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Visionary
Posts: 1359
New Bohemia, Va | Got stuck in the twin cities overnight and on my way walking to the store from the hotel I see this guy that looks like he stepped out of the 1950's riding a 1948 Indian Chief. Of course I was wearing my Indian hat so I strike up a conversation with him. He had a lot to tell on the Indian, but he also said he worked for the company once that makes the cranks for the Freedom. He says that Polaris is meticulous about it's engines and they would often reject the cranks even when there was no visible flaws or real quality issues, but just didn't meet the standard. He also said he's never met someone who rode a Victory that wanted anything else.
We had some good conversation and I would really like to do what he did in fixing up an old Indian. He rode to sturgis last year and his charging system failed so he put it back to 6v from the 12v that he had put on there. When he got back he went back to 12v but forgot to change the coil back to 12v. He had been riding it but it wasn't up to par and he finally found the coil was still 6v, so he had just changed it back to 12v and was on a test ride.
Really enjoyed the conversation and checking out the bike.
(CIMG0076.jpg)
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Iron Butt
Posts: 741
Central New York | Doesn't look all that much different that the new ones on the Indian web site. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1359
New Bohemia, Va | yeah, ain't they beautiful... |
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Visionary
Posts: 1632
Jasper, MO | Cap'n Nemo - 2011-06-24 8:52 AM
yeah, ain't they beautiful...
Yessir! My nephew's wife's parents have a 1946 or 1948 Indian (Chief, I think) that he has owned since it was brand new. It got put in the barn and sat for many years while they built a life and raised their kids. After the kids were grown and they retired, he got it out and fixed it back up. He puts a new set of rings in it and rides it to Sturgis every year while his wife follows him in the camper. I run across him out riding every once in awhile. I need to start carrying a camera. I happened to catch up to him and rode beside him for a few miles last summer, he on the restored Indian and me on the spaceship. Wish I could have gotten a picture.
Ronnie |
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