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1915 Indian Big Twin Motorcycle Up for Auction

The upcoming Amelia Island event on March 12 will include the sale of a fully restored 1915 Indian Big Twin, RM Auctions announced. Estimated at $60,000-$70,000, the motorcycle comes fitted with a 15 hp, 61 cu. in. (1,000 cc) V-twin engine.

While some 21,000 Big Twins were originally constructed, very few remain today. The example on offer, one of the relatively few survivors, was restored during the early 1990s while in the ownership of a well-known classic motorcycle enthusiast from the Pacific Northwest.

Prior to restoration, the bike was fitted with a 1913-specification engine, which was replaced with a period-correct 1915 unit rebuilt by the late Roy Burke, a better running Linkert carburetor in place of the original Schebler unit, as well as a more reliable, period-type Bosch magneto. Following its restoration, the bike was ridden successfully in several pre-1916 touring events.

The machine is finished with a dark red exterior and complemented by gold lettering, white tires, a tool box and a luggage rack that was only offered during 1914 and 1915. The Big Twin would be considered “fully optioned” today. In addition to its three-speed manual transmission, a first at the time, it features a more user-friendly kick-starting mechanism that replaced the previous pedal crank system. The list of advancements also included a heavy-duty clutch, full gas lighting and a gear-driven speedometer.

“The 1915 Indian Big Twin heralded the end of an era, as it was the last Indian motorcycle to carry the Hedstrom F-Head engine within a cradle-spring frame design. Accordingly, some purists regard this model as the last “real” Indian to emanate from the legendary Springfield, Massachusetts factory,”
a statement from RM Auctions reads.
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