'Indian Larry' Desmedt, motorcycle builder

CONCORD, N.C. -- Larry Desmedt, a motorcycle builder called "Indian Larry" and known for his appearances on cable's Discovery Channel, died after crashing during a weekend stunt at an arena outside Charlotte.

Mr. Desmedt, 55, fell off his motorcycle Saturday while performing before 8,000 people at the Cabarrus Arena and Events Center in Concord as part of the Liquid Steel Classic and Custom Bike Series. He died Monday at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, a hospital official said.

He maintained a workshop in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn and lived in Manhattan's East Village.

"Indian Larry was a man with great skill and talent as a mechanic and metal sculptor," said Robert Freeman, the chairman of the Cabarrus board of commissioners. "He will be truly missed by his fans here in Cabarrus County and throughout the nation."

The "Indian Larry" website said: "In loving memory of our friend and beloved husband Indian Larry. We'll always keep you in our prayers."

Messages left at his Brooklyn headquarters were not returned.

Mr. Desmedt was performing at a three-day motorcycle event when the bike he stood on began to wobble, and he was unable to regain control, said Mike Downs, Cabarrus County's deputy manager. Mr. Desmedt was not wearing a helmet and suffered head injuries, county officials said.

Mr. Desmedt appeared in movies and television shows, once riding a motorcycle through a wall of flame on "The Late Show With David Letterman."

Recently he had been featured on the Discovery Channel's Biker Build-Off series, in which well-known motorcycle builders design and build bikes from scratch, then have them judged by motorcycle aficionados.