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Classic Indian Chief motorcycle ready to roll
Latte Times ^ | Today | Carpenter

Posted on 12/24/2009 11:20:25 AM PST by jessduntno

The classic Indian Chief motorcycle, prized for its fanciful fenders and an American heritage different from its much bigger rival, Harley-Davidson, is back and finally ready to roll in California.

First built in 1922 and in and out of production ever since, the Chief has been ridden over the years by actor Steve McQueen and other renegades possessing fame and fortune. Now it has been overhauled for the modern era.

Although motorcycle sales are down nationwide, the Chief is already a sought-after ride in 16 other states where it has been on sale since early this year.

The Chief just hasn't been available on the West Coast. But that's about to change this spring with the 2010 Chief, selling for $26,000 plus. This month the latest incarnation of the 108-year-old Indian brand announced the names of two of its five planned California dealerships -- one in Harbor City and the other in Fresno. -snip-

For a company to sell motorcycles in the state, California's Air Resources Board must provide an additional emissions certification to the one issued by the Environmental Protection Agency that allows a manufacturer's products to be sold in other states.

Indian secured its California emissions clearance only last week. Heese is confident that the motorcycles will arrive well before the planned April openings of California Harley-Davidson Indian Motorcycle Los Angeles in Harbor City and Indian Motorcycle Fresno, based out of a car dealership, Herwaldt Subaru.

"I can't wait to get these new Indians so I can put them on the lot and buy a new one myself," said Matt Herwaldt, 30, general manager of Indian Motorcycle Fresno. He owns a Harley but is "blown away by the quality, fit and finish of the new Indian. It's the Bentley of motorcycles."

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: motorcycles
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To: tubebender

LOL, just knowing those guys are still alive brightens up my Christmas.


61 posted on 12/24/2009 1:33:38 PM PST by fish hawk (It's sad that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom. Isaac Asimov)
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To: Eye of Unk

You also need a flat head engine and hand shift to make it a real Indian Chief.


62 posted on 12/24/2009 1:35:38 PM PST by calex59
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To: HerrBlucher
LOL! I agree. That aside, I really loved the movie “The Worlds Fastest Indian”, what a great story.

Yeah, but that was an Indian Scout, a 250 CC machine.

63 posted on 12/24/2009 1:36:56 PM PST by calex59
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To: Little Pig
That post made my day! LOL. Sonny Barger, Classic. Merry Christmas.
64 posted on 12/24/2009 1:38:14 PM PST by MotorCityBuck ( Keep the change, you filthy animal!)
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To: jessduntno

The real Indian Chiefs were great bikes. Flat head engines, hand shift(only 3 speeds), wonderful torque, great pulling power. They were better than the Harleys but never made the transition to over head valve engines. I had the chance to buy a 1954 Indian Chief in 1964, it had only 20,000 miles on it, saddle bags, full dress, for $150.00(that’s correct one hundred fifty dollars)and I turned it down because I had enough parts on hand to build an Indian Chief(and I did). I have been kicking myself every since for not buying that bike.


65 posted on 12/24/2009 1:42:28 PM PST by calex59
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To: jessduntno

That gives me tingle up my leg.
LOL!!!


66 posted on 12/24/2009 1:46:55 PM PST by La Enchiladita (Remember the Fort Hood Fallen Heroes and their families this Christmas.)
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To: fish hawk

All these pretty pictures and not a speck of mud or a ding anywhere...


67 posted on 12/24/2009 1:57:19 PM PST by tubebender (Some minds are like concrete Thoroughly mixed up and permanently set...)
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To: calex59

According to wikipedia:

The Scout was introduced in 1920 with a 596 cc (37ci) engine. The engine size was increased to 745 cc (45ci) in 1927 in response to the popularity of the Excelsior Super X.[1][2]


68 posted on 12/24/2009 1:58:22 PM PST by HerrBlucher (Jail Al Gore and the Climate Frauds!)
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To: jessduntno
I am told this photo of my mother, c. 1937, is with an Indian Motorcycle.

Image Hosted by ImageShack.us

69 posted on 12/24/2009 2:08:51 PM PST by AuntB (If Al Qaeda grew drugs & burned our forests instead of armed Mexican Cartels would anyone notice?)
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To: tubebender

Kinda like Urban Cowboys.


70 posted on 12/24/2009 2:09:16 PM PST by fish hawk (It's sad that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom. Isaac Asimov)
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To: Little Pig

Like I said...just love the idea of seeing another old icon coming back to life...that’s all...


71 posted on 12/24/2009 2:09:32 PM PST by jessduntno ("The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground.")
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To: jessduntno; KevinDavis; Allegra; big'ol_freeper; Lil'freeper; TrueKnightGalahad; blackie; ...

Indians are very popular down here in Cowboy Country... Deadskins ain't!!!!!

Merry Christmas Y'all!!

72 posted on 12/24/2009 3:15:23 PM PST by Bender2 ("I've got a twisted sense of humor, and everything amuses me." RAH Beyond this Horizon)
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To: Bender2
Back atchya...Merry Christmas


73 posted on 12/24/2009 3:30:51 PM PST by jessduntno ("Stick together and you can beat the LaHoods of the world..." - Pale Rider)
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To: Bender2
You ever get the chance visit the Indian Motorcycle Museum in Springfield Mass.Lots of Bikes and History, Well worth the time and some of the old factory buildings are still intact.Plus the old Springfield Armory is right up the road if your into Guns and military history. Great place for a day trip.
74 posted on 12/24/2009 5:39:35 PM PST by ABN 505
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To: HerrBlucher

In the 1950s(whether WiKi knows it or not)the Scout was a 500 CC machine, intended to compete with the British bikes of the day. I inadvertently typed 250 CC. I had a Scout frame and a friend of mine put a 60 Cubic Inch Harley in one, it was a he** of a bike, a one of a kind as far as I know.


75 posted on 12/24/2009 6:26:18 PM PST by calex59
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To: jessduntno

Didn’t say it was not a beautiful machine(which it is); just said I can’t afford one(in an indirect way), and I’ll stay with one I can afford.


76 posted on 12/25/2009 5:59:23 AM PST by izzatzo
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To: Bender2

I’ve never owned an Indian, I’ve owned three Harleys, twenty other makes from Japan, England, Germany and Spain.

That covers my sixty years of owning and riding motorcycles and I’m still riding one. >:-}


77 posted on 12/25/2009 8:38:31 AM PST by blackie (Be Well~Be Armed~Be Safe~Molon Labe!)
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To: yefragetuwrabrumuy

There is no typical motorcyclist...


78 posted on 12/25/2009 8:50:47 AM PST by blackie (Be Well~Be Armed~Be Safe~Molon Labe!)
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To: blackie

I needed to phrase it that way for an odd reason.

Long ago, the Detroit automakers tried polling their customers for what *they* wanted. However, they said they wanted small and sporty cars; yet that is not what they bought. They bought reliable sedans built for family use.

So the automakers did more polling, and asked their customers what they thought their *neighbors* wanted in a car. To which they answered “reliable sedans built for family use.”

Had I asked what motorcycle fans wanted in a motorcycle, they would likely honestly reply what they wanted in a motorcycle. But that is not the same as what they would *buy* in a motorcycle, when you need to really prioritize what you want from off the shelf motorcycles.

Make sense?


79 posted on 12/25/2009 10:41:19 AM PST by yefragetuwrabrumuy
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To: jessduntno
Photobucket
80 posted on 12/25/2009 10:58:51 AM PST by Snurple (VEGETARIAN, OLD INDIAN WORD FOR BAD HUNTER.)
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