INDIAN

Indian is an American motorbike brand created in 1901 in Springfield, in the Massachusetts. 

The success of the brand is based on the work of two ingeniors of foreign origin. The Swedish Oscar Hedstrom and the Irish Charles B.Franklin. 

In 1901, George M.Hendee and Oscar Hedstrom made a first motorcycle motorized which will be named "Camel-back" because the petrol reservoir is placed above the mudguard back. 

In 1905, the Hendee Manufacturing Co produce almost 1200 machines, that is to say the twice of the last year. 

In 1907, Indian release his first V-Twin of 633 cm3. 

In 1929, the business change four time of boss in some months cause of Krach of the Wall-Street. 

In 1948, the brand try to renew his range in maded true model with original ideas. However, these models don't answer to the market demand. What's more, the lack of reliability will be the origin of the Indian loss.

In 1960, the Indian name will be buy back by AMC in United-Kingdom. However, in 1962, AMC is faced to a financial problem and remove about every commercialization of Indian brand. 

It's after, the business owner Floyd Clymer which start tu use the Indian name. A minibike of 50 cm3 with Minarelli motor with the Indian name will be maded. However, the project finished by Clymer dead. 

In 1974, Newman want do relive machine with big cylinder with the name "Indian 900" using a Ducati motor of 860 cm3. However, the Newman sales reducing in 1975 and the society is declared bankruptcy in January 1977.

After many recovery, the Indian brand become Indian Motorcycle Company of America by the merger of nine companies.

Bike INDIAN model(s)