First Classic Motorcycle Ride 2010 Indian 101 Scout

After a horrible winter – horrible weather and health issues with my family, we here in New England got one of the worst rain and flooding in decades. Almost everyone I know in Southern Connecticut has water in their basements. So after getting the sun came out earlier this week, and sucking the last drop of water out of the basement I was ready for an escape. And my favorite get away is always on two wheels.

My hot rod 1931 Indian 101 Scout motorcycle

So I made sure the family was occupied and went out to the garage. I unhooked the smart charger from the battery and rolled my 1931 Indian 101 Scout out into the sunlight for the first time this year. This is a motorcycle I have owned and ridden a lot over the last four years, I had owned another 101 Scout with a sidecar and sold it many years ago. I’d regretted selling it and was lucky enough to find this one, which I do not plan on selling.

This 101 Scout is mostly correct except the recirculating oil pump from a later model Indian Scout.

I wiped the bike down while looking it over for any possible issues of concerns from sitting over the long cold New England winter. Everything seemed OK, so I grabbed my camera and took a number of photos of the bike as she sits.

Modern tires improve already excellent handling of fabled Indian 101 Scout

I checked the tires, which were down a little, but in good enough for a short ride around the neighborhood. The rear chain was fine and I added a quart of new oil to the oil tank. Not sure what to expect, I opened the fuel line and let last year’s gas (with some fuel stabilizer and a shot of SeaFoam) fill the float bowl. It didn’t leak so I considered myself lucky.

Looks pretty & correct except for the later model oil pump.

Just for fun I closed the choke all the way, flicked on the ignition, advanced the timing fully and gave it a little throttle. To my great pleasure it fired off on the second kick. No kidding!

I opened the choke one click and let it idle until it warmed up. For the first minute of so I walked around looking for any problems or issues and couldn’t find any. So I wheeled the bike around to face away from the house (in case the clutch dumped on me or stuck) and pressed down on the toe/heel clutch. I slipped (well actually, grinded) the transmission into first, eased on the gas, off the clutch and rolled out onto the road.

I only put in a few miles but that was enough to get my juices running and feeling that Winter was now behind us and I was aching for Spring and Summer. I also remembered how much I love this old Indian motorcycle. Not like anything else I have ever owned or ridden. One tight and sweet handling, beautiful machine.

I didn’t want to, but know I had to ride back home before I was missed. So reluctantly I rode back to the house and turned off the fuel petcock and let the bike idle until the gas in the float bowl was used up. Then I wiped it down again and pulled it up on the rear stand. I realized I had not checked the clutch/transmission oil level.

I checked and had to add oil to the wet clutch and transmission

The way to check the oil level is to remove the small threaded bolt under the clutch activation arm. If oil drips out you are fine. If not, you add some to the top (not visible in this photo). I was down several ounces, which is a lot.

Indian Sunset? Works for me.

So, while my first ride of 2010 was short, it was really needed and wonderful fun. Sure hope to put a lot more miles on this old Indian motorcycle this summer. Know what I mean?