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 1920 and was in use till 1939 when it was used by everybody, from police to motorcycle racer. Out of all the Scout motorcycle the most admired one was 1928 101 Scout with low structure and better handling.
Indian Scout motorcycle had 37 cubic inch (596 cc) engine when it was initially introduced in 1920. Later when popular American motorcycle Excelsior Super X was introduced with 45 cubic inches (745 cc) engine, Indian Scout also changed its engine to 45 cubic inch in 1927.
When 101 Scout was introduced in 1928 the Indian Motorcycle fans felt that it was the ultimate in Indian Motorcycle technology. However Scout started using the body of another Indian’s famous model called Chief in 1931 which delighted its admirers to no end.
Between 1932 and 1941 the Scout fans saw a series of smaller Scout motorcycles which may have been done to please its supporters. These motorcycles had small engines of only 30.50 cubic inch and were called Scout Pony, the Junior Scout, and the Thirty-Fifty.
The two big 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 strongly opposed by Harley Davidson.
There is some interesting fact concerning the road worthiness of 1920 model of Scout motorcycle. The motorcycle racer Burt Munro set out to make a world record in speed on land with a Scout between 1962 and 1967. He succeeded in making an unbeatable record with under-1000cc. The remarlable part was when Munro made the record he was 68 years old riding a 47 years old motorcycle. There were some more examples and everything taken together was made into a movie named World’s Fastest Indian in 2005.
In 1935, controlling shares in Indian Motorcycles was sold, and production of all Indian Scout motorcycle models stopped in 1946. Over the decades, the company changed hands, going bankrupt in 1977. Disputes over ownership of the brand name played out in court throughout the 1980s and 90s.
Finally, in December 1998, the claim was settled in Federal court in Denver. IMCOA Licensing America, Inc. was given the trademark, and the Indian Motorcycle Company of America was shaped as a corporation of nine companies. Production began again in 1999, and Scout models were manufactured from 2001 to 2003, until the company went bankrupt again.
The new Indian Motorcycle was set up in Kings Mountain, North Carolina in the year 2006. However they stopped the production of Scout model and the Chief model was taken up for production.
The Indian scout motorcycle was a trail blazerof it’s times. If you are a true Indian fan you’ll be interested in reading this page on Indian motorcycle accessories.