Bad Bobber: 1946 Indian Chief Motorcycle
We normally stick to four-wheeled finds around here at Barn Finds, but every once in a while we stumble upon motorcycles that deserve a mention. This 1946 Indian Chief is one of them. It has been parked since the ’60s and is covered with a thick layer of dust, but it has such a cool look about it. I wouldn’t change a thing. Find it here on eBay where the auction is ending later today!
What the heck is a bobber? If you’re not a bike guy, the word bobber may conjure images of fishing more than motorcycles. According to Rider Magazine, the bobber style because popular after WWII when returning GIs attempted to make their bikes look a little more sporty. The would remove the front fender, shorten the rear fender, and remove parts to save weight.
This bad boy still has a front fender (which is probably a good idea), but the rear one does look “bobbed” off. If you look at photos of original Indian Chiefs, the stock rear fender covers most of the wheel. It’s fun to think that some young hot rodder made the tweaks back in the day before racing it around the streets of their hometown.
And race around they did! The V-Twin Chief was Indian’s flagship model and the ’46 benefited from more suspension travel up front and cushier shocks out back. There isn’t a title and the seller doesn’t mention what this bike is going to need to glide down the road again, but it’s still tempting to drag this one home and get it back on the street!
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Comments
I don’t mean to be a buzzkill, had motorcycles for over 50 years, but how could someone actually enjoy riding this thing. I think my Honda 50 would be more fun. Apparently, 9 people ( out of 30 million) who have $10g’s to pee away, think it’s worth it. Seems to me, a pretty crummy example of what was once a nice bike.
Not a buzzkill at all…it’s to early in the morning🍺
Sometimes too much experience isn’t good. Peoples can be in a different place in life than you and would enjoy this. The same could be said about just about any Barn Find here.
Some folks want to take on a project that there weren’t 50-100 million produced in the first place. Personally, I won’t buy a bike that was manufactured using plastic
I suppose. To be fair, this was “Bobbed” when there was little, if any interest in these. It was just an old bike from grandpa’s barn. Pretty amazing, this was a similar beautiful bike they butchered.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Indian_Chief_Black_Hawk_80_cubic_inch_1950.jpg
You have a Honda 50? Send a picture and details to my email if you will. I would appreciate that. I agree with you on the Indian, it’s a good parts bike for a decent one.
Got a very old photo of my grandfather sitting on his police motorcycle, a Harley I think, with the gear shifter like this one. Crazy to think of it nowadays, like the twin stick semi trucks from years and years ago, what people used to drive. Men of iron clad nerves if you ask me, I wouldn’t even consider riding this on a crowded highway these days with the way people drive! Still interesting, especially parked…. .
Nother fine example of puttdom (a lill different than most motorcyclin).
Might B better in several boxes at 1/4 the price (get orig fenders 1st)?
Thnx Jesse !
When you are in your 20’s having zero suspension isn’t as bad as in your 50’s and above. Jay E has it figured out.
Many vintage bikes were left out in the wild but sometime in the 1980’s values started changing. This pile eluded the restoration frenzy for decades. It is how they were found. I think it is a cool find.
My dad was a weekend biker in the early 1970’s and his buddies all mostly all had Pan Heads. One had a Pan/Knuckle. If you had a little money you were rolling on Shovels. My house looked like an outlaw biker convention on the weekends. Those were good times. A different time. Guys enjoying motorcycles.
In the 90’s it changed. Everyone bought new bikes and leather at the one stop Harley shop everyone was on board. Doctors, Attorneys etc. Wasn’t cool anymore.
I like seeing two wheels. Beats seeing the same Corvettes over and over.
$10,100 but not enough. Auction closed, reserve not met.
“The true value of a ‘collectible’ is what someone is willing to pay for it.”
When I sold on fleabay if it didn’t make reserve the highest bidder got it anyway.
Had an Excelsior with a side shifter for a while. Was fun to take around the block. Was an old race bike was fast, sounded the business, and looked great. After a spin around the block would usually put it away. Went on a few antique bike rides which were fun. It just wasn’t comfortable.
Love the look of old bikes but by the mid fifties bikes were so much better I’ll stick with 65 years old or newer.
Had a ‘56 Matchless G80. That bike I could ride for hours. Bikes are meant to be ridden.
I had an old friend who had a police Harley. He went blind and we used to take turns taking him for a ride on the old workhorse. I would trade every bike I owned for that now.
Hey guys, my father has a ’46 indian been in the shed for prolly 50 years, how do I find how/where to fix up or sell it