This is a true love for a classic machine that most bike people don't understand. Love what you are doing with her. Each piece of rust, dent, even bastardized part tells a story of this particular bike. Man, it's beautiful.
There is nothing wrong with standard maintenance to keep the bike safe such as new tires and brakes. It doesn't compromise the authenticity of the bike as long as you just replace them with newer, less worn but similar parts. Not on a moral high horse or anything but enjoying and riding a classic bike in regular traffic comes with a responsibility for other people's safety as well. Just saying.
Actually a good rider on that bike is most likely a LOT safer than todays LOUSY DISTRACTED wannabe race car drivers in new cars. I ride on the street on a daily basis on a 1989 Harley FXRS Low Rider, and it is the car drivers who need to take responsibility for THEIR lack of driving ability.
The first bike that I ever owned was a '48 Indian Chief. I bought it for $75. in 1962, and yes, I rode it home with a huge smile on my face! I'd so love to have it back agIn!!!
I totally appreciate your dedication to keeping it as is. My granddad left his 48 parked in his garage when he died in 1980. It looks like my dad and my uncle are ready to let me pull it up next to my shovel head and bring it back to life after all these years. Thanks for the rundown on your bike.
I can't believe there are no comments here - pro OR con, for that matter! This is one of my favorite videos ever... getting a tour of this Kentucky barn survivor keeps the dream alive for so many of us that treasures are still out there, waiting to be found. "Kudos" doesn't begin to describe how much admiration I feel for Michael - you're a true motorcycle enthusiast and I appreciate your commitment to the proud patina this incredible machine has earned.
People telling you that you need to change or "restore" that bike don't understand or appreciate art. They need to mind their own business. Beautiful bike bro!!
Original un-restored is something I usually expect of vehicles that were well kept and in continual use for most of there life or stored in well preserved condition. The story this motorcycle tells is as much from decay as it is wear. She was well worn for some time and then neglected for perhaps even longer. The decision whether or not to restore such a beast is very personal. The most important thing any one can do with such a relic is revive it. Which is what has happened here. Such machines are meant to ride and I think it is wonderful to see she gets ridden.
I like the fact it's original, only replace what absolutely needs replacing. You get to ride and see the same exact bits and pieces and paint and touch what the first owner did. Can't replace that.
The bike is yours, you can do what you want with it. There’s always going to be commentators but you’re the boss. Besides, once you start taking it apart, it’s a long and arduous process. Stuff breaks and snaps and all the aftermarket parts are costly because they’re not mass produced. Back in the day, guys just used whatever they had to keep a bike running. They went into their tool shed or barn for it. The beauty about original Indian “Motocycles” is that it has all standard bearings and fine thread bolts and hardware, so stuff doesn’t rattle loose too easily. You can go to a standard bearing/ hardware supply store and pick up what you need. By the way I have a 47 Chief Roadmaster with Sidecar that I mostly run the bike as solo. I’m rebuilding it this year and have owned it since 1985. It’s nowhere near original, but it’s a runner. I’m a Charter member of the AMCA, and sometime I catch hell because it’s not authentic, but I just keep on riding….. Naw.. you should keep it the way it is if you like… because nobody, absolutely nobody has one like it. You could pick it out of a crowd at Sturgis 😅😊👍
I'm somebody who has always had funky un-restored vehicles, not because that's what I prefer,but because that's all I could afford. I'm close to finishing up a semi-custom restoration of a 50's BSA that has been near daily transportation for about 12 years. For years I took pride in having the funkiest dirtiest un-restored original bike at a meet. Now that I'm close to being done rebuilding, re-painting, and re-plating everything (yes it was original paint) I'm now enjoying it more than ever!
What a great idea. Interesting to note how very little in the way of fundamentals has changed, in the 60+ years since this one got made. I had some old British bikes, and the real enthusiasts just polished the rust, it's a whole different way of looking at maintaining an old machine, and yes, to me it does retain more of the story - and hey, it could be restored anytime. Like the rear 'jampot' suspension, a tiny little BSA called the 'Bantam' had these, we found it literally buried up to its saddle in a small town in Scotland, and got it running. I dreaded taking the engine apart, having only done a 4-stroke Japanese OHC before? Then, I saw the little two-stroke on the bench in my bedroom (! thanks mum, you were great) and it amounted to about 6 pieces including the 3-speed gearbox. A lovely bike you have, in a world of samey copies, every bike now seems to have a 'Y' frame etc and no mudguards.
What's not to understand, how else can you ride a bike and imagine the previous owners. It's cool to be able to see, ride and touch the very same bike others before you did. As an earlier commenter said, don't worry about putting some new bolts and what not on there as you are the caretaker, years from now somebody else will wonder about you as an owner and who you were.
First I want to say what a true hero you are for appreciating history. The only thing i would have done is replace the cables to new cables and restored the maintenance parts with new ones. Reason being for safety and I would have restored the bikes functions back to the original positions. However I want to Thank you for being such an incredable guardian to such a beautiful piece of history and I wish you the best.
There's a product called "Liquid Tape" they sell at Autozone, it's like a quick dry black tar for patching wires, $10 a bottle. Nylons separate and shred before they blow out so I think you're cool cruising around
rust is not a cancer once you take away the elements that cause it it stops and does not continue to spread , all my stuff is original unrestored and runs fine for the past 20 years or so . Hey nice bike by the way
This man is a philosopher! He's right. The bike tells a story, and keeping it as-is let's us see it and hear it as-was. "Like trading in your grandparents"...well said!
I agree 100%. Enjoy the classic Indian just like it is. They are only original once. If it was mine I would just keep it maintained and leave the beautiful patina.
When I was about 15 or 16 yrs old, I had a chance to buy an old Indian for about $500. I had mowed the old man's lawn for about two years when he asked me to buy it. But I didn't have the dough to buy her. She was a beaut & all original. Man, I'm kicking myself in the ass for not buying it!!!
I have a 1947 that is more or less original, at least the way my dad left it in about 1965. Just had the engine and transmission rebuilt and I'm getting ready to get back on the road. If I make it to California, I should look you up. Very nicely made video. I'm for keeping the bike like you have it. Nice job!
I do the same thing to the two Indians I had I learned on a 1933 tank shift Harley so I swop the throttle to the right and my shifter to the left like a Harley so I didn't kill myself. I just picked up a 1946 Chief thata all there with all matching numbers. I got the motor and transmission all rebuilt now along with the forks. (As of Sept we 2022)
Why deliberately rust bolts and such that you need to add to the bike? You're a part of its history now, do what fixes you need to do so the next guy down the line in another sixty years can wonder at the neat stainless bolts someone added here and there. I'd reupholster the seat too. :D
You see perfection, You see a grandmother . Youe see magic , you see an eldery life ,you see perfection .Paint it ,don't paint it ,it's yours do what you wish with it .
So he is keeping a total rusty no upkeep bike. Restoring a bike keeps everything in good running condition plus repainting it stops the deterioration of the metal parts. This bike is just going to keep rusting away. He eventually going to blow up the motor from heat and corrosion. The cables are going to snap while he is riding it.
he will ruin whatever he thinks he is lubing with WD40 . I did on a new Harley . I was out on arun gone all weekend and I notice that my chain oiler had stopped working , one of the guys threw a can of wd40 to me and every time we stopped I gave it a real good squirt . When I got back home I had a family member passed away,so I jumped on my bike and rode to Nashville ,!50 mi. so that was about 400 mi since I started using WD , Ultimitely all that stuff dried out my chain and the wheel bearing on my rear wheel . I almost had a serious wreck on I-40 when my wheel bearing froze to my axle, Never again will I use that sh*t on antthing , good ole oil is best for lubing. Honest Injun!!!
@@zookster4701 WD 40 is not the same as a lubricant, that's what most people believe. Better use WD 40 to clean surfaces and dirt clogged spaces, and then apply grease or oil.
Wd40 has a very high moisture content, find something else. Try a gun shop for suggestions, as they always have a gun being repaired due to wd40 exposure.
Lucky bastard, i would love a bike like that. Personally i would have had the frame checked for wear and cracks and had the frame and all metal repainted original colours and have the motor cleaned up and replaced some safety parts. I get the history and the story that probably goes with it, but why not clean it up so that it lasts another hundred years. I actually found a 1940 Indian chief, thinking about buying it and bringing it over from Poland
Fantastic Bike, I love the original everything. Like you said Unmolested! How did you learn so much about Motorcycles, especially "old" Indians? BTW: Great TH-cam video.
Replace the wiring harness with a new harness the last thing you want is a short or a fire but cloth coat them so they look old and you can also whether things with paint you could paint cracks you can paint chips you can paint all kinds of weathering so you can have a lot of new parts but people won't be able to tell because the authentically look old
It's nice to see original wear & rust . But you are the new caretaker of a indian that has special features for this model .You can make some change by moving things like clutch & throttle back like indian had them , make it original indian features . It would be good to have generator & light working . Do not change the cosmetic look ,nice ride.
This is a true love for a classic machine that most bike people don't understand. Love what you are doing with her. Each piece of rust, dent, even bastardized part tells a story of this particular bike. Man, it's beautiful.
I love it and understand keeping it original, its beautiful to me. That being said, having it burn down because of old naked wiring would be stupid.
I love how grungy it looks. Thank god someone realizes that shiny and clean is not always the most beautiful thing.
There is nothing wrong with standard maintenance to keep the bike safe such as new tires and brakes. It doesn't compromise the authenticity of the bike as long as you just replace them with newer, less worn but similar parts. Not on a moral high horse or anything but enjoying and riding a classic bike in regular traffic comes with a responsibility for other people's safety as well. Just saying.
Actually a good rider on that bike is most likely a LOT safer than todays LOUSY DISTRACTED wannabe race car drivers in new cars. I ride on the street on a daily basis on a 1989 Harley FXRS Low Rider, and it is the car drivers who need to take responsibility for THEIR lack of driving ability.
I agree 100% Preservation over Renovation, especially for a classic with such a fascinating patina as this one. Bravo man.
The first bike that I ever owned was a '48 Indian Chief. I bought it for $75. in 1962, and yes, I rode it home with a huge smile on my face! I'd so love to have it back agIn!!!
My Dad rode a '48 Chief "Back in the Day". I'm riding a 2016 Chieftain. Keep that old veteran just as she is, it's AWESOME!
Soooo pleased you didn't 'improve' the bike by restoring it. You get it. Ride safe sir.
Exactly. So many of these classic Indians have been completely ruined by so called "restorations." Making them look like new plastic toys. Just awful.
I totally appreciate your dedication to keeping it as is. My granddad left his 48 parked in his garage when he died in 1980. It looks like my dad and my uncle are ready to let me pull it up next to my shovel head and bring it back to life after all these years. Thanks for the rundown on your bike.
I can't believe there are no comments here - pro OR con, for that matter! This is one of my favorite videos ever... getting a tour of this Kentucky barn survivor keeps the dream alive for so many of us that treasures are still out there, waiting to be found.
"Kudos" doesn't begin to describe how much admiration I feel for Michael - you're a true motorcycle enthusiast and I appreciate your commitment to the proud patina this incredible machine has earned.
This is without a doubt one of the coolest bikes I have ever seen
That bike is stunning, really, there's nothing better than a piece of history like this.
Kudos to you man. Great to see the younger gen. get into vintage bikes. Keep it unrestored....but safe.
You and your bike are soulmates! True love brother!
absolutely beautiful machine Michael . it wears its age with pride . absolutely gorgeous bike
"I don't know how long the tires will last,"
Camera man zooms in on bald tire. haha
People telling you that you need to change or "restore" that bike don't understand or appreciate art. They need to mind their own business. Beautiful bike bro!!
this bike and your train of thought is inspirational!
i love it! especially the wire "rigged up with the zip-tie" to your battery! is epic.
Original un-restored is something I usually expect of vehicles that were well kept and in continual use for most of there life or stored in well preserved condition.
The story this motorcycle tells is as much from decay as it is wear. She was well worn for some time and then neglected for perhaps even longer.
The decision whether or not to restore such a beast is very personal. The most important thing any one can do with such a relic is revive it. Which is what has happened here.
Such machines are meant to ride and I think it is wonderful to see she gets ridden.
I like the fact it's original, only replace what absolutely needs replacing. You get to ride and see the same exact bits and pieces and paint and touch what the first owner did. Can't replace that.
The bike is yours, you can do what you want with it. There’s always going to be commentators but you’re the boss. Besides, once you start taking it apart, it’s a long and arduous process. Stuff breaks and snaps and all the aftermarket parts are costly because they’re not mass produced.
Back in the day, guys just used whatever they had to keep a bike running. They went into their tool shed or barn for it. The beauty about original Indian “Motocycles” is that it has all standard bearings and fine thread bolts and hardware, so stuff doesn’t rattle loose too easily. You can go to a standard bearing/ hardware supply store and pick up what you need. By the way I have a 47 Chief Roadmaster with Sidecar that I mostly run the bike as solo. I’m rebuilding it this year and have owned it since 1985. It’s nowhere near original, but it’s a runner. I’m a Charter member of the AMCA, and sometime I catch hell because it’s not authentic, but I just keep on riding…..
Naw.. you should keep it the way it is if you like… because nobody, absolutely nobody has one like it. You could pick it out of a crowd at Sturgis 😅😊👍
I'm somebody who has always had funky un-restored vehicles, not because that's what I prefer,but because that's all I could afford. I'm close to finishing up a semi-custom restoration of a 50's BSA that has been near daily transportation for about 12 years. For years I took pride in having the funkiest dirtiest un-restored original bike at a meet. Now that I'm close to being done rebuilding, re-painting, and re-plating everything (yes it was original paint) I'm now enjoying it more than ever!
What a great idea. Interesting to note how very little in the way of fundamentals has changed, in the 60+ years since this one got made. I had some old British bikes, and the real enthusiasts just polished the rust, it's a whole different way of looking at maintaining an old machine, and yes, to me it does retain more of the story - and hey, it could be restored anytime. Like the rear 'jampot' suspension, a tiny little BSA called the 'Bantam' had these, we found it literally buried up to its saddle in a small town in Scotland, and got it running. I dreaded taking the engine apart, having only done a 4-stroke Japanese OHC before? Then, I saw the little two-stroke on the bench in my bedroom (! thanks mum, you were great) and it amounted to about 6 pieces including the 3-speed gearbox. A lovely bike you have, in a world of samey copies, every bike now seems to have a 'Y' frame etc and no mudguards.
Love the Seafoam Green paint!
Would Love To See More Vids On This Old Bike.
What nightmares motorcycles have become for tall guys. You look comfy and upright on this.
What's not to understand, how else can you ride a bike and imagine the previous owners. It's cool to be able to see, ride and touch the very same bike others before you did. As an earlier commenter said, don't worry about putting some new bolts and what not on there as you are the caretaker, years from now somebody else will wonder about you as an owner and who you were.
First I want to say what a true hero you are for appreciating history. The only thing i would have done is replace the cables to new cables and restored the maintenance parts with new ones. Reason being for safety and I would have restored the bikes functions back to the original positions. However I want to Thank you for being such an incredable guardian to such a beautiful piece of history and I wish you the best.
I am loving it the way it is and understand your thought, please keep on riding it.
Glad you liked the video. Thanks for watching The Moto Channel! Please don't forget to subscribe.
i love it, i would just do the same , old bikes look at their best when they look old and used.
I really enjoyed that sir...from a British bike owner.
It is a really cool bike. The video was well done, thank you for sharing this
So vintage it hurts!
There's a product called "Liquid Tape" they sell at Autozone, it's like a quick dry black tar for patching wires, $10 a bottle. Nylons separate and shred before they blow out so I think you're cool cruising around
Awesome what you're doing. Its earned its scars and wrinkles.
rust is not a cancer once you take away the elements that cause it it stops and does not continue to spread , all my stuff is original unrestored and runs fine for the past 20 years or so . Hey nice bike by the way
magnificent!! they are only original once. you probably enjoy it more unrestored. awesome dude!!!
This man is a philosopher! He's right. The bike tells a story, and keeping it as-is let's us see it and hear it as-was. "Like trading in your grandparents"...well said!
Your philosophy of restoring that bike is right on - let it tell its story through the patina. I love it!!!
I just picked up a 1946 98% complete. I will restore it since it is put way restored now.
Completely agree with this, if restored it'll loose its personality. Amen brother
Might be a good idea to change the tires
Is a Great Bike i like that you leave it like this,
Now that's Pissah! Great video. Serious Patina. Please just watch you brakes and tires and any other safety related issues. Enjoy!
That's just cool. I'm with you on keeping original. I would much rather rock the rust than a shiny paint job anyday!
I agree 100%. Enjoy the classic Indian just like it is. They are only original once. If it was mine I would just keep it maintained and leave the beautiful patina.
Fan-tastic! Love the patina!!
When I was about 15 or 16 yrs old, I had a chance to buy an old Indian for about $500. I had mowed the old man's lawn for about two years when he asked me to buy it. But I didn't have the dough to buy her. She was a beaut & all original. Man, I'm kicking myself in the ass for not buying it!!!
dont be too hipster, certain part have to be replaced for safety
dela malasie ..like the handlebars !!!
Thanks for sharing 1BSARoadRocket and glad you liked the video. Thanks for watching The Moto Channel! Please don't forget to subscribe.
I have a 1947 that is more or less original, at least the way my dad left it in about 1965. Just had the engine and transmission rebuilt and I'm getting ready to get back on the road. If I make it to California, I should look you up. Very nicely made video. I'm for keeping the bike like you have it. Nice job!
Glad, someone FINALLY gets it, keep them "as is" ITS AMAZING! if you ever sell it, I WANT IT...(or help me find one!) Stay Classy
Great story! My grandmother gave my dad's 1932 Indian 4 to the junkman in about 1954, though I recently got the title to it.
I do the same thing to the two Indians I had I learned on a 1933 tank shift Harley so I swop the throttle to the right and my shifter to the left like a Harley so I didn't kill myself. I just picked up a 1946 Chief thata all there with all matching numbers. I got the motor and transmission all rebuilt now along with the forks. (As of Sept we 2022)
Wow man that’s epic have fun great video
Beautiful.
that shift arm is cool
So what have you done to stop the rust?
Why deliberately rust bolts and such that you need to add to the bike? You're a part of its history now, do what fixes you need to do so the next guy down the line in another sixty years can wonder at the neat stainless bolts someone added here and there. I'd reupholster the seat too. :D
Simply beautiful
tires and brakes don't make sense saving a couple of bucks on risking life n limb .
Glad you liked the video Mark. Thanks for watching The Moto Channel! Please don't forget to subscribe.
You see perfection, You see a grandmother . Youe see magic , you see an eldery life ,you see perfection .Paint it ,don't paint it ,it's yours do what you wish with it .
really nice !!! so cool .
absolutely cool, I love your not restoring it ,,
So he is keeping a total rusty no upkeep bike. Restoring a bike keeps everything in good running condition plus repainting it stops the deterioration of the metal parts. This bike is just going to keep rusting away. He eventually going to blow up the motor from heat and corrosion. The cables are going to snap while he is riding it.
Glad you enjoyed the video! Thanks for watching The Moto Channel! Please don't forget to subscribe.
what a joy to see this. I applaud you for your choice in keeping it as is. Lovely old girl. Subscribed and a new fan .Regards.
Glad you enjoyed the video Abel. Thanks for watching The Moto Channel! Please don't forget to subscribe.
have you taken any long trips with it.. Awesome find.. and thanks for sharing her with us..
nice old bike , keep her going
FYI, by 48, Indians could be ordered with a right hand throttle so, chances are, it was not switched over by a previous owner but is OEM as it sits
Amazing bike!
my older brother has same bike,it runs great
I would put on the safest, most modern tires I could find... Is the bike sea-foam?
Looks every bit better than the new notorious 2015 "Indian".
Love the bike, too bad about the front fender.
when he said keep it well lubricated and he's using wd40 haha, wd40 is mostly kerosene fyi
he will ruin whatever he thinks he is lubing with WD40 . I did on a new Harley . I was out on arun
gone all weekend and I notice that my chain oiler had stopped working , one of the guys threw a can of wd40 to me and every time we stopped I gave it a real good squirt . When I got back home I had a family member passed away,so I jumped on my bike and rode to Nashville ,!50 mi.
so that was about 400 mi since I started using WD , Ultimitely all that stuff dried out my chain and the wheel bearing on my rear wheel . I almost had a serious wreck on I-40 when my wheel bearing froze to my axle, Never again will I use that sh*t on antthing , good ole oil is best for lubing. Honest Injun!!!
@@zookster4701 WD 40 is not the same as a lubricant, that's what most people believe. Better use WD 40 to clean surfaces and dirt clogged spaces, and then apply grease or oil.
Awesome!
You did the right thing...100%
You did the right thing!
Great Video I would like to find a bike like yours, here in Spain, but it's really difficult to find !
moto love your bid original unrestored Indian
Love the look but I would at least clean the engine and fix the seat.
What a sweatheart.
Wd40 has a very high moisture content, find something else. Try a gun shop for suggestions, as they always have a gun being repaired due to wd40 exposure.
WOW! Don't touch it. What a wonderful example, I would kill for something so cool and complete...Never, Ever restore it!!!
My daily driver ia a 1965 Chevy C20 in original un restored condition. Don't change it but do make it safe to ride.
Absolutely love it!
My uncle left me his 48 trying to learn how to ride it lol
Lucky bastard, i would love a bike like that.
Personally i would have had the frame checked for wear and cracks and had the frame and all metal repainted original colours and have the motor cleaned up and replaced some safety parts.
I get the history and the story that probably goes with it, but why not clean it up so that it lasts another hundred years.
I actually found a 1940 Indian chief, thinking about buying it and bringing it over from Poland
I agree with you bro original all the way
Fantastic Bike, I love the original everything. Like you said Unmolested! How did you learn so much about Motorcycles, especially "old" Indians?
BTW: Great TH-cam video.
Love the Helmet too!
Leave it alone, maintain it and ride it.
Replace the wiring harness with a new harness the last thing you want is a short or a fire but cloth coat them so they look old and you can also whether things with paint you could paint cracks you can paint chips you can paint all kinds of weathering so you can have a lot of new parts but people won't be able to tell because the authentically look old
It's nice to see original wear & rust . But you are the new caretaker of a indian that has special features for this model .You can make some change by moving things like clutch & throttle back like indian had them , make it original indian features . It would be good to have generator & light working . Do not change the cosmetic look ,nice ride.
It looks good to me ....I agree don't restore it, just enjoy it man
leave it like it is.