INDIAN

1000cc Big Twin - 1913

The sports bike that conquered the world

In 1909, it was time for Indian to find a successor to its first V-twins, created in 1906, by mounting two tall single cylinders on a common crankcase.

The First "Racer Replica"

The new model, which shared many features with the works racers created for Jake de Rosier, a rider famed across the world, was marketed in two displacements – the "Light Indian" of 620cc and the "Big Twin" of 1000cc – and used a new long-wheelbase, continuous-loop frame identical to that of Jake de Rosier's racers. The 42-degree V-twin engines used a race-bred layout, too, with overhead intake valves and side exhausts.

Racing across America

These two models were made from first-class materials with the greatest possible care, and demonstrated their reliability with long-distance records. In 1916, Erwin G. "Cannonball" Baker used an Indian twin for a celebrated "sea to shining sea" dash, crossing the US in 11 days, 12 hours, 10 minutes on a machine he had not even seen until three hours before the drop of the flag! In 1911, Indian sent a team of racing 500cc "Light Twins" to England, but it was a privately-entered Indian ridden by O.C. Godfrey that gave Indian its first victory in the Isle of Man TT that year. It was the first-ever TT victory by a foreign machine. Production rocketed back in Springfield, Mass. In 1912, Indian built 20,000 machines; by 1914 production reached an astounding 60,000, sold through a worldwide network of 2,000 dealers.

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine: 963cc (86x82.5mm) air-cooled 42-degree V-twin four-stroke

Power Rating: 8 hp

Valves: side exhaust, overhead intake

Fuel System: carburetor

Transmission: 2-speed (3-speed from 1915), chain final drive

Suspension: leaf-sprung trailing link (front); rigid [leaf-sprung swing arm on deluxe model from 1913] (rear)

Brakes: band (rear)

Wheels: wire clincher (front & rear)

Maximum Speed: 80 mph

Preserved in wonderful original condition, this Indian Big Twin of the 1913-15 series is the deluxe model with rear suspension and three-speed transmission.