Indian 101 Scout
Original vintage bikes with solid patina are actually a rare commodity. Most people understandably enjoy the process of restoring their vintage motorcycle. This is a process that involves both a social network in the search for parts and not least dozens of coffee cups in the garage where the vintage motorcycle is recreated bit by bit. Some, however, choose originality and patina. So I went down to Jutland to visit Ove “Bøf” Jensen and look at his Indian 101 Scout from 1931.
0/0
Ove's Indian stands out for the amount of glossy paint and shiny chrome. Here, history is in every part, and the Scout from 1931 is in untouched original condition. The 600cc bike was sold new in Odense by Denmark's largest Indian dealer "Brun Larsen" in 1932. Ove got the bike from a friend in 1996 in exchange for an Indian Chief that he had lying around disassembled in boxes. When Ove started riding motorcycles in 1976, he raced around on a Norton Dominator. However, this was not as fast as Ove wanted, and he therefore exchanged it for a brand new Norton Commando in 1977. At this time, Ove frequented the motorcycle community in Allingåbro, and his interest in American motorcycles grew stronger. In 1982, he went to Gothenburg and bought himself a 1971 model Harley-Davidson . This was used extensively until 1991, a year that was a turning point for Ove's choice of brand. This year he purchased an Indian Chief, and from now on only Indian was the norm. His inspiration and interest in the brand did not diminish after he and a friend attended the international Indian meeting in Scotland in 1995, and in the years that followed he went to Indian meetings all over Europe. He also attended Indian's 100th anniversary in Springfield/USA. Strongly inspired by the "spirit" of Springfield, Ove returned to Denmark and founded the Danish Indian Club together with like-minded fellow riders. Ove was now very active, including as chairman of Mosten MC in Allingåbro. Through his position as chairman of Mosten MC, he was among other things involved in establishing what has become one of four regular annual MC events in Mosten, the "Old American Meet". The meeting has become an important gathering point, attracting owners of old American motorcycles from all over Western Europe. Indians are of course highly sought after, and Ove's Scout is no exception, especially because of its originality.
Technical data "Scout 101", 1931 model:
- Engine: 2-cylinder 4-stroke, SV
- Displacement: 596 cc
- Power: 22 hp
- Weight: 168 kg
- Top speed: 121 km/h