Motorcycle Views

I have released my fourth book, Motorcycle Kick-Starts.

This small book provides a condensed view of motorcycling information for new riders and returning riders who have been away from motorcycling for many years. It's based on articles I published while I was the Motorcycles Guide on About.com and also during my current assignment as Editor of Motorcycle Views, which I founded.

My purpose in writing the book is to whet your appetite for more while sticking to basic motorcycle information and not overpowering you with details.

We start out giving you basic information about motorcycles and showing you how you might proceed to become an active, safe rider.

Then we present ten short motorcycle stories (tales) written by actual motorcyclists. These tales allow you to observe some unusual things that happen to people who ride motorcycles. Without a bike, you would most likely never have these experiences. You will find out that your own rides will be different, but they too will result in unforgettable memories. The first story relates my own journey as a newbie rider when I joined a small group and rode cross-country on a 6,000-mile adventure.

Between stories, some practical advice about motorcycles is given in the form of ten motorcycle How-Tos and ten motorcycle Tips that you will need to know to become a proficient rider.

It's available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions. Click the cover picture for more information about how to purchase the book or click here to go to Amazon directly. Work is also proceeding to make it available in an Audible audiobook edition.

The book was inspired by my Audible producer who was looking for a 2-hour audio on motorcycles.

This article gives a history lesson about Indian motorcycles. It is part of a series of motorcycle history lessons.

Part 1: The Early Years

Part 1 of this article discusses the founding and early growth of the Indian Motocycle Company. Note the spelling here of "motocycle" instead of "motorcycle." The term "motocycle" was an archaic word used in the nineteenth century to denote any horseless carriage. Indian wanted to distinguish itself from the competition by using the older word.

Part 2 of this article describes the long running Battle with Harley-Davidson as two American motorcycle camps were formed.

Part 3 of this article discusses the re-emergence of the New Indian Motorcycle Corporation after a 47 year absence from the playing field.

Around the turn of the 20th century, bicycle racing was big in the USA. Bicycles would race around big curved tracks called velodromes aided by pacing machines powered by internal combustion engines. These pacers were made in Europe and often broke down. A young designer named Oscar Hedstrom built his own American pacer. He met up with a racer named George Hendee who had his own bicycle manufacturing plant in Springfield, MA. The two combined forces and created a bicycle powered by an engine developed by Hedstrom. Thus was born the Hendee Manufacturing Company and the Indian motorcycle. They chose the name Indian since it would signify an American product.

George Hendee became known as the Big Chief (B.C.) and Oscar Hedstrom became known as the Medicine Man. The factory was called the Wigwam and the dealer network was called the Tribe. The company finally changed its name from the Hendee Manufacturing Company to the Indian Motocycle Company in 1923.

The first V-twins from Indian were produced in 1907.

Hedstrom left the company after a dispute in 1913, never to work in the motorcycle industry again. In another dispute within the newly formed company, Hendee also left the company in 1916.

The company grew at a rapid rate but had many competitors, most notably Harley-Davidson. Indian competed with Harley-Davidson in the showrooms, on the tracks, and on the streets to determine which brand was better. The second part of this article gives details about this war for bragging rights. The war continues to this day even though Indian was to go out of business for all intents and purposes in 1954.

A book by Ed Youngblood, "A Century of Indian," is a must read for anyone interested in this great marque.

The Indian motocycle was first built in 1901 by the Hendee Manufacturing Company of Springfield, MA USA. Note the fact that George Hendee, founder of the company, termed it a "motocycle" not a motorcycle.

The Harley-Davidson motorcycle was first built in 1903 by three Davidson brothers, Arthur, William and Walter, and William Harley. Although there were more Davidsons than Harleys, the company was named Harley-Davidson because "it sounded better."

For the next 50 years these two companies engaged in a competitive struggle with each other on the track and in the show rooms to capture the hearts of their customers.

Most motorcyclists will not even remember the war between Indian and Harley-Davidson. The war, begun in 1903, did not end until 1954 when Indian stopped production with these words delivered to its loyal dealers:

"The management of the Indian company has just completed a study of conditions adversely affecting motorcycle production in the United States. This has led to a decision to suspend assembly of complete motorcycles at Springfield during 1954."

Now read Parts 2 and 3 about Indian.

The picture above is a 1923 Indian Scout model submitted by Kevin Jolly.

I'm running one new Motorcycle Views Poll in each issue of the newsletter. Please participate in each poll so we can all find out what's happening in motorcycling.

Here's Poll No. 27: Would you consider buying an electric motorcycle in the next 5 years?

The latest Motorcycle Views Poll also appears on the front page of the Motorcycle Views website.

ALL Motorcycle Views Polls

Today's How-To:

50 Wild Motorcycle Tales - Book 2 - I Need Your Help:

Motorcycle Picture of the Month for December, 2015:

My Book, 50 Wild Motorcycle Tales, is also available as an Audiobook (Audible) Edition on Amazon, iTunes, and Audible:

Here are some very popular articles on the Motorcycle Views Site. Take a look:

• Motorcycle Salvage Yards: Where you can find motorcycle parts.
  
• Motorcycle Seat Heights: Lists seat heights by motorcycle make.
  
• Famous Motorcycle Movies: The great motorcycle movies are discussed.
  
• Motorcycle Recalls: Gives all motorcycle recalls for the last ten years by make and year.
  
• Women on Motorcycles: These women ride their own bikes.
  
• 10 Ways to Be Safe on a Motorcycle: This article could save your life.
  
• 10 Motorcycle Myths: There are many myths about riding.