1920’s Indians aren’t very common anywhere in the world, let alone the top model of the marque, Big Chief. On the other hand, bikers who ride the same HD for 15 years aren’t that common either.

Jukka ”Jack” Korpijaakko started his motorcycling career back in 1982. His first ride was a quite original 350cc AJS from 1950 which, according to the information available, was the only example of that year model in Finland. Despite of a ground-up restoration, the engine decided to go BOOM in the vicinity of the clubhouse of Tonocks MC, a club that had been founded just months earlier. The AJS was pushed into the workshop of the club and stayed there - as did Jack who became a member.

Tonocks MC was ”radical” chopper club by the standards of that time in Finland, and original bikes weren’t very popular in the club. Jack decided to recycle the AJS pretty soon, as the other guys were also moving from Brit choppers to Harley big twins.

"Laughing Indian" is kind of appropriate on the tank of this bike!
So is the name, Jack has given it.
Manitou.

Indian.
”Well, the situation kinda broke loose in ’99 when we went to see bikes at Int'l Indian Rally which was held in Finland that summer. Me and my buddies just wanted to see some cycles we knew we were never gonna see again in our lives, and check out how Jokke was doing there. Then there was this Swedish Chout. I think that’s when I lost it totally. I couldn’t sleep after that. All I could think of was how to get an Indian.”

Jokke, who had 1946 and 1947 Chiefs, had already at that time bought a 1925 Big Chief basket with sidecar.

When Jack was hauling boxes of rusty junk back home, Annukka, the sunshine of Jack’s life (read: wife) must have thought: ”Oh Shit. Thousands of marks for that pile of shit. Well, heyyyy, you’re my man.”

Alley Racer.
Despite of all this, Jack had seen the light, so the grinding machine started to scream in the garage. Cleaning rust from parts which were to be nickel plated took lot of elbow grease but was worth of it. All sandblasting of forks, frame etc was done in the clubhouse yard with DIY blaster. Although plans changed as things went ahead, one thing was obvious; it’s going to be a ”racer”. 

Jaska Ruohola from Leak MC made new gas/oil tank using the original tank as pattern. The handpump was left out, an extra nipple for return oil-line added, and the oil capacity was increased. Gasoline compartment takes almost 3 gallons. Clubmate Ile laced wheel hubs to 18” rims. Assembling of the lower end was left to someone more skillful (read; pro), as was the painting. Otherwise Jack did all the work by himself.

Jockey shift was moved to left side of the bike by making new keyways in the shaft and turning it to the left. 

Fender is Triumph-styled repop, and rearlight is half-homemade from Hecker101 parts. Headlight… well you try to guess which car it’s from! Exhaust pipes are homemade and covered with Thermo-Tec to get the hot fumes out hot, as well as protect riders righ leg. Muffler is some universal Taiwan-chrome job. 

The final touch was paint job with same colors Jack had been using also in his Pan. ”This way it looks lots more fun, and I didn’t have to paint my helmet again to match the bike” says Jack

We think that basic ideas of Hot Rodding couldn’t have been expressed better than this. This machine ain’t for a shy guy.  Where ever it is it turns heads, and the feedback Jack has had on ”MANITOU”, has been so far only positive. 

These bikes were meant for open roads, not just for shows or museums. It takes a lot more courage to do something different, something "your own", than to take the path so many has taken before you. 

One More Up and Running!
Note to those wondering what happened to all the original parts. They are kept safe and are NOT for sale. No original parts were harmed (destroyed or altered) in this production! ;-)