Indian motorcycle books - history, types and construction

Indian Motorcycle : America's First Motorcycle Company

Tells the complete story of Indian, America's first mass-produced motorcycle maker, from its start as a bicycle manufacturer to the purchase of the brand by Polaris Industries in 2011 and the subsequent new Indian motorcycles.

In the early years of the 20th century, Indian dominated the world's racetracks, earning the brand a worldwide reputation for quality, performance, reliability, and technical innovation, but the once-mighty company fell on hard times and in 1953 was forced to file bankruptcy.

The Indian brand never quite died, though, thanks in large part to fanatically devoted enthusiasts, who tried to resurrect it for over half a century. Finally Polaris, maker of the highly regarded Victory brand of motorcycles, purchased the brand and released the Chief and Scout, models that once again restored Indian to its rightful place in the motorcycle pantheon.

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You Can't Wear Out an Indian Scout - Indians and the Wall of Death

The Indian Scout motorcycle is the favoured mount for Wall of Death riders all over the world. Drawing upon modern and archive material, Wall of Death owner and rider Allan Ford and author Nick Corble explore the reasons behind this relationship and bring the story of the Wall up to date, including behind the scene details of the latest Wall of Death speed record achieved by Guy Martin.
It's a story that spans more than a century, starting with experiments with motorised bicycles in the 1890s, passing through two world wars and ending by looking to a future where Indians continue to be restored and ridden on the Wall.

As this book makes clear, the relationship between Indians and the Wall of Death is one that will never be broken. As Sammy Pierce, at one time the world's largest Indian motorcycle dealer once put it:

You can't wear out an Indian Scout,
Or its brother the Indian Chief.
They're built like rocks to stand hard knocks,
It's the Harleys that cause the grief.

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Franklin's Indians : Irish motorcycle racer Charles B Franklin, designer of the Indian Chief

The Indian has been the iconic image for American big V-Twins down the years, due in no small measure to the motorcycles designed by Charles B Franklin - the Indian Scout and the Indian Chief.
Charles Franklin was born and raised in Ireland where he quickly became involved in motorcycle racing during the pioneer years. He rapidly established himself as Ireland's first big star of racing and was the first to represent Ireland in international motorcycle competition.

In the Isle of Man TT he consistently finished in the top eight, and in 1911 claimed second place, a remarkable achievement in itself. But it was when he moved to Indian in the USA, where he became the Chief Design Engineer, that his genius really flowed.
His designs catapulted Indian back into the forefront of motorcycle design in the 1920s and '30s and his racing engines and motorcycles won much glory for Indian against stiff opposition.

Franklin introduced remarkable improvements in sidevalve combustion chamber design that pre-dated the work of Ricardo. He championed an holistic approach that popularised new features such as the semi unit-construction `powerplant', helical-gear primary drive, double-loop full-cradle frames and a host of other improvements to the early motorcycles.

This book not only chronicles his life but also sheds much new light on the history of Indian motorcycles and the often turbulent times of the Indian Motorcycle Company itself. A much needed book for all Indian fans and all who love the history of the classic American V-Twins.

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Motos Indian

"Indian Motocycle", a magical name in the world of motorcycling whose mere mention inevitably evokes memories dating back to ancient motorcycling stories. Images of fabulous red machines, motorcycles with sought-after and stylized logos with warrior heads with flamboyant feathers, V-Twin engines powering motorcycles with names as legendary as Scout and Chief come to mind.

Then, we remember Indian motorcycles, synonymous with luxury and refinement of the time, which were not powered by a traditional V-Twin, but by an incredible inline four-cylinder engine. Then, the memory returns of magnificent motorcycles with imposing wraparound mudguards also called "Indian"! ... But, how is it that these American motorcycles have ceased their development and production?

This book traces this story rich in twists and turns to be discovered from 1901 to 1953, as well as a thrilling experience, which is to be dissected during the unimaginable adventures of the brand until its takeover, in 2011, by Polaris Industries which presides over this rebirth of the oldest brand of American motorcycles.
It has always refused to die out, like the sporting exploits of its riders in competitions for over a century.

Despite the shutdown of the production lines, Indians still distinguished themselves on the circuits and set records, ridden by enthusiasts who continued to take them to the top. It is a modern-day saga that continues during this new century and which is revealed throughout the pages of this book.

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