Poor Man's Chief

“I was looking for a project about three years ago, and when I found an ex-Army Indian in a million bits, I decided to give it a go,” recalls New Zealander Simon Curtis, the owner of this neat 741B.

Being a Norton Commando and BSA owner who’d already ridden around Australia and overland to England, Curtis could be mistaken as someone who knew some of the effort required to complete such a mission. But this is not the machine that made that journey. No, that bike was restored to original khaki Army trim. This is Simon’s other Indian, built up from the first project’s surplus parts.
“I had a few bits left over, and while I’d loved to have owned a Chief, too, their scarcity in New Zealand meant that I had to try and make a poor man’s Chief,” he recalls.

Being a member of the Rotorua Classic Motorcycle Club allowed access to a number of once-plentiful 741B spares now in private caches; plus he traded in other circles as this project gathered in momentum. He kept the 42-degree V-twin side-valver basically stock, only substituting larger valves and oversized pistons in his 500cc engine.

Originally commissioned in 1941 for military duties, these fighting Indians were never renowned for their speed, but they kept running through all sorts of conditions. Correctly set up, they were good for a realistic 60 mph. Much like their handling characteristics, too, these little injuns were never intended as boy racer machines; yet that is not such a bother when one has faster alternatives in one’s shed. Nor does the 741’s alleged lethargy detract from the intrinsic beauty of Simon’s Indian.

“In New Zealand there is a very active Indian owner’s club,” Simon tells us. “And I’ve ridden to most of the rallies on my first 741B. Understand, too, that there is a very strong ethic here of riding classics and older motorcycles to events - not trailering them there.”

That ethic, for Curtis, has meant some incredibly long rides on a 500cc Indian. “I’ve been to a National Classic rally in Nelson (down to the top of the South Island) and, on that 1500-mile ride, the only problem was an electrical fuse that broke. No, the bike didn’t blow up! Obviously, though, the Japanese can’t make a fuse that can withstand the shakes and vibes of a rigid (-framed bike). And given the strong anti-Japanese motorcycle sentiments in New Zealand’s classic bike circles, I’d made a point of using no Japanese parts during the construction of either of my 741Bs, with the exception of those fuses. I got a fair ribbing over that one!

“There didn’t have to be any such deliberating in the choice of Michelin tires and tubes, though. Some might think they are a bit over the top for an Indian, but I’ve seen too many riders go sliders down the road on cheaper Taiwanese rubber. New Zealand can be a very wet place to ride. Our roads are akin to country lanes compared to those U.S. freeways.” No matter. Inside decent wet-riding gear, most Kiwi’s still make the longest of treks at the drop of a hat - even on the country lanes.

This bike’s most striking feature (aside from it’s builder’s obvious attention to detail in all other areas), must be the fenders that Simon made - copies, obviously - of the larger chief items. Curtis did it by retaining the original 741B fenders and adding his valances. Later he added the chrome trim. The exhausts were handmade by an associate. The steel military rims were deemed “too bloody heavy,” so Akront alloy rims were laced via stainless steel spokes to the original hubs. Those rims now frame the picture instead. As for the cast Indian script for the tanks, they were sourced form the U.S. aftermarket.

“Being a Pommie ( U.K.) bike fan, too, I don’t mind using a few British bits,” Curtis says. “The little square alloy box under the seat is a J.G. electronic regulator - 12 volt. It took quite a bit of rewiring to make such a conversion possible.” The speedo is an Aussie contribution. “It’s a completely new replica from KTT Services in Sydney, as was the ammeter. KTT can restore and make virtually any instrument one needs, and they do a very convincing job of it, too," Simon adds. I’ve seen examples of their products, and I agree.

As for riding this “Poor Man’s Chief,” the owner feels it would definitely not suit any quiet, retiring types (the power of most 741Bs aside…)

“You bet! The amount of interest shown in these bikes in New Zealand is incredible, and one can get just about get mobbed by impressed onlooker at gas and refreshment stops. Many older guys remember these machines from their WWII military days as literally thousands of 741s were imported into the country. Mind you, the other day a gas pump attendant remarked that I had a nice looking Harley. I quickly put him straight on that one!"

For that, Curtis has a common sense remedy. “Lowering the tire pressure helps some,” he says. “I’ve read that riding Indians sure shakes the stuffing out of you. All I’d add to that comment is that you’d never suffer from constipation riding on an Indian!” Amen to that.

Simon has sunk around NZ$7,000(aprrox 3700USD) into his Poor Man’s Chief. Most of that expense went into the chrome plating and the stainless steel, which a friend machined for the components that Curtis could neither find nor make himself. For a bloke who knew nothing about Indians only a couple of years ago, Simon Curtis has done a great job. It’s a beauty, mate!

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