The now - legendary five - twin 1946 Indian Chief motorcycle emerged as Indian ’s flagship good example after World War II , and the pop design relegated the American ship’s company ’s four - cylinder and smaller V - twin models to history .
The 1946 Indian Chief bike was like to prewar bounteous Indians ; theengineremained a 74 - cubic - inch flathead and tank graphic were unaltered . As always , " Indian Red " was a popular color selection , though others , including two - tones , were useable .
New for the 1946 Indian Chief motorcycle however were girder - style could - leap forks adopted from Indian ’s radical 841 mannequin that had been design for desert use by the U.S. military during the state of war .
These unexampled forks allow for a full five in of bicycle travel versus the meagre two inches allowed by the previous folio - spring design .
Though the bottom still feature the same plunger - type respite , outpouring rates were softened . These modification result in an even still drive than before , a far-famed selling feature article of the postwar models .
Another accoutrement was a spring - mount sidecar , first offered in 1940 , which carried fancy chrome speedlines and trim .
Go to the next Sir Frederick Handley Page to see more delineation of the legendary 1946 Indian Chief bike .
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1946 Indian Chief pictures
Though like to to prewar versions , the 1946 Indian Chief motorcycle admit upgrades such as new girder - expressive style front forks and softer spring rates on the speculator - case rear suspension .
