Indian are doing a sterling job of linking the current Minnesota-based company, owned by Polaris, with the history of the original company, founded by Hendee and Hedstrom in 1901, a firm that ceased trading in 1953. The brand recognition and history is valuable. Polaris's previous two-wheeled effort, Victory, struggled to get traction in a crowded market, despite making bikes of identical quality and performance to some of the current Indians. As much as some of you might dis

There are few things I love more than feeling like I'm in the middle of a coincidental occurrence and one happened this week. I can't remember how I first started communicating with Gar Wood, but back in 2015, when Sideburn went to America for DQUSA, we flew to Southern California for a few days before and Julian, from Deus Ex Machina, kindly booked Perris Short Track for a midweek practice and invited a bunch of our mutual friends to come along and ride. I contacted Gar and

We're introducing a new name, who I hope is going to become a regular Sideburn blogger. Todd Marella is a firm friend we met through DirtQuake USA. He's lived a life, a continues to do so. The latest chapter is buying his first ever race bike, at the age of 53, and going flat track racing for the very first time. Here's the story... Last night was my first official flat track race. It was at Salem speedway, which is a large concrete floor, with a shed roof over it, and open s

Tommy Rockwood styling on a BSA Gold Star in a Sonicweld chassis. Apparently he set an Ascot Park lap record on this bike. No rear brake, so pre-1970. Photographer unknown, but almost definitely Mahony. #BSA #TommyRockwood #Sonicweld #AscotPark #1960s #Mahony