New 2015 launch Scout photo, 100BHP and 1133 cc weighing in at 253 kgs and a price of $18,000 ride-away what a winner. The IIRA website forecast this machine in March and was the one is the first with the photos even before the launch, if you need any news this is the place, now my forecast for 2016 a Indian 4
The latest A.M.C of America (Antique Motorcycle Club) quarterly magazine has arrived & as always is a great read I only buy it only for the articles and the pictures, the editor Richard Spagnolli has a very good editorial on “Why we don’t want to lose the next generation” and basically this is effecting almost all Clubs worldwide. Some one make clubs the two VOC’S ,Velocette & Vincent owners club have this problem already and they reflect this by the pseudonym “Very Old Children” a “in” joke with their members they were the largest one make club in the world in the sixties only the Vintage Club UK was larger, unfortunately the ranks are diminishing rapidly as they grow older, the obituary column in the hallowed MPH magazine every month reflects the inevitable they are “dying off”. We are not as badly off in the IIRA as now new Indians are available new blood is starting to flow through as we accept all versions, the point Richard raised was there is a huge swing in the “Bobber or Custom” groups in the States and this appeals to the younger generation as buying a fully restored machine is out of reach financially for most riders getting into old machines so bikes from the seventies old choppers or cafe racers are bought cheaply and not restored but modified & ridden. Some riders I know from this era admit to chopping a machine from 70’s era & now repent by purchasing an exact model to restore, many such people are respected as “Guru’s” now started as chopper builders hmm, shows here such as ‘Oily Rag” attract many of the younger group that have a spare $3,000 or $4,000 to spend certainly not $35,000-$70,000 one recently asked me was it worth buying a fully restored bike to modify, as a restored motorcycle was “cool but not cool enough”. So does this mean your lovingly restored Flying Merkle, Indian 4 or 1959 Triumph Bonneville will eventually be bought by a Gen Y or X and chopped, maybe but that wont matter as you are only another of the many that have already owned your machine and it will have had a life both before and after you. Meanwhile your still alive so start encouraging the younger riders into your hobby they may “take up the reins” and become interested enough for them to buy your machine and care for it even if that means modifying your treasure we need the next generation to join us then you can relax. I bet that Sportster owner isn’t relaxed.
The week-ends here again and to cheer you up in Winter nothing like a good laugh.
Sammy Vella is an eccentric but good engineer he always looks for solutions even when they might not exist, anyway he has helped me personally on the construction of the all important rear engine mount on the Vindian and advice on other subjects as well and I like many regard him as a friend. So Sam has a 1938-39 Sport Scout and decided he wanted rear suspension, so looking at various other machines with cantilever Vincent & Brough Superior he favoured the Bentley & Draper suspension on the Brough, this for most mere mortals would be a problem, not Sam he just went ahead and made it all. So if you have a engineering problem contact the man at SJV Engineering 0413 180857
Indian has announced that the new 2015 models will have two-tone paint work also the Chieftan will have rear footboards & a toe-heel gearchange will be also brought back, so here we have pictures of Indian over 100 years apart, things came along quickly in the past, transmissions, electric lights, brakes, suspension were introduced within 5 years of this racing model. Hopefully on August 3rd at Sturgis things will be a little more exciting when the range will be officially released, these days people expect a lot more. Fixing saddlebags on Chief Vintages would help on the current models, leather dressing does’nt help at all as four cans of Dubbin has proved.
Yes time to poke more fun at our Bogan cousins on their H-D”s, never mind keep saving boys then you can afford to buy a Indian. (click on image to enlarge)
( Click on each page to enlarge)
Winter reading for those people who misguidingly thought Indian stopped in 1953 till 2014 we have a great touring article, and a real period piece for the old Springfield enthusiasts as we all know the factory closed in 1969.
The First Members
Time to reflect, in April 2010 the Iron Indian Riders of Aust had its first meeting, after the start we all agreed a “Indian was an Indian” whatever year which was unlike any other Indian Club in Australia this was our main reason for forming & unknowingly at that time in just 2 years Indian would back in fulltime production. Anyway one of our first motions was we needed to give value to our members & it was imperative that a up-to-date website was put into action your webmaster got the job and have been at it through 3 years and 11 months. At first I never thought half a million hits would be achievable but the secret is keeping it “live” other Clubs suffer with months of nothing happening on their website except a calendar event or a motorcycle for sale, your website has something new 3 or 4 times a week hence it has many views. I mentioned last week 22 reasons to renew your subs that are currently due the website is only a small part of a great Association the members make it, time to open the wallet
Last Sundays ride the first stop at John Bennett ‘s in Kinglake, this is a shed tour of perhaps mammoth proportions as John makes tinware ie fuel tanks, guards tool boxes etc also made lots of stuff for Chris Knoops veteran car and Invincible JAP. It is rare that John let’s people in ‘The Holy of Holies’ so it was worth going, then on to Yea for a sumptuous lunch at the Red Plate Cafe. Steve York recently dismantled his 1959 Indian Chief and the previous owner had left this message, obviously frustrated I would say!
