So what does this mean to an Indian enthusiast, plenty if a Scout is $10,000 or less in America and $20,000 here in Aussie its $14,101.00 (converted exchange) and may even be less as it has to be a demo and have done 500 klm so without local US taxes lets say its $8,500-$9,000 so $12,000 Aussie and about $600 for freight and say another $1,000 GST etc $13,600 all up around $6,400 saving on a Scout! It gets even better for the dearer models, although you can only do it once every two years and there wont be a warranty, you can see why dealers are complaining already as in theory your missus, kids and cousins can bring them in for you as well, could be around 20-30 machines a year in one family! Then as you read below it also changes now to a rolling date for collectible vehicles so things are gong to get cheaper and there will be tears on both sides

Shannons puts its support behind Federal Government’s 25-year Importation rules for enthusiast vehicles

The Federal Government has announced plans to introduce changes to the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989. One of the key changes that will positively affect motoring enthusiasts will be to improve the existing arrangements for importing exotic, rare, classic, collectible and special purpose vehicles.

Currently, individuals can only import a car or motorcycle under concessional arrangements if it is manufactured before January 1 1989. Keeping this fixed date would have steadily reduced the scope for importing genuine classic cars, threatening what is an ever important industry in Australia, especially given the impending departure of local vehicle production.

The new rule will allow a vehicle which is at least 25 years old to be imported under the revised arrangements.

Shannons Marketing Manager – Mark Behr said  ”Shannons has been heavily involved in working with the Government over some time, to replace the January 1989 scheme with a rolling 25 year scheme. We have put the case forward, on behalf of the motoring enthusiast community, to allow them access to the modern classics of the future. The government‘s decision should be applauded by all motoring enthusiasts. This new legislation will ensure continued prosperity for the motoring enthusiast industry, preserve important vehicle history and allow ongoing generations of enthusiasts to enjoy the hobby.

This decision will also enable the continued health of the car club movement, who often make important contributions to charity groups throughout Australia so there is a real social benefit as well as an economic one. As many people know, the associated motoring enthusiast industries – restoration services, mechanical repairs and so on make an enormous contribution to Australia’s economic wellbeing”.

Legislation to implement the changes will be introduced into Parliament later this year and the new rules are planned to be in place effective 2018.

For further information visit www.infrastructure.gov.au/vehicles/mv_standards_act

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Hate the headlight cowl and the wheels and seat is”nt comfy but the rest is not bad

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You have just taken your Indian either new or old into a shop for repair and it’s always cheap for you to quote on other people’s work, before you rang the shop you decided what price the job was already. Of course in your job as a head sorter of corn stalks at the Kellogg’s cereal factory at $28.00 an hour every one should work for the same price or less than you unless he/she is a rocket scientist, or a brain surgeon, a mere greasy mechanic which you imagine in another life you are will be worth a lot less so to repair a crankpin you think $250 plus parts. Wrong the mechanic is getting the same as you the head corn stalk sorter, and his boss is paying $20,000 + for rent in the city and he is paying tax, workcover, maintenance costs, gas and electricity, advertising as well as paying 17.5% loading on his employees 4 weeks holiday pay,superannuation and a nine-day fortnight, sick pay and much more I have”nt mentioned so your bill is going to be heaps more and if like the cartoon above you have fixed it yourself lots and lots more just remember that.

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Thats a average of 166,666 a year or 456 a day or 19 a hour,  years ago I suggested a website for another club I was a member of and even went to the trouble of setting it up, they were at that time uninterested and it was never put into place. Some three years later they decided it wasn’t a “fly by night” thing and have now got a site set up, this was the basis of their website I had set up and is what you are enjoying now. You may think there are much larger websites like the Kardashians, or about Beyoncé boobs and your right this is a “small potatoes” website in the big wide world of the web but for a hobby group specialising in a ex-defunct motorcycle brand made over sixty years ago and only in the last 17 years making a comeback I’m happy there is any interest at all. So what happened on the website on 03/08/2010 not much we had only started the Association 4 months before and had just started organising our first and very successful main event the Crazy Horse Rally, so the first blogs were from the middle of winter and so articles on ring gaps and riders machines were in order, also the big push was for the Gypsy Tour to Perth in 2012, funny the International Gypsy Tour around Tasmania is on in 5 weeks from now. Anyway what will the next million hits be and how long to achieve it, at this point I know 171 countries have viewed our site and 50% are Aussies, followed by 21% Americans and 6% from India, UK has a mere 3% and so on. Meanwhile the picture above shows a Polaris Chief in a terrible state but it’s not smashed and the front end appears to be unbolted why?

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Sometimes it’s not for a week either, many rides over a week-end sort the men from the boys. Riding a leaf spring Springfield model over 10 or 20 days can be quite wearing on man and machine, roads have improved substantially since the time these machines were made but the speed has gone up as those who ride early Indians on standard gearing will attest. Most early Indians are up a couple of teeth on the countershaft sprocket which makes the bike feel more pleasant a highway speed and cuts vibes and wear but it doesn’t help when you hit a large pothole at 100 kph and your machine can physically leave the ground!

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Not to often you find a really good and informative website on Indians, recently I have found this one and if you click on the link below you will find a very comprehensive on Springfield frame and engine numbers, its a lot of work setting something like this up and certainly a help for restorers thanks chaps

Serial Numbers 1901 – 1953

 

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Ever wondered about the ever so shiny military painted bikes at restoration shows I do, not enough handfuls of grit!

Army Paint (AU)

Product Code Desc’
516-31087 Gloss Olive Drab
516-31256 Semi Gloss Olive Drab
516-31088 Lusterless Olive Drab

The paint is made by Wattyl.

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