Antique Indian Motorcycle 1919 Power Plus

This is a 1919 Indian Power Plus with the rare "airless" tire option. This video was taken in 1991 nearly 30 years after it had last been started. The owner at that time was one of the original founders of the Shakey's Pizza chain here in the Pacific Northwest. He obtained it around 1961 or so and never tried to start or ride it.

He had seen Indian Jeff riding his old bikes around the area and asked him if he could take a look at it and see what it needed to bring her back to life. Jeff cleaned the carb & mag points, put in some fresh gas & oil and it fired up on the third kick!

What you see here is Jeff riding the old Power Plus just a few minutes later for the first time in 30+ years! Original tires that would not hold air and a leather patch stitched over a bad section on the front one.

After the short "test" ride he did replace the tubes and re-stitched the front patch and then went out for a longer test ride. After draining the excess oil from the crankcase it stopped smoking and ran perfectly! Some new tires and a little grease here and there was all it required. Try that with a Honda after nearly 75 years and 30 of those just sitting!

Ride um, don't hide um!

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Indian
• Motorcycle
• Antique
• 1919
• Power
• Plus
• 61

[NardaLee]

Nice. Grandpa used to work at the Indian Factory up here in Springfield and had a few stories to tell about riding the early models.

[anzac2404]

Great story to the bike, we...as in us bike lovers; we are lucky to have such great old blokes who do just that buy a bike & keep it stored, so that one day it will fire to life once again!

Thanks for posting the video, great bit of history for all to share in; what a ride...hand built & built all in America, pity the company didn't last though.

I hope that someone takes it out for a spin on its birthday in 9yrs time, that would be worth getting on video!!!

[garitd]

this is amazing. it sounds soo good. i would ride that if i had it.

[azzkicka100]

ROCK n' ROLL  baby.....

[OLDSKOOL60813]

@picklesdoodleydoo  Man you could sell a million Harleys and buy At least Two or three Indians

[wanderer1031]

all these modern day engineers SUCK! that is quite immpressive and amazing to get that thing going again.

[marinalobo19]

Thanks for sharing, Awesome video!!

BTW There are assured gifts on purchasing Castrol oil for cars and bikes that the dealers may not inform you about so remember to collect them at the time of purchase. Please tell all your friends to collect the same :) Also the scratch card on every promotion pack will make you eligible for a trip to South Africa if you win the lucky draw. Cheers :)

[bikedemon99]

nice one mate

[blokel99]

Nice bike !!

[picklesdoodleydoo]

Indian was the first motorcycle to use a V-Twin engine and still the best sounding if you ask me. All the Harley clone bikes on the road since 1903 have done nothing but copy Indians inventions. I love my Indian Scout and wouldn't trade it for a million Harleys.