Indian Speedster
Year:
1915
Manufacturer:
Indian Motorcycle Manufacturing Company, Springfield, Massachusetts, USA
Number Produced:
Unknown
Specifications:
1000 cc Four-stroke V-Twin Engine
Direct chain drive with friction cushion device on the counter shaft
Description:
Oscar Hedstrom and Oliver Hendee, together founded the Hendee Manufacturing Company and build the first prototype Indian motorcycle in 1901. That first machine was powered by a single-cylinder, 'F-head' engine that formed part of the 'diamond' frame, in the Indian's case it sloped rearwards to act as the seat tube. An advanced feature in motorcycling's early pioneering days. The Indian single proved immensely successful and provided the basis for the first of the powerful, large-capacity v-twins for which the marque is best remembered.
Indian's first, 633cc v-twin appeared in 1907 with an engine clearly derived from that of the single, though mechanical inlet valves - introduced for 1908 - were an early improvement.
The 1915 Big Twins, the ultimate expression of Hedstrom's original twin-cylinder F-head family, represent the culmination of an era that saw them dominate the American motorcycling scene on both road and track. As such, they are by far the most sought after Indian motorcycles of the period.
