1944 Indian Chief

[The patriot]

I might be getting one of these. It appears completely original.

It has 34K miles, full fenders, right hand shift, and I assume left throttle.

I dont know if the engine even rotates, or if the transmission is OK.

It has tires, theyre not flat and it looks complete. I havent seen it myself in person, my nephew did.

Ballpark figure, what should I pay for this?

It looks like this, but not quite as nice. No chrome either.

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The woman said it was her husbands and she hasnt seen him in 8 years, and she just wants this "junk" out of her garage.

She also has a few Nortons and a BSA or two.

Eric

 

[Jeff H]

Must have been produced before Pearl Harbor?

 

[rmrc]

You LUCKY DOG!!!!!!! That's the only motor cycle I ever wanted!!! There use to be an old timer who rode one like it with a side car out on eastern Long Island every Saturday morning! He'd wear the complete getup. White scarf, leather pilots helmet, the works.



I really can't help with a price but I know that I would try to make a deal with this lady! GET THAT BIKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[lschultz]

Go far it. My dad use to have a Indian. Almost bought one once. It is to early in the morning for me to thank about $$$

 

[dresslered]

I would sure like to know what the husband ran off with if he left that behind! Not sure what it is worth, but if you can't find a place in your garage, we can sure fit it in mine. Looks like you won the lotto.

 

[Boomer II]

I didn't think Indian built civilian bikes during the war. It's worth a pretty good chunk of change if it's all you say it is. Ask here.

http://www.bikerheaven.com/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi

 

[guava]

I couldn't even begin to guess at what a good price is. Collect the info on the other bikes when you take a look. Probably a few people here (including myself) who'd be interested...

 

[willyslover]

Eric. . post any info on the Norton's you can please

 

[The patriot]

Willyslover, I'll see what I can do.

From what I undestand you must have had a job that was crucial to the war effort to get approved for one of these.

Yup, I guess it's kinda rare.

Hope my nephew cant afford it.

Eric

 

[Philip]

From what I understand. Indian did not produce any bikes during the war. They did not have a government contract. So they could not get metal to build with.



I have seen Indians titled all the way into the 50's. But production ended right after the start of the war.



Now then Indian did make two bikes. The chief was one model. That is the one your pic is of. The scout was the other model. It had a smaller engine on it. You stated no chrome. The chief had lots of chrome on them. Unless someone striped it. If it has the Indian head on the finder that is the chief model. The scout did not have this emblem.



If you do get this bike. Becarefull how you ride it. These engines do not like slow speed in town driving. The rear cylinder has cooling problems. In slow speed it likes to burn out the valves. This is a 60 year old bike. It would very hard to find parts to rebuild it with.



Throttle is on the right side of the handle bars. The spark advance is on the left grip. If it is original it will have a suicide shift on it. If someone has reworked it then it will be foot shift.

(suicide means left hand shift with left side foot clutch).



If you go to start it. Do not bring the engine up on #1 cylinder. On a Harley the second cylinder fires 8 degrees after the front one. With this setting you can fire two cylinders on one kick. The Indian fires #2 cylinder 16 degrees later. You do not have enough kick start travel to finish it. You will most likely land about 5' away when it kicks you off. :-laf :-laf



My father had a 52 model chief. I put a few miles on it before he sold it. He sold it 5 days before my 16th birthday. :{ :{

My scooter licenses went to any size bike at 16 years old.



If it is close to orginal shape. In my area it would bring 20k plus. The last one I saw sell around here had a bad engine and had been down many times from the looks of it. It brought $5,500. This was 15 years ago.

 

[Eric Kahn]

Indian made bikes untill 1956 I believe

my brother has a 46 chief

the thottle will be on the left and the spark advance will be on the right, just the opposite of old harleys

Indians have the hand shifter on the right, opposite of harley (see where this is going)



lots of old indians have had the throttle and spark advance swapped to make it easier for people who learned on newer bikes to ride them



the US gov in 1973 made it manditory that production street bikes sold in this country have left hand foot shifts, right hand throttles, right hand front brake and left hand clutch and that neutral be between 1st and 2nd gear, I believe that the neutral light is also manditory now

 

[klenger]

I remember a MASH episode about an Indian bike. I'm not into motorcycles, but I can appreciate a nice machine.

 

[Grey Wolf]

They'll go for 20,000 out here and don't worry about the parts, they are plenty of vendors making them if you can't find the oem's



http://www.kiwi-indian.com/100-years.html

 

[The patriot]

Originally posted by Philip

From what I understand. Indian did not produce any bikes during the war. They did not have a government contract. So they could not get metal to build with.



I have seen Indians titled all the way into the 50's. But production ended right after the start of the war.

Humm, I thought Indian and Harley both built war bikes.

I dont know if it came this way, but it does have the indian head on the fender, and the fenders are just like the ones in the pic I posted except it dont have chrome.

Seems to me that they wouldnt build them like this with the big fender during the war.

Like I said, I didnt see it myself, so I gotta go on the pictures my Nephew took.



Hopefully I'll get some news soon. I know he cant afford it.

He lost his license for DWI and I've helping him & other family members out with rides and food, so I hope this goes my way. I know I shouldnt think this way or expect anything, but I cant help being excited.



Eric

 

[Grey Wolf]

They were built during the war and the last year of production was 1953.

 

[DKayser]

Buy it!

If it is under 5k & complete,buy it. The reason Indian put the throttle on the left was for police use. It was deemed easier to draw & fire a pistol nthat way. What about the other bikes? Any Trumps, or Beezers? Don.

 

[The patriot]

Should expected this...

Somehow the MIL got her nose into this, and the BIL from florida is supposed to snatch this up along with the Delorian that's there.



I'm sooooo glad my wife takes after her father. He still dont know how lucky he is that he's been devorced for 30+ years from this.



My MIL would pimp out her mother for $$$. Shoulda expected this.



Eric

 

[Wayno]

Just talk to a man last weekend at a bike show who had a 46 or 49 ( cant remember what year ) It ran and look like nothing had been done to it in years . He got it from his dad who bought it new . He told me he has it insured for 30,000 thousand dollars . I saw one at a bike dealer last weekend when I was on a poker run that look like it had just been driven off the show room floor and it was a 49 model and they wanted 35,000 for it . There is some place out in California ( if I remember right ) that bought all the old parts from the original manufacturer and they got all the old moles and they make and sell parts for them , thats what the man at the bike show told me .

 

[lschultz]

Back in 87 or 88 there was a shop in Sturgis SD(I think) or it might of been one of them little towns around there that rebuilt Indians or something like that. Just remember going by it and seeing the sign.

 

[The patriot]

Update:

Her divorce was delayed about a month. I should know more then.

My Nephew is pretty PO'ed at the MIL also. He said "There aint NO WAY our BIL will get this bike!"

I told him not to got too mad, "I dont care what happens. "

I actually DO, but why get him all worked up? Bad karma on whoever stabs anyone in the back, is the way I think of this.

Indian parts are plentiful. No problems there.

Wliiyslover, still working on the pictures. The location is now a family secret.

Eric