[redcat]

This guy drove by the marina today, saw my RE, turned around and stopped. luckily I had my camera. He bought it in 1972 and rode it a little but it ended up breaking down. He stored it for a long while and then finally turned into this machine.

[ERC]

I think the hot looking Yaris in the backgroundof the first picture looks the best, a real collectors item.  ERC   

[Cabo Cruz]

Very, very cool bike, Br. Cat.

[1Blackwolf1]

  She's a beauty...

[r80rt]

Those Indian designers had a eye for style and class didn't they?

[UncleErnie]

Allegedly, Indian came up with those fenders to more easily distinguish them for Harley Davidson.  At that time, you could get custom paint from the factory because they were owned by DuPont (a paint manufacturer).

[clamp]

I respectfully request permission to disagree. A more damned ugly machine I could not imagine.   Along with 65 Cadilac, Empire state building,  juke boxes and refrigerators of that era.

     An un-mistakable American design.

     

[1Blackwolf1]

Those Indian designers had a eye for style and class didn't they?

  Yes sir thats why I got this.

[ERC]

Good looking nice lightweight bike.  ERC   

[UncleErnie]

Ok.  OK- I suppose this is a relatively arcane debate, but I'm one of those who thinks putting a decal on a new bike, or comparing a Drifter to the real thing, is kind of irritating.

'48 after a car hit it.





'46 with a Bonneville lump.  Two words;  Ya.  Hoo!

[r80rt]

Yeah buddy, those are nice.

[luoma]

There was never a prettier engine than the Indian flathead.

[1Blackwolf1]

Ok.  OK- I suppose this is a relatively arcane debate, but I'm one of those who thinks putting a decal on a new bike, or comparing a Drifter to the real thing, is kind of irritating.

'48 after a car hit it.





'46 with a Bonneville lump.  Two words;  Ya.  Hoo!

  Never tried to compare it with the real thing.  Merely expressing that it was a good design.  Have owned Panhead HD's and the like.  Just couldn't afford a Real Indian.  So be irritated......I suppose the two reincarnations of the Indian must really set you off.

[UncleErnie]

I got to thinking I should edit that.  Too late now...

The Drifter is actually a great bike.  What irritates me is 2 different people I have known who go to great lengths to misrepresent their bikes as Indians.  One guy even attached a fake shifter.  I find that VERY interesting.  (OK- IRRitating)

To mind mind, there are only 2 1/2 moto companies allowed to lay claim to an historic name -Triumph being the half because I don't know enough about them.  Those 2 companies are Harley Davidson and -you guessed it- Royal Enfield.  Everyone else is just a motorcycle company whose lawyers bought a tank badge in order to creat false impressions.  The new Indian is a good bike, I'm told- but it's NOT and Indian.  Just like these new Norton things are not real Nortons.

Not very charitable of me, I guess, but how would you feel if Suzuki made a 500 single and called it an Enfield Bullet?

[cyrusb]

They have, isn't it called the C5? You see, you can carry this to infinity.

[RGT]

my Bullet is only an Enfield, the Royal came back in to being part of it later, Harley has been bought and sold also...my Harley is an AMF bike....so does that mean we're down to 1/2 ?  : )

[1Blackwolf1]

I got to thinking I should edit that.  Too late now...

The Drifter is actually a great bike.  What irritates me is 2 different people I have known who go to great lengths to misrepresent their bikes as Indians.  One guy even attached a fake shifter.  I find that VERY interesting.  (OK- IRRitating)

To mind mind, there are only 2 1/2 moto companies allowed to lay claim to an historic name -Triumph being the half because I don't know enough about them.  Those 2 companies are Harley Davidson and -you guessed it- Royal Enfield.  Everyone else is just a motorcycle company whose lawyers bought a tank badge in order to creat false impressions.  The new Indian is a good bike, I'm told- but it's NOT and Indian.  Just like these new Norton things are not real Nortons.

Not very charitable of me, I guess, but how would you feel if Suzuki made a 500 single and called it an Enfield Bullet?

  If they pay Eicher as much as Kawasaki paid the original estate owners of the now defunct Indian company to produce a copy (little over 2 million dollars) I probably wouldn't care less.  I classify it a tribute vehicle, I'll drop it there..just nostalgia.

  I didn't get ruffled over the W650 Kawasaki..heck it looks and sounds very reminiscent of Triumph/BSA/other Brit bikes.  Just wish I'd have went looking for one before they went away.

  Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery.

  Will.

[prof_stack]

I respectfully request permission to disagree. A more damned ugly machine I could not imagine.   Along with 65 Cadilac, Empire state building,  juke boxes and refrigerators of that era.

     An un-mistakable American design.

YES, and that's one reason they are all great things.  imho, of course.   

[UncleErnie]

Now that I sit and think, I suppose none of it really matters.  I've always been a Run What Ya Brung kind of guy.
BUT- there is no argument that can begin to convince me that putting a fake hand shift on a Drifter isn't one of the lamest things I've ever seen.

[cyrusb]

 Refrigerators? 

[ERC]

Here's my fake Indian guess I'll have to dump it now. ERC

[1Blackwolf1]

Now that I sit and think, I suppose none of it really matters.  I've always been a Run What Ya Brung kind of guy.
BUT- there is no argument that can begin to convince me that putting a fake hand shift on a Drifter isn't one of the lamest things I've ever seen.

  Agree on that end..the inventor actually gets pretty good coin for those.  And it doesn't do away with the hand clutch or foot shift.  Unless its a complete hand/rat trap assy it's wrong.

[1Blackwolf1]

Here's my fake Indian guess I'll have to dump it now. ERC

  The line for paid adoptions is beginning to form.  Keep me posted.
 
  Will.

[ERC]

Will, I'll let you adopt it if the price is right and can be sure it will have a good home with all your other bikes.  ERC

[cyrusb]

I have a '51 650 Kelvinator that's up for grabs, in Avacato.

[redcat]

Since I started this thread I should get a % of the final sale Price.

[DonK]

Hey, I thought being made in India makes mine a real Indian bike

[Lahti35]

Indians sure are sweet! My grandfather had a late 40's chief in his utility room, all in perfectly restored pieces ready to go back together. Why he never assembled it I'll never know.... I was only 16 when he died but i will always regret not saying: "Hey grandpa, why don't you show me how to put that Indian together."

He was the mechanical genius taught me so much, just wish he could have been around alot longer to teach me more, 65 was too young.

[REpozer]

I respectfully request permission to disagree. A more damned ugly machine I could not imagine.   Along with 65 Cadilac, Empire state building,  juke boxes and refrigerators of that era.

     An un-mistakable American design.

     

Well ,I bet you just LOVE a 59 Caddy. A far as the refrigerators , certain working/restored ones comand high prices.

[UncleErnie]

What's a Kelvinator and where's the pictures?

I'm going to sell my Watchless.  I kind of need to, but I'm chicken. 
I ride the Musketball 98% of the time, but the W is nice...
Don't know how this is going to come out, but I'm keeping the garage. 

(My EX-alleged wife's new beau is sure going to be irritated about that  )

[REpozer]

Well Uncle E, not really an answer to your question, and a bit of a thread Hijack.

        Here's a link to some retro appliances. Cool but expensive.

http://bigchillfridge.com/site/

[REpozer]

Here's my fake Indian guess I'll have to dump it now. ERC

Thats a pretty good lookin fake.

[single]

I love all the art deco stuff.Real is best but fake is at least interesting.

[oldsalt]

The Indians of those years were without doubt the best looking bikes made in the US of A.  Years ago I had a 46 model.  The attached pic is my 41 Knucklehead.  In comparison the Indian has a lot more charactor. The Knuckle OHV was the Harley engine that ultimately spelled doom for the Indian flatheads.  Built from 36 to 47 and then the simular Panheads thereafter were all OHV engines that were hard to beat with a flathead no matter how much better the bike looked. 

[RGT]

great looking bike Old Salt