Motorcycle mechanics seem to be either extremely good or very very bad the problem is people who are hobbyists that fix their own bike then go into the trade there are plenty of these about, then there are the trained motorcycle mechanics that are not enthusiasts and hate bikes or havent even got a motorcycle licence, I know a number of these! Then there are the ones in dealerships that have a plethora of new models every year that can’t keep up with one brand more or less 30 new models, lastly there are trained mechanics that read parts books at lunch time have 10 bikes in their own garage are members of local motorcycle clubs and ride on the week-end usually fixing all there mates bikes on the way if they breakdown F.O.C, they give out their personal phone number to customers a generally specialize in one brand of certain era”s and hone there diagnostics to perfection enabling them to fix a bike cheaply for their customers. These mechanics are the “Salt of the Earth” if you know such a mechanic look after him & show your appreciation occasionally, there are to many “Chimps & Chumps” in the buisness, if you want to see what kind of a mechanic you have ask him what “Yaw” is if he doesnt know find someone else, a hint for you its in the steering as explained below

A yaw rotation is a movement around the yaw axis of a rigid body that changes the direction it is pointing, to the left or right of its direction of motion. The yaw rate or yaw velocity of a car, motorcycle,aircraft, projectile or other rigid body is theangular velocity of this rotation, or rate of change of the heading angle when the aircraft is horizontal. It is commonly measured in degrees per second or radians per second.

Another important concept is the yaw moment, or yawing moment, which is the component of a torque about the yaw axis.

What a success the weather was hot,damn hot, the company was great and in all 18 Indians representing Springfield, Gilroy & Polaris era & even a new Scout! The roads were rough the Motel was fine and Noels BBQ salivating on the Friday evening this combined with a 280 klm ride and no breakdowns meant fun & undoubtably this will all be written up in your next Smoke Signals magazine soon, I cant wait till next year when it will be on again.

The closest Sandy has ever got to a Scout

This is what we all wanted, but in Australia we get no apology or an official letter to know whats happening, and you wonder why we are all upset. Steve Menneto Vice President of Indian obviously feels a little for his customers & it’s appreciated, we need Peter Harvey CEO in Australia to give us similar assurances after 6 months of nothing. Member Sandy Barthelmie pictured above on a Scout in August at Sturgis, she has had a deposit paid over a year now & still waiting patiently as others have received their Scouts here already

Letter from Indian USA NOT  Aussie

Back on track after a delay

The bloke above does, so does Pete Kime, I know one or two others with their Indians that they grew old with, I have my bike (not an Indian) that I bought when I was 21 and I turned 63 yesterday, some of us had family commitments or health issues even kids education, divorce that caused the “old bike” to be sold, but you know everyone that I have ever met that got rid of their original machine have always regretted it.