Lot # : 6 - 1923 Indian Powerplus Outfit........

1923 Indian Powerplus Outfit. The Sidecar is home built and needs the door attaching to finish. The Bike was also built with a home made electric start with magneto and coil. The Bike also has an Albion gearbox that appears to have a reverse gear. (the vendor thinks he may have the correct gearbox- watch this space) This bike represents an opportunity to own a very desirable bike for a sensible price. Buyers guide A$16-21,000 Based in Springfield, Massachusetts, the Indian Motorcycle Company was the only motorcycle manufacturer able to compete on equal terms with the might of Harley-Davidson for the first half of the 20th Century. With its origins as a producer of bicycles, the partnership of George Hendee and Oscar Hedstrom followed the familiar practice of building a powered version in 1901, using a proprietary Thor single horsepower engine, and from the emergence of the first V-twin in 1907, Indian quickly established itself as a maker of quality motorcycles. Indian steadily evolved over the next decade, with developments like a steel cylinder head in place of the original cast iron one, sprung front forks and the first ever use of a twist grip sealing the company's reputation for technical innovation. Starting in 1906, Indians were powered by engines built in-house by the Hendee Manufacturing Company, using Hedstrom's own carburettors, while the first Indian V-twin appeared the following year. Following Oscar Hedstrom's decision to quit in 1913, his replacement Charles Gustafson designed a number of new products, including the new V-twin Powerplus range in 1916. The Powerplus was Indian's first ever flathead engine, a four-stroke unit displacing 61ci and developing 16 horsepower, a considerable improvement over Hedstrom's own V-twin. Initially mounted in the existing rigid frame, Indian offered the Powerplus with the option of its patented Cradle Spring Frame from 1913, featuring a rear swingarm with trailing leaf springs for a more comfortable ride. The Powerplus had a three-speed gearbox and kick-starter, while early problems with piston slap were cured by lengthening the barrels and pistons and relocating the piston wrist pin in 1917. In September 1919 a revised frame design, using the engine as a stressed member, was introduced and a version with a lowered top tube and steering head earned the nickname Daytona the following year. From 1920 the Powerplus was offered with the option of a larger 74ci engine and remained in production until 1923, being renamed the Standard that year and sold alongside its eventual successor, the Chief.