Considering an Indian...

[WmC1911]

Just curious how your search is going? Hopefully you and your son are having some luck in finding just the right motorcycle.

jim

Jim Wagnon, sorry for the late reply to your question... Im just now getting around to checking my email (im not very good about checking email daily). We have had a few suggestions along the way on member recommended sources to check with. One source is a fellow out of PA who I've been emailing back and forth for a few weeks. This fellow is working on a few right now and I imagine it would be springtime before any are complete. Do not know any pricing details yet because this individual was waiting for the the Mecum Bike Auction to help him with current values. This individual states to have many references and has even invited me to his shop to view in person. PA is quite a haul from my location in West Kentucky. However, this individual made me an offer that he evidently makes all of his potential customers... if I make the trip and feel like the items were misrepresented in any way, he would reimburse my fuel for the trouble... Not a bad deal. We are considering this option.

[jim wagnon]

Just curious how your search is going? Hopefully you and your son are having some luck in finding just the right motorcycle.

jim

[WmC1911]

As the proverb goes - a picture is worth a 1000 words

Many thanks Skirted for the pic!!! The smiles on your faces says it all!!!

[WmC1911]

I will share my Indian Chief experience.

I too had only ridden modern Harleys. I have been a member of AMCA for 20 years, and a hang-arounder of the AMCA circle for 40 years. I also aspired to owning and riding an antique motorcycle someday, and through much thought my preference became an Indian. Well, much to my surprise, a ’48 Chief unexpectedly “found me” last May. My Chief came to me with left hand throttle/ right hand shift and I intend to keep it that way. I had ridden foot clutch Harleys in the past, but I had not put that many miles on a Harley foot clutch, so the opposite clutch pattern on the Chief was not a problem to 'mentally change' or get used to for me. The left hand throttle did not seem that difficult. Maybe I just wanted to do it that badly, put my mind to it, and became proficient. I go back and forth between my Shovelheads and my Chief and have not had a problem alternating throttles.

I have put 5000 miles on my Chief since last June. Two road trips- one of 2000 miles, one of 1500 miles, and the rest just fun miles around home (Florida). Not one single hiccup along the way. I have had a ball with this thing. I am excited for you and your son.

Edit:

Wow, Ms Liz,
thank you for your input. Great looking bike. I hope to soon be able to tell you and others the miles that I've logged on my antique motorcycle. My son & I are really looking forward to it. It may be tunnel vision, but if I love it as much as I'm anticipating, maybe I can find a 2nd antique motorcycle for my son... that would be great to do a road trip with him.
Many thanks Liz for your reply. Thanks for the pics.

[Rodger Brandstatter]

One thing that you might want to consider if you are going to be going from a modern Harley with electric start to an Indian with kickstart is whether you have the ability to kick over the engine. This may not be an issue for you and there are electric start conversion kits for Indians but some people have trouble with it. When I got my 46 Chief together and running I put a 1950 and up longer kickstart crank on it to make it easier for me to start.

[pisten-bully]

One of the campgrounds I stayed at last Fall had a teepee on the backside of their property (no, I did not camp in it).

Like it! So back to WmC....with an Indian you can get photo-opportunities not available with other motorcycles (zoom in on the sign )

3CFAA231-4118-4D03-84DA-E5731BFFB85F.jpeg

[Liz]

Sorry I missed your Chief, Liz. Beautiful motorcycle in front of a modest, but beautiful modern home

Eric, I added my photos later, after the “proverb-a picture is worth 1000 words”.

One of the campgrounds I stayed at last Fall had a teepee on the backside of their property (no, I did not camp in it). I spied it the next morning, on my early walk-around, while sipping coffee. An ingenious idea came to me immediately.

[exeric]

Sorry I missed your Chief, Liz. Beautiful motorcycle in front of a modest, but beautiful modern home

[exeric]

Thanks for the great pictures, Jason, and Bogage. I've had a right hand shift Indian, and standard left hand shift H-D as interchangeable riders with no problems going back and forth; however, I set the clutch pedal on the Indian to work like a Harley. That was something I couldn't get used to and fortunately, Indian made their bike controls fully convertible.

[Bogage]

You definitely want to be using your bean when 'dancing' with the old girl. Makes the ride more fun. Of course, I am in Montana now so it is easier to avoid traffic, much easier than doing so in LA where I moved here from. Once the magneto on my Vincent died while I was splitting lanes on the 101 freeway in the Valley. that was a real nail biter getting folks to let me filter over to the right as I coasted slowly down. One must keep their wits about them while piloting such machines...

09A15A89-EAC5-40B9-B5D7-CD4975A44FD9.jpeg

[frichie68]

You're the 3rd person I know of that decided to leave the throttle on the left & never went back, good on ya! My first bike was a 51 Chief I bought in 1959, the throttle had been moved to the right grip before I got it so I never knew any different. At my old(er) age now, I'd likely crash & burn in the first 6 blocks, same as I would with a left side brake/shift on the right.

[Bogage]

Been riding 40 years. Many bikes come and gone. Moved to Montana in 2014 and bought a 47' Chief Basket in 2015. Had amazing support here in Missoula and got my Chief on the road in spring of 20'. I set it up with the right side shift and advance (on the hands) and left side throttle. I have not had previous experience with foot clutch and concur that KIWI explains it best. I found a video of Indian Mike and he give the best advice as follows, "first and foremost always immediately engage the clutch pedal and remove engine power if you begin to lose control of the motorcycle. Then regain control and re engage once control is regained." I am a motorcycle safety intsructor and we begin the same way by telling students, if you lose control pull in the clutch lever and use the brakes as necessary to regain control. I have now ridden the bike for the last two summer and I love it. It is smooth and cruises nicely ay 65 mph. I am fortunate and also own a Vincent twin, which is of similar vintage of course. That is a fast bike and pleasure to ride as well, but an long day in the saddle may go to the Chief, if you're not in a rush. The Vincent will go 70 - 80 just fine, but those speeds can beat you up after a while on an open machine.

I am 6'2" 230 so you should fit fine. Enjoy and good luck.

5E8BE46B-DF32-48E6-958B-263FB087D3B0.jpeg

[JoJo357]

This came up just recently. A pretty good deal for a nice 1940 Chief. I believe it sold for $29,500

https://www.ebay.com/itm/265429934330?hash=item3dccdb60fa:g:5rcAAOSwfUlhpnk p&nma=true&si=Nd86OLdq%2BufEARed1UUvwLtNqf4%3D&o ri g_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l255 7

*M.A.D.*

[Skirted]

As the proverb goes - a picture is worth a 1000 words

[Liz]

I will share my Indian Chief experience.

I too had only ridden modern Harleys. I have been a member of AMCA for 20 years, and a hang-arounder of the AMCA circle for 40 years. I also aspired to owning and riding an antique motorcycle someday, and through much thought my preference became an Indian. Well, much to my surprise, a ’48 Chief unexpectedly “found me” last May. My Chief came to me with left hand throttle/ right hand shift and I intend to keep it that way. I had ridden foot clutch Harleys in the past, but I had not put that many miles on a Harley foot clutch, so the opposite clutch pattern on the Chief was not a problem to 'mentally change' or get used to for me. The left hand throttle did not seem that difficult. Maybe I just wanted to do it that badly, put my mind to it, and became proficient. I go back and forth between my Shovelheads and my Chief and have not had a problem alternating throttles.

I have put 5000 miles on my Chief since last June. Two road trips- one of 2000 miles, one of 1500 miles, and the rest just fun miles around home (Florida). Not one single hiccup along the way. I have had a ball with this thing. I am excited for you and your son.

Edit: