Any Old Indians Here

[Buzz Kanter]

I am proud and lucky enough to have owned a few old Indians over the years and I am curious if anyone else here owns a pre-1954 Indian.

Thanks,

Buzz Kanter
Editor-in-Chief, American Iron Magazine

[trooper113]

Yup...'bout 1/8 Cherokee and some folks under about 30 or so might call me old.

[Tom Prescott]

Watch it buddy, I perferrred to called American Native

Hey Buzz, Do you have anything in the works on the New Indian. They're in my neck of the woods.

I love the old Chiefs but they've been alittle out of my price range. Always looking though.

[nvsteve]

My wife is a 1950 model Cherokee. I won't let her know you called her old as I'd never see my new AI issues. She yells enough now about the stacks of past issues now.

[springer-]

like this ... http://www.v-twinforum.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=54444

[Buzz Kanter]

Originally Posted by Tom Prescott

Watch it buddy, I perferrred to called American Native

Hey Buzz, Do you have anything in the works on the New Indian. They're in my neck of the woods.

I love the old Chiefs but they've been alittle out of my price range. Always looking though.

We'd like to but they aren't sharing anything with us at this tim.

Buzz Kanter
American Iron Magazine

[WEINERDOGBONE]

Originally Posted by Buzz Kanter

We'd like to but they aren't sharing anything with us at this tim.

Buzz Kanter
American Iron Magazine

That seems like a mistake. They could really build some drama or "buzz" if they did.

[hurricaneduane]

Go to their web site, they have updated recently.
Plenty of information.

[2blackbelts]

Hey Buzz, this is Dr. Gary Huddleston, I talke with Chris and Joe every once in awhile about feature bikes, and I used to advertise quite a bit in your magazine.

I jus sold my 03 custom Chief that Chris wanted to feature in the magazine. I am also customizing my T3 Chief even more, as it is quite radical now, and I'll send you some pics.

By the way, the largest Indian owners website is: www.indianmotorcyclecommunity.com We have tons of members and it is a great website. We also have the I.R.I.P. ralley every May at Branson, MO. It is a week long, and hundreds and hundreds of Indians of all years show up. It is by far one of the best rallys I have ever attended.

Why don't you check the website out. We would love to have you and your ride show this May in 08.

All the best,
2 blackbelts
Dr. Gary Huddleston

[WozzA]

I have a friend here in Oz that has a '27 Scout 101.
His Grandfather owned the FIRST Indian dealership in Australasia, and one of the pioneers of Indian motorcycles here in Australia. He even suggested that models should have their names painted on the Tanks, a idea adopted by the company. The BEST EARLY Indian motorcycle photo EVER was taken from the veranda of his dealership in Bairnsdale Victoria, and a poster has been produced from the picture.
Visit his web site and ENJOY his familys fantastic History with the INDIAN motorcycle. You may even order a poster? I have mine...

http://www.freewebs.com/indianmotocycle/index.htm

Cheers WozzA

[claydbal]

Originally Posted by nvsteve

My wife is a 1950 model Cherokee. I won't let her know you called her old as I'd never see my new AI issues. She yells enough now about the stacks of past issues now.

my wife is 60 model cherokee-----------mean as hell. lol

[jherford@alphah]

I'm not sure if anyone's still reading this thread (that owns an old Indian, but i do. I've had a 1946 Chief since 1970, it was my first bike. $50 and no title. It was laying out behind a barn (not in it) no spark plugs and the rain just running through the motor. I live in Washington State, and contrary to everything you may have heard, it rains here, a lot. It was a rust ball.
Back then, Sam Pierce down in LA had a special. For $495 he would exchange a motor, primary and tranny, all rebuilt to pretty good condition, complete. So I took a road trip and hauled my rusty Chief motor down there and he test ran that re-conditioned motor on the stand (he made Charley Mathre kick it over.) So I turned over the cash. Best motorcycle deal I ever made.
After about a year of sanding and scraping rust, assembling and making parts and rattle cans of paint I was ready to ride. Any excuse for a party, so friends assembled for the test. I got it started, no suprise there, got on, clunked it into first (no sycros,) slipped the foot clutch and got it moving. Out the driveway, across the street and right into the three foot deep ditch head on. You never forget good stuff like that. My friends all ran out, helped me out of the ditch. I had to save face, so I got back on and this time, no turns needed, just right down the road. Whooee, what a feeling. That story could go on and on, but suffice to say, I got a lot better at working that foot clutch.
Bottom line, Indians used to be a poor mans ride. I rode all over the west on my Indian for next to nothing, just fixing it as I went. Back then the Harley's I rode with all broke down just about as much though, so it really didn't matter. It was the process of the ride, and everthing that happened between leaving and getting home in mostly one piece that counted.
Now the Indian is mostly restored, extended front end and stretched frame gone. I owe thanks to lots of folks over the years, some here some gone. I'm still working on it, there's always something else.

Well Buzz, I think someone asked about "old Indians." By the way, I've certainly enjoyed your work over the years. Thanks.

John

[WEINERDOGBONE]

Good story John. I enjoyed it.

[FLHTDan]

My brother traded a 500 Suzuki for a 48 Indian in a box back in 1971. We put the thing together and it was a trip. Foot clutch with a 3 speed hand shifter that was a bitch to try and operate at a stop light if you where going up hill.!! I wish we still had that thing.

[jherford@alphah]

:No kidding. the front brake has a whole new meaning when riding a foot clutch bike on a hill. Not to mention if you had a suicide set up (spring loaded.) Of course, mine was suicide (unintentionally) anyway because I assembled the clutch pedal with no friction disc...whistle: