When I'm riding my classic Indians I often hear folks say," You can't ride old bikes very far, they're unreliable." I chuckle, kick the dust alongside the highway, and explain.

"It's not the motorcycle that's the problem, it's the builder. Most motorcycles are damn reliable, if well built," I tell 'em. My expertise and business is Indian motorcycles. I ride my Indians everyday, build new ones, and design parts for them. I work on Kiwi Indians day in and day out for a living.

There's no doubt about it, they are basic machines with a level of mechanical simplicity. While there are a ton of bench racing experts, very few are real experts who know the ins-and- outs of vintage machines. I kicked off my dedication to the Indian marquee several decades ago, and I have been fascinated with the mechanical engineering, which most would say today is very basic. In the '40s that wasn't the case. Indians were state of the art until the overhead valve engine came along.

In addition to the mechanical simplicity, I was drawn to the sexy styling of the Indian, created by Briggs Weaver who left his mark in the styling journals of American automotive/motorcycling styling. I really love this guy, as he brought unique art deco styling to Indians and forced Harley in 1949 to finally have a trademark style with its nacelle headlight and FL style fender. Heck, Briggs started revolutionizing Indians style in the early 1930s. He was way ahead of his time and is lost in our current history books.

To understand what motorcycling is really about, one has to get on a bike and ride. In my case, I don't have anything other than an Indian to ride and my latest model is a 1953 Chief. Over the past 21 years of building Kiwi Indian into the business it is today, I have designed and manufactured approx 2500 different part numbers. Many of them are not reproductions, but re- engineered components for vintage Indians.

Each improved Kiwi part was developed with behind-the- handlebars engineering. It's easy to sit in an office and dream up a part, which on paper may appear well thought out, but I like to dream when I'm riding behind the handlebars and rolling down the road, imagining each part working with its mate and how it could be improved. It doesn't matter what motorcycle it is. They all need behind-the-bars testing and improvements, especially Harleys, but I'd better leave that one alone.

My everyday transportation is an Indian, to and from work whether it is a hot, cold or wet. If I have to run into LA from Riverside, it's on an Indian. If I have to haul parts or steel, it's on an Indian with a side hack. If the material is long (12' lengths of steel bar stock) it gets strapped to the side hack chassis between the bike and the hack with a red rag tied to the flapping end. That's how stuff got done in the old days and I still do it today. I also enjoy putting miles on our new Kiwi-built bikes, as I claim that anyone can jump on one of our new bikes and ride from LA to NY without putting a spanner on it. Then if they wish to do so jump right back on it and ride back to LA.

A few months ago, my cousin and her family came out from New Zealand to visit. Her husband, Earle, rides a Harley in NZ, and I promised him we'd wonder off for a ride after the family did their usual touristy stuff at Disneyland, Universal Studios, Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, etc. We both have very cool missus who understand our "out for a few days wandering around escapades." I lined up a mates 2003 Harley bagger for Earle, and as usual, I pulled out one of my old Indians for myself, a 1953 Chief.

We headed off up over the Cajon Pass and onto Hwy 395 for a trip through Death Valley and who knows where after that or for how long. One night, two nights, who cares as we're out on a walkabout since we are both out for a good time ride kinda guys. Generally, I like to have the first days run mapped out so as the first nights stay is covered, but from there on, I just like to wing it.

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