- Paperback: 224 pages
- Publisher: Phoenix; New edition edition (5 Aug 1999)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0753808439
- ISBN-13: 978-0753808436
- Product Dimensions: 19.2 x 13 x 2.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 565,834 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Review
"This remembrance of turning a box of junk into a gleaming 1941 Indian Chief has a universal roar. Just the right mix of gearhead details and personal reflections." USA Today "What Haefele writes about wonderfully, in his mellow, understated way, is how the Indian project became a test of his love and resolve." Esquire "Haefele describes how his search for vintage parts eventually involved an entire community of fanatical mechanics, impoverished motorcycle collectors, and renegade bikers--a collaboration, he realizes, that gave him skills as much social and spiritual as practical." New Yorker
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
edition.
Product Description
At the age of 51, tree surgeon Fred Haefele was in the mood to do something foolish. So he decided to rebuild a Harley-Davidson Indian. These rare motorcycles have achieved cult status in the biking community; they are also known to be time, money, and energy consuming, requiring an almost religious dedication to their restoration. There are rules as well - but rules are there to be broken. Which is how Fred Haefel found himself in a race against the clock as he dreamt of taking his rebuilt, restored Indian Chief to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. This is the ex-professor's account of how he rebuilt the bike, and learned things about himself in the process.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Boys at Heart,
This review is from: Rebuilding The Indian (Hardcover)
I could not put it down. From page one I was hooked,The author has poured the love for the bike into the book,His determination,financial struggle and his Dream are truly what any red blooded motor bike mad 50 year old would seek to achieve.The characters that are introduced to us, Parts Father, Chaz aand Magoo are figures plucked from the autojumbles and bike meets you would come to expect in the U.S. The other side of Fred, the author, the family man, the intellectual lead us to a different side of the tracks.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A passionate tale,
This review is from: Rebuilding The Indian (Paperback)
When Fred Haefele came into $5,000 he decided to do something foolish. In this case, rebuild an Indian. Like any restoration project, there are rules:1.If you buy an Indian, buy a Chief. The Chief was the flagship of the line. They made more of them than any other model, so parts are (relatively) easy to come by. To this I would add another rule – if you are rebuilding a 50 year old bike from a box of bits, do not set yourself time limits. So obviously Haefele bought a $5,000 1944 (well the frame was 1941, the engine was 1947, so 1944 seems a fair average) Chief basketcase and set himself a target of taking part in the Sturgis Run (whilst Sturgis is mainly given over to Harleys, there is a smaller but more “real” area devoted to the Indian). Rebuilding the Indian chronicles Haefele’s race against the clock to restore the bike in time. But this is more than a simple catalogue of parts needed and action taken. His passion for the project is obvious. From why he bought the bike, the thrill of seeing restored parts coming back, meaning the day he can work on the bike gets much closer. There is also a lot of humour regarding his decision making -his continual change of mind about something as simple as the colour is gently but warmly amusing - stick at the original capacity or bore out the engine for more performance? White walled tyres or not? Working from a bucket of bolts, there is a lot of scope for making changes, and Haefele agonises over all of them! There are frustrations – after what seems an eternity, he still hasn’t undertaken any work himself! But then things start coming together – and of course, the inevitable problems appear. From here on the story picks up apace and I found myself not wanting to put the book down. Intermingled with the story of the Indian’s rebuild are tales of Haefele’s life and what drove him to become the man he is and just what made him decide to take on the project. These give the book a vital balance. Perhaps the real delight of this book is the development of friendships over something as supposedly simple as putting together a bundle of parts. Likewise, his coming into contact with diverse characters - some introverts, some extroverts, some decidedly dodgy, if not dangerous – but all connected by their love of old motorcycles is a joy to read. Does Haefele make it to Sturgis? Well that would be telling. But anyone that has ever rebuilt a classic motorcycle will find themselves identifying with this book. And for those that have not, this book will give an insight into what drives people to do so.
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Indian,
By
This review is from: Rebuilding The Indian (Paperback)
Excellent book,if you are into a good read of trials and tribulation of life and motocycles(Indians)then this is the book for you,couldn't put it down.
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