Indian Scout Motorcycle A Brief History
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Indian Motorcycle made motors have been popular since World War II when Indian Motorcycle was manufacturing engines for aircraft and motor for boats, air conditioners and bicycles. The most prominent was Indian Scout motorcycle which was introduced in’20 and was in use till’39 when it was used by all, from police to motorcycle racer. Out of all the Scout motorcycle the most admired one was’28 101 Scout with low structure and better handling.
Indian Scout motorcycle went through some changes since its introduction in’20. While it was introduced with an engine size of 37 cubic inch (596 cc) by’27 it was increased to 45 cubic inches (745 cc). This came as a reaction to the American built motorcycle Excelsior Super X, which had a 45 cubic inch engine.
The 101 Scout was the second response which was being manufactured and some people felt that this was the highest in Indian Motorcycle technology. Another group of fans were pleased to see Indian motorcycle use the body of its other model Chief for the new Scout line which was introduced in’31.
Possibly as a conciliatory move for its supporters Scout came out with smaller models between’32 till’41with 30.50 cubic inch. These had engines which were smaller and were called Scout Pony, the Junior Scout, and the Thirty-Fifty.
The two heavyweight motorcycle companies Indian Motorcycle Company and Harley Davidson were trying to out do each other in America in the early years of 20th century. The rivalry was well known and was written about in a book called Harley-Davidson and Indian Wars by Allan Girdler. The run away success of Scout was fiercely retaliated by Harley Davidson.
One testament to the speed and toughness of the’20 Indian Scout motorcycle was racer Burt Munro’s use of a modified’20 Scout to set land speed records between’62 and’67. Munro’s under-1000 cc world speed record in’67 still stands. At the time, Munro, a New Zealander, was 68 years old and was riding a motorcycle that was 47 years old. This and other feats were dramatized in 2005 in the movie The World’s Fastest Indian.
In’35, controlling interest in Indian Motorcycles was sold, and production of all Indian Scout motorcycle models stopped in’46. Over the decades, the company changed hands, going bankrupt in’77. Fights over ownership of the brand name played out in court throughout the’80s and 90s.
Finally, in December’98, the claim was established in Federal court in Denver. IMCOA Licensing America, Inc. was given the trademark, and the Indian Motorcycle Company of America was formed as a corporation of nine companies. Production began again in’99, and Scout models were manufactured from 2001 to 2003, until the company went bankrupt again.
In 2006, the company re-formed and set up shop in Kings Mountain, North Carolina. Though the Chief model is being reconstructed, the Indian Scout motorcycle is no longer made.
The orignal Indian scout motorcycle has been a favorite with fans for decades. If you want to read more about the 1947 Indian motorbike click on the preceding links. This and other unique content ” articles are available with free reprint rights.
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