So you like Indians and your a bit of a corporate type well this could be your job
Phillip White has moved into 21st Century with a new Indian Springfield fully kitted out, looks like “Chips” is going into retirement
Last Sunday’s ride to Yea had all the elements, a forecast for fine weather, a mix of old and new Indian’s, a classic car, and a good meal. The weather to Kinglake was overcast and a few moist patches which had me wishing I had bought my warmer gloves, but beside my cheap reading glasses falling out of my bag and being run over by a car the day was uneventful, Richard Onyon’s 1945 Chief stopped for a few minutes with a small electrical problem and my 1944 Army Chief didn’t miss a beat, at the Kinglake morning tea stop a lot of other riders already there were quite amazed at the roll up of the Indian’s needless to say after a quick stop Owen Jones our lead rider was off to Yea and here the weather became fine and again we managed to meet to more Indian riders on a Scout and a Vintage that showed interest in joining our Association. After a magnificent lunch at the Yea Hotel we all meandered off back to Whittlesea to each leave for our final destination home, I would like to thank all that attended and Owen Jones for organising the ride and I’m looking forward to our next ride the Christmas Party
2017 Scout changes and thanks to Ric at All American motorcycles
Scout 2017 updates include
· Dual rate rear shocks with new valves
· Improved fork calibration with increased second spring rate, rebound damping and damper tune
· Moved the bend in the rear exhaust by 1” to improve rider comfort
· New triple clamp for improved steering angle
Self flagellation on a C-344B Indian is easy and something I have to psychic my self up to ride it, why you may ask, well until today I had a bad set of head stem bearings in my old Army Chief it was a horror to ride, like it had a tight steering damper, a getaway from traffic lights was a mastery in itself without bouncing of car doors either side. A Army Chief isn’t refined and originally with heavy-duty seat post a sidecar rear suspension (replaced on mine) made you feel like you had gone a couple of rounds with Mike Tyson, those GI’s in the last WWII were a lot younger and tougher than me though, meanwhile with the last 6 months of rain all the roads are in a bad state of repair with pot holes big enough to swallow a B Double, last week the Teepee Rally was on at Llanelly and the roads in that area were atrocious and a few weeks before that a the Crazy Horse Rally in Coroyong as well, I took the new 2015 Scout and was a little smug about my Fournales “Air-Spring” rear shocks but surprisingly it was a pain on even the modern machine. So today I rode the Army Chief and after fitting the taper roller headstem kit I was really surprised how comfortable the old girl is, Guy Allan our esteemed editor and full time journalist with Motorcycle Trader has often told me he finds his old 1947 Chief more comfortable than some modern cruisers, I can believe him the old Springfield models take a lot of beating in the suspension area you need to ride one sometimes to appreciate how good they were thats why next weeks Sunday Ride you will see the old model out on the roads.
MEDINA, Minn. – Polaris co-founder David Johnson passed away Saturday in Roseau. He was 93.Johnson, and his two cousins Edgar and Allan Hetteen, founded Polaris in 1954. Polaris originally produced several agricultural products. It was in late 1955, Johnson and his co-workers’ vision of a snow machine came to life. In January of 1956, the first Polaris snowmobile made a run across a snowy Roseau field.
Since then, Polaris has become the industry’s snowmobile leader and has diversified into producing other off-road vehicles.
“David valued hard work, passion for the riding experience, and an unwavering spirit of innovation,” said Polaris Chairman and CEO Scott Wine. “He set a tremendous example with his dedication and commitment to the company and employees. We are saddened by his passing and offer our sincere condolences to Eleanor and David’s family and friends.”
RELATED: Builder of 1st Polaris snowmobile still riding at 91
Johnson was inducted into the Snowmobile Hall of Fame in 1999.
Johnson is survived by his wife of 68 years, Eleanor, and their children, Rodney, Mary, Mitchell and Aaron.
Funeral services for Johnson will be held on Saturday, October 22nd at 1 p.m. at the Roseau High School Gym. A visitation will be on Friday, October 21st from 5-7 p.m. with a 7 p.m. prayer service at the Roseau Community Church, across from Polaris.
Chris Horner is well renowned for running our Gypsy Tours with the fabulous one held earlier this year in Tasmania, combining the famous annual Harley vs Indian Great Race run by the Indian Motorcycle Club of Victoria and Dave Reidie at Harley City, the problem Chris faced and the logistics were staggering but the man has run previous versions, The Run of the Murray and the Gypsy to Perth and back were a couple a his previous rides. The problem now is everyone in asking when’s the next, well its in 2018 The Old Hume Highway and back down the Princes Hwy in the meantime Chris has decided a “hub” rally is needed in-between as usual its limited to 19 people and I can tell you now about ten places will be gone straight up myself included, it will only be open to fully paid up financial members and first preference to Indian Riders as that’s what we are all about. The beauty of these rallies is that you don’t have to attend the whole event and can join in or leave at any point or time, very convenient for those of us that are not retired. There is a plan provided of the units and all the heavy snorers will be allocated in one unit as not to cause inconvenience to other rally entrants we are not kidding on this point, act quickly on this event as after the cut off date 26/11/16 that’s another rally you have missed.
These days such an advertising picture couldn’t be produced, what with all the goodie, goodie’s out there, but looking at this poster would it influence you to buy Chesterfield’s, buy a 1941 Indian Chief or the Defense bonds, even contemplating taking out a smoking hot Indian riding female in uniform hard to say what this is trying to promote
A new draft is in place regarding ride etiquette this has been tossed around for some time now and needs to be published so we have a little more uniformity,safety and good manners to fellow riders as well as the general members that participate, most of you wont find it much different as its “common sense” the rest should read it through and be aware of what is going to be expected. Pete Kime has spent a fair bit of time on this and if you want to see a adjustment or addition added please contact him
This is probably one of the best questions out there for some of our older members the simple answer to it is never it keeps you young but in reality you seem to know yourself as the bike may feel unwieldy actually you may have had a medical procedure and your strength to man-handle or even kick your machine to life can be daunting. I recently read of a guy in Queensland 91 yo old still enjoys riding his motorcycle a 500cc I believe and he’s happy, I have ridden everything from a Munch Mammoth to a Honda Z50 and all configurations from cafe-racers to choppers and most of the Indians made now and from the past, the bikes I feel either uncomfortable or not confident in that I had owned in the past are now no longer in my garage, they have been replaced with either cruisers or easy riding British bikes and if the weather turns foul unless I’m caught in it I drive a 4 wheeler, I don’t have to prove anything. These days my motorcycling is for my enjoyment so at 64 yo where do I see myself in say 10 years if my expiry date does’nt come up, hopefully still riding my 2015 Scout which suits me to a “T” it’s small and at the moment easy to push around and has a good turn of speed and power, I have raced sidecars in my youth with reasonable success and still have a 1944 Chief with a “chair” its a bit wearing riding it but like the old chap pictured above it does’nt fall over when stopped, this may be a advantage as I get older, most of us have ridden now since they were a teenager and one day inevitably your son or daughter will say “Dad don’t you think your to old to ride a motorcycle now” if your fit the answer is “No” if not it will be a sad day because you have admitted that your old!