Author Topic: Guess who came to visit Bronco Bike Today! (Read 4182 times)

smithrelo · « **on:** June 05, 2005, 09:25:29 PM »

Hi, all!

We've had terrible weather in Denver for past week so today when it was 65 degrees and sunny at 9:00 am, just about everyone in Denver fired up their bikes and took off for the Twisty-Turneys. Uppie/Downies!! GREAT day for a ride and I put 40 more miles on Bronco Bike!!

BB continues to run like a top! I went on nice 3 hour ride with neighbor (see photos) and we had a great time. Went up through Red Rocks west of Denver and back down through Morrison, CO. where there were LOTS of bikes!

Like a Duffas, I forgot my camera, but got these photos at end of ride. (forgive me if last one is not oriented correctly!)

Post your weekend photos!!

Linda

kghost · « **Reply #1 on:** June 05, 2005, 09:31:20 PM »

Well, I hope you showed it some tail. (Well bronco bikes tail anyway)

smithrelo · « **Reply #2 on:** June 05, 2005, 09:39:35 PM »

Whoa! kghost!!! Let's keep it clean!! LOL.

Yes, he looked at my rear and I looked at his (hahaha)

I laughed, he said "gosh your bike is so Quiet"

I used great tact and did NOT say "gosh your bike is so LOUD!!"

Its a 2003 Indian and he said people (specifically Ha*ley people) ignore him, but I could see them looking once they PASSED him! Real cute!

It's a nice bike, and he is looking for second, smaller Indian. It's really pretty and BB was very proud to be riding with a "Real" Indian!!

Thanks for the look-see!

Linda

kghost · « **Reply #3 on:** June 05, 2005, 09:44:06 PM »

I'm not sure I would call that a real Indian. Indian (the Real) went defunct a long time ago. The new Indian is also now defunct. All the early "new" Indians had S+S motors, read harley clone.
I was disappointed that the New Indian went out right after introducing their own proprietary engine. Its The engine with the cool round valve covers.

I would love to have one of the old inline 4 Indians.

Raul CB750K1 · « **Reply #4 on:** June 06, 2005, 01:21:07 AM »

It was a shame that Indian ended that way. You know where the problem is? It relied on investor's money. They only look for profits at short term. Look at John Bloor's Triumph. Now he have a healty motorcycle company, but surely he could not achieved it if he hasn't put his own money on it. Investors would have never seen the project as a profitable one.

In the 60's there were even Royal Enfield's rebadged as Indians... As shameful as the Aermacchi rebadged as Harley Davidsons...

Raul

smithrelo · « **Reply #5 on:** June 06, 2005, 08:14:05 AM »

Raul

You are so right about investors and "short term" thinking!

I could not believe that when 9/11 happened - United airlines did not have enough $$$ in the bank to carry their business for 48 HOURS!!!

Unbelievable! I own the 3 businesses right now and can carry each one for 6 MONTHS with absolutely NO INcoming cash! It just boggles the mind that "corporate" thoughts are sooooo short-term and investors are greedy in the short term and actually hurt themselves in the long term. If a business is viable, it needs $$$ in the bank to make decisions LONG term. Todays taking of profits, kills tomorrows opportunities!

And yes, this is NEW Indian, but since the company went out of business in just 5 years, I believe this bike will become a "collectors item" in the next 30 or so years. He just likes riding it!

What are you opinions on the "Victory" bikes? I've seen them at Harley dealership, but didn't know anything about them.

Linda

Raul CB750K1 · « **Reply #6 on:** June 06, 2005, 08:19:58 AM »

I didn't like the former models, as the "polaris" reminded me of snowmobiles. But the latest Hammer model is definitely a mind blower It's a shame there is no official dealer in Spain. The Vegas was also a cool bike.

And what about the attempt of reviving Excelsion-Henderson? Did they ever launch any bike?

Vatch · « **Reply #7 on:** June 06, 2005, 12:42:47 PM »

The New-but-dead Indian should have done things like Victory, start with one bike and build from there. The New Indian tried to launch remakes of many of the classic Indian Models (e.g. Chief, Scout) all at once. They had a lot of small problems typical of first run models. Unfortunately the problems were multiplied by the number of models. Add that with the cost $20000 US, some as much as $28000, and you have an annoyed customer base.

I'm not sure anyone knows what Indian Motorcycle means anymore. The name has been used and reused so many times. I like those old Indians. Hell, I even own one of the Kawasaki "tribute" models, the Drifter. I'm all for American bikes to compete with the T-shirt company, but I think the name Indian just needs to be left to rest in peace.

Einyodeler · « **Reply #8 on:** June 06, 2005, 02:07:40 PM »

You ask any of the real old-timers and they`ll say the Indian was a better bike hands down compared to HD. Just think for a moment what would have happened had Indian won the U.S. Army contract during W.W.II , it would have all been different now.

Raul CB750K1 · « **Reply #9 on:** June 06, 2005, 03:04:01 PM »

Actually, both Indian and HD won contracts to build a military sidecar with two-wheel traction, but the Department of War lost interest for it in favour of the Jeep.

The problem was that while Indian dedicated all his effort to the military vehicle, HD didn't forget their civil customers. Also, some changes in ownership led to the company being controlled by an englishman that was more interested in using the dealership network to introduce british bikes rather than to produce Indian bikes.

The Drifter is an amazing bike. As the former Indian models with valanced fenders, they are bikes you need time to get used to, you can either love them or hate them but nobody stays neutral. The difference is that the Drifter outperforms the new Indians in almost any aspect: electronic fuel injection, two sparks per cylinder, water cooling... It was discontinued in Spain after a couple of years, I reckon they sold less than 20. There is no nostalgic effect here as we never had the former Chiefs.

Raul

kghost · « **Reply #10 on:** June 06, 2005, 03:29:44 PM »

Linda, Don't even get me started on the Airlines. I have an inside view there and could rant for hours on that topic.

Right on Raul, Although I understand that Indian has been bought by the same holding company that owns a famous boat brand. So maybe we'll see them again.

As for a classic Modern Indian, I don't think the S+S powered ones will be any more collectable than some of the "Name" Choppers. The ones with the new engine maybe, But how would you like to find parts 10 years from now?

Uncle Ernie · « **Reply #11 on:** June 06, 2005, 04:05:49 PM »

I have a '48 Chief I ride on a pretty regular basis. It's a bob-job now after a car hit me. I kinda like it better this way anyway. Yes, I think the Indian is a better bike (a debate that has been raging for about 90 years now). I tried Harley for a little while and couldn't stand it. People think because they look similar they are, but they're completely different. Real Indians rev higher and don't vibrate. Another thing that killed Indian was that they got scared of the British coming and made a God-awful British-like twin- Harley just kept pleasing the old faithful. I'm convinced, also, that MotoGuzzi got the idea for their twin design from Indian. When HD and Indian put out prototypes for shaftdrive models for dessert use, HD made a set up that looked just like a BMW, but Indian come up with the V-twin sideways. There are still a few around.
It takes more than big fenders to make an Indian. I think that Harley is the only company with the bragging rights to being the longest standing MC company.
I'll sit down now.

Raul CB750K1 · « **Reply #12 on:** June 07, 2005, 07:08:05 AM »

Uncle Ernie, got a question for you. In your Indian, gear shift should be hand operated in the left. The left grip sets the timing advance. Clutch is the left foot, and front brake is on a lever on the right handle. So, where is the thottle? In the right fot?

Raul

cb650 · « **Reply #13 on:** June 07, 2005, 03:52:00 PM »

Quote from: smithrelo on June 05, 2005, 09:39:35 PM

Its a 2003 Indian and he said people (specifically Ha*ley people) ignore him, but I could see them looking once they PASSED him! Real cute!

Linda

I think they ignor everybody cause of all the V-2 crap out there. After all it is a hardly no matter what the badge says.

Terry

Uncle Ernie · « **Reply #14 on:** June 07, 2005, 05:50:33 PM »

Raul,
Many Indians have been reversed for ease/ muscle memory of a sort; The stock set up was shifter and spark retard on the right of tank, gas on the left. So mine (and many others) are gas and front brake on the right bar, spark retard left, shifter left of tank, left foot is the clutch (there's a friction plate so the clutch stays where you put it- not the spring loaded "suicide" type), right foot is the rear brake.
I got my first Chief when I live in SF. Very educational on those hills !

kghost · « **Reply #15 on:** June 10, 2005, 03:40:07 AM »

BMW has not been building Motorcycles as long but is just as old

Uncle Ernie · « **Reply #16 on:** June 10, 2005, 03:53:37 PM »

Good point! Thank you. What kind do you have?

kghost · « **Reply #17 on:** June 10, 2005, 07:11:56 PM »

Well just traded my R90/6. For a 1977 Suupersport, 1975 CB750. and an aluminum gas tank for the Cafe.

Uncle Ernie · « **Reply #18 on:** June 12, 2005, 08:34:04 AM »

Where do alloy tanks come from? Was it part of your trade?
McAllan sounds familiar. My mother was from Commanche, are they close?

kghost · « **Reply #19 on:** June 13, 2005, 04:37:36 AM »

Alloy tanks come from a big right hand and a Hammer. Well..... A hammer, english wheel, planisher, Tig welder, buffer, lots of blisters, cussing, you get the idea.

The trade for the tank was more like come on in and use my tools while YOU build it.

Commanche is in the same state, But I'm way down at the bottom tip of Texas on the Rio Grande river.

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Author Topic: Guess who came to visit Bronco Bike Today! (Read 4182 times)

smithrelo

smithrelo

smithrelo

Vatch