Peace Frog Indian Arrow

If you’re wondering what the famed Indian badge is doing on such a delicate, lightweight motorcycle, read on. After the Second World War, Indian changed ownership and stopped producing its traditional big motorcycles. In the US, new owners released small and somewhat under-engineered models: the Arrow, Super Scout and Warrior. In England, a company called Brockhouse rebadged Royal Enfields, and sold those as Indians. And that’s what this bike seems to be. It’s a very unusual custom from a small (they don’t yet have a website) but rather interesting shop called Peace Frog, based in Kumamoto in southern Japan. Perhaps it’s based on the Royal Enfield Crusader, which had a 248cc pushrod OHV. Peace Frog exhibited at the recent New Order show in Kobe, Japan’s premier custom event. Hopefully they can hold it together and become a fixture on the Japanese scene. Indian proved less adept at the business side of things—in 1953, the company stopped manufacturing its own motorcycles and sold repainted, badge-engineered Royal Enfields imported from Britain. [With thanks to Malcolm Collins.]