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.

                                                         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

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

Thought this shot would break the monotony, I recognise Ian Rhook’s Blackhawk forked 344 on the end, and this was probably over 2 years ago at the Sandhurst Rally I would say. This year at the Great Race 2013 I asked organisers Dave Reedy(Harley City) and Peter Arundle about a next generation version that is Indian vs Harley except unlike the current version that stops at 1953 Indian’s and 1958 H-D’s it could start at these dates and finish at 2013 plus, both gentlemen were flabbergasted, not that they were against it but they did not want to organise it, can’t blame them as the original takes a ton of time. This has got me thinking lately with the new Indian and basically there is only a gap between 1973-99 but there is a ton of Indians between 1953-73 then over 300 Gilroy and Kings Mountain versions been imported into Aussie that’s  about 34 years of bike  production all up, potentially you could limit the Harley’s on the number of Indians entered. The Triumph Club in Australia( RAT) run a huge rally once a year surely the HOG owners and the new 111 Indian Club could do the same, this needs our friends at Victory-Indian to think about, how about  it chaps?

Indian Enfield, 111 Indian, in less than 6 days we will know what the factory will turn out, it will not be anything like this artists concept above, notice the belt drive has been “trashed” already and a chain fitted.