"The Dark Horse"
By Louise Bradt
Hubby, Steven used to work for Indian
motorcycles back in 2001. Last year he
decided to get back into bikes and this baby
is his pride and joy...His 2016 Indian Chief
'Dark Horse'.. Even though motorbikes are
really a new experience for me, I have to
admit that she is both pretty and beefy...
In 1897 George M. Hendee, a bicycle racing champion, founded the Hendee Manufacturing Company
producing bicycles which carried brand names such as Silver King, Silver Queen, and American Indian, this
name was shortened to simply “Indian” and became Hendee’s primary brand name.
Although the first motorised bike was produced in 1901, it was not until 1902 that the first Indian
Motorcycle, with a chain drive and a single-cylinder engine, was sold to a retail customer.
In 1903 company co-founder and chief engineer Oscar Hedstrom rode one of his motorcycles to a new
world speed record of 56 mph. In the same year, he also won an endurance race from New York City to
Springfield and back. The earliest bikes were either royal blue or the optional black, but in 1904 the
company introduced a new colour which became better known as “Indian Red.”
In October 1919, the company introduced the Indian Scout, followed in 1922 by the Indian Chief and in
1923, the “Big Chief.” which became the industry’s best-selling model. There have been many changes and
new bikes released over the intervening years culminating in the Indian Chief Dark Horse.
Website = www.worldimagemag.com
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