We have discussed this in the past, about where do you buy a “Poor Man’s Indian” at your local Indian dealers of course, the photo on top shows them backing-up. Meanwhile “Hog Owners” seem to be getting younger everday a bit like Policeman.
Ready for the Fourth Midnight Express
Once upon a time I was in a club that when they held an event and someone who had attended was from another country it was immediately tagged “International” a bit like Brisbane Airport not really an International Airport, so whats all that got to do with the Midnight Express Run last night plenty, we had not one but three International guests attend two from Holland & Ric Barthelmie (Mark’s Brother) that flew in from UK less than 12 hrs before to attend this event. Ric is a very keen Indian owner with a 1946 Chief kept in Aussie for events such as these and like Mark is always a humorous type of bloke, ask him what a “wedgie” is for a start, sadly his bike wasnt ready but he had been riding it that day sorting it for the next few months. So you can see by our starting point above a good turnout this year and Springfield, Gilroy & Polaris Indians in attendance ranging from 1938-2015 the weather was perfect & only one breakdown a 1947 Chief with switch problems,the run started promptly at 8.30 progressed to Yarra Glen by 10-00 pm for a stop at the historic Grand Hotel evening drink or take-away leaving at 10.30pm up the Melba Hwy to Kinglake to the Kinglake Hotel, it was misty and slightly cold, we left at 11.00pm to head for Whittlesea the fuel stops were closed so down to Sth Morang for fuel at 12.00. Interesting snippets of overheard conversation ranged from “Is this only once a year?” When these guys say their leaving in 5 mins they certainly do, Heated seats are for “Nancy Boys”, How come stereo’s on motorcycles that people play loudly have no good songs worth listening to (About a new Roadmaster), and Don’t order a Asian take-away if you can’t get it within 20 mins! Those new Indians have fantastic lights, Whats a valve lifter cable (mine snapped on the Vindian). At this point thanks to all that attended especially George Fitzpatrick for the organization, all the International guests, and Scottie Mc Connell from Indian Motorcycles Melbourne for his help & support with the 1947 Chief and also to Mark for riding his 1938 to prove the old ones can show the new ones a thing or to and get admired enviously as well, personally thanks for a great evening.
A mate just sent me this link on “Ton-up Rockers” in Britain circa 1964, wow how things have changed from bikies doing good things to wasters pimping, and running drugs shame its gone that way, seems when Cafe-Racers were in fashion things were sane when the Easy Rider scene broke things went to pack
I have ridden sidecars now for over 43 years the first was a Vincent Rapide with a double adult sidecar that I rode down the Motor Registration branch, a daunting trip as I side swiped a EJ Holden no damage to me or the Holden but a full set of Jock”s and a respectful attitude to all sidecars and riders after that. Fast forward a few years and I raced another Vincent outfit quite successfully for 5-6 years so obviously confidence had progressed and I was the Velorex sidecar importer in my buisness and I sold around 80 most I had to fit up to all makes and models some were well suited to a chair others were dubious. So now I still ride outfits I have two one is a a C344 Indian that was brought into Australia with 700 others to stop the “Yellow Siege” as General McArthur said in WW11 meanwhile my Chief started off in Queensland but I bought it in South Australia 60 years later. It is a handful to ride, harsh and badly braked which Im fixing ( news of this soon) I have made it 80 cu and fitted a set of Bonneville cams and followers with a 4 speed overdrive box it sits comfortably on highway speeds, and I have ridden it to Sydney and back in the past, and it’s great for upper body strength. Well by now you see I like outfits which brings me to the Scout above with a special sidecar for 101 model, this would not be fast and when a sidecar is fitted you get 1/3 worse fuel consumption which on a Indian is dramatic as they are intensely thirsty standard is a understatement, imagine if there was a sidecar option on the new Scout but I doubt it, believe me someone will put one on eventually and man I want to ride it.
This advert is being used by Indian in USA promising $1000 off a new Indian (except Scout) good advertising promotion except extravagant I would have offered less more like scrap steel price $30 a ton so $16 seems generous. Onto more serious discussions the promised Aussie Scouts that were on the ship for delivery in December then mysteriously disappeared, rumour is the same spec bikes (ABS braked version) are sold in Europe and Aussie, guess who are selling their shipments received in December the bloody Poms, I bet you $10 to a WLA that’s where our shipments gone. Totally bad marketing here, all owners in USA are complaining about -5 degree temperatures the same in Europe so in theory if the Aussies and Kiwi’s had them now lots of press and great feedback, never mind we will get ours in winter as well so nill press on publicity. By the time the bikes hit our summer months for decent riding the new model will be out by over 2 months not great marketing Indian
Its always sad to sad to see a crashed motorcycle, more so if it’s a Indian this poor Scout was once someone’s treasure, and it would have probably scrapped in this era as they were worth little up till 15 years ago.
I think think the dealers and the customers are going to be disappointed with the official delivery date
(Click on the photo above)
www.motosport.net.au/all-new-indian-scout
Its been a “heady” year for Indian and the IIRA, at the beginning new models were being bought first time in years, January we were anticipating the Midnight Express and also the Great Race 2014, February brought us the first Monthly Run of the year and the Lakes & Craters Rally, March was the Bikes by the Bay & Zorro’s Show & Shine, April was getting ready for the All British Rally, May was The Lake Goldsmith Rally but unfortunately cancelled due to extreme weather, June great the first Chief Rain in the Face Rally was a success, July was an eventful Monthly ride to Red Plate Cafe in Yea, August was another good day to Moto-Bean Cafe in Malmsbury, Sept was a hit with the Annual Crazy Horse Rally, October down the coast on the Peninsula Ride and the Moto Classica Exhibition, November gave us the first Teepee Run to Bendigo and the Moto Exhibition at the show grounds and the launch of the 2015 Scout, finally December was the Christmas Party at Zorro’s (thanks Mark and everyone that helped). A fairly full calender of Events this year will have the same and more, what a great Association to be in.
The Milwaukee Tractor company used to be once innovating and had balls also they weren’t dictated to by their customers as they are now the two designs above prove this, what’s scary is that Sportster it’s got Scout pretensions, if they would have developed that or the Porsche designed MV lookalike they wouldn’t have painted themselves into a corner as they are now. AMF were the best thing that happened to H-D they had a full range of models from 50cc up and the 250/350 Italian singles reinforce that thinking by excellent design . Since the buy back in 1978 a redesigned re-hashed V-Twin and Buell, selling MV for a $1 and the V-Rod have given them a good profit margin, but certainly have made it even more difficult to diverse into different versions
Yesterday everyone that had placed a deposit on the 2015 Scout were told “With luck expect your bike in Winter or April-May”,previously these people were told after the official launch at the Melbourne Moto-Expo last month the Scout would start “trickling” out in December. In August I booked a trip to Tasmania and was told I would not get some of the accessories that I wanted till early 2015 fair enough, but now the trip on the bike is cancelled. Indian mentioned a refund was available if I wanted it and they would cancel my bike, if Indian launches the 2016 range in August at Sturgis it might pay to hang off for the “glitches” to be sorted plus your new machine will only be new for 3 months. Indian have mentioned the new Scout 2015 is a platform for a full range of versions, I’d like wire wheels and a bigger fuel tank and footboards, potentially 2016 models may have this and if there a couple of grand dearer who cares? The last thing Indian needs is mass cancellations of 2015 versions but you know what a bit of up-front honesty would have helped everyone and had much happier customers these are mine and quite number of thoughts given to me by deposit owning Scout owners in the last 24 hours