Anyone else had this problem?

My 1947 Chief used to break rear spokes after every run annoyingly, and caused me to buy a new pack from Starklite Cycles these were Buchanan stainless spokes and they have made spokes I believe since the sixities. When I built the the Vindian I bought new stainless spokes and they started breaking 10 in all over 3 years, so last year before the Great Race in Tasmania 2016 and the Gypsy Tour I checked my rear wheel and found yet another snapped I had been replacing them one by one with JTR stainless spokes from  Queensland and they never seem to break, anyway I blamed the hub and bought a whole new wheel from Mark at Zorro’s sourced from Starklite Cycles again, surely this would cure the problem, well guess what two more broken spokes in the new wheel, I’m beside myself. Next step is original Indian steel spokes re-plated and seeing they have lasted over 60 years already hopefully that will fix it, I might mention here no more stainless spokes for me especially in the rear wheel.

Not riding because of the weather?

We are at the moment in Autumn and the signs of winter are here with us still with a “bumper” crop of riders (12) at the last ride day we have our fingers crossed for the same next month on 4th June. This time it will be to the Moto-Bean Cafe in Malmsbury as it was planned earlier for this month but they were completely booked out as its a popular venue still not to far for a ride at this time of year. A presence from Phillip White on his “new”Yellow Drifter that has been named General Custard this month got everybody talking as now there are three in the Association, they are popular though the reasons seem to be they are under $10,000 and are dimensionally smaller than the current range of bikes from Indians made since 1999 excepting the new Scout of course and parts are readily available and cheap, so till current Indian’s drop below ten grand I expect people will look at them as a suitable alternative.

I totally agree

A short time ago I wrote a post on Lethargy will get you want you want and mainly the core subject was members not committing to rides, rallies or even meetings we have had to cancel  the Rain in the Face Rally (last years poster above) next month because of so few commitments and as you know accommodation and meals can’t be organised in the last week. Some of our country members rely totally on our four seasonal rallies a year to catch up with you and look forward to each magazine or Rally in earnest much more than city folk that come to monthly Association Meetings or attend the monthly Rides as well, your committee in the past has cancelled all monthly rides that fall in the rally months to ensure a good attendance, this hasn’t seemed to help I know some of our rallies are very well supported so they will continue, but when the rally forms are out either texted to you or on this website, emailed, sent with your monthly e-mag Smoldering Embers, or quarterly Smoke Signals even FaceBook we expect an answer whether you can make it or not please it takes a fair bit to cater for and we have no idea who may turn up, in the past we had to ring the motels to find out who would be attending! So that was the reason we decided to arrange all the accommodation for you this ensured we could get an idea on numbers and get a good deal for you on accommodation or meals the entry forms out 8-10 weeks before should help to organize your life to enjoy a rally or two a year but unfortunately this has’nt proven true. I have decided with Noel Thornby’s & Gary Hogg’s permission to print their letters that will be past on to your committee next week.

I write to express my disappointment in your decision to cancel the Chief Rain In The Face Rally .
As a country member Sunday runs are not practical for me . Rally’s are my connection with the club ,as they are for our interstate members . 
All rally’s are much anticipated and planned for . A rally is a time to do some serious KM’s with friends and fellow members , stay over , shoot the breeze , taste local food and wine and enjoy the Joy of country riding . 
I get that some members don’t ride in winter but with modern thermals , heated gloves , heated grips , and screens I wonder why .
I get that a part of our core rider group will be overseas and numbers will be limited but should this kill the remaining riders fun .
I understand that we don’t have the no’s to get discounted accommodation and meals but is that a deal breaker , not for me .
We should consider the work Garry does to organize this event and show our appreciation by showing no matter the no’s .
We are the Iron Indian Riders Association , not The Iron Indian Polishers , or lookers , or coffee drinkers , but the Iron Indian Riders Association so lets Ride .
Yours in thermals
Noel Thornby  
And another view from Gary Hogg
Fellow association members I am attempting to write this short note to express my disappointment in the cancelation of the Rain in the Face Rally on the Queen’s Birthday weekend, I
understand some members will be overseas but as a country member I really look forward to these rally’s it is the only time I get to ride with other members which is a real buzz for me, I fully agree with Noels letter, why are we members for if we don’t attend fully organised events. Would having this rally earlier say May for instance help as it might be a little warmer nothing guaranteed though.
hoping to catch up with you all soon Hoggy

1 million and a half hits, and Anzac Day “Lest we Forget”

A million and a half minutes is about 2.85 years, a million and a half hours is 171.12 years, a million and a half days is around 37 years that’s a fair bit of time, and its the number achieved on this website in 7 years and about 174 different countries have looked in on us at one time or another, our American friends are the most loyal next to the Aussies but then surprisingly the Indian and the UK are also in there as well, so whats next probably 2 million time will tell. Anzac Day is always a sign of reflection “Lest we Forget” 60,000 died in the Great War and over 27,000 in WWII that’s not counting the casualties, in 1914 there were only 5 million people in Australia 7.2 million now live in NSW and 4 .17 million in Victoria and 2.35 million in W.Aust, a staggering that amount that died and although we needed to fight in the Second World War to save being invaded, the First War seems to me a waste of time. Mind you we hav”nt counted the Kiwi’s in these figures and they suffered equally with an even smaller population, war is futile unless you’re defending yourself and it seems with all the “sabre rattling” going on these days people have short memories

Mark’s new Dark Horse

The old saying about women buying a new hat holds very well for my mate Mark, what with recently selling the 2017 Triumph 1200 Bonneville after a number of weeks he’s done it again and bought a 2017 Dark Horse, for those of you worried about him switching brands, don’t worry he told me its better than sex on this new Chief (sorry about that Sandy). The other picture is a little ironic Philip White on last Sunday’s run to Creswick on Chris Horner’s Scout as you know he wrote off his Springfield a couple of weeks ago but he is ok, thats the main thing, the write up is in the Section news.

The Indian President Interview

Steve Menneto Interview (click on link)

Indian FTR750 racing Comeback 1-2 Victory and the hub rally report

The new Indian Scout FTR750 was purpose built to revolutionize Flat Track racing. The 750cc engine pushes the limits of V-Twin technology and our clean sheet design philosophy ensures none of that power is wasted. A report on the weekends Hub Rally at the Southern Grampians town of Dunkeld is on the Victoria Section of the Members area and obviously the reason Phillip White’s new Springfield is now a write-off, he’s fine though which is the important thing

 

 

 

 

 

 

Indian racing comeback

 ironindian.com.au/?page_id=7368

thank goodness we have saddlebags

 

The Bendigo Club has been delving into the history of Panniers

The French and English moneyed classes adopted a fashion from the early 1700s called pan- niers, a basket like contraption worn on each hip.
The first panniers were simply large hoops bound together with tape. These were known as “panniers a? gue?ridon”. A second style resembled arches springing from the waist and were called “panniers a? coudes” because the wearer could rest her elbows upon them. (The first personal armrests?) Some panniers grew to enormous dimensions until they reached six feet from side to side.

The ridiculous width was inconvenient for the wearer as well as others. Two ladies could not sit together on a sofa, or pass through a door side by side. When passing through a doorway a lady had to walk sideways until some bright spark had the idea of collapsible panniers that could be lowered then raised again. Ladies walking the streets annoyed pedestrians who were forced to go around these wide loads.

What is the point of this? Well next time you see a panniers on a bike, keep in mind the ori- gins are women’s underwear.

Indian serial numbers 1901/53

Recently I set out what your 17 digit VIN number meant, but what about your old Indian, this will help

Indian Serial numbers 1901/53

building a bike from a oil stain

Steve McCulloch from Tamworth has started with the motor from the “Black Bastard” it was the engine from my 1948 till I ripped it out and turned that into the Vindian, well after about 2,1/2 years its been re-birthed into an Indian again and ready to rally hopefully at the Crazy Horse Rally at Corryong later this year. it takes a lot of time and dedication to start with bits so good work Steve. the other machine is Chris Horner’s Kiwi Indian Bobber with its new 8″ T.L.S front brake and hopefully ready for the Hub Rally in Dunkeld next week, George Fitzpatrick will have his 1944 Chief out for the first time at that event as well, so plenty of Midnight Oil being burned by various members at the moment.