A few weeks ago I fitted a new set of Fournales to my 2015 Scout, as most people are aware by now the Scout is a quite amazing machine but comfort and the cheap rear standard shockers let the otherwise superb machine down. I had tried the Ikon shocks which are reasonably priced but unfortunately we’re not up to the standard, surprisingly as I have them on other makes and they are a good product, I believe there is a “fix” for them made by a member in Albury, this adds to the price of course and I had decided to wait for Fournales Aust (0407 511454) to import Scout types called “Air-Spring” they have no springs and ride on a air-oil combination. After fitting them I found the motorcycle was transformed, no “topping out, or harshness in the rear suspension at all, this combined with the Corbin seat it’s a revelation, and now I look for excuses to ride it more often. I have now owned this new Scout for 10 months and somebody recently asked me how I like it, well the answer to that is if it was written off or stolen I would go straight down to Scotty McConnell at Indian in Elizabeth st and get another one, I ride lots of motorcycles as its my job, both old and new and I have bought various makes new in the past with some immediate regrets, this bike is better than I hoped for or expected and to tell you I’m a bit jaded about the industry is a understatement after working in it for 38 years now, every motorcycle is the greatest at least in the manufacturers eyes unfortunately they rarely are for the customer! The New Scout made by Polaris is fantastic for its price and I’m proud to own it as much as my Springfield versions
I am starting another page called News this will be for more general items like Harley Friday and such things as the Stop Press Area is fairly diluted now with everything and needs to go back to its roots. With over 1.25 million hits on our site in 6 years its the most popular page only followed by the Calendar and then the Contacts Area, so be prepared for the changes over the next few weeks.
With a perfect Sunday morning yesterday in the middle of Winter we had over 24 Bikes turn up at Mark Barthelmie’s new shop Crazy horse Moto, and 22 were Indian’s. All the Indian Owners were emptying their wallets on the extensive range of parts and clothing Mark has in stock covering all Indian models from 1928 to 2016, plus for the rest of us a nice BBQ was provided with food and drink. In all a great day thanks to all at Crazy Horse for the hospitality and food, to those who attended without you it would have been a “flop” your support was appreciated
There are lots of accessories on the market when you buy a new bike, genuine or aftermarket a hard choice but sometime the aftermarket parts are better and cheaper, other bits the genuine is best. When I bought my Scout the genuine wire wheels and handlebars were reasonable, the genuine windscreen was worse value and not as good quality the same as the standard saddlebags. The same with the rear shocks and a number of other items all those were aftermarket and I’m happy and surely that’s the main thing, funny thing about motorcycles is that the accessories area are a big market item quite the opposite with cars, most people get things fitted with cars on the assembly line or maybe a tow-bar later, but in bikes it’s a whole gamut I know H-D have a catalogue the size of a phone book, one item is pictured above I suppose when you have reliability problems it would be handy
With all the changes at your recent AGM we have quite a few new committee members who are enthusiastly ready to help your Association. All the new committee delegates are listed along with some of the originals in the Contacts Area of this website. Basically this is one of the first years since our inception 6 years ago that we hav’nt had to ask for nominations so I can only hope this shows a group of enthusiastic office bearers which are there to help you enjoy your time spent on our calendar events. The thing is the committee requires positive feedback and this can be done by face-face,email or fax no one on the committee is a paid member, we are all doing to job for the “love of it” so please bear that in mind, remember if there is a change in direction & sometimes it won’t suit all members, but as this is a democracy the majority will have the final say, as has happened in the past. Our Charter in the first few lines says we are all here to have “Fun,Fun,Fun” and that’s what its all about.
Its getting easier to find this stuff, what with the “wanted warrenty claim” scandal, shares falling, home market sales in decline, and Indian sales and profits rising weekly I’m almost feeling sorry for them, well not really. There is talk of 115 and 130 cu inch motors but they don’t go much better than a “shovel head”as of pollution restrictions and weight, still that’s what Triumph did first in the fifties with a 650cc then in 1973 with a 750cc but it still got more un-reliable, vibrated and was dated by the mid sixties. Harley need to learn their customer base is dwindling, as the “biker’s” are in their late sixties or seventies, and 1% outlaws can ride a USA motorcycle alternative, young guys want 2 wheel cars that is, ones that require no “wrenching” and that’s what Harley have done since 1939 Knuckleheads just redesign or a rehash. The V-Rod was a small sign of thinking outside the square but stupidly they kept making the old range, so people just bought them (the old versions) and V-Rods have never sold well, if the old “boat anchors”were deleted then they may stand a chance appealing to a larger market, they won’t and Ronald Reagan won’t “bail them out” this time so inevitably they will fail
Been all all over Europe this last month and until today hav’nt seen a Indian in any shape or form, well today I heard two in Stockholm and rushed over for a photo while they were stopped at traffic light near my motel. They were slightly reserved till I pointed to my Indian belt buckle unfortunatly the lights changed before I could say much after I have a couple of Indians as well, still they look like they are being used regularly
Mark at Zorro’s must be being affected by the cold weather and needs dollars to warm himself, the list he has released below has some “stonking” good deals for a modern Polaris Indian till the end of August if you have one of these models or any Springfield version ring him as beside supporting a fellow Aussie(with a weird accent) your dollar is still worth a dollar in Australia, and he guarantees all that he sells. Beside that he can assure you of any concerns about colours, fitting, or supply of custom parts he maybe able to source for you from around the world
Indian chief accessories comparisons
20/07/2016
Indian OEM ITEM ZORRO
2879581-156 HIGHWAY BAR FR $580 HIGHWAY HAWK 598-030 $419.99
2879582-256 HIGHWAY BAR REAR $430 HIGHWAY HAWK $399.99
2879968-156 STAGE 1 MUFFLER $1070 RHEINHART $1056
2879667.-05 BLACK TOOL ROLL $220 LEATHERWORKSINC 10 BLK 100 $169.95
2879667-01 TAN TOOL ROLL $220 LEATHERWORKSINC 10 TAN 100 $249.95
2879740-00 SADDLEBAG SPOOLS MOUNT $220 EASYBRACKET $300
2879917-02 SADDLEBAG SET BLK 1940 LEATHERWORKS 125 BLK $999.95
2879454-156 REAR SOLO RACK $480 AEROMAC $449.95
REAR SISSYBAR RACK $480 MOTHERWELL $499.95
2880654-156 HI FLOW AIR FILTER $690 S AND S$699
2881476-00 WINDSHIELD SPOOL $100 INDIAN WINDSHIELD SPOOL $100
2879574-02 WINDSHIELD $910 LOCALLY MADE WINDSHIELD $495
2879736-156 SISSYBAR ASSY INC PAD$ 855 HIGHWAY HAWK INC PAD $299.95
ZORROS WILL PRICE MATCH ANY INDIAN CHIEF ACCESSORRY FROM THIS LIST UNTIL 30.8.2016
With Chris Horner announcing the Gypsy Tour in 2018 following the old Hume Hwy I can’t wait, obviously it won’t be like the road pictured above pictured over 100 years ago as it was well sealed by 1950 in Victoria anyway, NSW wasn’t but by the early sixties was. The problem with the Hume freeway today is that’s it’s possibly the most boring piece of road around I remember going up the old highway with my parents as a youngster and although the cars were slower and hotter in summer there was always a chance for a stop and a cold Tarax along the many little towns it passed through and that’s part of our fabric that’s missing today. So needless to say I’m booking pronto as the cutoff at around twenty souls is all that Chris will cater for, if you are thinking of going contact him,it will go to Sydney and come back on the Princes Hwy so quite a number of miles for your Indian and probably be in March for about 12-16 days , think about it.