My son and I met Alex at one of the Cannonball stops. Alex let him sit on the bike and even revved the engine for him, he was a very nice young man. It was awesome to see all of those old motorcycles running and riding.
All I can say is WOW! Across America on 1912 Indian. Alex has a lot of guts and mechanical knowhow, plus a very understanding wife and family. Thanks for the video Jay.
Charles Damery mechanical know how? is that a joke? this bike is a bike with a motor. notice how its all hand tools. sorry not trying to be mean i think its funny cause this bike is the epitome of basic know how. i bet my girlfriend could rebuild this bike with out me telling her what to do.
You go into any motorcycle shop today and it's like going to a car dealership, first they hook the bike up to a computer to find out what is wrong. It's only the pre computer bikes that are hands on. Remember in 1912 the only road that span the United States was the railroad. and keep a 1912 motorcycle running for 3,000 miles by yourself is worth giving a WOW to.
Charles Damery i think your confused about what i said. so i'll reword it. in 1912 all non electric motorized transportation were 100% basic as you could go from 100% working to completely dismantled and back again with in hours. today you need several screwdrivers flat, torx and philips, some special removal tools and a torque wrench. back when this Indian was made you just turned till you thought it was not going to rotate. this motor is on the same level as Briggs & Stratton mixer motor.
In 2016 you can't walking ot any parts sto and order parts for a 1912 Indian or anything else made in 1912. As for the B&S engine the aluminum pistons used today wouldn't work in a cast iron splash lubrication Indian motor, that why he's got a lbum full of photos , when the engine got hot, he had to pull over and let it cool off, remember he said he only got 300 in a 9 to 10 hour riding day. Plus everything vibrates and wears holes in the fuel tank and everything that wouldn't happen in a modern bike.
Charles Damery your not verry bright! i never said he could use a B&S piston. you neet to stop your opinions as your reading what i posted. as for ordering parts.... your not going to be ordering a piston and having it delivered regardless. this bike as i keep saying and you keep avoiding... the mechanical knowledge needed to repair this bike is minimal. he probably spent more time finding the right Coker Tires then he did learning how to tear the bike down to check the piston. again old equipment is liked cause you can fix it with bailing wire and chewing gum and maybe a few well placed taps with a hammer. again 1912 equipment is still simple as can be.
In approx 1915, as a teenager, my Dad had this Indian motorcycle. One day, he was speeding on a dirt road, hit a hole, the bike stopped, and he went flying over the handle bars, he landed on top of some tall bushes that gently put him on the ground. He got up, went to the motor cycle that was on its side with the motor still running. The throttle must have been wide open. His Mom insisted that he sell it, and use the Model T instead. Did not realize the manual dexterity and complexity that was involved in its operation. Thanks Jay, for allowing us to see and experience the bike that was part of my Dad's life 100 plus years ago.
Your family mustve been pretty well off if your family had a model T in 1915 AND your dad had his own motorbike as a teenager. Also what does your grandma not realizing the complexity of riding a motorcycle have to do with her not wanting your dad to crash and die? If anything the complexity involved in operating increases the risk of crashing LOL
You must be at least 80-90 years old for this story to make sense if your dad was a teenager in 1915. And driving a Model T isn’t that much easier than driving this, if it’s any easier at all.
This guy and his father was on the pickers show, they happen to run into there shop and picked there shop his father was a bikecycle collector he must have had the largest antique bike collection
My hat is off to that young fella that rode that Indian accross country. That is some feet. Thank you Jay for this one its by far one of your best ones. :)
"There was always something to tinker with" That's the most positive way of saying "it broke a lot" I've ever heard. I'm going to use that whenever any of my old cars or motorbikes has an issue.
This has to be my favourite Jay Leno video. Great bike, great guest, great sense of adventure, then that moment with the moped overtaking jay is just a cherry on top.
Alex!!! I have some great pictures of your adventure. It was a pleasure to be there to support your journey. You and you bike were so old school! Loved this video. I'll never forget you using a white towel to flag down other riders to give you a hand as a sign of distress. Also pulled up next to you at a stop light and watched you grab a tool from your mounted tools box on top of the tank and reach down to make an adjustment. Placed the tool back and took off on green. You were constantly tinkering and listening.
Love the contrast from 12 cylinder techno euro super cars to an ancient single cylinder indian that has to be push started and that he can barely get running! ...and the mini bike passing them is priceless!
THIS is the essence of motorcycling! BEST Jay's Garage video EVER! Great presentation! Thank you Alex and Jay! I've always wanted to ride my little 2-stroke, 50cc, 7 HP, 5-speed HONDA MB5 cross-country, and this is inspiration! Not that I would really ever do it, but what a cool thought. It is often said that it is more fun to ride a slow bike 'fast', than a fast bike at any speed! I have several motorcycles, from my 50cc MB5 'screamer', to a Honda Gold Wing, and the pure fun and joy I get (as well as the surprised stares and comments) as I whiz by on my small MB5, sounding like a chain saw on steroids, shifting gears like a demon just to stay in the mini-powerband, is PRICELESS!
Check out this guy on the American pickers tv show. In that show the banter between him and Mike about the old bikes is great tv to watch. Great video JAY , thanks ❗️🇺🇸
I get the impression that half the time Jay isnt even listening, he's just going through the motions and thinking about riding or driving whatever vehicle he's featuring after the interview.
How could you not like this? Congratulations on running the Cannonball. This video shows just how far we have come. I was hysterical when the minibike came roaring by.
Brilliant, and great to hear about the Cannonball expedition he did on this 104 year old machine! Kudos to Jay for not getting too frustrated with the left hand throttle, its always an interesting experience when you're trying to tame an unfamiliar beast! :D Great vid.
Every time I see the Jay Leno's Garage on my mail I think, this will be a boring episode. But when I've seen it, it always ends with a big smile on my face. unbelievable broadcasts from Jay, many thanks from a Dutchman I really enjoy it again and again
wow, this was a great upload. The fact that a 1912 Indian Motorcycle could still ride 104 years later across the country with most of the original parts not replaced is very impressive. Motorcycles must have been a new thing in 1912, since Indian was doing big business at the time. That motorcycle sounded good. A lot of patience is required for super old bikes, and cars. Built to last.
This reminded me of the Mr Bean film when Bean steals that old France guys bike & goes off a like 5 mph the guys walks up to him take it back & rides off
Brilliant episode. Loved it. Thanks Jay. Alex seems like a really nice bloke. He certainly wasn't lost for words! I was told that Indian motorcycles sold quite well here in Australia in the day. I don't know if they are actually descended from Alex's bike but I notice that current model (2016) Indians are being sold here too.
I was just at the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and they had one of these. No matter how much I looked at it I couldn't figure out what the hell was going on with the controls. Awesome video, and just an amazing feat to do the Cannonball on that bike.
Jay Iam so impressed in the way that you let us all in on a slice of your life. Your allways giving back. I truly felt like I was helping at lest hoping for the bike too pop and take off!, I dont think you would gave in, settle for nothing less. Thats a good friend for stopping by!!
I love that people are passionate about these machines. Harley/Indian, it doesn't matter really. Just have fun! Great content Leno, thanks for sharing.
A great episode and top marks to Alex for not only riding the Cannonball but preserving this piece of iconic American history.With regards from the UK.
It's quite cool to see this now. Over here in the Netherlands we now have "Harley and the Davidsons" on Discovery Channel which is a series about how Harley Davidson was created and what happened back in those days during their rivalry with Indian and such. So yeah, it's cool to see this video around the same time that series is going on. :)
Congratulations Alex. I loved this episode and how it shows that Jay isn't only fascinated with expensive cars and bikes. He and you are true historians for not just preserving history but keeping it alive. I love collecting. However there's something special bringing something back to life and experience it as it was meant to be, without going crazy and modifying or modernizing it.
That was great! Alex if you read these comments your awesome for even trying the Cannonball, let alone finishing. That must have been one hell of an adventure!
Great show Jay. A 3000 plus mile trip on a 100 year old, leading edge of technology Indian is completely insane. Now I dont feel alone. You all are nuts!
Wonderful to see that old bike still capable of such an effort after more than a hundred years. Thank you for presenting it to us and congratulations to the owner for his adventure.
The best show he has ever done. A real machine. More fun than every other machine he has had put together. Simplicity + lack of ego= fun. This is a machine made to ride. No parts needed as everything is made as you go. The days of motoring magic.
So unlike the newer over the top machines eg You Tube 1915 SCOTT SQUIRREL VIDEO 120613 oh well time get back the shed and lay a few box spanners on my old (t)rusty German(east) 2 stroke and dream of bigger things
One of my favourite episodes ever. The young man seems to be a really genuine sort of person and my respect for Jay which was already high increased as there was no polished "Hollywood" rubbish here, warts and all which is what the fun of vintage is anyway!
One of the best videos Jay has put on his site, it is always fun to watch Jay talk to young car and bike enthusiasts, especially this remarkable young man who just completed an adventure of a lifetime. Thank you Jay! Keep more like this coming!
I drove up to Kingman to meet everyone that year I remember seeing Alex pedal in to the hotel around 5:30. I can't imagine doing what he did! A good buddy from New Mexico was competing and I met up with him, plus meeting with John Pfiefer and so many others. Cannonballers really are something else!
pyro1324 if that's your idea of fun go buy a nice used harley you will spend more time fixing it then riding. me on the other hand i enjoy riding more then working on motorcycles.
I'll say I think this has been one of your better you tube videos Jay. It's just so enjoyable to listen to one of your guests who is so enthusiastic and passionate about their bike. Awesome video, thank you.
When I was a kid, way back in the 70's, our neighbor had & regularly rode an old Indian Chief. Not sure of the year but it was late 40's or early 50's. Anyways, someone tried to resurrect the Indian name & they made a line of small dirt bikes. My father got me a little 50cc Indian because our neighbor had that Chief. He thought it would be cute to get me a bike with the Indian name on it. I wanted a Honda MR50 but that little Indian did great until I outgrew it. It wasn't a real Indian bike, actually, I think they were made in China, but I sure do wish I had of held onto that thing. They had two 50CC models. They had a mini-bike style & they had the rarer model that looked more like a real motorcycle, just smaller & that's the one I had. Anyone know for sure where those little dirt bikes were made? I was under the impression they were US made for many years but I seem to recall reading an article several years ago that said they were made in China.
drammensveien1 This motivated me to do some research. The model I had was the JX-50. They were made in Taiwan & Indian used several different motors. Choo Choo is correct, the 50 I had used an Italian Morini engine but Indian also used some Japanese motors. I was mistaken about China.
shananagans5 According to China, you were right ;-) China considers Taiwan a part of China. Taiwan was that part of China Mao Zedong never did conquer.
I know lots of kids take after their parents... or share a particular hobby. But what are the chances this kid would fall so head-over-heels for his dad's bike that he'd ride it cross-country!? Alex is the perfect custodian for this motorcycle; he has that rare combination of passion, the desire to learn about it, and the patience to deal with its obvious quirks. Not a machine for the faint of heart. Well done, Mr. Trepanier.
What a badass. 3000 miles on that thing? Wow! Also, getting smoked by the kid on the minibike was pure comedy gold!
That was hilarious :-D
@@catey62 17:44 => Look at Jay´s face 😂
Yes was bril
MINI BIKE 😎😎😎
Do you think it was set up ?
This guy's enthusiasm is infectious!
HUGE Props to him for actually riding it on the cannon ball, that's insane !
Certified mental
Is the Cannon Ball a specific route on certain roads?
I had Me Gusta stuck in my head the whole day because of you!
That was my favorite video in Jays collection.
+Kenneth Swift. Nah dude. Jay just got an excellent workout in.. Its good for someone his age.
2 epic chins in the same room together at the same time. Astounding!
James Garvey thats the first thing my daughter said when i starded this episode she said i didn't no leno had a kid
Scientists say this type of chin alignment only happens once in our lifetime
Crimson Chin and Chin Jr
Hey he could be Lenos co host, they could dress them alike 😁
17:45 when the mini bike goes by......priceless
That look from Jay Leno like "You gotta be f***ing kidding me!"
I'm going to guess that was staged.
#thuglife
Josh Washington Perhaps by the guy on the mini bike. If it were staged they'd have commented on it, some witty punchline. Otherwise, what's the point?
I'm still wondering if that was Freiburger :P
My son and I met Alex at one of the Cannonball stops. Alex let him sit on the bike and even revved the engine for him, he was a very nice young man. It was awesome to see all of those old motorcycles running and riding.
That’s a sweet memory
Glad your boy got a cool memory and history lesson out the deal
It's all about kid's to get them intrasted in the sport or if anything history that will lead to many other thing's in life.
@@snoopu2601 yes sir cannon ball racersbare the best racers they understand what their doing and their car nore then f1 or rally drivers
The oil line that fractured should be a warranty claim,, it is only 104 years old!
I bet somebody's got one still in Cosmoline somewhere.
I think that would be prorated warranty.
Should be covered under lemon law.
Random Person Brilliant!
Talk about not standing by your product. Pisssshhhhh.
He's got my vote for best Jay Leno's Garage guest.
And best hat also.
totally agree!
All I can say is WOW! Across America on 1912 Indian. Alex has a lot of guts and mechanical knowhow, plus a very understanding wife and family. Thanks for the video Jay.
Charles Damery mechanical know how? is that a joke? this bike is a bike with a motor. notice how its all hand tools.
sorry not trying to be mean i think its funny cause this bike is the epitome of basic know how. i bet my girlfriend could rebuild this bike with out me telling her what to do.
You go into any motorcycle shop today and it's like going to a car dealership, first they hook the bike up to a computer to find out what is wrong. It's only the pre computer bikes that are hands on. Remember in 1912 the only road that span the United States was the railroad. and keep a 1912 motorcycle running for 3,000 miles by yourself is worth giving a WOW to.
Charles Damery i think your confused about what i said. so i'll reword it. in 1912 all non electric motorized transportation were 100% basic as you could go from 100% working to completely dismantled and back again with in hours. today you need several screwdrivers flat, torx and philips, some special removal tools and a torque wrench. back when this Indian was made you just turned till you thought it was not going to rotate. this motor is on the same level as Briggs & Stratton mixer motor.
In 2016 you can't walking ot any parts sto and order parts for a 1912 Indian or anything else made in 1912. As for the B&S engine the aluminum pistons used today wouldn't work in a cast iron splash lubrication Indian motor, that why he's got a lbum full of photos , when the engine got hot, he had to pull over and let it cool off, remember he said he only got 300 in a 9 to 10 hour riding day. Plus everything vibrates and wears holes in the fuel tank and everything that wouldn't happen in a modern bike.
Charles Damery your not verry bright! i never said he could use a B&S piston. you neet to stop your opinions as your reading what i posted.
as for ordering parts.... your not going to be ordering a piston and having it delivered regardless. this bike as i keep saying and you keep avoiding... the mechanical knowledge needed to repair this bike is minimal. he probably spent more time finding the right Coker Tires then he did learning how to tear the bike down to check the piston.
again old equipment is liked cause you can fix it with bailing wire and chewing gum and maybe a few well placed taps with a hammer. again 1912 equipment is still simple as can be.
What a nice guy. What a really nice guy. And what an accomplishment and he's a stickler for keeping original. That's what matters.
this is the first time iv'e seen jay out-talked !
And very nearly out-chinned as well. :)
Lmao!!!!!
He does have a lot to say about that bike
Proud that he got it from his father. I think in return his father would be proud of him.
Yeah forreal
In approx 1915, as a teenager, my Dad had this Indian motorcycle. One day, he was speeding on a dirt road, hit a hole, the bike stopped, and he went flying over the handle bars, he landed on top of some tall bushes that gently put him on the ground. He got up, went to the motor cycle that was on its side with the motor still running. The throttle must have been wide open. His Mom insisted that he sell it, and use the Model T instead. Did not realize the manual dexterity and complexity that was involved in its operation. Thanks Jay, for allowing us to see and experience the bike that was part of my Dad's life 100 plus years ago.
Your family mustve been pretty well off if your family had a model T in 1915 AND your dad had his own motorbike as a teenager.
Also what does your grandma not realizing the complexity of riding a motorcycle have to do with her not wanting your dad to crash and die? If anything the complexity involved in operating increases the risk of crashing LOL
@@Purebliss007 He meant that he didn't realize the complexity, not his dad's mother.
William Spearshake , you have a comprehension problem if you didn’t understand his comment then you don’t deserve too.
You must be at least 80-90 years old for this story to make sense if your dad was a teenager in 1915. And driving a Model T isn’t that much easier than driving this, if it’s any easier at all.
if your dad was a teenager in 1915, how old are you??
Jay looked like his dad was teaching him how to ride a bicycle for the first time hahahah
The way he talked to jay was exactly like he was teaching a child
This guy and his father was on the pickers show, they happen to run into there shop and picked there shop his father was a bikecycle collector he must have had the largest antique bike collection
Very captivating, nice to see such old bikes still around and ridden. Well done!
Haha u famous but No likes haha
Jeez this guy gives a great interview! Usually people freeze up
You're right and I would be his worst interview ever.
Dude I would tie for worst. I mean I'd just be staring at Jay's cars drooling the whole time
Their chins are on even keel and so no fear was felt
He has been on American Pickers a couple of times. His dad sold to Mike and Frank before he passed away.
The decal from their store in on the bike.
Finally, an interviewee where JAY couldn't get in a word edgeways.
Jay is exhausted? Alex ran a mile pushing!😜
Oh you can tell how sweet this guy is when Jay brings up his wife. What a nice fella.
One of your best guests ever. Well spoken. Thanks Jay.
My hat is off to that young fella that rode that Indian accross country. That is some feet. Thank you Jay for this one its by far one of your best ones. :)
Yup, this was great. Over 100 years ago when the only alternative was a horse this was high tech.
The horse was easier and cheaper. Surprised these caught on. Anyway, that guy must have IRON BALLS!
Yes, but if you get stranded in the middle of the desert you can't kill and eat your motorcycle! Lol
Martin Collmer they had cars 100 years ago steam, electric and gas
horses age though. @@Roadstar1602
Poor guy pushed him halfway cross LA.
GreatBeyond74 uhhhhh... 😐
Pushing Jay Leno for a few miles will help you lose weight and stay healthy!
Good thing he ran across the US to get in shape first!
Lmfao
"There was always something to tinker with"
That's the most positive way of saying "it broke a lot" I've ever heard. I'm going to use that whenever any of my old cars or motorbikes has an issue.
This has to be my favourite Jay Leno video. Great bike, great guest, great sense of adventure, then that moment with the moped overtaking jay is just a cherry on top.
Alex!!! I have some great pictures of your adventure. It was a pleasure to be there to support your journey. You and you bike were so old school! Loved this video. I'll never forget you using a white towel to flag down other riders to give you a hand as a sign of distress. Also pulled up next to you at a stop light and watched you grab a tool from your mounted tools box on top of the tank and reach down to make an adjustment. Placed the tool back and took off on green. You were constantly tinkering and listening.
I keep saying this, but this is one of my favorites!
Sail Before Sunset.... Oh it is, is it?
Mine too
This definitely goes onto the "best of" list. I like them all but I'd take one of these episodes over several megabuck super car ones any day.
Love the contrast from 12 cylinder techno euro super cars to an ancient single cylinder indian that has to be push started and that he can barely get running! ...and the mini bike passing them is priceless!
Jay I hope you bought Alex lunch and as many beers he could drink for pushing you down the road! LOL Loved it. Again what a great guy!
What a great motorcycle and an owner who's not scared to use it!
kid on the doodlebug totally stole the scene.
Favorite show so far. What a great guest Alex was. Entertaining, kind, humble and all around such a nice guy. Jay more like this please.
THIS is the essence of motorcycling! BEST Jay's Garage video EVER! Great presentation! Thank you Alex and Jay! I've always wanted to ride my little 2-stroke, 50cc, 7 HP, 5-speed HONDA MB5 cross-country, and this is inspiration! Not that I would really ever do it, but what a cool thought. It is often said that it is more fun to ride a slow bike 'fast', than a fast bike at any speed! I have several motorcycles, from my 50cc MB5 'screamer', to a Honda Gold Wing, and the pure fun and joy I get (as well as the surprised stares and comments) as I whiz by on my small MB5, sounding like a chain saw on steroids, shifting gears like a demon just to stay in the mini-powerband, is PRICELESS!
ahh yes the MB5. what a gem. you're lucky to own one, they are quite rare to come by nowadays
agree on that mate ... small is always BIG ...
Check out this guy on the American pickers tv show. In that show the banter between him and Mike about the old bikes is great tv to watch. Great video JAY , thanks ❗️🇺🇸
How have I missed this episode. Awesome in every way
Jay your a Man's Man. Love all your shows of vintage motorcycles and cars and the new stuff as well.
I get the impression that half the time Jay isnt even listening, he's just going through the motions and thinking about riding or driving whatever vehicle he's featuring after the interview.
How could you not like this? Congratulations on running the Cannonball. This video shows just how far we have come. I was hysterical when the minibike came roaring by.
Brilliant, and great to hear about the Cannonball expedition he did on this 104 year old machine! Kudos to Jay for not getting too frustrated with the left hand throttle, its always an interesting experience when you're trying to tame an unfamiliar beast! :D Great vid.
What a charismatic, delightful guest! His enthusiasm is quite infectious! Jay needs more people like this guy on his program.
Very Cool Story, kuddos to Alex Trepanier & Jay for featuring this original story. Best kind of Jay Leno's Garage !
Every time I see the Jay Leno's Garage on my mail I think, this will be a boring episode.
But when I've seen it, it always ends with a big smile on my face. unbelievable broadcasts from Jay, many thanks from a Dutchman I really enjoy it again and again
This is great, not only the obvious but also the young fellow showing Jay how it's done and teaching him.
wow, this was a great upload. The fact that a 1912 Indian Motorcycle could still ride 104 years later across the country with most of the original parts not replaced is very impressive. Motorcycles must have been a new thing in 1912, since Indian was doing big business at the time. That motorcycle sounded good. A lot of patience is required for super old bikes, and cars. Built to last.
Amazing and out of the world. A big thank you from INDIA :-)
Ha Ha, because it' an INDIAN?
Great video. Kudos to Jay for not cutting out the part about getting started on it and how much of a challenge it is initially.
"Hi, can I ride your motorcycle?" "May I see your Engineering credentials, please?"
Beat video ever seeing Jay being push started. Such an amazing guy
This guy looks like he could be Jay's son. haha
It gave a great image of a son pushing a father on a bike
If Obama had a son.....
Just what I was thinking! Lol
I loved this one, Jay. Respect to Alex and thanks for carrying on the tradition.
This reminded me of the Mr Bean film when Bean steals that old France guys bike & goes off a like 5 mph the guys walks up to him take it back & rides off
I love this dude!! Seems like he really enjoys that motorcycle!!
Brilliant episode. Loved it. Thanks Jay. Alex seems like a really nice bloke. He certainly wasn't lost for words! I was told that Indian motorcycles sold quite well here in Australia in the day. I don't know if they are actually descended from Alex's bike but I notice that current model (2016) Indians are being sold here too.
I was just at the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and they had one of these. No matter how much I looked at it I couldn't figure out what the hell was going on with the controls. Awesome video, and just an amazing feat to do the Cannonball on that bike.
I did 230 mile trip on a 50cc 1985 vespa that took 13 hours it was hell props to him
Jay Iam so impressed in the way that you let us all in on a slice of your life. Your allways giving back. I truly felt like I was helping at lest hoping for the bike too pop and take off!, I dont think you would gave in, settle for nothing less. Thats a good friend for stopping by!!
This is too cool. love the story of it all
I love that people are passionate about these machines. Harley/Indian, it doesn't matter really. Just have fun! Great content Leno, thanks for sharing.
Alex seems like a cool guy, I like his enthusiasm.
A great episode and top marks to Alex for not only riding the Cannonball but preserving this piece of iconic American history.With regards from the UK.
It's quite cool to see this now.
Over here in the Netherlands we now have "Harley and the Davidsons" on Discovery Channel which is a series about how Harley Davidson was created and what happened back in those days during their rivalry with Indian and such.
So yeah, it's cool to see this video around the same time that series is going on. :)
Absolutely love this episode. Love it. There should be more like this.
I thought this was a classified ad for a very old South Asian person looking for love.
You should've written jokes for Jay on the Tonight Show...
Ba - dum - bump
Congratulations Alex. I loved this episode and how it shows that Jay isn't only fascinated with expensive cars and bikes. He and you are true historians for not just preserving history but keeping it alive. I love collecting. However there's something special bringing something back to life and experience it as it was meant to be, without going crazy and modifying or modernizing it.
This might be my favorite episode.
nathan case your favorite is what mother tells you your favorite is ringworm
His enthusiasm is great.
Hilarious! loved it Jay, loved when you turned your head when that minibike came by.
What a cool bike. Love the simplicity.
Great video and the owner of the bike was really good to listen to!
That was great! Alex if you read these comments your awesome for even trying the Cannonball, let alone finishing. That must have been one hell of an adventure!
Great Video. Saw this Guy and his Dad on American Pickers.
His dad passed away a couple years ago.
I THOUGHT That's who that was.
Wes R I was about to comment that I had seen this guy somewhere before. Thanks for clearing it up. Would have driven me crazy trying to think of it.
Yeah, he's been on American Pickers a couple times.
Did the American pickers guy try to buy this Indian?
Great show Jay. A 3000 plus mile trip on a 100 year old, leading edge of technology Indian is completely insane. Now I dont feel alone. You all are nuts!
Great show! Those old bikes are great!
Man, you've got to be young to accomplish the Cannonball on this bike!! Hats off to you!
This guy is a cool young man, Left hand throttle is second nature to me, no different to driving right hand drive car on the right side, Easy,
Wonderful to see that old bike still capable of such an effort after more than a hundred years. Thank you for presenting it to us and congratulations to the owner for his adventure.
Today that would be called a moped. Great little history lesson. Thanks for sharing this.
Actually a motorized bicycle.
yup. I have a motorized bicycle. Looks the same except more moderner
The best show he has ever done. A real machine. More fun than every other machine he has had put together. Simplicity + lack of ego= fun. This is a machine made to ride. No parts needed as everything is made as you go. The days of motoring magic.
So unlike the newer over the top machines eg You Tube 1915 SCOTT SQUIRREL VIDEO 120613 oh well time get back the shed and lay a few
box spanners on my old (t)rusty German(east) 2 stroke and dream of
bigger things
Great interview, awesome bike.
There is too much to love about this video. I laughed out loud almost continuously from about the fifteen minute mark on... Thank you, Jay.
" I don't wanna step on it"
Second later steps on it
One of my favourite episodes ever. The young man seems to be a really genuine sort of person and my respect for Jay which was already high increased as there was no polished "Hollywood" rubbish here, warts and all which is what the fun of vintage is anyway!
Having a hard time wiping the smile off of my face LOL
One of the best videos Jay has put on his site, it is always fun to watch Jay talk to young car and bike enthusiasts, especially this remarkable young man who just completed an adventure of a lifetime. Thank you Jay! Keep more like this coming!
Another great show and the history lesson was outstanding.
I can only imagine how hard it was to ride with dirt and muddy roads of the 1900's . Thanks for sharing this one hell of a gem.
Good one.. Nothing bad to say about this episode.. Nicely done.
alex is such a good sport. i love his spirit.
My dad bought a 1912 Indian with a side car and he courted my mom going out on dates in Sacramento, CA.
I drove up to Kingman to meet everyone that year I remember seeing Alex pedal in to the hotel around 5:30. I can't imagine doing what he did! A good buddy from New Mexico was competing and I met up with him, plus meeting with John Pfiefer and so many others. Cannonballers really are something else!
Old is Gold
unless you want something that actually works.
but then you won't get the connection you get when fixing it with your own hands.
pyro1324 if that's your idea of fun go buy a nice used harley you will spend more time fixing it then riding. me on the other hand i enjoy riding more then working on motorcycles.
Looks like this bike works. Sit down.
Thank you Jay for bringing a little bit of Indian history to life! I'm still smiling.
Got to give credit for Jay hanging in there with the start up.
Yeah, and not having it edited out either
Loved this video! You can see his connection to his dad through this old old motorcycle, makes it a beautiful story.
Meanwhile, other guys that are 28 are wearing buns, afraid of words written in chalk, have a "degree" in art history, and work at a coffee shop.
This guy is my Hero. As those bikes can ruin your back and kidneys from all that vibration. And to ride one 3100 miles is insane!
Great Bike.
Back when going slow was fast enough because you were busy controlling every aspect of the bike
I'll say I think this has been one of your better you tube videos Jay. It's just so enjoyable to listen to one of your guests who is so enthusiastic and passionate about their bike. Awesome video, thank you.
When I was a kid, way back in the 70's, our neighbor had & regularly rode an old Indian Chief. Not sure of the year but it was late 40's or early 50's. Anyways, someone tried to resurrect the Indian name & they made a line of small dirt bikes. My father got me a little 50cc Indian because our neighbor had that Chief. He thought it would be cute to get me a bike with the Indian name on it. I wanted a Honda MR50 but that little Indian did great until I outgrew it. It wasn't a real Indian bike, actually, I think they were made in China, but I sure do wish I had of held onto that thing. They had two 50CC models. They had a mini-bike style & they had the rarer model that looked more like a real motorcycle, just smaller & that's the one I had.
Anyone know for sure where those little dirt bikes were made? I was under the impression they were US made for many years but I seem to recall reading an article several years ago that said they were made in China.
Morini. Italian.
Dirt bike made in China in the 70s, that sounds strange. China was just a third world country at that time.
drammensveien1 This motivated me to do some research. The model I had was the JX-50. They were made in Taiwan & Indian used several different motors. Choo Choo is correct, the 50 I had used an Italian Morini engine but Indian also used some Japanese motors.
I was mistaken about China.
shananagans5
According to China, you were right ;-)
China considers Taiwan a part of China. Taiwan was that part of China Mao Zedong never did conquer.
I know lots of kids take after their parents... or share a particular hobby. But what are the chances this kid would fall so head-over-heels for his dad's bike that he'd ride it cross-country!? Alex is the perfect custodian for this motorcycle; he has that rare combination of passion, the desire to learn about it, and the patience to deal with its obvious quirks.
Not a machine for the faint of heart. Well done, Mr. Trepanier.