New World Datsuns...

Just sold the last of my transmissions.

Ran across a deal on an Indian and now totally fixated on it. Been trading emails with the seller. Will need a repaint due to hideous color and a cracked rear fender. Other than that should be pretty straight forward stuff, low miler too. I've always wanted one and might not be able to fight temptation much longer.

Pics?

Still trading emails. Hoping to get something done this weekend.

damn dude. new color, i don't care for the front or rear fender. but that is a sick bike. I'd love to cruise on that.

Um...the front and rear fender is pretty much what makes it an Indian .

So here's the abbreviated history; Indian Motorcycles went bankrupt in 1953 but over the years the name has been sold several times and a few reboots have been attempted. The current "new" Indian is owned by Polaris. This bike is from the Gilroy era that lasted from '99-'03. Essentially, Indian produced the frame and body work but bought almost everything else from established vendors. For example, the engine is an S&S built 88" Harley Evo and the transmission was produced by RevTech. Later in the production run they used the PowerPlus (aka bottlecap) engine that was loosely based on the Evo as well only with stylized cylinders and heads. Lots of these Indian components are Harley based so even though it's an orphan, parts aren't too tough to find. The Chief is bigger than a Harley Softail but smaller than a Roadking. It's honestly kind of a kit bike. Some guys see it a good -- some bad.
Anyway, this one also has the windshield and leather saddlebags. The negatives (aside from the color) are that it needs a new rear caliper (seller has a replacement) and the rear fender is cracked, which is a pretty common problem. There is a reinforcement kit that was dealer installed under a recall back in the day. Since a repaint is in order that doesn't concern me much. Seller has a stack of records from the previous owner.
We're still in the early stages of a deal so anything could happen at this point. Like I said earlier, I've always wanted one of these and since I've had my old white Goldwing for 17 years, I'm overdue for an upgrade. Hoping to pick this up then do some service work on the Goldwing and sell it next spring.

That is cool as heck Jess, hope it finds its way to you

I echo Lou's comment and will add that the only thing I would change about the paint is the purple would be either black or charcoal metal flake. I would even keep the Indian head on the side.

That's just a thought though. Maybe I've been watching too much Counting Cars.

I'm not crazy about the purple and I'm getting waaay ahead of myself with ideas about things I'd like to do to it. If it weren't for the fender crack I could get away with masking and just respraying the purple. I guess I still could temporarily do that but it'll need a complete at some point.
This is another one that's for sale right now. Same year and I love everything about it but he's asking almost 3 times what the purple one is priced at.

DRIVEN » July 15th, 2015, 11:49 am wrote:Ran across a deal on an Indian and now totally fixated on it. Been trading emails with the seller. Will need a repaint due to hideous color and a cracked rear fender. Other than that should be pretty straight forward stuff, low miler too. I've always wanted one and might not be able to fight temptation much longer.

Do it Jess.

I just bought the bike I have been wanting for roughly 18 years. I eyed a Harley FatBoy back in the early 90's, wanted one ever since. Last week I bought a 99 FatBoy with only 2654 miles on it. I started to make thread for and can't seem to get my pictures off my phone to photobucket.

Make that thread! I'm down for a Fatboy build.

Just got back from looking at it. Rougher in person but that was totally expected. Rear tire totally bald and some of the chrome is pitting. Might be a good candidate for some blackout treatment. Also went through the fat stack of records and figured out it actually has between 50-55K instead of the 11K miles it is being advertised with. The seller honestly strikes me more as clueless than shady.
The upside is that the last 3 receipts from the previous owner total over $5000, most of that being an engine rebuild and upgrade to 96". That's close to a $6000 engine. The guy was telling me his wife just lost her job and he just had surgery so bills are stacking up. Ad says firm but in person he didn't seem so firm. Thanked him for his time and said I needed to go price some parts. If I can get him down another $1000 or so I may own this thing.

Spent a couple hours pricing parts and was about to ask him a couple more questions when he sent me an email that it has been sold. Oh well, chapter closed.

One less project for you any how Jess

Talked to my dad today. He said he was breaking down the blue '36 for a repaint. There's a guy down the road from him that does decent work for pretty cheap. Same guy that painted his last bus so he knows what to expect. Won't be show quality but at least it'll all be straight and one color. Pics when I get some.

Nice, so tomorrow?

I really want to repaint my wagon. Probably switch to the BMW white from the Subaru, seems like there is less variation. I like OEM colors, you can get paint pens at the auto parts store.

Skipped Blue Lake today and did this instead...


Had sooo much fun. I haven't been on a dirtbike (other than just around the yard type stuff) in many, many years. My brother and I rode Browns Camp for about 3 hours this morning. Only "parked" it once. We were downhilling a narrow trail and met a guy who was coming up. I was following my brother too close and my borrowed boot slipped off the brake pedal on my borrowed bike -- no brakes! The KTM ran perfect as always. KX ran pretty OK considering it hasn't been run in years.
Today was a good day.

Nice,sounds like it was fun

Really, really was. Now I have to fight the temptation to embrace the hobby.