Satdiver Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 I told a co-worker that before Indian there were only bicycles, he said was that here in the U.S. or the world? so we searched the web and found this. IST MOTORCYCLE according to this website Indian was not America's first motorcycle! "The first USA production motorcycle was the Orient-Aster, built by the Metz Company in Waltham, Massachusetts. It used an Aster engine which was a French-built copy of the DeDion-Buton. It predated the Indian (1901) by three years, and Harley-Davidson (1902) by four". So how did Indian come to the conclusion they were the America's first motorcycle? Just curious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Last Resort Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 I told a co-worker that before Indian there were only bicycles, he said was that here in the U.S. or the world? Well, that was dumb of you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Last Resort Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 Indian was the first mass manufactured 100% USA produced motorcycle. Others used French engines before that and were small manufacturers. That is why the name Indian was chosen, to show that they were all American. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brock Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 1901 Hendee (who built motors) and Hedstrom got together to build first motor-bicycle in Springfield in May 1901. They built two or three more of them before end of year and went into full production and sold 140+ bikes its first model year that spanned 1901-1902. 1903 they sold 350+ I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 Actually Indian did not make their first motors, Aurora Automatic machine Company (who later became Thor motorcycles) did. Indian had a bicycle plant but not a foundry. Kinda reminds ya of Gilroy in 1999. seems history repeats itself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pop Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 (edited) That is why the name Indian was chosen, to show that they were all American. I just know that Pop is not the only one to see the fuzzy logic at work in that statement. Edited February 14, 2008 by Pop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffalo Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 so just what ya tryin to say Pop? like maybe they were actually made in India? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pop Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 so just what ya tryin to say Pop?like maybe they were actually made in India? I dunno Buffalo. I dunno. I'm married to a polack and I expect lines like that from her. The sad truth is that because of my years of service to the Queen I can read convoluted statements like that and understand the meaning. It's not my proudest moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Waldo Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 Trying to say who made the first motorcycle is like trying to say who made the first powered flight. What we think we know isn't always right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monk Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 Trying to say who made the first motorcycleis like trying to say who made the first powered flight. What we think we know isn't always right. Kinda like what came first the egg or the chicken, or is it the...... oh WTF, Indian came before Harley not Driven yet Monk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charger Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 Trying to say who made the first motorcycleis like trying to say who made the first powered flight. What we think we know isn't always right. er WHO DISCOVERED Americia... I heard the other day the ROMANs were 1st.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brock Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 most of the stuff I have read talk about powered bicycles and such....or companies using imported engines...but few patented their products and formed a company to produce moto-cycles. Indian used Aurora engines at first in their powered bikes then started using those made by Hendee...then Hendee and Hedstrom came together as a partnership and produced their first motocycles in 1901 and the rest is history...with 143 the first year and in 350 range second year. not very good records kept back then. if you want to read and get a good idea how the business was back then for everyone...not just Harley...read AT THE CREATION. The guy is funded by HD Foundation to research and recover documents to prove how it happened....and his version differs from the marketing put out by HD by two years I think as far as Anniversary is concerned. I would not doubt that Indian, Norton, EH, and others all have the same blend of fact and hype. Indian was before HD....the rest dont matter. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Waldo Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 er WHO DISCOVERED Americia... I heard the other day the ROMANs were 1st.... I would guess that whoever "discovered" this continent came from Asia. You can't really say you discovered some place if there's someone already there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackdog Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 I would guess that whoever "discovered" this continent came from Asia. You can't really say you discovered some place if there's someone already there. I agree - but I have seen it presented that the country we called the Soviet Union (as opposed to Asia) - via a previously existing "land bridge" (before the polar cap melted and the seas rose to cover most of the bridge) to the area now known as Alaska and then across Canada and on down into the present day 48. Later they became "indigenous peoples". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
It is Baloon Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 I just resized it to fit. cheers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firebird77clone Posted February 15, 2008 Share Posted February 15, 2008 I just went out in my back yard and discovered my neighbors lawn furniture. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brock Posted February 15, 2008 Share Posted February 15, 2008 that is alright.....Mo got a magnifying glass for Valentines Day so he could discover another inch of dick! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Waldo Posted February 15, 2008 Share Posted February 15, 2008 I just went out in my back yard and discovered my neighbors lawn furniture. Was it windy, or did you just forget to return the stuff last fall? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
It is Baloon Posted February 16, 2008 Share Posted February 16, 2008 (edited) This is not my neighbor. Edited February 16, 2008 by EZ1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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