Sandy Barthelmie’s 2015 Scout the way the factory should make it, isn’t it a knock-out?
I just want one (without the Tomson M1)! Its the start of the new platform for Scouts out in June, the Sports Scout with wire wheels of course thats my next bet, we know it will be sometime before they land here in Australia with the log jam of 2015 Scouts on order locally, but dont be fooled there will be new production models shown as I predicted very soon. The Dark Horse was one out of the bag denials everywhere from the local importers but blow me down its out and for sale in months, Scouts are running on two assembly lines now to catch up with demand this wont take long.
741 is the first of the new range (click on highlight)
Peter Kime sent me this article from Indian Illustrated 1997 & its worth reproducing, I bite my tongue as I say this is probably the only Harley I’d have if I had a Colt 45 aimed at my families heads, that said I would own even a Honda step-thru in front of the Hog, but a good article anyway. Pictured above a year earlier Chief & the Knuckle in its original setting.
About three years ago my friend Guy Allan was invited to a Midnight Express Run he attended on a late model bike and sniggered at us poor fools riding badly lit, hand shift motorcycles at 12-00 midnight, after some persuasion I invited him to compete in the Great Race on my 1948 Chief the infamous “Black Bastard”. He enjoyed it and soon after bought a 2003 Chief Vintage then a short time later my 1947 Chief, he’s sucked in your saying, well today we see Guido picking up his brand new 2013 Kings Mountain off Zorro’s Mark Barthelmie, I think we have got the lad for good now I bet he’s regretting going to that Midnight Run.
So 700,000 hits in just over four years, 1 million is the goal so what do I find to write about Indians, I ask that every time that a blog is written. The best is when a new owner has a bike he”s just bought like Owen Jones did last week-end a 1947 Chief or it may be an existing owner excited about the paint job on his restored Indian 4 as John Munn is here, new Scout Owners that are lucky to have received their machine are another enthusiastic bunch, but unfortunately these people don’t turn up everyday so that s when I rely on members sending in photos ie: the two Scouts pictured. So you know what I like reading whats happening as much as you do and so does the rest of the world (over 169 countries) so it seems, it is an enviable Association to be a member of we want your ideas, thoughts and restoration pains and pleasures or perhaps a review on your new or old model I”m all ears! If you say I hav”nt got any time, well mate I have not had a weekend or even Easter off in six weeks fixing 9 Triumph Twin motors beat that, and I still write something at least weekly.
Great weather & plenty of sunshine with 9 Indians, one Triumph 750 Bonneville and a Moto-Gutless 1000 lead to a nice ride to Yea via Strath Creek. Not uneventful though with a loose Battery and a lost petrol cap, but no breakdowns. What was the Guzzi owner Owen Jones thinking after picking up his 1947 Chief yesterday, (pictured above) wel he’s itching to get it going and on the road, not at all discouraged after fixing the odd Springfield today. Richard Onyon was out on the 2015 silver Scout and we had a couple of Polaris Chiefs as well as No 1 Ken Hager, Phillip White was on Chip’s, and the delightful Sandy Barthelmie kept us all in order, days like these should go on forever
Always a good read, both of the latest editions No 39 & 40 are in Section News area