U.S. 101 by 1948 Indian Chief

1 / 10
We decided that a “48-48” ride (1948 route, 1948 Indian) was in order.
We decided that a “48-48” ride (1948 route, 1948 Indian) was in order.
2 / 10
The restored 1948 Indian Chief is a comfortable place to spend an afternoon.
The restored 1948 Indian Chief is a comfortable place to spend an afternoon.
3 / 10
The Indian Chief is perfectly happy rolling along at 60mph, with plenty of throttle left.
The Indian Chief is perfectly happy rolling along at 60mph, with plenty of throttle left.
4 / 10
The taped-together repair bill from Starklite Cycle when the Chief was refurbished some 15 years ago. Ouch.
The taped-together repair bill from Starklite Cycle when the Chief was refurbished some 15 years ago. Ouch.
5 / 10
The giant granary in Templeton, Calif. Templeton is just south of Paso Robles.
The giant granary in Templeton, Calif. Templeton is just south of Paso Robles.
6 / 10
Larry’s Chief is right at home on the old-fashioned Main Street in Templeton.
Larry’s Chief is right at home on the old-fashioned Main Street in Templeton.
7 / 10
The Indian is a low-revving with lots of torque, and the narrow-angle V-twin has a comfortable vibration starting at perhaps 2,500rpm.
The Indian is a low-revving with lots of torque, and the narrow-angle V-twin has a comfortable vibration starting at perhaps 2,500rpm.
8 / 10
Fortunately, the starting drill for Larry’s Chief is pretty easy, at least for sizable riders; this is no lightweight operation.
Fortunately, the starting drill for Larry’s Chief is pretty easy, at least for sizable riders; this is no lightweight operation.
9 / 10
The bells at the Mission San Miguel Arcángel.
The bells at the Mission San Miguel Arcángel.
10 / 10
The old Richfield gas pump at the Rios-Caledonia Adobe, which was in service until the early 1950s.
The old Richfield gas pump at the Rios-Caledonia Adobe, which was in service until the early 1950s.

Back in the Fifties, I celebrated my graduation from high school by selling my functional 250cc NSU and buying something big and flashy — a well-used Sunshine Yellow 1951 Indian Chief. It was fun, and it certainly attracted the girls at the A&W drive-in, but it wasn’t too handy in the curves in the Berkshire hills of Massachusetts, nor were the brakes anything to be proud of. I sold it within a year.

That was a long time ago. In more recent times, I have had the opportunity to ride a few restored Indian Chief motorcycles, including Larry Kahn’s 1948 Indian Chief, a bike he’s owned since 1992 and renovated some 15 years ago with the help of well-known Indian specialists Starklite Cycle. Since then, he’s put around 3,000 miles on his “Harley humbler.” A while back, Larry found a website with a 1948 road map of our California county, San Luis Obispo, where U.S. Highway 101 is the main north/south route.

Two hundred years ago, U.S. 101 was a dirt track called El Camino Real, The Royal Road, running from Los Angeles to Monterey. It received its 101 status when the feds began numbering roads in 1926. In the Fifties and Sixties, 101 was widened and most of it made limited-access, but looking at the map, we realized that a good deal of the older two-lane road still exists. We decided that a “48-48” ride (1948 route, 1948 Indian) was in order. Larry would ride the Indian one way while I took pictures, and then I would ride the return to re-acquaint myself with the pleasures of a 65-year-old Indian.

Getting moving

Like many an old bike, there’s a certain protocol to starting an Indian Chief motorcycle. Fortunately, the starting drill for Larry’s Chief is pretty easy, at least for sizable riders; this is no lightweight operation. Begin with the Chief on the sidestand and in neutral; make sure the clutch is engaged and kick the engine through a time or two. Next, turn the petcock on. If the engine is cold, pull up the choke lever. Retard the spark by twisting the grip on the non-throttle side of the handlebar (it could be either side, depending on the particular bike). Open the throttle grip just a tiny bit. Raise yourself up, then come down hard on the kickstarter and you should be rewarded with a healthy roar! Advance the spark by twisting the non-throttle grip back and the engine should settle into a happy idle. Conscientious riders will take off the oil cap and look inside the tank to ensure oil is being pumped back in.

  • Published on May 30, 2013
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