 into 4
Shifting: Jockey
Paint
Painter: Robery Prodke/Custom Auto Design
Color: Real McCoy blue
Type: metallic
Frame
Builder: Indian Larry Legacy
Type: wishbone
Rake: 31 degrees
Stretch: 2 ¼ inches
Shocks: rigid
Accessories
Bars: Keino
Handlebar controls: Internal
Fenders: Lucky’s
Headlight: 4 ½ inches
Taillight: Drag Specialties
Speedo: none
Pegs: Indian Larry Legacy
Electrics: Keino
Gas Tank: Keino
Oil Tank: Keino
Oil System: Russell
Primary cover: none
Seat: Paul Cox
Mirrors: none
Grips: electrical tape
Forks: Keino Special
Type: inline springer
Extension: none
Builder: Keino
WheelsSizes: 21/18Hub: PMTires: MetzelerBrakes: PM
