The Iconic Indian

The moment this bike appeared at the vintage festival an instant crowd gathered to investigate the iconic Indian motorcycle.  Founded in 1901 the company manufactured in Springfield, Massachusetts, the factory's nickname, the wigwam. By 1911 the machine held every speed and distance record in the USA and took top three positions in the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy Senior 500cc race (the Snaefell Mountain Course). Second place was taken by Charles Franklin who went on to design  bikes for the company including the original Indian Scout of 1920,  

However I think this bike is one of the 1930s Indian Chiefs but as I have no expertise so don't take my word for it.  The Indian company went bankrupt in 1953 but in 2011 Polaris Industries took over the mark to produce machines again. The Indian time-line is on their site, or if thinking of splashing out and have the odd $37K to spend on travel perhaps the chief vintage 2013 is for you. But for the authentic 1930s experience

 

take up the helmet, jump on and zoom away

 and of course I'll say "So long till ABC Wednesday!"

 An entry to ABC Wednesday, a journey through the alphabet

ABC Wednesday - Grayson Perry's Bike

A vision of pink an blue, the Grayson Perry designed Kenilworth AM1 Motorcycle, built by the unknown craftsman,  which he took on a journey to Bavaria with his companion 

Alan Measles, his teddy bear who shared many childhood fantasy adventures fighting battles against the Germans and leading  resistance undercover operations.  His name comes from the fact that the teddy bear came at the time of a measles illness. Alan became his personal childhood God so now he is installed in the reliquary attached to the motorbike.  The trip to Bavaria was a mission of reconciliation with their old enemies and  saw them visiting King Ludwig's castle, the1920s Nurburgring racetrack, religious sites and of course the Stieff teddy bear factory.  The journey was shown as a BBC film and as they went on their way Grayson reflected on the nature of pilgrimage and art.

 As well as getting up to speed over the Tyrolean Mountain passes.

 The Harley Davidson Nucklehead engine humming away.

Alan Measles leading the charge of "Ten Days of Alan" which he reports on his very own site here,or a bikers view and a glimpse of Grayson's matching gear from here

An entry to ABC Wednesday, a journey from A to Z