Something new for the New Year.

1912 Indian
1000cc's and 7 horsepower. Modern technology will give you 7hp from 100cc's. not much more than a bicycle with an engine and leaf spring front suspension, this motorcycle was instrumental in creating Indian's reputation for reliability and ruggedness. It was meant as a long distance hauler, but I can't imagine riding for more than 40 minutes without losing my fillings and pissing blood. I wonder how many kidney stones were battered into submission on these early motorcycles. Still though, I love the Art Deco architecture of those engines. Much of the artistry in engineering is lost on today's modern motorcycles. It has become much easier to cover things up with plastic than to engineer it to function and be aesthetically pleasing. It will be interesting to see what Polaris does when they reinvent this iconic brand.