The Indian Scout's introduction into the market occurred in the 1920s. This specific type of motorcycles proceeded to become the most popular when it came to speed racing. The 1928 101 Scout became the favorite motorcycle even in the line of India's most popular motorbikes.
The Prince, the Four, The Chief and the Big Chief all started in the 1920s. This ten year period was important in laying the foundation of Indian motorcycles becoming the most popular in America.
In the 1920s, Indian needed something totally new to replace its Powerplus engine, particularly with Harley Davidson putting out more advanced bikes. To that particular end, Indian charged Charles Franklin, a racer and an engineer, with coming up with new things. Not only were Harley Davidson bikes giving Indian some competition, cars were starting to be mass produced as well.
Franklin's 1922 bike was based on a 1,000 cc (61 cubic inch) V-twin. It had a lower seat and a more refined shape than other Indian bikes, and the chain drive transmission was replaced with helical gears. Weighing in at 425 pounds, the new bike could go 90 miles per hour, unheard of at that time. This new bike was called the Chief.
But in 1923, Indian went a step or two further. As great as the 1922 Chief was, they made the motor bigger in 1923: 1,200 cc (74 cubic inches). Thus it was in 1923 that Indian came out with the Big Chief.
The other improvement to the motorcycle was that the Big Chief had a side car and a lot of people used this combination for transport. This was convenient because very few people used personal cars as a method of transport. Even though it was possible to fit a side car onto the 1923 Scout, the motorbike which could carry the extra load more efficiently was the Big Chief.
However, according to numerous individual motorcycle riders, the Big Chief's 1,200cc engine was all they needed and it took a short time for the Big Chief to become the best selling Indian motorcycle in 1923. Other changes were to take place to Indian in 1923.
The main changes that occurred include the change of name of the company into Indian Motocycle Company with the word Motorcycle missing the letter "r". Another change was the change of name of the PowerPlus engine into "Standard". This was a way to clarify the truth that the later engine was more powerful than the previous engine.
Whether Indian knew it at the time or not, the Big Chief was a classic. A 1923 Indian Big Chief in great condition can fetch over $40,000 today.
The Prince, the Four, The Chief and the Big Chief all started in the 1920s. This ten year period was important in laying the foundation of Indian motorcycles becoming the most popular in America.
In the 1920s, Indian needed something totally new to replace its Powerplus engine, particularly with Harley Davidson putting out more advanced bikes. To that particular end, Indian charged Charles Franklin, a racer and an engineer, with coming up with new things. Not only were Harley Davidson bikes giving Indian some competition, cars were starting to be mass produced as well.
Franklin's 1922 bike was based on a 1,000 cc (61 cubic inch) V-twin. It had a lower seat and a more refined shape than other Indian bikes, and the chain drive transmission was replaced with helical gears. Weighing in at 425 pounds, the new bike could go 90 miles per hour, unheard of at that time. This new bike was called the Chief.
But in 1923, Indian went a step or two further. As great as the 1922 Chief was, they made the motor bigger in 1923: 1,200 cc (74 cubic inches). Thus it was in 1923 that Indian came out with the Big Chief.
The other improvement to the motorcycle was that the Big Chief had a side car and a lot of people used this combination for transport. This was convenient because very few people used personal cars as a method of transport. Even though it was possible to fit a side car onto the 1923 Scout, the motorbike which could carry the extra load more efficiently was the Big Chief.
However, according to numerous individual motorcycle riders, the Big Chief's 1,200cc engine was all they needed and it took a short time for the Big Chief to become the best selling Indian motorcycle in 1923. Other changes were to take place to Indian in 1923.
The main changes that occurred include the change of name of the company into Indian Motocycle Company with the word Motorcycle missing the letter "r". Another change was the change of name of the PowerPlus engine into "Standard". This was a way to clarify the truth that the later engine was more powerful than the previous engine.
Whether Indian knew it at the time or not, the Big Chief was a classic. A 1923 Indian Big Chief in great condition can fetch over $40,000 today.
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