The legendary Indian Motorcycle rides again
Indian, America’s first motorcycle brand founded in 1901, has burned long and bright in the hearts of riding enthusiasts. They would remember stories of how the Indian team swept the top three places in the 1911 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy. Or that it was the largest producer of motorcycles in the world in the 1910s. Or of Herbert James ‘Burt’ Munro, who modified a 1920s Indian Scout and went on the Bonneville Salt Flats four decades later to break the under-1,000cc world land speed record, an achievement which stands till today.
Naturally, this uplifting story was remade by Hollywood, as The World’s Fastest Indian starring Anthony Hopkins. And though the Indian Motorcycle Manufacturing Company went bankrupt in 1953, its legacy lives on and its star still shines bright. Celebrity riders of Indian motorcycles range from Arnold Schwarzenegger to Mark Wahlberg and the market hyperventilates for Paul Newman’s highly coveted pre-1960s vintage Indians.
A quick history lesson. Indian was founded in 1901 (an extension of an earlier bicycle business) and the Indian Single went on sale in 1902. In the years that followed, the Massachusetts-based Indian quickly gained popularity for their build, style and speed – co-founder Oscar Hedstrom broke the world speed record for a motorcycle in 1903 with a top speed of 56mph (90km/h).
Success continues through both World Wars, with Indian producing motorcycles for the US Army. Post-World War II saw a decline as a group of new owners sought to reinvent the brand with an entirely new slate of models, which proved unpopular with Indian fans, who were also unhappy with the unreliability of the new models. The company went bankrupt in 1953 and various attempts at reviving it have been pursued. None succeeded until 2011. Following the Polaris Industries takeover of the brand, Indian Motorcycles was re-introduced to the market in 2013, infused with the magnificent engine capabilities of its new power sports-speciality parent company.
The modern Indian Motorcycle range focuses on the brand’s classic lines – the slim Scout, the smooth Chief, the stylish Chief Vintage and the hefty Roadmaster. In Malaysia, sole distributor Harmony Fabulous offers the full range of these swanky bike – the Scout (RM114,480), the Chief Classic naked cruiser (RM178,080), the Chief Vintage salt bagger (RM188,680), the Chieftain bagger (RM199,280) and the Roadmaster full tourer (RM233,300) designed with a retractable windshield on handlebars, individual tyre monitors, real leather seats, chromed parts and polished engines.
Fancy a ride? Let the legendary Indian ride again.
