300,000 Hits and more to come

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Around two years ago I was thanking you for the fact we hit close to 20,000 hits, even I could not foreseen that it is now over 300,000! Sometimes I wonder who wants to know about until recently a machine that in its heyday is now pushing 70 years old, if Indian had stopped in 1953  would it be as popular in 2013, somehow I think not, the fact that the Floyd Clymer’s and Californian M/cycle Co (Gilroy type Indians) came about only ensured interest in the marque. About 1999 Henderson was tried to be resurrected with supposedly $90 million behind the venture unfortunately there was no interest in the brand anymore few people could remember the last new ones and less the brand name, what has happened recently has proven people recognise Indian as a brand, all that had to done was make a machine that people will accept, this has now happened whether you like or dislike current versions is irrelevant but it needs supporting no one wants to see another motorcycle brand fail, the more the merrier.

Are Indian Fours, Indians?

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Recently the Indian Arrowhead TC on Facebook page have had a debate going on about  “real ” Indians, this of course is a follow on from the current version recently launched. This a great subject and one dear to my heart so I added my thoughts interestingly so did quite a few others, one guy even went to the comparison of saying is a Four a real Indian as basically it was a ACE and Indian sold it as such for a short period, another chap was saying if you a splitting hairs then anything after Hendee’s were border line! This a great debatable point same as that “old hoary chestnut” about Indians that were not built in the old State St building in Springfield. Indians have had many owners and have been built from Springfield to Europe and back to the USA, but you know what, it doesn’t matter there all Indians the same as the current version “A Indian is a Indian end of Story”

I just want one

 

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Always wanted a 3 speed Indian Scout with a comfortable seat, average brakes, and chain drive and a lot lighter than a Chief at a price under $1000. I wonder if a Indian Princess is any cheaper for my wife as she would not have to worry about how heavy it was as well, maintenance is a “doodle” and the enclosed chain guard although brief looks functional, although takes a little off the “Sportbyke” image, thinking about it I could have the pair for under $1000, by the way it’s still a Indian!

 

 

Will Indians cope with Europe?

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Funnily enough last week I was in Amsterdam and Rotterdam, I commented on the bicycles there, I find this period poster appropriate but wonder how much things would have changed since that era. There are tram tracks the bane of all motorcyclists world wide (including Melbourne my capital city) in the wet they are treacherous, dogs,bicycles and Scooters are a huge problem now. Scooter riders share the bicycle paths extensively throughout the cities these run beside the pedestrian footpath and if you step on this path and get hit you are fined all bicycle riders have right of way. Traffic is a problem some roads are still cobblestones or in medieval areas wooden blocks, personally riding any Indian of any era would be a hand full, the older ones more so, the whole of Europe has similar problems fuel is expensive, parking more so Autobahns are very fast but boring, and country roads can have cattle being herded along them for half a hour or more with cow manure in abundance . I can see why small vehicles are the way of life

Warranty Problems that Polaris won’t have

1902 Indian

Recently I wrote a article about early Indians and the problems that you had in 1903, which brings me onto a subject that all motorcyclists have had over the years since they were first manufactured a guarantee or now days warranties.So what are some complaints in those days we would be unlikely to find a claim going to Polaris-Indian today, of course mechanical engine failures have always been a issue through the era’s however these days are not at all common. Now in 1901 wood borers on your wooden wheel rims and handlebar grips, of course Ferrous Oxide (rust), lead fatigue, on soldered joints on fuel tanks and oil tanks,weevils in the horse hair of the padding under your leather seat cover,magneto failure, cracked frame, wheel bearing failures, optional gas lighting rubber hose and accumulator deterioration  from carbide corrosion, mechanical Klaxon horn wear, manual oil pump plunger leather washer damage, return oil pump breakdown (total loss),rear chain failures, air filters were not any problem as they never existed, as were riders handbooks or workshop manuals as either the local blacksmith or bicycle mechanic fixed your machine.We mentioned in the previous article finding fuel and oil of any quality in a rural area could the difficult or non-existent, plus the roads were made for horses which is probably why you sold it to by a motocycle from Indian, therefore long distant touring as it is now known would be the next town. Polaris has never had it so good, Indian was suffering flywheel problems into the thirties with oil pump problems as well and in 1932 cast alloy fuel tanks were only a one season model we all know why, vibrations! I wonder what problems a 2014 version will have I bet none of the above.

Wall of Death

What can you say about this?

What can you say about this?

Riding a Indian on the wall of Death takes large testicles, but on the other hand what does driving a car with a Lion in the sidecar take, no testicles if your a woman. Then to make it even more difficult when you stop,there is the guy still circling above till the Lion and you get out.Today in our “nanny state” full of Civil libertarians, RSPCA, EPA protection, Police, Licensing authorities, is would not be a problem because it would not happen. Notice the painted white line on the top edge of the perimeter this was for the participants to regulate where they were in the Wall otherwise any higher and you went out of the drum usually killing a number of spectators if not yourself, one of the many reasons these were closed down and only a handful survive today. What I would not give to see a spectacle like this today

New page is coming for New Indians

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                                                         Now that we have your attention Gentleman!

What’s that you say the number one website & blog in the world on all things Indian overcome with all those new models, not enough heritage bikes on this site anymore, Hmmm, well it seems like that since  the launch but as we deal in all Indians this is changing from today. You will notice a new page in the top of the “header board” Polaris-Indian News this in future will have have all the info on the newer  models (1999-2014), where relevant some of this might be used on Stop Press, otherwise all heritage stuff will be on your favourite page seems fair to me as I like all Indians and that’s what the IIRA  are catering for. This site relies on news so if you have any email, fax or even write to Guy Allan or me Phil Pilgrim (Contacts Area)we are heading toward 300,000 hits so the reason for this is news or current info, help where you can

Horsepower vs Iron-horse torque

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Always seems to me a good point campaigning about top speed and horsepower figures, Mike Hailwood MBE  winner of all those Isle of Man TT’s in the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s and 15 world championships quoted you only needed 75 horsepower to achieve victory! These days manufacturer’s quote torque figures which are irrelevant unless you have something to compare them to, eg: is Indians figure of  119 ft lbs of torque seems impressive  but how much is that compared to say a Hybusa or Dodge Viper. Undoubtedly it is miles ahead of my Vindian, and for that matter my 2002 Gilroy, but what about a old fashioned quarter mile figure this gets things into prospective along with fuel consumption figures which are important on a touring bike, weight is a necessary factor these figures are generally always on the spec sheet 835 lbs wet weight with 4.5 gallons of fuel in the new Indian’s case. Capacity figure on the new model at 1811cc is huge so is the “stroker” engine at Bore of 3.96 inch and stroke of a massive 4.449 inch, still in all a top speed figure although generally never quoted or obtained by more mortals like myself certainly help in ascertaining  a purchase. In some areas road tests from a nearby dealer are not possible as literally the closest dealer is thousands of miles away.

Exclusive shot of the mythical Harley-Ferguson

Indian & the mythical Harley-Ferguson

Indian & the mythical Harley-Ferguson

The mythical Bunyip, Big Foot, Abominable Snowman, and even the even rarer Harley-Ferguson, here we have a exclusive photo of a Indian Chief and a Harley-Ferguson Harvest Glide model together found from the late  forties with its owner, previously only artists impressions of it are known to exist and have appeared on this website. One of the many interesting things on our Facebook page

Never seen so many Bikes

MAPD 1928 PARADE

Unfortunately not those types of bikes “Sweat Wheels” or bicycles in Amsterdam, they have bike paths for the 900,000 bikes here and now scooters use them as well. If you step off the footpath they do a” Horner” on you as our latest Clubman Chris Horner knows  all about after being hit by a cyclist over 3 years ago, and to add insult to injury, he was “hit & run” so the bugger did not even leave his details. I gave up cycling the day I got a motorcycle licence at 17 years and 9 months and do you know what,I have never ever missed it, you never see a cyclist smiling they  always have a look on their  face as if they have just inserted a suppository.