Indian History

The accelerated course in

Indian Motorcycle history.

During motorcycle racing’s golden era, when nearly every city of prominence had an organized circuit, no other company dominated the tracks quite like Indian.

Engineering and Competition Highlights

  • 1901
    Prototype and two production units successfully designed, built and tested.
  • 1902
    First Indian motorcycles, featuring innovative chain drives and streamlined styling, sold to public.
  • 1903
    Indian co-founder and chief engineer Oscar Hedstrom sets world motorcycle speed record (56mph).
  • 1904
    Crimson Steed of Steel paint scheme introduced; Indian wins Gold Medal for Mechanical Excellence at St. Louis Exposition.
  • 1906
    Indian releases first American production V-Twin after several years of development and testing; 101 years later V-Twin remains most popular cruiser-motorcycle engine design.
  • 1907
    New York Police Department selects Indians for first motorcycle police unit.
  • 1909
    Indian "loop frame" positions gas tank on front horizontal frame member, other makers eventually follow suit; basic configuration still used by virtually all motorcycles.
  • 1911
    Indian sweeps top three positions in first Isle of Man Mountain Course Race.
  • 1913
    First swingarm and leaf-spring rear suspension in the industry is introduced.
  • 1914
    Indian debuts world's first motorcycle with electric lights and starter; Cannonball Baker sets cross-country speed record on an Indian V-Twin.
  • 1916
    61-cubic-inch Powerplus side-valve engine is introduced.
  • 1918
    An overhead cam, four-valve-per-cylinder Powerplus racing motorcycle tops 120 mph.
  • 1920
    First use of semi-monocoque engine/transmission/frame construction; Indian Scout introduced.
  • 1922
    Indian becomes first company in America to use "leakproof" aluminum primary cases; competition retains leaks for decades.
  • 1924
    74-cubic-inch Big Chief V-Twin introduced.
  • 1927
    Four-cylinder Indian Ace introduced.
  • 1937
    Indian Rider Ed "Iron Man" Kretz wins inaugural Daytona 200; Indian introduces first motorcycles with dual carburetors.
  • 1940
    Indian pioneers use of "plunger" (spring coupled to an oil-dampened shaft) rear suspension; introduces trademark full-skirt fenders (aka valences).
  • 1941
    Indian begins production of advanced shaft-drive, four-speed military motorcycle.
  • 1943
    Indian wins Army-Navy Production Award.
  • 1948
    First Daytona 200 held on new beach/road course won by Indian rider Floyd Emde.
  • 1967
    Herbert "Burt" Munro rides his self-modified 1920 Scout to an under-1000cc land-speed record at the Bonneville Salt Flats. Forty years later, Munro and his Indian's record still stands.
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