American Heros

American Legends of the Old West

American Legends

Joseph N. Hayden

University of Phoenix

Celestine Candida Com155

Outline

I. Introduction

II. Wide Variety of Factory Styles

a. Factory Standards

i. Indian front to back

ii. Harley, more than just saddle bags

b. Other factory options and specifications

i. Fenders

ii. Tanks

iii. Accessories

III. Handling The Road

a. Smooth Ride

i. Suspension

ii. Brakes

b. Gripping the Road

i. Wheelbase

ii. Tires

IV. Rumbling Engines

a. Size is Everything

i. Types of Engines

ii. Engine Specifications

b. Performance is Perfection

i. Transmission

ii. Horsepower

V. Conclusion

American Legends of the Old West

Throughout the Nineteenth Century, and on so after World War II, the public’s fascination with American made motorcycles has continued to grow. During the 1940s the bikes that stood out in the crowd were the 1947 Harley-Davidson “Knucklehead” and the 1947 Indian Chief “Road Master”. Although these two bikes are American legends, there is little known about the differences between them, but truth is, there are many things that vary, including style, handling, and power.

The Indian Motorcycle Company opened in 1901 and soon gained recognition in 1904, when they won a gold medal for Mechanical Excellence. By 1912, Indian Motorcycles were the largest manufacturers of motorcycles in the world. After introducing an Indian Chief, called the “Road Master”, that could reach top speeds of 97 miles per hour in 1923, Indian’s company became an icon of the American public. With new style changes developing throughout the 1930s such as: two-toned paint jobs and pin-striping, the Indian Chief was a bike of style by 1947....