Indian Chief - History and evolution.

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  • čas přidán 30. 11. 2023
  • A look at the amazing history of one of the world's most iconic motorcycles.
    Including the definitive answer to the century old question.
    Why did Indian motorcycles have a left-hand throttle?
    CREDITS:
    The Book 'FRANKLINS INDIANS'
    An extensive study of motorcycle racer and designer Charles B Franklin and the Indian motorcycles.
    By: Harry V. Sucher, Timothy Pickering, Liam Diamond, Harry Havelin
    First Published March 2018
    ISBN-10: 1787112233
  • Auta a dopravní prostředky

Komentáře • 53

  • @scootdawg3535
    @scootdawg3535 Před 5 měsíci +4

    Hello from Spirit Lake, Iowa. No I don't work at Indian and I ride a Harley. But I would love to own an Indian someday!!!

    • @motorcyclecafe
      @motorcyclecafe  Před 5 měsíci +1

      G'day from Aussie, both brands are great in my opinion. As are all bikes!

  • @ahzzz-realm
    @ahzzz-realm Před 2 měsíci +2

    Back in the 80's, when IMW was near Longmont Colorado, He had a beautiful restored Chief that made the cover of Easy Rider magazine. When asked the value the response was 10,000 virgins.

  • @guyfuller1369
    @guyfuller1369 Před 3 měsíci +1

    I longed for an Indian all my life. Got my Springfield in my 70th year. Worth the wait. Hail to Spirit Lake, Indian, and Polaris. Long may they run! Really enjoyed your presentation. Thanks.

    • @motorcyclecafe
      @motorcyclecafe  Před 3 měsíci +1

      Glad you enjoyed it buddy. There's a doco on Indian v Harley on the channel you most likely will enjoy that too. Its a bit of an eye opener!

  • @yoshit9819
    @yoshit9819 Před 2 měsíci

    Bought my Springfield in 2016. Still in love with her like day one. Yes, Spirit lake did a great job with this bike.

  • @leetownsend46
    @leetownsend46 Před 5 měsíci +2

    Always loved the look of the chief . Iconic is a word much over used but not in the case of the Chief. Cheers for the lesson 😊

  • @oldmanstuff_au
    @oldmanstuff_au Před 6 měsíci +2

    Thanks for your work on this one, bloody excellent!

    • @motorcyclecafe
      @motorcyclecafe  Před 6 měsíci

      I truly appreciate you saying that mate because I did spend a huge amount of time on research for this doco. It was very important to me to get this right. Thank you!

    • @Drengr1901
      @Drengr1901 Před 5 měsíci

      Excellent job. Thanks.

    • @motorcyclecafe
      @motorcyclecafe  Před 5 měsíci

      @@Drengr1901 thank you!!! This bike deserved a good video.

  • @CooCooFamily
    @CooCooFamily Před 4 měsíci

    Thank you for this fascinating Documentary.
    Such cool looking bikes.

  • @steveh2544
    @steveh2544 Před 6 měsíci +1

    Perfect. Ace photographs and details. 👍

  • @atompunk5575
    @atompunk5575 Před 5 měsíci +1

    Saw a '39 Indian 4 cylinder on the rode when i was a kid, incredible that was 21 years ago😅

  • @br529
    @br529 Před 3 měsíci +2

    I bought my first indian in 1970. Wasa basket case. More case than basket. I have owned one every since. Chiefs and scouts. I just finished restoration of a 1951 chief. I have owned many Harley's. Still have 3 of them, but they will never take place of an indian.

  • @pwokaren
    @pwokaren Před 5 měsíci

    Learnt so much and developed a better appreciation of Indian Motorcycles

    • @motorcyclecafe
      @motorcyclecafe  Před 5 měsíci

      yes Indian motorcycles have an interesting history.

  • @WOLFIE-96B-UK
    @WOLFIE-96B-UK Před 6 měsíci +1

    Fantastic video! Your research and presentation are awesome. I can't begin to imagine how much effort you must put into making your videos! 👏

    • @motorcyclecafe
      @motorcyclecafe  Před 6 měsíci +1

      Thank you mate. Yes while I did already know some of the info in this video, I struck gold when I came across those old Indian brochures about the left hand throttle and the info on supplying all the police bikes they supplied. Cheers!

  • @anythingoldmechanical
    @anythingoldmechanical Před 2 měsíci +1

    It would be lovely for a similar upload on the Indian Scout!

  • @user-nd6yn2co2p
    @user-nd6yn2co2p Před 3 měsíci

    Well done bloke appreciate the work you've put in to this. One day i would like to own one, all the best from Cooktown Qld

    • @motorcyclecafe
      @motorcyclecafe  Před 3 měsíci

      Thanks mate, I'm glad you enjoyed the video. Cheers!

  • @pinslayer4579
    @pinslayer4579 Před 6 měsíci +1

    Old rider former Chief owner I knew Paul Gambicini an Indian factory race team mechanic . Also knew Dick Stark who originated the rainbow paint scheme for the Indians he had a shop in Akron Ohio. The left hand throttle explanation I heard was the controls mirrored automobile controls as you shifted with your right hand left foot clutch right foot brake was the explanation I heard that left the throttle where it ended up.
    Mr. Gambicini had a Rockwell tester in his garage always worked in white coveralls and wouldn't allow a Harley in his driveway. Was a privilege to have known him.

    • @motorcyclecafe
      @motorcyclecafe  Před 6 měsíci

      Yes, I have also heard many different stories as to why they kept using a left hand throttle. I finally struck Gold !!!

    • @25chief39
      @25chief39 Před 5 měsíci +1

      ​@@motorcyclecafeYou've used a scan from our book Franklin's Indians to show the portrait and signature of CB Franklin in this video, and that's fine with us but grateful if you can acknowledge in your voice-over the source of this image. Thanks, Tim Pickering.

    • @motorcyclecafe
      @motorcyclecafe  Před 5 měsíci

      @@25chief39 G'day Tim and thank you. I can't redo the voice over once the video is uploaded on CZcams but I can add a subtitle and give your book credit in the video description if that works for you. I will also see if I can get myself a copy of that book. He must have been a very smart man from the little I know about him, as were quite a few men in those early years. It's important to me to get m'cycle history right. So many times history gets twisted over time. People just read something on-line and take it to be the truth. Cheers

    • @25chief39
      @25chief39 Před 5 měsíci +1

      @@motorcyclecafe That will work for us. Cheers.

    • @25chief39
      @25chief39 Před 5 měsíci

      @@motorcyclecafe Sure, that's fine. And thanks for being a gentleman about it. You say that getting history correct is time-consuming, and you're right - it took 4 of us 5 years of research to come up with the full story of the man behind the Scout and the Chief!

  • @grampageorge3407
    @grampageorge3407 Před 5 měsíci +1

    Good video very informative.I ride a Chief Vintage 2015.

  • @gregrose6915
    @gregrose6915 Před 5 měsíci

    Awesome presentation

    • @motorcyclecafe
      @motorcyclecafe  Před 5 měsíci

      Thanks for taking the time to say so buddy. I really do appreciate it.

  • @jeremyharris5102
    @jeremyharris5102 Před 6 měsíci +1

    You are a mine of information, thank you 😊👍

    • @motorcyclecafe
      @motorcyclecafe  Před 6 měsíci

      You're welcome buddy. I did put a lot of effort into this one. Cheers!

  • @stanmartin6302
    @stanmartin6302 Před 3 měsíci

    Well done!

  • @jackwood2328
    @jackwood2328 Před 5 měsíci +1

    Love that cartoon intro! Long live Oz!

  • @hellbilly6532
    @hellbilly6532 Před 5 měsíci +1

    You should cover the Indian 4’s and their predecessors the Henderson’s

  • @user-ll9zd2dh6h
    @user-ll9zd2dh6h Před 23 dny

    A friend had a '50 Chief.He said the engine was about as sophisticated as a lawn mower engine.

    • @motorcyclecafe
      @motorcyclecafe  Před 23 dny

      A tad harsh but yes there were probably better engines but hey they looked cool.

  • @stevenschwagel8029
    @stevenschwagel8029 Před 5 měsíci +1

  • @farmon2000
    @farmon2000 Před měsícem

    Totally enjoyed all of your work and information. My only question is why didn't you bring up the new mid sized Chiefs? By the way, I'm an old Springfield rider.

    • @motorcyclecafe
      @motorcyclecafe  Před měsícem

      I'm glad buddy but I'm not sure what you mean by mid sized chiefs?

    • @farmon2000
      @farmon2000 Před měsícem

      @@motorcyclecafe I'm talking about the 2022, 2023, and 2024 Chiefs with the same Thunderstroke engines, but in smaller frames than the full sized Indians.

    • @motorcyclecafe
      @motorcyclecafe  Před měsícem

      @@farmon2000 Mainly because they do in fact have the same engine but the bikes you mention, in appearance, do not resemble what an original chief looked like.

    • @farmon2000
      @farmon2000 Před měsícem +1

      @@motorcyclecafe I understand your view point.

  • @willymueller3278
    @willymueller3278 Před 5 měsíci

    I have I question there !
    What the hell is a Mikesuckle ?
    And what is a Hosepaur ?
    And where is the Jndian four ?

    • @motorcyclecafe
      @motorcyclecafe  Před 5 měsíci +1

      The Indian Four was just that, The Indian Four, not the Indian Chief. Why would I include it??? Maybe you should pay a bit more attention to the actual video title 🤔

  • @peteduch2151
    @peteduch2151 Před 5 měsíci +1

    I rather have the woman in blue you keep the indian