Indian Motorcycles

1900 – 1910

1901

Prototype and two production units successfully designed, built and tested.

1902

First Indian Motorcycle, 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.

1906

George Holden and Luis Muellr ride an Indian from San Francisco to New York City in 31 trouble-free days, breaking the existing record by over 18 days.

1907

An Indian Twin wins the first English 1000-mile reliability trial. The New York City Police Department buys two Indian Twins to chase down runaway horses.

1907

New York Police Department selects Indians for first motorcycle police unit.

1908

Indian "loop frame" positions gas tank on front horizontal frame member, other makers eventually follow suit; basic configuration still used by virtually all motorcycles.

1910 – 1919

1911

Indian riders hold every American speed and distance record. 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

Over 3,000 employees work on a 7-mile-long assembly line in Indian's 1-million-square foot Springfield, Massachusetts plant. Indian debuts world's first motorcycle with electric lights and starter; Cannonball Baker sets cross-country speed record on an Indian V-Twin.

1916

Racing activities are suspended as the company supplies the war effort with 41,000 machines. The 61-cubic inch Powerplus side-valve engine is introduced.

1918

An overhead cam, four-valve-per-cylinder Powerplus racing motorcycle tops 120 mph.

1920 – 1929

1920

First use of semi-monocoque engine/transmission/frame construction; Indian Scout introduced.

1920

It's a decade of growth for the Indian model line, starting with the revolutionary 1920 Scout and followed by the 95-mph Chief, the even more powerful Big Chief, the lightweight Prince, and the awesome 4-cylinder Four.

1922

Indian becomes first company in America to use "leakproof" aluminum primary cases; competition retains leaks for decades.

1923

The company is renamed Indian Motocycle Company, dropping the “r” in “motorcycle”.

1924

74-cubic-inch Big Chief V-Twin introduced.

1927

Four-cylinder Indian Ace introduced.

1928

101 Scout becomes the machine of choice for “wall of death” stunt riders.

1930 – 1939

1930

The Art Deco era hits the Indians adorned in a full range of Duco colors, two-tone designs, pinstriping, and decals.

1932

Two new lightweight models debut – the Motoplane and the Pony Scout.

1937

“Iron Man” Ed Kretz, aboard a Sport Scout, laps the entire field in his win at the 1937 Inaugural Daytona 200. Indian introduces first motorcycles with dual carburetors.

1939

With the onset of World War II, focus again shifts to providing the War Department with motorcycles. The government of France orders 5,000 Chiefs with sidecars.

1940 – 1949

1940

Indian pioneers use of "plunger" (spring coupled to an oil-dampened shaft) rear suspension; introduces trademark full-skirt fenders (aka valences). Production during the war years is mainly military and police vehicles.

1941

Indian begins production of advanced shaft-drive, four-speed military motorcycle.

1943

Indian wins Army-Navy Production Award.

1945

The company is sold and consolidated into the Torque Engineering Company. Later the company is divided with manufacturing going to the Atlas Corporation and distribution to The Indian Sales Corporation.

1948

First Daytona 200 held on new beach/road course won by Indian rider Floyd Emde on a 648 Scout.

1950 – 1970

1951

Following the war, Indian struggles with re-entry into the public market. The Chief, dropped for a year, is re-introduced in 1951 as a mighty 80-cubic-inch model, but sales continue to decline and Indian is forced to halt production in 1953.

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.

1998 – 2003

1998

A complex web of trademark rights foil numerous attempts to revive the Indian name until several formerly competing companies merge to become the Indian Motorcycle Company.

1999

Manufacturing begins, but the venture proves unsuccessful.

2003

The company's final model year.

2004 – 2011

2004

Stephen Julius and Steve Heese, after resurrecting the struggling Chris-Craft Boat Company, turn their attention to Indian. They acquire trademark rights and intellectual properties.

2008

Production begins and 2009 Chiefs start rolling off the assembly line in Kings Mountain, NC.

2011+

2011

Polaris adds one of motorcycling’s legendary brands to its strong stable of Victory cruiser and touring bikes. Indian Motorcycle will operate as an autonomous business unit, building upon the potent combination of Polaris’ engineering acumen and innovative technology with Indian’s premium brand, iconic design and rich American heritage.

2012

Final year the Kings Mountain Chief platform is produced.

2013

The new Indian Motorcycle will be born, starting with the engine reveal at Daytona Bike Week.