Indians
- Thread starter pelican
- Start date
I used to work at "British USA" in Houston, Texas (I'm an old friend of Cliff Holland's) and we had an early '40's Indian Chief Bonneville Special on consignment, I never worked up the nerve to try to ride it, from memory:
Left hand throttle (with no return spring)
Right hand shift (HANDSHIFT)
Left foot clutch
Manual timing advance (possibly on the right hand grip)
I just pushed it when I needed it moved.
My BMW is handshift, but it is "normal" other than that (except for the crazy kickstarter lever).
Unclviny
Left hand throttle (with no return spring)
Right hand shift (HANDSHIFT)
Left foot clutch
Manual timing advance (possibly on the right hand grip)
I just pushed it when I needed it moved.
My BMW is handshift, but it is "normal" other than that (except for the crazy kickstarter lever).
Unclviny
My dad had a 36 Indian Chief. Same thing. Left hand throttle, right hand iggy, left foot clutch (rocker, no spring) and right hand shift. He passed away in 07. I have the bike now. He bought it in 39.
I don't ride it much, but for me, it takes a moment to think about what I'm doing
I don't ride it much, but for me, it takes a moment to think about what I'm doing
I don't know of any Harley's that had left hand throttles.
I do know that what everyone calls a suicide shift was never offered stock from the factory.
A suicide shift is a clutch peddle with a spring on it. All Harley and Indian clutches were rockers. You'd push in th eclutch and it would stay there untill you pressed the bottom peddle to engage it again.
I do know that what everyone calls a suicide shift was never offered stock from the factory.
A suicide shift is a clutch peddle with a spring on it. All Harley and Indian clutches were rockers. You'd push in th eclutch and it would stay there untill you pressed the bottom peddle to engage it again.
grandpaul
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The foot clutch with the spring is called a mousetrap or rat trap.
The slap-shifter on HD was original from WAY back in the olden days, early years.
My local machinist collects HDs and Corvettes; he's got at least one from every decade starting from the 30s, and I believe that one has a left-hand throttle.
The slap-shifter on HD was original from WAY back in the olden days, early years.
My local machinist collects HDs and Corvettes; he's got at least one from every decade starting from the 30s, and I believe that one has a left-hand throttle.
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grandpaul said:
They didn't make Corvettes until the 50s.
:mrgreen:
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grandpaul said:
I've seen some that needed one. :mrgreen:
A bunch of my friends are Indian riders and if you are used to them apparently you can ride them after beer and pizza.
I've never cared to change my habits that much so I've not bought one. Shortly I'll be working on the electrical system of one and I hope the owner does not convert me, I have enough problems.
I've never cared to change my habits that much so I've not bought one. Shortly I'll be working on the electrical system of one and I hope the owner does not convert me, I have enough problems.
The early Velocette LE ("Whispering Coppers") had a right-side hand shifter and it wasn't a cosntant mesh gearbox like most bikes. You had to double clutch and blip the throttle on downshifts. Since it was also a RH twistgrip throttle, downshifts were always interesting.
I rode a friend's LE a bit, in the late 1950's, but decided it was too much of a hassle to get one of my own.
I rode a friend's LE a bit, in the late 1950's, but decided it was too much of a hassle to get one of my own.
