Indian Motorcycles

About indian

Indian is an American brand of motorcycles.

The "Indian Motocycle Co." was originally founded as the Hendee Manufacturing Company by George M. Hendee in 1897 to manufacture bicycles. These were initially badged as "Silver King" and "Silver Queen" brands but the name "American Indian", very quickly reduced to simply "Indian", was adopted by Hendee from 1898 onwards because it gave better product recognition in export markets.

Indian motorcycles were manufactured from 1901 to 1953 by a company in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA, initially known as the Hendee Manufacturing Company but which was renamed the Indian Motocycle Manufacturing Company in 1928.

In 1901, a prototype and two production units of the diamond framed Indian Single were successfully designed, built and tested. The first Indian motorcycles, featuring chain drives and streamlined styling, were sold to the public in 1902. In 1903, Indian's co-founder and chief engineer Oscar Hedstrom set the world motorcycle speed record (56 mph).

The Indian factory team took the first three places in the 1911 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy. During the 1910s Indian became the largest manufacturer of motorcycles in the world.

Indian introduced the 221 cc single cylinder two-stroke Model K "Featherweight" in 1916. The Model K had an open cradle frame with the engine as a stressed member and a pivoting front fork that had been used earlier on single-cylinder motorcycles but had mostly been replaced on other Indian motorcycles by a leaf-sprung trailing link fork.

The Model K was manufactured for one year and was replaced in 1917 by the Model O. The Model O had a four-stroke flat-twin engine and a new frame, but retained the pivoting fork at the front. The Model O was manufactured until 1919.

Indian's most popular models were the Scout, made from 1920 to 1946, and the Chief, made from 1922 to 1953.

The Indian Motocycle Manufacturing Company went bankrupt in 1953. A number of successor organizations have perpetuated the name in subsequent years, with limited success. In 2011 Polaris Industries purchased Indian Motorcycles and relocated operations from North Carolina, merging them into existing facilities in Minnesota and Iowa. Since August of 2013, three motorcycle models that capitalize on Indian's traditional styling have been built under the Indian name.

Moto blog

2025 Indian Scout Review – First Ride

One, Two, Three, Four, Five New Indians Photos by Garth Milan, Tim Suttan and Indian Five models (Bobber, Sport, Classic, Super, 101) and two trim levels (Limited, Limited +Tech) comprise the 2025 Indian Scout platform. Mixing and matching the models and trims ups the total variety of bikes to 11 ranging in price from $13k to $17k. Having ridden the five base varieties there’s only one model for me, the 101.

Indian Introduces Super Limited Pursuit Elite and Chieftain Elite For 2023

Only 150 and 175 units will be made, respectively. You don’t get a name like Elite without earning it (or buying it in this case), and today Indian has introduced two model lines to get the Elite treatment: the Pursuit Elite and Chieftain Elite. What makes these models Elite?

2022 Indian FTR1200 Hooligan Race Bike – First Ride

A hooligan in every sense of the word. Credit: Photos by Garth Milan “I like the idea of racing things that were never meant to be raced.” – Roland Sands The brainchild of one Mr. Sands, the Super Hooligan National Championship is all about taking bikes that were never meant to be raced, but may have sporty inclinations, and sticking them on a racetrack – highly modified, of course.

Indian's Offering An Ultra-Limited Challenger RR Race Bike

Only 29 of these exact replicas will be made, for a cool $92,229. Credit: Photos by Garth Milan Fresh off of winning the 2022 MotoAmerica King of the Baggers championship, Indian has gone and done it – Indian is offering a super-exclusive opportunity to actually buy yourself a Challenger RR. This is an exact replica of the bike Tyler O’hara used to win the KotB championship.

2023 Jack Daniel's Indian Chief Bobber Dark Horse First Look

Old No. 7 whiskey mixed right in the paint Indian Motorcycle and Jack Daniel’s have once again partnered together for a limited edition model. Developed once again in partnership with Klock Werks Kustom Cycles, the latest model is based on the Indian Chief Bobber Dark Horse, and will be limited to a production run of just 177 motorcycles worldwide.

Riding Indian's 2022 Championship-Winning Challenger Bagger Race Bike

The race bagger from the other American motorcycle company. Credit: Photos by Garth Milan | Videos by Indian, Edited by Ray Gauger The Harley-Davidson vs. Indian rivalry is a great American classic on par with the likes of Army vs.

2023 Indian Sport Chief Review - First Ride

FOX shocks and Brembo brakes turn the Chief into a Sport Chief, as Indian goes after the Harley-Davidson Low Rider S. Credit: Photos by Garth Milan | Videos by Troy Siahaan, edited by Ray Gauger Indian pulled no punches and left no doubt when it came to the bike it had in its crosshairs when developing its latest model. Usually at press intros, we all know what other model(s) could be considered competition, but it’s very rare to have the host manufacturer come out and say it.

New Indian Pursuit Elite Coming for 2023

No more limited edition Jack Daniel's models? Indian Motorcycle is preparing to give the Pursuit the Elite treatment, adding a new limited edition version of the PowerPlus-engined tourer for 2023. The Indian Pursuit Elite will join the Challenger Elite and the Chieftain Elite in getting custom paint schemes and finishes and select upgrades.

2023 Indian Challenger Elite First Look

For Indian fans who want the ultimate Challenger You know who you are: You love the Indian Challenger, but it just quite isn’t enough for you. You want something super exclusive. Well, Indian’s got good news for you.

2023 Indian FTR Sport First Look

FTR Sport replaces the FTR S Indian Motorcycle revealed a new FTR Sport model that replaces the FTR S in its 2023 lineup. The FTR Sport slots in under the FTR R Carbon but above the FTR Rally and the base FTR. The FTR Sport comes with a number plate above the headlight, a chin fairing, and a passenger seat cover.