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Battlefield Heroes
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Indian Motocycles
Ray Thursby
12/01/2007
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Photography by David Gooley
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In times of
war, almost everything becomes a potential weapon, and the motorcycle is no
exception. Though the purposes differ, some motorcycle attributes prized by
civilian riders, such as compact size, maneuverability, and light weight, have
long been attractive to soldiers as well. Of course, in the early days,
motorcycles weren’t entirely satisfactory. Though some could deal with the
primitive conditions of everyday use, military life was more abusive. Soldiers
might ride them into places no regular rider would contemplate. Still, as the
machines themselves were refined and improved, far-sighted military planners saw
an increasing role for them to play.
Indian Motocycles Model 741 reports for duty in World War
II.
Europeans were somewhat more advanced in their thinking. As
militarism took hold in Germany during the early 1930s, that country’s major
motorcycle manufacturers developed machines that could do more than carry two
soldiers to the battlefront in a hurry. The bikes became weapons in and of
themselves, some carrying machine guns and other armaments; others were
configured with sidecars, often fitted with gun mounts.
In contrast to its German counterparts, the Indian Motocycle
Company (the "r" in motorcycle was dropped in 1923) of Springfield,
Massachusetts, did not have the lights burning all night at its factory. Founded
in 1900, Indian was weathering the Depression; while moderately profitable, the
company had never fully regained its health after years of poor management. Mere
survival was something of an achievement; by the mid-1930s an industry once made
up of dozens of competitors had been ruthlessly pruned down by attrition or
takeovers to just two main players, Indian and Harley-Davidson.
 As the decade came to a close, most people—especially those in
Europe—were convinced that war was inevitable. The U.S. government was a little
slow to react, but the French Army placed an order for some 2,200 Indian Chiefs,
many with factory sidecars. This brought a welcome infusion of cash into the
company, though none of the machines actually reached France. Among the more
than 2.6 million tons of merchant vessels sunk by German U-Boats in 1940, was
the S.S. Hanseatic Star and its cargo of crated Indians. (Click image to enlarge)
By then, the U.S. government had issued contracts to Indian and
Harley-Davidson for prototype military bikes. Indian responded with the Model
640, a clever amalgamation of components from civilian production. A 30.5 cu in
engine from the Junior Scout was modified. Compression was lowered for easier
starting, reliability, and in anticipation of poor-quality fuel in combat zones.
Various military-specification components, including a dust- and water-resistant
air filter, were installed in a Sport Scout frame.
A few modifications were made to make the 640 more suitable for
war. Front forks and seat stays were lengthened, effectively giving the bike
nearly five inches of ground clearance. A luggage rack with attached saddle bags
was mounted behind the rider; carriers were provided for extra gas cans; the
civilian fenders were replaced with simple mudguards, raised high enough to
prevent the build-up of mud between wheels and fenders. Blackout military
running lights were specified, and parts were renumbered to satisfy military
nomenclature. And, naturally, the whole unit was covered with a coat of solid
olive-drab paint.
Anyone unfamiliar with motorcycles would be unable to identify
the 641’s maker as, in standard military practice, no badges or decals bearing a
trade name were attached. Each bike did carry a special warning and information
plate as demanded by the government, admonishing users that "no equipment is to
be added to motorcycle", the not-to-exceed speed for the Model 741 seen here was
80 mph, giving specifics of oil grade, spark plug, maintenance manual and parts
list numbers. At the bottom of the plate, the machine was correctly identified
as an Indian Motocycle.
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