Steel Ponies 2012

A beautiful '36 HD, born the same year as my mother, sorry mom!

If, like me, you managed to find a way to miss the now world famous “Art of the Motorcycle” exhibit at the Guggenheim, or its various traveling incarnations, take heart fellow Chromies and culture vultures of all things two wheels, your historically significant motorcycle fix is on the way. Or more accurately it’s waiting for you at the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art in Indianapolis, in the form of its Steel Ponies 2012 exhibition.

Well thought out displays make it easy to take it all in

While nowhere near the breadth and scope of the original “Art of the Motorcycle” offering (at least I got the book!) what makes Steel Ponies uniquely special is its focus on motorcycles and motorcyclists that were significant to the West and Western Native American culture. The creative and innovative manner by which the folks at the Eiteljorg chronicle the spread of the influence of these American made motorcycles throughout the West is truly inspiring. Obviously a great deal of thought and effort went into the assembling of the collection. It’s well worth the hour or so it would take to soak in all the machines on display. And I can guarantee you’ll see some bikes you’ve never viewed personally anywhere.

One of the oldest production motorcycles in the US, courtesy of the Smithsonian

From board track racing Harleys (how is it that machines from the teens and 20’s still look so purposeful, aggressive and just flat cool today?!) to one of Evel’s (you do know that the spelling of Mr. Knievel’s first name is by design, gotta stay at least arms length from true “evil” right???) original XR’s you’ll discover an amazing array of historically innovative machines. There’s even an Indian on loan from the Smithsonian Museum, not to mention bikes from some of the coolest, and yes, cheesiest biker movies ever put to celluloid.

Captain America.....or at least pretty damn close

As a native Californian I was especially stoked to find Arlen Ness featured in the section highlighting famous custom builders of the West. Arlen was, and is, an institution in the bay area, and one of the truly most genuine and humble people you’ll find in the industry. Ness was cool before folks knew the difference between OCC and ADD (one’s a condition, and one is a company that builds custom…….ah, hell, they’re both a disease). Good job.

Evel's XR, the man put the "X" in extreme!

So here’s the deal, if you’re in the area, get your butt down to the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, and do it fast, because like a great motorcycle, this exhibition isn’t going to hang around for long……….there’s open road to be ridden dammit.

Racing machines don't get any prettier