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Indian mystery

Landing another giant American in the shed – Travels with Guido #386

October 2, 2026, by Guy ‘Guido’ Allen; Pics by Indian Motorcycles & Ben Galli

Among the shuffling and nonsense going on at Chateau Guido this week, I picked up a new Indian Roadmaster. A big sucker that weighs 417kg, according to the maker. As you can see it is about as subtle as a smack in the head with an anvil.

It of course promises endless miles of highway bliss, with its 116ci (1890cc) air-cooled V-twin, six-speed transmission and a near-baffling suite of luxurious appointments. For example, it has heated and cooled seats. The latter is a new one for me – at least on a motorcycle.

So before we get too deep into the machine, let’s go with a question on the minds of a few friends and relatives. What the hell were you thinking? It’s a question which assumes way too much and Muggins already had near-30 machines in the shed.

Okay, it was a spur-of-the-moment decision. The bike is a new 2025 model that the maker needed offloaded at a reduced price in September/October 2026. I didn’t really care which model year it was, and I liked the colour combo.

Back in the 1980s and nineties, when paying the mortgage and feeding the kids was the only mission in life, I never thought I would one day in the future use this phrase: this is my fourth Indian motorcycle.

In the pic – taken a decade ago by the super-talented Ben Galli – is (from left to right) a 1947 Springfield Chief, 2009 Kings Mountain Chief Vintage and 2003 Gilroy Chief Vintage.

(Ed’s note: Indians have often be described by factory production location to denote their type and era – see the end of this link for a proper run-down.)

The 2009 Kings Mountain at centre remains in the shed, while the others were sold. Of them, the 1947 bike was the most questionable choice to offload.

On the upside, it got me used to dealing with old tech such as manual advance and retard ignition timing, hand-change ‘crash’ transmissions, a foot clutch and a 70-plus-year old carburettor that could at times be finicky. Great experience.

Then came one great ride. That’s the one where it was humming along open back roads at 70-80mph with no stress and dealing with little surprises such as ropey corners and bridges. It was one of those days when you and the machine simply gel and perhaps defy logic and physics.

It was a fabulous ride and I knew the minute it was over that it was over – the bike and I were done. I would never have a better ride on it.

And the catch is with really old machinery like that is there is a load of preparation involved to take it for even a short run around the block. That works when you have two motorcycles and not when you’re well into double figures. The 1947 Chief found a new home.

Now we have the new Spirit Lake Roadmaster in the shed. Maybe it’s a reflection of my age – I like having the option of not being rooted around by old machinery. Sure, the Vincent or some other auld gem can mess with me every now and then. I can deal with that so long as the next day I can walk out, grab another monster, hit the starter and then go.

With this one I should get the proverbial head around the broad suite of electronics that covers rider modes, tyre pressure, Apple Car Play versus ‘native’ navigation and entertainment options – the list goes on. Plus, of course, the cooled seats – that has me intrigued.

When you do this silly stuff, I reckon you need to have dealership happy snaps and here are a couple. It was bought from from the good folk Fitzroy Motorcycles in Melbourne.

Now is a good time to get out there and run it in. Watch this space…

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