Sam’s a good Scout

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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

2015 Indian’s announced

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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.

Its Harley Friday

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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)

 

1955 Indians in the Sierra

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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.

500,000 + Hits and more to come

First meeting members

The First Members

First meeting

 

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

Things written in Indian engines

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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!

Its Harley Friday & the Smoke Signals is out

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Friday is the day to hang shite on H-D’s seeing a lot of people have asked for more of our Bogan cousins, the two photos are typically H-D both have tried to improve the standard handling with I believe, some success. Beside the Smoke Signals due out, don’t forget the Sunday ride this weekend all details in the Events Calender Area

What’s New?

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No it’s not the range of new 111 off road models it’s a new Spares link in the top header. This is for our advertisers who may have an Indian related product for sale, or maybe offering a discount to Association Members this has been embraced by fellow member Mark Barthelmie and as the owner of Zorro’s he has also pioneered the new moving link in the border area which he has supplied, these are available to all our sponsored advertises at no extra cost

Burt Monroe Challenge & the old & new in NZ

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Last year I was enviously admiring the “Challenge” from over this side of the ditch and this year I am again, I will make a point to add this to the “bucket list” I have heard it is fantastic. Meanwhile our Kiwi mates have an Indian agency recently opened in Auckland and although the other photo is from Prague it reflects the universal appeal of the old & new models undoubtably the new models are equalling the Aussie enthusiasm in sales. I am noticing Heritage Indian owners slowly embracing the next generation models with fervour, only complaints I hear are “It’s a shame there is not a smaller model” this should be rectified in August when the Scout is re-introduced at Sturgis

Heritage It’s in the blood, & days of Yore

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Do employees of  Indian Motorcycle Co. care about History? Yes they do! This is Robert Pandya, Director of External Marketing for Indian riding a beautiful 48 Chief in The Texas Hill Country. The entire staff at Polaris Industries owned Indian truly “gets it.” This guy bleeds 50 weight and will require a twin cylinder powered casket some day. Also an early Chief with upside-down forks stuck in sand, I like the modification, but the last photo is a great one of an Indian road line marking vehicle,(Taken from Facebook) this really “rattles my cage” I saw the local council workers the other day with a Toyota Hi-Lux Ute doing the same job and they looked bored it was taking three of them, obviously the Indian was only for one guy only and a lot more fun,