In the industry he is often referred as Kiwi Mike or Indian Mike. His full name is Mike Tomas and he is the President of Kiwi Indian MotorCycle Company. His career with Indian Motorcycles has spanned some 30 years. Mike moved from New Zealand to start Kiwi Indian Motorcycle Company in Riverside CA. His company specializes in manufacturing and innovating parts for classic Indians. Today his business has grown to creating over 2000 different part numbers, designing and building complete motorcycles and engines, creating specialized parts and assemblies, publishing books and riding hundreds of thousands of miles upon classic Indians. Nobody understands better than Mike Tomas what Indian is all about. So, a few months before the launch of new Indian motorcycles announced for Fall 08, it is important to listen to what Mike has to say. (Cyril)
“Why has a brand that has tried to be revived so many times since its demise in 1953 without success still survived? The answer lies in its classic heritage rather than in any reincarnation attempt of the brand. Classic Indians are just that, classics, plain and simple, fully skirted fenders, engineering masterpieces, sleek lines and timeless elegant beauty.
History is an important part of our motorcycle culture, without it we have nothing. Some choose to ignore it, some choose to forget parts of it while some choose to build upon it. I believe in the rich history of our American motorcycle past and build upon it and respect those that have created the past. I am dedicated and specialize in Indian motorcycles ever since leaving school and buying my 1st Indian some 30 years ago. I find myself respecting those original factory engineers that have gone before me that have given me the tools to be able to do what I do today.
Indian was born in 1901 and is billed as America’s 1st motorcycle but more correctly it was America’s 1st “production” motorcycle. The motorcycle industry flourished until around 1914 when Henry Ford introduced his Model T which was the beginning of the end for several hundred American motorcycle manufacturers. Ford’s Model T was cheaper than a “motocycle” (as it was called in the early days), could seat several people and keep them dry and somewhat warm. The motorcycle industry was greatly reduced and then after the great depression to mainly Indian and Harley. Indian had going for it some great engineers and one of the greatest stylists to ever make a mark on motorcycle styling history, Mr. Briggs Weaver. Briggs was hired by E Paul DuPont and was highly respected even within the automotive industry. He later on introduced the full skirted fenders in 1940 which at that time was a shocker, but it certainly made a statement so much so that it took Harley Davidson until 1949 to bring about their answer, the Hydra-Glide front end.
Indian in its early days developed many 1sts in the industry and was about racing and innovativeness. In the late 30’s and 40’s it was reduced to just style as Indian lost the technological battle in the later 30’s to Harley. While Indian still had a hot running flat head that would run well against Harley’s over head valve engines, Harley also had a superior transmission which was a far cry from Indians never changed (since 1920) 3 speed crash box (non synchromesh). Indian has ever since been left behind and is the follower and depends on its past heritage for marketing.
Indian has had troubles re inventing itself ever since the original factory closed in 1953 and none seem to have understood what Indian is truly about. Many have had big money believing they could buy their way into it only to leave with a lot less. People are its greatest asset and companies would do well in respecting and acknowledging those who have kept marks alive over their dead years. Without them, there would be nothing today. I like our Native American heritage, and just like the Chiefs of yesteryear used to do, they’d pass around the peace pipe and enjoy what was around them. United we stand, divided we fall”. Mike Tomas, President Kiwi Indian MotorCycle Company.
Ed Youngblood has a motorcycle industry resume longer than my trip from South Florida to Sturgis and thicker than the crust of ice at the north pole. Among many other endeavors too long to list here, Ed was president of AMA (American Motorcyclist Association) from 1981 to 1999. At his credit, the involvement of AMA with FIM (Federation Internationale Motorcycliste) the world governing body for motorcycling and the establishment of the Motorcycle Hall Of Fame. Since his own induction into the Hall of Fame in 1999, he has completed four books on motorcycle history and served as an exhibit consultant for the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum, the Ohio State University, and the Guggenheim Museum. Nobody stresses more the importance of our motorcycling heritage and protects it better than Ed Youngblood. "I do not see history as just a thing in the past that happened some time ago," he says. "I see history as an understanding of who we are and how we got where we are”. Between writing articles for magazines, public speaking engagements and on camera commentaries, Ed maintains an excellent website called 
USA, Easter Standard Time. The year 2007 just came to a close half an hour ago and I wanted to say thank you for reading “Cyril Huze Blog" and making it the undisputed top destination for those looking for daily news about the Custom Motorcycles Scene. Soon, I will publish the site traffic numbers and show you that our lead is even increasing. Keep telling your friends about this Blog and subscribe for free by entering your email on the top right of this page. You will get the news delivered every morning in your mailbox. So, you will know before the others. Big thanks to all the sponsors, companies, manufacturers, distributors, magazines, custom builders, contributors and friends who supported me all along last year. Time to sleep a little bit. Hopefully I will be coherent enough to write something when I wake up. Happy New Year 2008.
You know that you are at a bad bikers new year’s eve party if. 1- To give it a Times Square feel, everyone is groped, fondled and pick-pocketed. 2- The ‘Party Hats look suspiciously like stolen traffic cones. 3- There’ is a "Happy 2000" sticker on the bag of shrimps you’ve been eating all night. 4- Prison regulations require lights out at 10:00 pm. 5- The guests have decided to start the countdown at 10,000. 6- The ‘Champagne tastes suspiciously like apple juice mixed with Alka Seltzer. 7- It’s January 6th. Happy New Year To All. 
You are a gearhead. So, you need a gear clock. Especially if you didn’t get what you wanted at Christmas. This one is very industrial chic and made to hang on a wall wherever you want. Yes the rotating gears are working and covered with a rectangular piece of glass to prevent you to be sued by your friends who will want to touch them to see how it’s working. This glass is marked with the necessary increments of time. A great piece of time and conversation. $124.95. Measuring 21” x 5” x 8”. 
On some motorcycles, the rear fender struts attaching bolts can break allowing the rear fender to unbolt from the bikes concerned. This could occur without prior warning and could result in an injury or a crash. More than 8000 motorcycles have this security issue. The models affected by this recall are: some 2005-2007 Bulldog and Chopper models, 2006-2008 K-9 models, 2005-2008 Mastiff models and 2008 Mutt models. 
It doesn’t matter if you support or not the Iraq war. I know that you support our troops. This true story was forwarded to me by Carl, one of my readers. Spending 5 minutes reading it is a way to be with our soldiers why we celebrate Christmas holidays safely at home. 
Thousands of women produced a video telling their inspirational stories about how they acceded to the sort of motorcycling. On a Harley, of course. Harley-Davidson chose six finalists on Nov. 28 and posted them online for viewer voting.. At the end of the voting period on Dec. 12, 
I know that a lot of bikers have a soft spot for anything with a pirate theme. So, if you are still wondering, like me, what to ask or what to put under the Christmas tree Monday evening, maybe it’s not too late for this pocket watch. It features a plastic case pocket with crystal pave dial and lots of bling bling on the face. It hangs on a sterling silver skull chain. It’s quite expensive at $850 but portion of the proceeds from the sale of each watch go to the Alzheimer’s Association. 
If you compare the world with a village of 100 people, the village would look like this. 1- 57 Asians, 21 Europeans, 14 Noth Americans, 8 Africans. 2- 52 women, 48 men 3- 70 colored people, 30 white, 4- 30 Christians, 70 non Christians 5- 89 heterosexuals, 11 homosexuals. 7- Six persons would own 59% of the wealth. 8- Six would be US citizens. 9- 80 would be without shelter. 10- 70 would be analphabets. 11- 50 would be dependent of somebody else. 12- One would be about to die, and two about to be born. 13- One only would have a diploma, and one would have a computer.
