Hot Rods and Classic Bikes qun....

My daily driver is a '64 Fairlane 500. This is the my baby. '60 Norton I've owned since '67. It now has an old 500cc Weslake speedway motor for power. 129.917 on gas at El Mirage.

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here's a pile of pieces i had on the shelves--might be going down the road in trade for a 41 plymouth coupe. Also have quite a bit of a 71 Harley FX with the boat tail fibergl*** rear fender--they called it the Night Train in the old magazine ads---cleaning out the stable

www.fastpast.ca

 

Re: '46-'48 Chief

If you've already owned one, or at least rode one for a few hundred miles and enjoyed the experience - have fun, go for it.

However: I can tell you that almost everyone I know who decided to make/buy one was quite disappointed with the end product.
1. prices for parts are off the scale, both real and quality repro
2. the engine and transmission parts aren't nearly as durable as H-D, all the castings, flange thicknesses, fasteners are closer to H-D from the 1920s
3. no brakes
4. poor ride quality (if it's possible to be worse than a rigid)
5. 3 speed jockey shift - need I say more? Once you're rolling you have a total of 2 gears to choose from, and after 50 you have 1 (Oh wait - someone will point out that for the price of another bike you can get a 4 speed)
6. slow (well, not compared to a H-D flathead but to anything else)

Try to at least borrow one before spending over $10K on a bike that put the company out of business.

 

The first one is mine, the other two are ones I've built for customers

 

Hi guys thanx for contributing to the thread. Some really nice bikes there - Axle, nice Chief !!

Panic, I hear what youre sayin and Im aware of most of the points youve raised re the Indian/vintage bikes. But hey, Id say most of those points can also be attributed to early style hotrods no?

Also FWIW, it wasnt the Chief that put Indian out of businees ; it was the single piston bikes and poor management decisions during and immediately after WWII that cost Indian dearly. Engineering was not really the issue.

I guess the point is if I wanted a bike that rode real good, went REAL fast, handled and braked REAL good, and had 4-5-6 gears Id buy/build a late model one and be done with it.

Getting/riding/owning an old bike like this is about experiencing what it was like way back when, a time capsule if you will an for me thats the most important thing, other than the fact I like old bikes, cl***ic styling and the vibe I get from owning such a period piece of history.

Just like hot rods.

Keep em coming guys - like to see more if ya have em!!

Thanx

Rat

 

Wow, Goran's bike looks great

 

Yeah, it turned out real nice. It will be at the Cowpalace in Feb. '09.

 

Heres my 71 FLH, rescued it from Tallah***ee FL. police dept. 28 years ago, its a keeper, been in many different configerations but the older I get the more I like these conforts. Spike

 

me and my bro [iron chef symon] next to my 64 panhead circa 03

 

Totally disagree with everything you wrote.

 

Rat *******,

my buddy has a 1934 indian scout bone stock unrestored up for grabs. PM me for details.

Also Have a freind Bruce works at Delzani's Cycle in Rocky River Ohio. Takes care of all the Indian restoration. He can get anything you need for these machines reasonable. They are great bikes that hold their value well.

As for Panic comment on Flatheads being slow, He hasn't ridden my 1939 ULH, factory 80 cubic inch machine. Keeps up with stock shovelheads, evo's.

 

Totally disagree with everything you wrote.

And certainly, that's your privilege.
But, let's examine the actual statements, shall we?
1. prices for parts are off the scale, both real and quality repro
Please let us know where you can buy these parts cheaply - we'd all like to know?

2. the engine and transmission parts aren't nearly as durable as H-D, all the castings, flange thicknesses, fasteners are closer to H-D from the 1920s
I have not seen a Chief in 40 years that had any transmission gears left - they were terrible new.
The studs and bolts are 5/16 where H-D would use 3/8, 3/8 instead of 7/16" etc. 1/4" flanges on cylinders? H-D is 1/2".
A 40 hp motor with a 4 row primary chain - why?
A 1" crankpin on an 80 - H-D gave that up in 1936.
Ask any Indian mechanic - all Indian rollers are different sizes - open a box of 50 and there ar 8 sizes.
The carburetor is fine - just way too small.
A flathead motor is supposed to be simple... except for those rocker arms.

3. no brakes
You're not really going to suggest that any Indian, ever, had any brakes? As in, cannot stop well from 50 mph once? Yes, I used to do stoppies with my drum-brake Bonneville 30 years ago.

4. poor ride quality (if it's possible to be worse than a rigid)
This is a matter of taste, but I prefer my rigid VL frame with plunger seat to an Indian sprung frame and coil seat.

5. 3 speed jockey shift - need I say more? Once you're rolling you have a total of 2 gears to choose from, and after 50 you have 1 (Oh wait - someone will point out that for the price of another bike you can get a 4 speed)
What part of this is not true? Do they have more than 3 gears? Can you downshift into 2nd at 70... more than once?

6. slow (well, not compared to a H-D flathead but to anything else)
600 lb. bike with 40 hp and a 3 speed - it is what it is: a 16 second bike when new and ridden by experts, slower than a modern 250. If you're fine with it, good for you. If you expect not to be run over by modern traffic without rowing it along with the gear lever you'll be disappointed.

No, a stock ULH (38 hp) cannot "keep up" with an Evo big twin - unless you mean sustain the same constant cruising speed up to 100?
On acceleration the Evo is perhaps 2 seconds faster to 60, and 3-4 seconds faster in 1/4 mile. BTW: I have a 37 UL, but I suspect it's a bit faster than yours - and it's still slow.

I repeat: they could not sell them, new, against the panhead (with footshift 4 speed, 8" drum brake, 50 hp), which is itself a museum piece.

It's your money - but you don't have to give reasons why, especially if they're not true.

If you love her, marry her - but don't tell me it's because she's pretty.

 

my junk

 

Cool rides. Tell us more about the second sportster tank hanging down in front.

 

Geezzzz Guys; This is kind of like debating Flat Heads vs. Hemi's vs. Small Block Chevy
and it should be over on Jockey Journal not here on the Hot Rod site. Just my .02 worth.
The Wizzard

 

No, a stock ULH (38 hp) cannot "keep up" with an Evo big twin - unless you mean sustain the same constant cruising speed up to 100?
On acceleration the Evo is perhaps 2 seconds faster to 60, and 3-4 seconds faster in 1/4 mile. BTW: I have a 37 UL, but I suspect it's a bit faster than yours - and it's still slow.

? ? ? at ease captain

 

Very nice, those valanced guards are something else!
Brian Setzer had one similar, but sadly, he told me that it took an unauthorized trip (without him) to Mexico.
Or was that his Merc? It's hard to remember after 17 years and a lot of alcohol.

 

Outstanding sickle Johnny, the boys over at OCC (and even WCC) should look and learn. The best lookin' 'retro tech' Chopper I've seen in a while, looks like Sonny Barger's Pan from the early '6o's.

 

same 64 pan I posted earlier after came out of Obsolete Engineering !
I-beam rods, std pan heads, balanced @56 % got moon equipment too

 

Nice! cl***ic lines and proportions, can't go wrong with that.

Is
that a custom made front exhaust pipe squeezing inbetween the frame and motor?

 

when I was 10 I saw Easy Rider when it came out in the theaters. first time I saw a chopper and the first time I saw ****s. after that I was all about choppers. I asked for a subscription to Street Chopper some time later and my mom got Street rodder instead which steered me in another direction.

stilll like ****s though.


some day when I become rich and famous I'd like to get an old knucklehead bobber. until then I have a 1970 BMW R70/5.

 

thanks for the kind words, and that is a factory " squish" pipe 2 piece modified at the rear to upsweep. Check the FTW plasma cut into the license plate bracket ! the z-bars were hand made, fuel tank was made from 3-sporty tanks. watched HELLS ANGELS 69 movie at drive inn with folks when little, allways dug the frisco style chops.

 

Right on info.........the ENTIRE front end on my frisco chop is reproduction, even the hub and brakes. VERY nice stuff indeed paid 1,200 for inline springer, 500. for the entire hub and brake ***y. think the swedes make this ****. went through j&p cycle for mine.

 

dear panic
why are you so bitter, was it the big bowl of sour owl **** you ate befor your post?
I've been fortunate to have owned both brands, h-d & indian they booth have their faults and thier good points. I have a 1946 chief bobber stroker with a 1951 indian front end since 1991 it'sgoing on 100,000 miles I have ridden it not trailered it to sturgis twice ,4 corners rally hollister ,laughlin many times. has it broke down yes but that's part of the adventure. no complaints. I have met some great owners of old iron all around the country none has as bleak an outlook as you. if you dont like Indians don't ride one. remember god made harleys for hippies, cops and hair dressers to ride, gentlemen ride indians. hope you have a better day


juan

 

That's so... predictable.
What I did: comment about the subject.
What you did: comment about me.

How effectively you argued against the points I made! Oh, wait - you didn't do that (what we call "unresponsive"). I'll be generous: which of those points, that you found so important that you repeated them, are not correct?
Try using facts this time, rather that explain why you don't like me - we already know that. Incidentally, Harley owners have some rude things to say about the ancestry, personal habits and ***ual preferences of Indian owners - but we have better manners.

BTW: I've been listening to Indian owners tell me how they "went to Mars and back every weekend, never took 'er apart, been 60 years now". Just between us - we both know there's not a word of truth in it, don't we? It's that "metallurgy, laws of physics" thingy... Roller bearings simply don't do that. As an ****ogy: tell me your dog is 2 years old, so what. Tell me your dog is 20 years old - I might believe it. Don't tell me your dog is 100 years old.

Behind every sunny smile, every positive at***ude, every cheerful disposition lies someone who simply doesn't understand what's going on...

 

Yesterday I was walking along a street in my neighbourhood and couldn't believe my eyes when I came apon two Knuckles sittin' on a trailer. One was an original '6o's chopper, the other a 95% complete stocker. Both were all vintage HD and in good 'original' condition. To put this 'find' into perspective, I've never even seen a mild custom Shovel around here!

 

I'm a Triumph guy myself, but I also have a few Squariels and enough parts for a BSA or two

 

Panic, don't know why you have such a problem with this.

I'm no expert but i have been around this stuff for a while and have indeed seen professional builders/restorers take these bikes and ride the **** out of them in all sorts of terrains ,weather conditions, and speed.

Maybe the Indians you owned were some used bikes that you bought because you couldn't afford a professionally built/restored one? Maybe you got them in a trade and they were beat to death. And i hope you don't think because a company went out of business years ago that their product is inferior? Do you?

To me there are Edsels then there Cadillacs , and in my opinion 1940-1948 Indian Chiefs are the best looking bikes ever produced from the factory, and no one will ever convince me different.

 

BTW: I've been listening to Indian owners tell me how they "went to Mars and back every weekend, never took 'er apart, been 60 years now". Just between us - we both know there's not a word of truth in it, don't we?

Then you don't really know any Indian owners , and have spent any amount of time around them- especially the old timers that have been doing this **** successfully for decades. Do I? You bet yer *** i do!
Bob Stark, Mike Tomas, John Parker, Rocky Halter, and Toney Watson.