Indian

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Indian Chief (1950) 80 ci
Tank decor Indian head (1912–1939)
Horn with Indian head

The Indian Motocycle Company , until 1923 Hendee Manufacturing Company , founded in 1901 in Springfield , Massachusetts by George Mallory Hendee and Oscar Hedstrom , was the first manufacturer of series motorcycles in the USA and meanwhile the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world. Most of Indian's machines were motorcycles with large-volume two-cylinder V-engines with side valve control and chassis that allowed a comfortable, low seating position. Indian went bankrupt in 1953. In the following years there were numerous attempts to revive the brand, but without success. In 2011 Polaris Industries bought the trademark rights and resurrected the legendary brand.

Beginnings

Indian (1902)
Indian single cylinder (1905) with suspension fork
Indian single cylinder (1909) with a ribbon frame

George Hendee owned a bicycle factory as early as the late 1890s. Oscar Hedstrom developed the first motor tandem for standing races in New York around 1899. Hendee, having become aware of Hedstrom, arranged a meeting to propose a business relationship to Hedstrom, as his motors were more reliable than those of his time. Hedstrom and Hendee (as sponsors) founded the manufacturer Indian in 1901 , which, according to Hendee, should have a double meaning: the romantic and symbolic pioneering time . The company was first "Indian Moto r established cycle Company". Hendee changed the name in 1902 by deleting the “r” in the name from an advertising point of view.

Single cylinder

In 1901 three Indian were built, in 1902 143 examples and by the end of 1906 3948 motorcycles with single-cylinder engines were produced. The single-cylinder was offered with a larger displacement and modified valve control until 1919. The success was also due to the licenses that Hendee and Hedstrom gave to other manufacturers; for example to the engine supplier Aurora , who used it to equip Thor motorcycles and manufacture engines for Indian. In 1904 the throttle grip and in 1905 the pendulum fork (both patents from Hedstrom) were first introduced by Indian on a motorcycle.

The first Indians up to 1908 are also known as "camel backs" because the tank on the rear fender had the shape of a camel back. Hedstrom received a patent for this tank with two separate containers for gasoline and oil. In the models from 1909 the loop frame was used, which replaced the diamond frame ; this enabled the engine, especially in the V models, to take a lower position in the frame.

  • Technical data of the single cylinder (1901–1919):
1901-1903 1904-1905 1906-1907 1908-1910 1908-1911 1909-1919
Displacement 224 cc 224 cc 288 cc 316 cc 442 cc 499 cc
Valve control automatically automatically automatically automatically ioe ioe
power 1.75 hp 1.75 hp 2.25 hp 2.75 hp 3.5 hp 4 hp
colour blue blue, black, red also dark green from 1912 Indian red

tank decor Indian head

Two-cylinder

As early as 1907 Indian appeared the first two-cylinder model with a V-engine and a displacement of 577 cm³ (35.2 ci) and 4 hp, in 1908 with 633 cm³ (38.61 ci) and with 988 cm³ (60.32 ci) Cubic capacity and the typical Indian bench angle of 42 degrees, which should be maintained until the end of production. Both battery- ignited 1908 engines had controlled vertical exhaust valves, hanging uncontrolled intake sniffer valves and an output of 5 to 7 hp. The first models were equipped with a belt drive.

In 1910 the typical Indian leaf spring fork appeared on the front wheel and was used until 1946. In 1911 the chain drive was introduced with the two-speed gearbox, from 1912 a kick starter was offered; as a result, the bicycle pedals that had previously been used to start the engine disappeared. Models without bicycle pedals were equipped with a combined inner band and outer band brake on the rear wheel, as the coaster brake was omitted. In 1913, Indians were given rear suspension on request, and in 1914 electric lights and an electric starter. A three-speed gearbox was used from 1915, the design of which was retained until 1953.

In 1916, with the introduction of the side valve control in the Power Plus models, Indian experienced a technical upgrade that hardly any other American manufacturer had to offer. An eight-valve engine with a three-speed gearbox (model 1916 H ) was also available from 1916 to 1919 . The Indian Motocycle Company was from 1913 to 1917 (also through its military production) the largest motorcycle factory in the world. At its peak, over 3000 employees produced 32,000 motorcycles per year.

  • Racing model with 60.32 ci (1908)

  • Two-cylinder (1908)

  • Two-cylinder with 988 cm³ displacement and rear wheel suspension (1913)

  • Indian Powerplus (1916)

Scout and Chief (1920–1953)

The first Scout appeared in 1920, followed by the larger Chief model in 1923 , which was built until 1953. On April 7, 1923, the 250,000th Indian was produced. From 1928 a drum brake was installed on the front wheel of all models .

In 1933 the change from loss lubrication and automatic drip oiler to dry sump lubrication took place ; this made Indian engines suitable for long journeys years before Harley-Davidson . 1932 became the Junior Scout. In 1934 the Sport Scout was delivered with a trapeze fork , while the Indian Four was built with the typical Indian leaf spring fork until production was discontinued in 1942 and the Chief until 1946. From 1935 a four-speed gearbox or a three-speed gearbox with reverse gear could be ordered on request.

In 1940 Indian introduced straight-line suspension on the rear wheel of all models . The manual shift was only replaced by a foot shift in the military models ( 741/841) and the last Chief models (1950–1953). The last Chief also received a telescopic fork , the years before that (1947-48) received a trapezoidal fork.

Scout and Chief models shaped the public image in the USA in the 1920s and 1930s; up to 70 percent of all motorcycle cops in the United States drove Indian. According to Indian, the market share of models produced in the 1930s was:

  • 52 percent for the Chief model,
  • 35 percent for the 45-ci-Scout ,
  • 9 percent for the four and
  • 4 percent for the small Scout with a 30.5 ci engine.

  • First Scout (1920)

  • "Police Special" Scout (1927)

  • Scout (1929)

  • Scout (1932)

  • Junior Scout (1932)

  • Sport Scout (1934)

  • Technical data from Scout and Chief:
Scout Scout 101 Junior Scout Sport Scout Chief Chief Roadmaster
Construction year 1920-1931 1927-1937 1932-1941 1934-1942 1923-1948 1950-1953
Displacement 596 cm³ (37 ci ) 744 cm³ (45 ci) 492 cm³ (30.5 ci) 744 cm³ (45 ci) 1207 cc (74 ci) 1310 cm³ (80 ci)
Bore / stroke 69.8 x 77.8 mm 73 x 88.9 mm 63.5 x 77.8 mm 73 x 88.9 mm 82.5 x 112.7 mm 82.5 x 122.2 mm
power approx. 10 hp approx. 18 hp approx. 12 hp approx. 25 hp approx. 40 hp approx. 50 hp
Weight 154 kg 168 kg 143 kg 175-200 kg 220-250 kg 258 kg
wheelbase 1384 mm 1450 mm 1333 mm 1435 mm 1562-1575 mm 1575 mm
Top speed
in km / h 		approx. 90 110-120 about 100 130-135 135 148

  • Chief (1930)

  • Chief (1935)

  • Chief (1941)

  • Chief (1947)

  • Chief (1950)

The current value of a restored Scout or Chief is over 20,000 euros. Steve McQueen's Sport Scout from 1940 fetched over 38,000 euros at Bonhams, and his Chief with a sidecar from 1923 over 90,000 euros.

Mabeco copy

From 1922 to 1925 the 37 ci- Scout (596 cm³) was copied by the Berlin motorcycle manufacturer Mabeco . The side-controlled motors were manufactured by Siemens and Halske . Except for the improved leaf spring fork and the green paint, the Mabeco was a plagiarism of the Indian Scout . The Mabeco was considered to be qualitatively superior to the American model. After the Mabeco appeared in "Indian Red", there was a legal dispute between Indian and Mabeco, which ended in a settlement. From 1926, Mabeco started producing two-stroke motorcycles.

Indian Four (1940)
Indian Powerplus with sidecar (1918)
Indian Model O (1917-1919)

Four-cylinder (1927–1942)

In 1927, with the takeover of the Henderson / Ace company , Indian became one of the pioneers in the construction of four-cylinder motorcycles. The technically unchanged models were henceforth called Indian Four . The longitudinally installed, air-cooled inline four-cylinder with a capacity of 1265 cm³ and 30 (1928) to 40 HP output was built from 1928 to 1942 in different versions. A decisive date for the head-to-head race with Harley-Davidson was the year 1936. In that year Indian turned the technology upside down with a version of the four-cylinder later called “upside-down”: the exhaust was located now above the inlet, below the tank. The raised exhaust manifold of the rugged engine could "roast the right leg all too easily". The Indian Four from 1936 to 1937 was also referred to as the "worst (by Indian) motorcycle ever built". In 1938, the wrong development was replaced by a newly designed engine with cylinders arranged in pairs, which helped the Four to gain a good reputation as a comfortable, powerful and long-distance motorcycle.

Special models

Teams

In 1913, Hedstrom's chief designer, Carl J. Gustafson, applied for a patent for a sidecar frame that could be screwed to the motorcycle using three mounting points. From 1914 onwards, Indian manufactured motorcycle sideboards. The 998 cc V engine with 7 hp and two-speed gearbox was powerful enough to drive a team. With the side-controlled Powerplus engines, later with the Chief models, a sidecar could be attached as standard if required - thousands of military carriages were built on this basis during the First World War. The Scout had a lightweight sidecar ex works from 1928. The later Indian Four was predestined for the sidecar drive, so that Indian still offered a newly developed team in 1940.

Two-stroke engine

Only in 1916 Indian presented the model K ("Featherweight"). A three-channel single-cylinder two-stroke engine (the only two-stroke engine that Indian ever built) with 221 cm³ displacement, magneto ignition and 2.5 hp provided the drive. The three-speed manual gearbox enabled the 102 kg light motorcycle to reach a top speed of 55 km / h. One of the very rare “featherweights” was auctioned at Bonhams in 2010 for just under 15,000 euros.

Boxer engine

The Indian O models from 1917 to 1919 are also rare today. Here, Indian again built a light motorcycle with a four-stroke engine, the boxer engine of which was installed lengthways in the frame. From a displacement of 257 cm³, the side-controlled engine achieved 4 hp; so the 115 kg light motorcycle was up to 72 km / h fast. Remains of a Model  O were auctioned off at Bonhams in 2012 for just under 8,000 euros. Harley-Davidson came out with the comparable W-Sport when Indian closed that chapter.

Single cylinder

From 1925 to 1928 Indian produced a single-cylinder four-stroke engine with a capacity of 348 cm³ and a power of approx. 6 hp. The light motorcycle (123 kg) was offered under the name Prince and should compete with Harley-Davidson's Peashooter . A trapezoidal fork was installed on this model for the first time ; the production version had an SV valve control , a few racing models were equipped with OHV valve control.

Dispatch Tow (1935)

Cargo tricycle

In 1931 Indian presented a cargo tricycle called the Dispatch Tow . The drive took place with the 45-ci engine of the Indian Scout 101 , later also with the engine of the Chief and a load capacity of up to 550 kg. The dispatch tow equipped with a trapeze fork was offered in brochures until 1935. From 1952 to 1953 Indian remembered the cargo tricycle, which was now manufactured under the name Indian Patrol with the two-cylinder Warrior engine mainly as a police motorcycle for parking space surveillance.

Sports

Hendee, "whose main talent was what is to be understood by marketing today", used not only elaborate product advertisements but also competition in racing. As early as 1902, Indian motorcycles - also with the company's founders in the saddle - took part in various races. In 1903 Hedstrom set a speed record of 56 mph with an Indian  . Around 1906 the first V-engine was created in the racing department of Indian, in 1907 the commercially available version. In 1908 Paul Derkum broke 10 speed records with an Indian. In 1911 Indian celebrated a triple victory in the senior class at the Isle of Man TT with Oliver Godfrey , Charles Franklin and Arthur Moorhouse . Also in 1911 the Indian track racing machines appeared , which in the following years were almost unbeatable in track races. In 1920 Ernest Walker set the first FIM recognized world speed record on an Indian in Daytona with 167.67 km / h .

In 1938 Indian tried to break this speed record. A specially developed machine called the Indian Arrow Steamliner missed the record under the driver Freddie Ludlow. In 1967, Burt Munro set several world speed records for motorcycles with his converted Indian, one of which is still valid today. See also → With heart and hand

For drop off riders are still 750 Scout models of the 1920s and 1930s in use because of the low-noise engine, coupled with an exceptional stability (Rigid) of the chassis , is ideally suited to this.

“With its low center of gravity and the easy power delivery of its engine [...] it has everything the steep face acrobat needs. [...] the 750 Indian [cannot] be replaced by any other machine. "

- Fritz B. Busch : gasoline in the blood . In: Motorcycle Revue. 1979, p. 134

  • Paul Derkum (1912)

  • Track racing machine (1915)

  • Indian Prince OHV (1927)

  • Indian Scout 101 for steep face (1928)

  • Burt Munros Indian (replica)

Indian sidecar with machine gun body (1917)
Indian 741 (1942)
Indian 841 (1943)
Indian Arrow (1949)

Military models

First World War

All production was focused on the military during the First World War from 1917 to 1919. The basis was the 61 ci Powerplus engine with 7 hp from 1916, which also served as a sidecar engine for a machine gun carrier. The American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation specifies 50,000 motorcycles produced for this period. Indian thus achieved the largest order of any American motorcycle manufacturer. 63 percent of all motorcycles used by the Allies were Indian. However, the prices were set too low, so that the main competitor Harley-Davidson was able to expand its domestic position.

Second World War

Even before the beginning of the Second World War , there were considerations to produce military machines. Before the official award, the US Army wanted a comparison of the existing designs and subjected them to an endurance test. Three companies were involved: DELCO, a brand name of General Motors with an exact BMW copy, Indian with a scaled-down Scout , the Indian 741 , and Harley-Davidson with the WL from 1938. The BMW copy was rejected and Indian was with inferior to the 492 cm³ engine of the Junior Scout (the exact name was Scout 741 ) of the 742 cm³ capacity WL from Harley-Davidson. The tender from 1938 - originally a top speed of 105 km / h and an engine with a maximum displacement of 30.5  ci (500 cm³) were required - was changed so that Harley-Davidson could do the "business". The Scout 741 was not ordered by the US Army, but it was built and used on the Allied side by thousands of British, Canadian and New Zealand troops.

1940 Indian was involved in another tender. The US Army wanted a motorcycle with a cardan drive to eliminate the problem of chain lubrication, especially in desert areas. A comparison test by the US Army between the Indian 841 and the XA developed by Harley-Davidson (a copy of BMW) won the XA. Over 1000 copies of the Indian 841 were manufactured until 1943, but not used. The longitudinally installed V-2 engine later became a trademark of Moto Guzzi .

After February 9, 1942, Indian, like any company, was prohibited from manufacturing civil vehicles. For military purposes, however, Chief , Sport Scout and Junior Scout were made until 1946 . Civil production was not resumed until 1947.

post war period

Of the former Indian products with a V-engine, only the Chief was rebuilt and further developed from 1947 onwards; in 1950 this “Roadmaster” received a telescopic fork and an enlarged engine. In 1949 125 cc two-stroke motorcycles from the Czechoslovak manufacturer ČZ from Strakonice were offered under the name Indian CZ 125 . It is not clear whether these motorcycles were actually exported to the USA.

From 1949 to 1952 Indian launched three newly developed motorcycles with single-cylinder and twin engines with OHV valve control .

  • Technical data of the post-war models:
Arrow Scout Warrior
Construction year 1949 1949 1950-1952
Displacement 218 cc 436 cc 498 cc
Bore / stroke 60.3 x 76.2 mm 60.3 x 76.2 mm 64.5 x 76.2 mm
power approx. 10 hp approx. 20 hp approx. 25 hp
Weight 111 kg 127 kg 143 kg
wheelbase 1359 mm 1359 mm 1359 mm
Top speed
in km / h 		approx. 90 approx. 135 approx. 145

Today these models are considered curiosities that were not developed by Indian, but by the former Indian designer G. Briggs Weaver.

Company ownership and bankruptcy

Hedstrom (1913) and Hendee (1916) sold their shares in the company and retired from business. In 1916 Frank Weschler became General Manager. Charles Franklin , second in the Isle of Man TT in 1911, became chief engineer and was responsible for developing the Powerplus models.

In 1927, Louis J. Bauer replaced Frank Weschler. Bauer and his son Jack pursued an ambitious small car program that initially included chief engines under the project names X1 to X4 , and later independently developed engines. Only three copies of the Indian controversial and costly program survive today. In 1929 the hapless farmer resigned after the stock market crash .

In 1930 E. Paul duPont, founder of Du Pont Motors and main investor in Indian, took over management of the company. DuPont, who remained managing director until 1945, is at least thanks to the extensive color variations of the Indian motorcycles - up to 24 color finishes were possible ex works. Technical undesirable developments, such as the Indian Four from 1936, as well as the steady increase in weight of the models with constant performance and the increasingly fierce competition with the last remaining American motorcycle manufacturer, Harley-Davidson, worsened the economic situation.

In 1945 an investment group led by Ralph B. Rogers was the successor to DuPont. After the Second World War, Rogers planned to appeal to a completely new customer base with small and light models. Constructive errors, combined with management errors, as well as the devaluation of the pound sterling (relevant for the important English market) led to the decline of the company.

"Unfortunately Rogers had neither the technical nor the economic prerequisites to lead a completely new range of motorcycles to success."

- Jerry Hatfield: Indian. P. 121

In 1953 bankruptcy was filed. Royal Enfield motorcycles imported from 1955 to 1959 were sold by the Indian Sales Corporation under the Indian brand name ; only the tank emblems and fenders were replaced. In 1960 the brand name went to the Associated Motor Cycles (AMC) consortium of England, the producers of AJS , Matchless and Norton , among others . Their motorcycles were also sold in the USA with the name Indian . In 1963 the Berliner Motor Corporation took over the distribution of AMC, at the same time any connection to the historical beginnings ended.

Automobile manufacturing

Indian X4 (1928)

Tricars were created in 1905 . These were motorcycles in which the front wheel was replaced by two wheels with a seat for a passenger between them.

In 1910 there was an experimental car that came to be known as the Hendee . The open two-seater body was as Torpedo - runabout called.

Between 1927 and 1929 the company produced four passenger cars . One had its own two-cylinder engine and the other had a four-cylinder engine purchased from the Continental Motors Company . The chassis had a 2132 mm wheelbase . Two vehicles were bodied as a roadster , one as a coupé .

Trivia

Left throttle

Legend has it that the throttle grip is attached to the left of Indian police motorcycles so that you can shoot with your right hand while driving. The throttle twistgrip invented by Oscar Hedstrom in 1903 did not refer to the carburetor actuation, but to the ignition timing adjustment and the valve lifter of the exhaust valve: advanced ignition for more power, retarded ignition for lower engine speed and “engine off” by lifting the valve. This twist grip was attached to the handlebar on the right. The slide valve carburetor used by Hedstrom was operated with a twist grip on the left end of the handlebar, the engine control via ignition timing and carburetor was retained until 1908. In 1909, when the regulation on the ignition timing became obsolete, the throttle twistgrip traditionally remained (until the 1930s) on the left handlebars at Indian.

advertising

Indian focused specifically on the connection to Indians in advertising , be it in the brand name or in the model name. In 1910 the curved "Indian" lettering appeared for the first time, and in 1912 the Indian head was added as a tank decoration, which was retained until 1939. Also in 1912 "Indian red" became the standard color - it was not until 1934, through DuPont, that there were different variations. In Hollywood film productions of the 1930s, when motorcycles can be recognized it is almost entirely Indian.

  • Indian lettering from 1910

  • Tank decor Indian head (from 1912)

  • Indian advertisement 1915

Reboots the brand

Pocket Bike Indian (1972)
Stellican-Indian Chief (2009)
Stellican-Indian Vintage (2009)
Polaris-Indian Chief Vintage (2014)

Clymer-Indian (1967-1970)

Floyd Clymer, a former Indian dealer, tried together with Friedel Münch from 1967 to stimulate an Indian Scout project; a "Münch-Scout" was built for this purpose. An "Indian Velocette", which was built by Italjet between 1969 and 1970 and which received the 499 cm³ engine of the Velocette- Venom, was also an initiative of Floyd Clymer.

Pocket Bike Indian (1971-1976)

In 1970, the Indian Motorcycle Company was founded in Gardena by Alan Newman, Floyd Clymer's lawyer. In 1971, after the death of the widow Clymer, Newman took over the naming rights and specialized in the import of mini-bikes that were made in Taiwan. In 1976 the company went bankrupt.

Zanghi-Indian (1994)

In 1992 the investor Philip Zanghi acquired the naming rights to Indian after they had been bought and sold by various owners since 1971. Although the "roll-out" of an Indian designed by Baughman took place in 1994, neither Zanghi nor his company ever intended to mass-produce it. Zanghi was convicted of fraud in 1997.

Eller-Indian (1998-1999)

James Parker constructed an Indian in the 1990s. The project was financed by the real Indian tribe of Cow Creek Umpqua ; The new Indian was to be built by a Jack Roushs company . The Cow Creek Umpqua lost the legal dispute over the Indian naming rights in 1999. This also ended this project - three prototypes are said to have been built anyway.

Gilroy-Indian (1999-2003)

In 1999 there was the next attempt to revive the Indian brand as a manufacturer in Gilroy ( California ) . The Indian moto r cycle Company introduced a Indian forth by a S & S-V-2 engine having 1,442 cc displacement and 75  PS was driven performance. In Germany, the 294 kg heavy motorcycles were available for around 60,000  DM . The company had to file for bankruptcy in 2003 .

Stellican-Indian (2006-2010)

On July 20, 2006, an Indian Motorcycle Company factory opened in Kings Mountain, North Carolina . The majority shareholder was Stellican Limited , a London- based investment company . Indian motorcycles were produced there from 2009 . The V-2 with a 45 degree cylinder angle and 105  ci (1720 cm³) displacement, obviously a further development of the Gilroy-Indian, was used for four different models. No Stellican Indians were officially imported into Germany.

Polaris Indian (since 2011)

In 2011, Polaris Industries , the world's largest manufacturer of snowmobiles , quads and ATVs , confirmed the purchase of Indian; Polaris Industries founded the motorcycle manufacturer Victory back in 1997 . Polaris CEO Scott Wine said he would like to reintroduce Indian to the market with Polaris manufacturing standards; however, the brand should remain independent.

New start with Indian Chief Classic / Chief Vintage / Chieftain

On August 3, 2013, at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in Sturgis (USA), Indian presented three newly developed models to the public:

  • The Chief Classic pays homage to the successful Chief models of the first half of the 20th century. It adapts classic design elements such as voluminous mudguards including the Indian head on the front fender, instruments on the typical teardrop-shaped tank and an engine with suggested side valve technology and ribbed cylinder head housings.
  • The Chief Vintage is based on the Chief Classic , but also offers a detachable windshield, brown leather saddlebags with quick-release fasteners, a matching leather bench seat with fringes and chrome-plated side protection bars.
  • The Chieftain is the first Indian with a standard front panel and hard-shell side cases with central locking. As a motorcycle suitable for touring, it also offers an electrically adjustable windshield, cruise control system, cast light alloy rims, a rear suspension strut with pneumatic adjustment, a stereo system and air pressure sensors for the tires. Right from the start, it also had Bluetooth integration with a telephone and media player function. All Chieftains have had the Ride Command infotainment system on board as standard since 2017. Compared to the Chief models, the Chieftain has a steering head angle of 26 degrees instead of 29 degrees. This results in a new caster of 150 mm (Chief: 155 mm) and a different wheelbase, which is 1,668 mm on the Chieftain (Chief: 1,730 mm).

All new models have ABS as standard and are powered by a new motor. The air / oil-cooled V2 engine with a 49 ° cylinder angle developed by swissauto , called Thunder Stroke® 111 , has a displacement of 1,811 cm³ and initially delivered a maximum torque of 139 Nm at 2,600 rpm and developed 62 kW (84 hp) 4,500 rpm. For the 2018 model year, the engines received an increase in output: Since then, the engines have developed 64 kW (86) PS at 4,800 rpm and 150 Nm at 2,900 rpm.

The long-stroke OHV engine (bore 101 mm × stroke 113 mm) is optically based on the last Indian V2 engine of the 1950s. The power is transmitted to the 6-speed gearbox via a gear primary drive and a multi-disc oil bath clutch, while the secondary drive of the rear wheel is carried out by a toothed belt. The air filter housing is integrated into the cast aluminum frame. The chassis consists of a telescopic fork with a 46 mm standpipe diameter at the front and a light metal two-arm swing arm with central spring strut . The front brakes consist of two floating 300 mm brake discs and four-piston fixed calipers, the rear of a floating 300 mm brake disc with two-piston brake caliper. ABS is standard. The three models were initially fitted with 130/90 B 16 (front) and 180/60 B 16 (rear) tires. For the 2018 model year, the Chieftain received a 19-inch front wheel as standard. The curb weight is between 357 kg ( Chief ) and 385 kg ( Chieftain ), the seat height is 660 mm.

In the following years, Indian expanded the model range with numerous other versions:

  • The Chief Dark Horse (from 2015) is a classic cruiser that is almost completely painted in satin black. It has light-alloy cast wheels and the large-area wheel covers typical of the Indian, with the illuminated war bonnet , the Indian head , at the front . Features include ABS , a transponder- controlled keyless start system and cruise control . Indian offers an extensive range of accessories for the Chief Dark Horse and is aimed at customers who want to put together their own personal motorcycle with an individual touch.
  • In contrast to the other Chieftain models with a 19-inch bagger-style front wheel, the Chieftain Classic - as the name suggests - retains the classic style and relies on a 16-inch front wheel and the voluminous mudguards that are typical of Indian.
  • For the Chieftain Dark Horse , similar to the Chief Dark Horse, mainly attachments in black matt are used. It has the basic equipment and does not have a passenger seat as standard.
  • The Chieftain Limited is based on the Chieftain with higher quality equipment. For example, it rides on a 19-inch front wheel with a striking 10-spoke design. It is available in the colors Thunder Black Pearl, White Smoke and Brilliant Blue. There is also the Thunder Black Pearl and Bronze Smoke paintwork with special graphic elements.
  • The Chieftain Elite is the top model in the Chieftain series. It is fully equipped and has a 200-watt sound system with speakers in the rear side cases and the handlebar trim instead of the 100-watt standard standard on all Chieftain models. The Chieftain Elite is painted in the color Black Hills Silver. The hue is reminiscent of the silver mines in the Black Hills in South Dakota , which are located near the Indian paint shop in Spearfish. There the color was developed exclusively for the Indian Chieftain Elite. The special features: The paint is applied by hand to each individual vehicle. According to the manufacturer, each motorcycle has an "individual touch" and is unique.

Springfield

  • The Indian Springfield reminiscent of the eponymous town in the US state of Massachusetts , where Indian was founded 1,901th The model combines the classic appearance of the Chief with the excavator style of the Chieftain. Typical Indian design elements such as the 16-inch front wheel, the large front fender including the illuminated Indian head meet practical advantages such as the hard-shell side case and a fixed windshield, which can be quickly dismantled thanks to the quick-release technology known by Indian can. The Indian Springfield has a steering head angle of 25 degrees and a caster of 133 mm. The wheelbase is 1,701 mm with a length of 2,583 mm.
  • Indian introduced the Springfield Dark Horse for the 2018 model year . Like all Dark Horse models, this variant is black. In contrast to the Springfield, a 19-inch front wheel with a 10-spoke look and a smaller front fender are used. The Indian Springfield Dark Horse is optionally available with a 16-inch ape hanger handlebar.

Roadmaster

  • The Roadmaster is the most touring motorcycle in the Indian portfolio. It is based on the Chieftain and offers a very extensive range of features. For example, the real leather seat can be heated independently for the driver and front passenger. The front passenger can also lean against a large trunk and position their feet on adjustable footboards. Indian also optionally offers armrests with real leather cover. The driver grasps the handlebar grips, which can be heated in ten stages. Further equipment details: electrically adjustable windshield, opening and closing the suitcase by radio remote control, keyless ignition, crash protection bars front and rear, Indian Ride Command, 200 watt sound system with speakers in the rear side cases, the handlebar trim and on the front crash bars. The Roadmaster has a steering head angle of 25 degrees and 150 mm caster. The seat height is 673 mm.
  • The Roadmaster Classic combines the modern technology of the Roadmaster with the look of classic American motorcycles. The side and rear cases were covered with leather. Conchos and fringes are also part of the vintage look of the Roadmaster Classic.
  • The Roadmaster Elite is the top model among all Indian Motorcycle motorcycles. Like the Chieftain Elite, it has a paint job developed exclusively for this motorcycle and applied by hand. In addition to the color shade Cobalt Blue / Black Crystal, the Roadmaster lettering and other graphics are made of 23-carat gold. The sound system has an output of 300 watts.

Scout / Scout Sixty

  • For the 2015 model year, the second newly developed Indian model series Scout was presented. Its liquid-cooled V2 engine with a 60 ° cylinder angle has a displacement of 1,133 cm³, develops 75 kW (102 hp) at 8,000 rpm and produces a maximum torque of 98 Nm at 5,900 rpm. The engine has a short-stroke design with a bore of 99 mm and a stroke of 73.6 mm and has electronic fuel injection. The valve control (two intake and two exhaust valves per cylinder) is carried out by two overhead camshafts that are driven by timing chains. Power is transmitted to the rear wheel via a 6-speed gearbox using a toothed belt. The chassis consists of a composite frame in which steel tubes and cast aluminum parts are screwed together, the chassis consists of a telescopic fork at the front and a light metal two-arm swing arm with two spring struts at the rear. ABS is standard in the EU version. The Scout models are fitted with 130/90 H 16 (front) and 150/80 H 16 (rear) tires. The empty weight is 255 kg (with a full tank).
  • At the end of 2015 Indian presented the new entry-level model Scout Sixty . The model name is derived from the cubic capacity (rounded 60 ci , exactly 61.02 ci). Its engine has, thanks to a smaller bore (93 instead of 99 mm) with the same stroke (73.6 mm), a displacement of 999.92 cm³ and develops 57 kW (78 hp) at 7,300 rpm. It develops a maximum torque of 89 Nm at 5,600 rpm. The transmission has 5 instead of 6 gears.
  • In the second half of 2017, Indian expanded the Scout series with the Scout Bobber . The model pays homage to Indian motorcycles of the 1940s and 1950s. The Indian Scout Bobber is based on the Indian Scout and is powered by the same engine. The footrests have been positioned 38 millimeters further back compared to the Scout. This reduces the ground clearance from 135 to 123 mm. In addition, a new street tracker handlebar was installed. So the driver should take a sportier, more forward inclined seating position. The revised chassis with 25 millimeters shorter rear springs of the new cartridge front fork should contribute to a sporty driving behavior. The Scout Bobber is also characterized by more strongly profiled tires that come into their own under shortened mudguards. Indian has developed a new tank logo exclusively for the Scout Bobber.

FTR750 and FTR1200 Custom as the basis for the FTR 1200 series motorcycle

On November 7, 2017, Indian Motorcycle presented a study called FTR1200 Custom at the EICMA motorcycle fair in Milan. This one-off was initially presented as a tribute to winning the constructor and driver title in the American Flat Track Series 2017. Indian had returned to dirt track sports after more than 60 years and immediately dominated the season and achieved the best possible result with the completely newly developed FTR750. The FTR1200 Custom study is based on the FTR750 racing motorcycle, but instead of the 750 cm³ racing engine it has the 1,133 cm³ series engine from the Indian Scout. Indian already announced at the fair that the motorcycle will take part in exhibitions and shows around the world in the following year.

In mid-June 2018, Indian announced at the Wheels & Waves motorcycle meeting in Biarritz, France, that a new series motorcycle was to be built based on the FTR1200 Custom study and the FTR750 racing motorcycle. The name: FTR 1200. The new series motorcycle is to establish a new class and come on the market in 2019. According to the manufacturer, it is the first motorcycle with road approval based on a model from flat track racing. The new FTR 1200 is to receive a tubular space frame. The motorcycle is powered by a further developed Scout engine.

literature

  • Jerry Hatfield: Indian. Schrader Verlag, 1994, ISBN 3-921796-17-2 . (English Indian Motorcycle Buyer's Guide. 1989)
  • Jerry Hatfield: Standard Catalog of American Motorcycles 1898-1981 . Krause Publications, 2006, ISBN 0-89689-949-7 .
  • Wolfgang Wiesner: American motorcycles. 2nd Edition. Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart 1992, ISBN 3-613-01362-2 .
  • Hugo Wilson: The Lexicon of the Motorcycle. Motorbuch-Verlag, Stuttgart 2000, ISBN 3-613-01719-9 .
  • Mirco de Cet (Ed.): Illustrated Directory of Motorcycles. Motorbooks International, 2002, ISBN 978-0-76031-417-3 .

Web links

Commons : Indian Motorcycles  - Collection of Pictures, Videos, and Audio Files

Remarks

  1. ↑ Wiesner gives Indian ancestors (great-grandmother) for George Hendee, whom he remembered. See Wiesner, p. 20
  2. ↑ Glenn Curtiss also introduced the throttle twist grip in 1904, which was operated by a Bowden cable .
  3. ↑ Also known as “Hiriam Walker Red”, after the well-known whiskey brand. See Jerry Hatfield: Indian. P. 14.
  4. ↑ Indian already relied on chain drive in the first model, which Hedstrom held a patent for.
  5. ^ According to the Indian advertisement in 1915.
  6. ↑ Hatfield assumes an average oil consumption of one liter per 320 km for the engines up to 1932. See Hatfield: Indian. P. 62.
  7. ↑ 1946 Chiefs are military or police models, in 1949 only prototypes of the Chief were built.
  8. ↑ The classic Scout 101 was built from 1928 to 1931. The technical data refer to this model.
  9. ↑ Also known as the Scout Pony.
  10. ↑ Harley-Davidson adopted the concept of the three-wheel tow truck and manufactured the very successful Servi-Car from 1932 .
  11. ↑ There are no references to Hatfield.
  12. ↑ The Warrior TT was an off-road version with an increased seat height.
  13. ↑ Indian buyers could, however, choose the position of the shift lever or throttle grip (left or right).
  14. ↑ Harley-Davidson motorcycles can only be recognized in US productions after the Second World War.
  15. ↑ James Parker held several patents, including a stub axle steering that Yamaha acquired and installed in the Yamaha GTS 1000 .
  16. ↑ In the period 2006–2010 there was no importer. See motorcycle catalogs 2006–2010.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Indian (English, accessed April 1, 2018)
  2. ↑ Jerry Hatfield: Standard Catalog of American Motorcycles 1898-1981 , p. 240
  3. ↑ Jerry Hatfield: Indian. P. 155.
  4. ^ De Cet: Illustrated Directory of Motorcycles. 2002, pp. 388-38 (Sears).
  5. ↑ Jerry Hatfield: Indian. P. 13.
  6. ↑ a b Jerry Hatfield: Indian. Pp. 158-159.
  7. ↑ Jerry Hatfield: Standard Catalog of American Motorcycles 1898-1981. P. 246.
  8. ↑ Victor W. Page ': Early Motorcycles. Dover Publications, New York 1914, p. 417. (Reprint: 2004, ISBN 0-486-43671-3 )
  9. ↑ A patent Hedstrom patentimages.storage.googleapis.com
  10. ^ Stefan Knittel: Motorcycle Lexicon . BLV Verlag, 1981, ISBN 3-405-12226-0 , p. 71.
  11. ↑ Women's movement with 36 hp , one day
  12. ^ Wolfgang Wiesner: American motorcycles. P. 304.
  13. ↑ Jerry Hatfield: Standard Catalog of American Motorcycles 1898-1981. P. 329.
  14. ↑ Jerry Hatfield: Standard Catalog of American Motorcycles 1898-1981. P. 347.
  15. ↑ Jerry Hatfield: Indian. P. 76.
  16. ↑ Jerry Hatfield: Standard Catalog of American Motorcycles 1898-1981. P. 351.
  17. ↑ Technical data from: Jerry Hatfield: Indian. Pp. 38, 48, 52, 56, 71, 83, 85.
  18. ↑ bonhams.com 1928 Indian 750cc 101 Scout (accessed January 14, 2014)
  19. ↑ bonhams.com 1923 Indian 61ci Big Chief (accessed January 14, 2014)
  20. ↑ bonhams.com 1947 Indian Chief (accessed January 14, 2014)
  21. ↑ bonhams.com Formerly the property of Steve McQueen, 1940 Indian 45ci Sport Scout (accessed January 14, 2014)
  22. ↑ bonhams.com The ex-Steve McQueen, restored by Von Dutch in 1969, 1923 Indian Big Chief with Princess Sidecar (accessed January 14, 2014)
  23. ^ Karl Reese: Motorbikes from Berlin. 1st edition. Johann Kleine Vennekate Verlag, Lemgo 2002, ISBN 3-935517-05-X , pp. 91-93.
  24. ^ Hatfield: Indian. P. 97.
  25. ↑ US Patent 1267212 (accessed January 9, 2014)
  26. ↑ bonhams.com 1916 Indian 221cc Model K Featherweight Engine no.23H180 (accessed January 8, 2014)
  27. ↑ bonhams.com One of the rarest pre-WWII Indians 1917 Indian Light Twin Model O (accessed January 8, 2014)
  28. ↑ Jerry Hatfield: Indian. P. 35.
  29. ↑ SV-Prince (1928) ( Memento of the original from January 8, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (accessed on January 8, 2014) @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.bucksindian.com
  30. ↑ Jerry Hatfield: Indian. P. 55.
  31. ↑ motorcycleclassics.com Indian Dispatch-Tow (accessed January 11, 2014)
  32. ↑ Jerry Hatfield: Standard Catalog of American Motorcycles 1898-1981. P. 360.
  33. ↑ Indian Patrol (accessed January 11, 2014)
  34. ↑ motorcyclemuseum.org Oscar Hedstrom (accessed January 7, 2014)
  35. ^ Wolfgang Wiesner: American motorcycles. P. 45.
  36. ↑ motorcyclemuseum.org ( Memento of the original from May 29, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 1908 Indian Twin (accessed January 7, 2014) @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.motorcyclemuseum.org
  37. ↑ iomtt.com TT-1911 (accessed January 6, 2014)
  38. ^ LJK Setright: The Guinness Book of Motorcycling. Facts and Feats. 2nd Edition. 1982, ISBN 0-85112-255-8 , p. 238.
  39. ↑ motorcyclemuseum.org ( Memento of the original from December 26, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 1938 Indian Arrow Streamliner (accessed January 10, 2014) @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.motorcyclemuseum.org
  40. ↑ motorcyclemuseum.org ( Memento of the original from February 17, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 1919 Indian Military Powerplus (accessed January 7, 2014) @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.motorcyclemuseum.org
  41. ^ Wolfgang Wiesner: American motorcycles. P. 99.
  42. ^ A b Jerry Hatfield: Standard Catalog of American Motorcycles 1898-1981. P. 352.
  43. ↑ motorcyclemuseum.org ( Memento of the original from July 26, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Indian Military Model 841, (accessed January 7, 2014). @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.motorcyclemuseum.org
  44. ↑ jawarmaniak.cz Indian CZ 125 (accessed on January 9, 2014)
  45. ↑ Technical data from: Jerry Hatfield: Indian. P. 113.
  46. ↑ Jerry Hatfield: Indian. P. 111.
  47. ↑ hemmings.com The World's Rarest Indian (accessed January 8, 2014)
  48. ↑ motorcyclemuseum.org E. Paul DuPont (accessed January 7, 2014)
  49. ↑ a b Jerry Hatfield: Indian. P. 113.
  50. ↑ Jerry Hatfield: Indian. P. 131.
  51. ↑ Beverly Rae Kimes, Henry Austin Clark Jr .: Standard catalog of American Cars. 1805-1942. Digital edition . 3. Edition. Krause Publications, Iola 2013, ISBN 978-1-4402-3778-2 , pp. 768 (English).
  52. ↑ Beverly Rae Kimes, Henry Austin Clark Jr .: Standard catalog of American Cars. 1805-1942. Digital edition . 3. Edition. Krause Publications, Iola 2013, ISBN 978-1-4402-3778-2 , pp. 695 (English).
  53. ↑ George Nicholas Georgano (Ed.): The Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the Automobile . Volume 2: G-O . Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers, Chicago 2001, ISBN 1-57958-293-1 , pp. 754 (English).
  54. ↑ Dirk Mootz: Indian designer Carl Oscar Hedström. In: Classic motorcycle. 2/2014, ISSN  0937-9495 , pp. 85-87.
  55. ↑ Indian Scout 101 advertisement (from 1928) (accessed January 15, 2014)
  56. ↑ Indian Chief (1937) (accessed January 16, 2014)
  57. ↑ Münch Indian Scout
  58. ^ Hugo Wilson: The Lexicon from the motorcycle. P. 110.
  59. ↑ courant.com Indian's Dusty Trail (accessed January 16, 2014)
  60. ↑ powersportsnetwork.com
  61. ↑ indian-motorcycle.com Eller-Indian (accessed January 16, 2014)
  62. ↑ nytimes.com Revival of Indian Cycle Runs Into a New Barrier (accessed January 21, 2014)
  63. ↑ Fred Haefele: The Lost Tribe of Indian ( Memento of November 24, 2005 in the Internet Archive ) (accessed January 11, 2014)
  64. ↑ Pictures of the Gilroy Indian ( Memento of the original from January 26, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (accessed on January 16, 2014) @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.indianmotorcycleimports.com.au
  65. ↑ spiegel.de Indian Revival: The old chief steps on the gas again (accessed on January 19, 2014)
  66. ↑ motorcycleclassics.com Alan Cathcart: 2009 Indian Chief (accessed November 11, 2014)
  67. ↑ Polaris buys Indian Motorcycle , April 20, 2011.
  68. ↑ https://www.indianmotorcycle.de/indian-chieftain/#2
  69. ↑ Indian Motorcycle introduces the Chieftain Elite in a hand-painted Black Hills Silver color | Indian Motorcycle Media EMEA. Retrieved July 3, 2018 .
  70. ↑ a b Indian Motorcycle elevates each and every model for MY18 | Indian Motorcycle Media EMEA. Retrieved July 3, 2018 .
  71. ↑ indianmotorcycle.de Indian Scout: Technical data (accessed on August 6, 2014)
  72. ↑ Motorcycle catalog. 2016, p. 150.
  73. ↑ Indian Scout Bobber. June 6, 2018, accessed June 29, 2018 .
  74. ↑ Indian Motorcycle honors Flat Track Wrecking Crew at EICMA with Scout FTR1200 Custom unveil | Indian Motorcycle Media EMEA. Retrieved July 3, 2018 .
  75. ↑ Indian Motorcycle confirms production of the FTR ™ 1200 and gives riders the chance to win one of the first bikes off the production line | Indian Motorcycle Media EMEA. Retrieved July 3, 2018 .