On May 5th, 2013, on a dry lake bed in California, Indian Motorcycle ran the “Spirit of Munro”, an all-metal tribute bike built to honor the great Burt Munro. This is the first Indian motorcycle to be seen running the all-new Thunder Stroke 111. Todd Eagan accepted the challenge of riding the untested bike on the dry lake. I am told that after 2 runs Todd said that “the bike tracked perfectly straight and man, does she want to GO!” First estimated speeds were 100 mph, and of course there is plenty left.
Watch these 2 short films.
A look behind-the-scenes of the filming of the short film The Spirit of Munro.
Builder: Jeb Scolman of Jeb’s Metal and Speed in Long Beach, CA around a prototype Thunder Stroke 111.
Time: 3 months of 18 hours of work per day, taking only Christmas day off
Film: Shot in only 2 days. Director Adam Brummond of The Factory
Polaris Project Team: David Shelleny, Mark Nevils, Robert Pandya
Photography: Barry Hathaway
Pilot: Todd Eagan
Very neat, I love little films like this that tug at your heartstrings. I wish Indian the best in their re-launch. I hope this time its sticks and forever after this we have a Indian that is thriving and growing in models.
Damn! That was SWEET !!!!!!!!!
Sounded Good too !!!!
Lookout Mo-Co. August is right around the corner,
And so is a BIG BiTE of your market share !!!!
If Cyril tells you he sincerely thinks it’s gonna work for Indian, believe him. Here is another proof. Great engine. Getting ready for racing. Harley’s image is going to suffer. HD’s sales, too. Bravo Indian.
Awesome short films and an even better story. I too wish Indian the best and think one of our oldest and best-loved motorcycle brands finally found a good home.
So, how come a big company like Polaris couldn’t beat a LSR set by a crazed Kiwi from a hick town with a engine originally built in 1929?
Maybe they ain’t got a lemon tree to piss on!
Rodent has again make 2 stupid comments in a row. 1- Indian didn’t try to beat a LSR. 2- They were testing an engine, didn’t add any mods. It was last May. 3- Did you see a difference between the 2 vehicles?
Thanks all for the kind words. That was an epic project and took a couple years from the first inkling that we could build something like this. I genuinely hope that it shows how there are many many passionate people behind this brand and that there is a true desire to connect our past to our future. I have to say that Jeb Scolman is one of the most talented metal guys I have ever me – and he has the work ethic, skills and vision to see a complex project through. A class act who will continue to impress for years to come I’m sure.
I wish we could open the floodgates and jump ahead five years in time – but for those of us who know what is coming, all we can really say is it will be worth the wait. And more importantly, it will be worth the ride!
All the best to you – I hope to see you in Sturgis for the reveal of the new Chief. Thank you Cyril for posting the videos –
Robert Pandya
External Relations Manger
Indian Motorcycle
Hey Ray
That’s all Burt Munro was doing testing a rebuild to see if it would go faster. And pissing on a lemon tree!
Hey Ray, in answer to #3. I saw the real Burt Munro engine start and run on the grass on a foggy morning in Pebble Beach a few years ago. The Polaris engine I heard, on my iPad.
Both are works of art, one by a passionate individual and the other by corporate deep pockets hiring the most talented builders they could find.
Best of Luck, hopefully Indian also has a Cruiser Model all tricked out besides the Baggers
The scoot hauled A*s Sounded good too!
To Robert Pandya:
Will the Thunderstroke engine be available to buy, or rather the engine/driveline, anytime soon?
I realize this might sound like a strip club owner asking when your daughter will turn 18, but I am genuine in my question. I have a rather naughty idea for a streetfighter build, and since there is no Scout in the forecast…..
1) These were awesome, so much fun to watch.
2) Ignore Rodent, he clearly doesn’t know what he’s talking about and just enjoys being a troll.
3) Bring on Sturgis!
A couple of great little films. I really wish the brand well. I liked the Roland Sands leather jackets the guys in the film were wearing too. Another great retro styled item made with modern day materials and quality, a good match for the theme of the film.
Rumor has it that the new Indian will be on the newly appointed dealers wooden floor right after Sturgis.
What no models wearing leather, generic classic rock, or flashing text/ gravelly voice over subliminally questioning whether the viewer is a “real” biker or not !? You’re never going to sell motorcycles to American’s that way! 😉
Good question from Dave Blevins! That 111 Thunderstroke engine is a slam dunk from the new Indian! It would be something if they would sell that crate engine and perhaps the driveline so that custom builders could go wild, maybe even Cyril???
I’m apprehensive about the rest of the new Chief, but that engine was a hit out of the ball park!
Matt W.
Man, have you got it wrong. The marketing is spot on and gathering the interest and the steam it was intended to. I know, I have dozens of deposits in hand right now for a new and virtually unknown Indian Chief. My Indian Dealer brothers are also doing the same.
The blind faith of the early pioneers are being driven by one of the best marketing messages our industry has ever seen. A few shorts months of tiny bits of data and early risers are already dropping some of their hard earned cash…
History will tell the whole story, Indian is back with a vengence…
Great tease by Indian. It thrills the hell out of me knowing that Indian values it’s Springfield racing heritage. The engine sounds horny. From the beginning they’ve been marketing their new motor which says they’re all about performance. They’re not pimping flame decals …. good stuff so far.
What an awesome tribute to Burt Munro and the Indian brand.
Well Done! What a great story. I am glad you are telling it.
When can I ride one?
David Alari, you can ride one in Sturgis, they announced demo rides.
Hello all,
There are no plans to sell the engine seperate from a completed motorcycle – though I am sure that there will an enterprising custom builder who will buy one of the first bikes and take it apart to do just that.
Thanks for the continued compliments – curious as to how we can have support for the engine, yet have readers still “apprehensive” about the Chief! Time, the Sturgis reveal and demo rides will surely calm those nerves! We’re building a great bike that anyone would be proud to have in their collection and on the highway.
We look forward to the reveal on the night of August 3rd – 9:00pm Mountain time is when it all goes down – live in Sturgis and at http://www.indianmotorcycle.com.
Robert Pandya
External Relations Manager
Indian Motorcycle
Robert Pandya: kudos to you all involved. The excitement is building
Puts a tear in your eye doesn’t it. Thanks for the old and new memories. Most everybody is saying that the Indian Motorcycle Co. has finally got it right.
This is a great moment in history,done American style let’s keep moving forward……….
Damn that engine sounds SWEET! A new Chief just moved to the top of the “Must Have” list…
Mark: that is basically what I was trying to say. My comment was satirical ;). This is a great video.
Great Show. Will get Jeb and maybe Todd on for interview.
Yes this is masterful marketing as it focuses on the machine and the heritage behind it, not eye candy and worn out slogans.
Keep up the great work Polaris and you to Robert.
I have my deposit down with the Lincoln, NE dealership for one of the new Indians. I started riding relatively late in life (45…I’m 54 now). Ever since I started riding I have wanted an Indian….and now I will finally get one!
Yes, it is a leap of faith. I’m counting on the bike staying true to it’s heritage style-wise. I’m sure I won’t be disappointed. Can’t wait until August 3!
He was not crazy !!
crazy people are never that dedicated…eccentric and totaly driven would be the best description.I was in Invercargill last week and it is about 45000 people, small by USA standards but per capita has some very cool motor vehicles. It is a petrol head town. Even a truck museum.I go there allot and it has some very clever trades people with real skills.Not just plug in the laptop, but peolpe who can beat alloy into shapes and still do it from a chalk drawing on the floor and can work out ratios and speeds on a cigarette packet…no shiny arses live down there.
I have ridden to a couple of the Burt’s which is a 5 day festival of speed from beach racing ,speedway long track etc.
It is along way south but for you guys, but it is one of the most friendly places I have been and I have traveled to other parts including the USA. Where the customs people were the…. well never mind…..
Come and visit before you comment.
Tak about ” Red Blood ” (:-)
Excellent build and film. Too cool. Good luck Indian!
As a independent custom motorcycle shop in Tasmania, Australia , i truly cant wait for the new INDIAN to hit our shores , yes i sell , work on , enhance & customize Harley-Davidsons for people all over the world , But being a 4 th generation motorcycle shop owner n builder in my family , i would be proud to be involved with INDIAN new generation motorcycles along with enhancements and a great customer service & backup , I believe INDIAN will be a growing asset amongst all Australians . . .
kind regards
Shaun Kelly
Titan Bike & Trike
Hobart , Tasmania , Australia
Not a real Indian,never will be ,no history ,just a name hijacked from from the past
Nate Selkirk, get a grip ya tool! History has to start somewhere and history is a term for us to use in our future to refer back to when something happened, like the day a great bike was realised for the world to see and own, so your comment ” no history” its in the making. And the name is hardly hijacked, if you own it and own the rights its not hijacked. Your clearly not someone who’s passionate about this sort of thing, just some knocker who wants to bag other peoples acheivements. Don’t forget this is a TRIBUTE bike to all those who put the name Indian in the history books for all us to remember how great a machine they were……and could still be.