1928 Indian Big Chief and 1925 Indian Chief
Big Indians
September/October 2006
By Phillip Tooth
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It’s all in the details: Jim Parker’s crew pays close attention to every part in a restoration, making sure everything works as it’s supposed to. Owner Chris Eves may not ride his restored Chief much, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t ready to run at a moment’s notice.
Frank Kletschkus
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How do you like your old motorcycles – restored to concours condition or in their work clothes showing the wear and tear of a hard life?
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It’s New Year’s Eve and the Golden Nectar is flowing down Aussie throats like it’s the last chance to quench a thirst for another 12 months. It is just 15 minutes to midnight when one of the crowd in the Bundalong Tavern in Bundalong, Victoria, points up to the rafters and says: “Look at that old Indian. I bet you couldn’t make it run in a hundred years.”
Now, Jim Parker knows his Indians. He’s built up quite a reputation as Australia’s foremost restorer of Indian motorcycles, and this cobwebbed relic was one of his beauties. Just because it had been strapped to the roof joists since 1999 didn’t mean it wasn’t a runner. All it needed was a drop of go-juice. “Get me some petrol,” shouted Jim as he clambered on a table and climbed into the saddle. “This is going to cost you a round of beers!”
Someone returned with a Jerry can from the back of a Ute, filled a beer glass and passed it to Jim. “Go on, give her a drink!” yelled one of the boozers. Jim unscrewed the filler cap and poured in the gas, gave the 1,200cc Big Chief full choke, retarded the manual ignition control, cracked open the throttle and swung through two priming kicks. Then he booted the old Indian. There was a belch of smoke from the exhaust, then another. The crowd fell silent.
“More petrol! I need more petrol!” shouted Jim, and a second glass was poured into the tank. Another couple of priming kicks and then the big one. The clock chimed midnight as the Big Chief roared and the crowd whooped and gave a huge cheer. Happy New Year!
The next day, bleary eyed and almost sober, Jim collected his 1928 Indian. Feeling the engine thump into life as he balanced the bike in the roof of the bar had made him think it was time he went for another ride. And after a couple of miles he decided that this was one motorcycle that was too good to be left as a pub decoration.
Jim has known this bike for over 30 years. He first saw it at a swap meet in Bendigo, but didn’t buy it. He paid a lot more for it four years ago when it came up for sale again. After getting the engine running, he loaned it to the Bundalong Tavern on the Murray River just outside Melbourne.
His workshop in Ashwood, Victoria, always has at least half a dozen Indians undergoing a nut and bolt restoration. But not the 1928 Big Chief. Jim likes this one just as it is.
Old, rusted and perfect
The enamel might be faded and worn through to the steel and parts are red with rust, but that only makes this bike more attractive. You just don’t find them like this anymore. This is one old Indian that doesn’t need fresh war paint.
The Big Chief has always been in the Ashford area of Australia. It was originally hitched to a sidecar and used as a dispatch vehicle for a local garage. The mechanic would ride out to collect a car, then hook the Indian to the car’s bumper with a strap to the front fork — you can still see part of the hitching post on the right side fork leg — and drive the car back for servicing.
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