1917 Indian Powerplus

Lot details
Registration No: Un-Reg
Frame No: EGP2980
Engine No: 76K979
cc: 1000

As with many other pioneer manufacturers, the Indian brands origins lay in cycle manufacture and competition. Former cycle racer George Hendee, at the time the manufacturer of the "Silver King" safety bicycle, used cycle races to promote his product and in searching for a reliable pacer encountered Oscar Hedstrom who had designed and built a machine that had established an enviable reliability record. In partnership the two founded "The Hendee Manufacturing Company" to build and market Indian motorcycles. Early machines featured cycle parts derived from bicycle practice fitted with a single cylinder 224cc inlet over exhaust valve engine; however, during 1908 the company introduced a new engine of a type that would become synonymous with the brand in the form of a vee twin. As with the single, the new twin utilised an f head, a layout that would continue in use until the adoption in 1916 of a side valve layout and the introduction of the "Powerplus". The first year's production utilised the same cycle parts as the previous F head model but for 1917 a new revised frame was employed remaining largely unaltered until 1920. The Powerplus was offered with the option of an electrical lighting system and retained a sprung frame.
This example has been restored to a high standard and is attractively presented in Indian's traditional red livery with gold lining. It is offered equipped with an acetylene lighting kit.