1914 Indian 7hp Big Twin, Registration no. DS 9235 Engine no. 75F599

Important Pioneer, Vintage, Classic & Collectors' Motorcycles and related Spares and Memorabilia
1914 Indian 7hp Big Twin
Registration no. DS 9235
Engine no. 75F599
Oscar Hedstrom and Oliver Hendee founded the Hendee Manufacturing Company and built the first prototype Indian motorcycle in 1901. That first machine was powered by a single-cylinder, 'F-head' (inlet-over-exhaust) engine that formed part of the 'diamond' frame; in the Indian's case it sloped rearwards to act as the seat tube. An advanced feature in motorcycling's pioneering days, chain drive was used right from the start. The Indian single proved immensely successful and provided the basis for the first of the powerful, large-capacity v-twins for which the marque is best remembered.

Indian's first v-twin appeared in 1907 with an engine clearly derived from that of the single, though mechanical inlet valves - introduced for 1908 - were an early improvement. The twin's rear cylinder continued to form part of the frame until 1909 when a loop frame of the type favoured by rivals Harley-Davidson was adopted. The Springfield company's first 'Big Twin' debuted that same year displacing 60.32ci (988cc) and was up-dated for 1913 with Indian's innovative, leaf-sprung, swinging-arm frame.

A relatively recent restoration, this 7hp Big Twin is finished in traditional Indian Red livery and comes generously equipped with bulb horn, tool bag, rear carrier, and a fork-mounted speedometer by America Clock Co, Boston. Purchased by Adrian Reed in 1995, the machine is offered with Pioneer Certificate (No. 1338), SORN paperwork, a quantity of MoTs (most recent expired 2013), and old/current V5C documents. Adrian always said this Indian had Ricardo cylinder heads (an in-period 'go faster' accessory) which were the reason it went so well.