Indian Motorcycles – San Diego Automotive Museum

Join us for Cars and Coffee 3/16, 7:30am-9am.

We will have a special guest speaker 3/16 at 10am for Decades of Trifectas part 1. Free with admission. We will have a special guest speaker 3/16 at 10am for Decades of Trifectas part 1. Free with admission. We will have a special guest speaker 3/16 at 10am for Decades of Trifectas part 1. Free with admission. We will have a special guest speaker 3/16 at 10am for Decades of Trifectas part 1. Free with admission. We will have a special guest speaker 3/16 at 10am for Decades of Trifectas part 1. Free with admission. We will have a special guest speaker 3/16 at 10am for Decades of Trifectas part 1. Free with admission. We will have a special guest speaker 3/16 at 10am for Decades of Trifectas part 1. Free with admission. We will have a special guest speaker 3/16 at 10am for Decades of Trifectas part 1. Free with admission. We will have a special guest speaker 3/16 at 10am for Decades of Trifectas part 1. Free with admission. We will have a special guest speaker 3/16 at 10am for Decades of Trifectas part 1. Free with admission. We will have a special guest speaker 3/16 at 10am for Decades of Trifectas part 1. Free with admission. We will have a special guest speaker 3/16 at 10am for Decades of Trifectas part 1. Free with admission. We will have a special guest speaker 3/16 at 10am for Decades of Trifectas part 1. Free with admission. We will have a special guest speaker 3/16 at 10am for Decades of Trifectas part 1. Free with admission. We will have a special guest speaker 3/16 at 10am for Decades of Trifectas part 1. Free with admission. We will have a special guest speaker 3/16 at 10am for Decades of Trifectas part 1. Free with admission. We will have a special guest speaker 3/16 at 10am for Decades of Trifectas part 1. Free with admission. We will have a special guest speaker 3/16 at 10am for Decades of Trifectas part 1. Free with admission. We will have a special guest speaker 3/16 at 10am for Decades of Trifectas part 1. Free with admission. We will have a special guest speaker 3/16 at 10am for Decades of Trifectas part 1. Free with admission. We will have a special guest speaker 3/16 at 10am for Decades of Trifectas part 1. Free with admission. We will have a special guest speaker 3/16 at 10am for Decades of Trifectas part 1. Free with admission. We will have a special guest speaker 3/16 at 10am for Decades of Trifectas part 1. Free with admission. We will have a special guest speaker 3/16 at 10am for Decades of Trifectas part 1. Free with admission. We will have a special guest speaker 3/16 at 10am for Decades of Trifectas part 1. Free with admission. We will have a special guest speaker 3/16 at 10am for Decades of Trifectas part 1. Free with admission. We will have a special guest speaker 3/16 at 10am for Decades of Trifectas part 1. Free with admission. We will have a special guest speaker 3/16 at 10am for Decades of Trifectas part 1. Free with admission. We will have a special guest speaker 3/16 at 10am for Decades of Trifectas part 1. Free with admission. We will have a special guest speaker 3/16 at 10am for Decades of Trifectas part 1. Free with admission. We will have a special guest speaker 3/16 at 10am for Decades of Trifectas part 1. Free with admission. We will have a special guest speaker 3/16 at 10am for Decades of Trifectas part 1. Free with admission. We will have a special guest speaker 3/16 at 10am for Decades of Trifectas part 1. Free with admission. We will have a special guest speaker 3/16 at 10am for Decades of Trifectas part 1. Free with admission. We will have a special guest speaker 3/16 at 10am for Decades of Trifectas part 1. Free with admission.

Rich text Indian Motorcycles

In the spring of 1901, the Indian motorcycle company was born. Carl Oscar Hedstrom, designer and engineer, and his partner, George Hendee, bicycle manufacturer, produced the first production motorized bicycle known then as a "motocycle".

With Hendee's history as a champion bicycle racer, their venture turned to racing. The Indian dominated motorcycle racing in the US and overseas well into the 1940’s. By 1904, Indian had won virtually every event and thus the demand for Indians soared. By 1908, motorcycle racing in America had become a growing sport, especially in the professional circuit, racing on large wooden velo-dromes known as board track racing. Finally in 1909 the “bicycle” frame era ended with the introduction of the full loop frame that incorporated the fuel tank in front of the rider.

Over the next 50 years, Indian became one of the most famous motorcycles in the world. But by the end of the Great Depression, Indian and Harley Davidson were the only two American manufacturers left that still produced motorcycles. Following a series of inept company heads and ill-conceived adventures into the field of outboard motors, aircraft parts, and even refrigerators, Indian was in trouble. Military contracts helped Indian survive during WWII, but after the war the company remained shaky. 1941 was the last year of manufacture for the Sport Scout and the legendary Indian Four. The Chief was the only bike being produced, but with its antiquated design, the Chief was unable to compete with Harley Davidson’s overhead valve models.

With a new president, Indian gambled everything on a new design: a prototype they hoped would compete with the popular lightweight British twins. But these Indian “Verticals” were rushed into production before they were ready and were not a success. The original company closed their doors in 1953.

In 1999, a new company with facilities in Gilroy, California began manufacturing under the Indian name. These bikes are often referred to as “Gilroy Indians”. But after a major investor backed out in 2003, the company declared bankruptcy.

On July 20, 2006, a newly formed Indian Motorcycle Company announced its new home in Kings Mountain, North Carolina. The anticipated arrival of the 2009 Indian Chief will be hitting the road in the fall of 2008.

Indian Motorcycles