Show your classic American bike

[tvrolet]

Following on from British bike thread and the Japanese bike thread...

I guess if it's limited to 'classic' stuff then I don't think it's going to be a very long thread! But hey, I've a soft spot for old American bikes, and Indians in particular.

So another shameless opportunity to post my '47 Chief It's actually very enjoyable to ride and the foot-clutch and hand-shift is strangely satisfying to use (and manual advance retard on the other twistgrip is easy enough to master).

It's happy to sit at 70 (and a little more if need be) so it's safe enough on motorways and dual carriageways as a necessary evil to get from A to B, but happiest on A and B roads at 50-60, and with a sprung saddle it's comfy enough too (there is plunger rear suspension, but the seat does most of the springing). The handling 'feel' is actually very good, but the olde worlde square-section tyres don't inspire too much confidence to lean over too far. Back brake is not bad, but the front brake is pretty poor being a very narrow single leading shoe drum. But it gets used quite a lot as it's very rewarding to ride.



So...who else has a classic American?

[spoodler]

That Chief is about as classic as American bikes get.
Not sure how "classic" I consider this, but it's nearly thirty years old, has reputedly the best frame Harley ever made and certainly they are enjoying something of an upsurge in popularity...
Harley FXR (was an FXLRC - Lowrider Custom, but a tad removed from that spec' now), undergoing a few changes - like it does every few years. Gone are the forward controls, raked wide glide and high bars and I'm back to mids and some flats on risers, and twin discs and adjustable suspension. Lovely old bike, had it twenty years now...

[stevethegreek]

I've missed out on 2 FXR's over the years, for different (foolish) reasons. Now really hard to find a decent one at a sensible price. Yours looks good in its latest iteration..

The Indian looks really peachy, very nice indeed OP.

I run a couple of Evo's, so hardly classic but getting on now at 22 years old, not eligible for 'classic' I guess..

[ChrisG C2S]

Here's my 1922 Indian Scout..... more vintage than classic
image by christopherjgrant, on Flickr

Edited by ChrisG C2S on Thursday 17th December 19:35

[D1on]

ChrisG C2S said:

Here's my 1922 Indian Scout..... more vintage than classic
image by christopherjgrant, on Flickr

Edited by ChrisG C2S on Thursday 17th December 19:35

Wow.

[ChrisG C2S]

D1on said:

Wow.

Thanks!

Possibly a better angle here -
Untitled by christopherjgrant, on Flickr

[Charliecloud]

ChrisG C2S said:

Thanks!

Possibly a better angle here -
Untitled by christopherjgrant, on Flickr

Double Wow - That is a fantastic looking bike. Do you ever ride it or is it too risky. Cant imagine getting parts is easy.

[ChrisG C2S]

Charliecloud said:

Double Wow - That is a fantastic looking bike. Do you ever ride it or is it too risky. Cant imagine getting parts is easy.

It starts and runs really well but I don't ride it much to be honest. Foot clutch is fine in my quiet street but I'm not confident enough to venture far!

[sooty61]

ChrisG C2S said:

D1on said:

Wow.

Thanks!

Possibly a better angle here -
Untitled by christopherjgrant, on Flickr

Lovely bike and it looks like your garage should be on the “garage porn” thread as well!

[Triaguar]

ChrisG C2S said:

D1on said:

Wow.

Thanks!

Possibly a better angle here -
Untitled by christopherjgrant, on Flickr

I am a modern bike lover and into sports bikes and in general dont go for the old stuff....its obsolete for a reason, is my approach..... but there is something in the "wow" for me as well with those old Indians

[stevethegreek]

ChrisG C2S said:

Thanks!

Possibly a better angle here -
Untitled by christopherjgrant, on Flickr

Incredible

[tvrolet]

ChrisG C2S said:

Here's my 1922 Indian Scout..... more vintage than classic
image by christopherjgrant, on Flickr

Edited by ChrisG C2S on Thursday 17th December 19:35

Very nice indeed. Also a winner in the 'bikes in the house' thread!

Triaguar said:

I am a modern bike lover and into sports bikes and in general dont go for the old stuff....its obsolete for a reason, is my approach..... but there is something in the "wow" for me as well with those old Indians

Maybe it's an age thing, but the thing about it is if you just want the latest fastest thing then you'll no doubt end up on an electric bike...which is fine. I think there's no question that in time electric bikes will end up quicker then ICE bikes. But if there's any sort of push-back there like 'but I love the sensation of a petrol engine, its sound, its sensation of being alive, the involvement of changing gears etc', then year-on-year these have been diluted on modern bikes. Sure they go real fast, but all the things I love about bikes - the sound (and not just exhaust note, but hearing the engine itself work), the vibrations, the manual work of gears, and even the smell of oil and petrol is amplified many times over on an old bike. When I got the '47 Chief it was to scratch an itch and compliment the 'new' Chief...but I never thought I'd do too many miles on it. But it's just so rewarding to ride it's the first-pick bike if I just want to go for a pleasant ride on a nice day.

[Janluke]

Nothing to offer this thread but I'm enjoying it

[Triaguar]

tvrolet said:

ChrisG C2S said:

Here's my 1922 Indian Scout..... more vintage than classic
image by christopherjgrant, on Flickr

Edited by ChrisG C2S on Thursday 17th December 19:35

Very nice indeed. Also a winner in the 'bikes in the house' thread!

Triaguar said:

I am a modern bike lover and into sports bikes and in general dont go for the old stuff....its obsolete for a reason, is my approach..... but there is something in the "wow" for me as well with those old Indians

Maybe it's an age thing, but the thing about it is if you just want the latest fastest thing then you'll no doubt end up on an electric bike...which is fine. I think there's no question that in time electric bikes will end up quicker then ICE bikes. But if there's any sort of push-back there like 'but I love the sensation of a petrol engine, its sound, its sensation of being alive, the involvement of changing gears etc', then year-on-year these have been diluted on modern bikes. Sure they go real fast, but all the things I love about bikes - the sound (and not just exhaust note, but hearing the engine itself work), the vibrations, the manual work of gears, and even the smell of oil and petrol is amplified many times over on an old bike. When I got the '47 Chief it was to scratch an itch and compliment the 'new' Chief...but I never thought I'd do too many miles on it. But it's just so rewarding to ride it's the first-pick bike if I just want to go for a pleasant ride on a nice day.

wish I had never got eye contact now!! I do get what you mean. My problem is I have no mechanical skills at all and am into bikes purely for the riding pleasure.. I used to have horses but the maintenance began to outweigh the joy of riding... that's my approach to old bikes. I want to press the start go for a ride and know I am getting back..now if you were to give me yours and promise to maintain it......?

[podman]

Janluke said:

Nothing to offer this thread but I'm enjoying it

me to...and thinking of ways to fund the purchase of an Indian...