American Dream
An Icon, Remastered
Words by Ben Giese | Photography by Jordan Pay
Thankfully, America’s first motorcycle company, Indian Motorcycle, introduced us to these beautiful two-wheeled machines way back in 1901 and we have been using them as a tool for freedom for over 120 years. By 1921 the company released the Indian Chief, a new platform that would become a staple for the brand and help fuel its early success and growth. The story of Indian Motorcycle has been checkered with ups and downs, but fast-forward 100 years from that original Chief and the brand is now thriving with an all-new version of that classic icon.
I’ve never really been a cruiser guy, but I have to admit love the design philosophy behind this bike. It’s stripped-down and raw, the way a motorcycle should be. It’s minimal and balanced with tension and soul in every line. I can see some obvious design cues from my favorite eras in American history, like the curvature of the frame inspired by the boardtrackers of the early 1900s. Or the bold shape of the tank reminiscent of motorcycles from the late ‘40s. It looks like something out of Hollister, California in the ‘50s with a blend of influence combining the timeless style of the ‘60s with the outlaw mentality of the ‘70s.
The low center of gravity and insane 120 ft-lbs of torque made scraping pegs up the canyons of Arizona an absolute joy. I had a lot of fun riding this bike. And while I haven’t spent much time on cruisers, it gives me a better understanding of why people love them so much. It’s about freedom, plain and simple. The American Dream.