The late Norman Hayes from Invercargil was a ol fella I got to know through my work,he was Burts best mate and has a huge collection of ol Bikes, we had a show in Asburton ,he let me have it for that ,but remember this was way before the movie ,half the world didnt even know who Burt Munro was.Dont think I will ever be able to get that bike ,that easy now !
It started life as a 1920 600cc flathead Indian. I'm afraid i don't know the model. Over the years Burt Munro enlarged it to almost 1000cc and converted it to OHV. What he did to the insides is a forum in itself. Suffice to say what he did with what he had would leave most of us quaking in our boots. In 1967 he set the 1000cc Streamliner Fuel record at 183.586. A record that still stands today. I'm not an Indian lover but if I ever wanted to own an Indian thats the one.
Actually, the avatar is an old chairlift at the ski area that I work. I am the Lift Operations director. My rover does see a bit of use this time of year, though...
1920 600cc flathead Indian , awesome bike . thank you . old chairlift , ok i see it now . thank you ...................... steve
Yes I own Mine and built it myself, I'll be driving it this summer & fall & then pull it apart this winter for some satin black w/ apple green pin stripes, If you look close at the front plate it's my Dads Car club plaque from 1956,( I was 8 years old ). My tribute to him!!!!
<--- is mine... drive it as much as I can weather permitting... completely redone two years ago.. Nothing like it was... build link in sig line
I have never seen the bike but from everything I've read it started out life as a flathead 600. Burt made his own cylinders etc. and opened it out to almost 1000cc. I love this shot from an English mag in the 60s. [/IMG]
The Jalopy Journal
