Britbike forum Forums General discussion The Rod and Tappet There Be Injuns

You'll recall that I got me one of them Injun motosickles, and a right royal bar Steward it was to get going, it'll start just fine some days. But mostly it didn't, SO after last year's Indian Rally I chucked it at an Indian fettler, he got his fettling irons warmed up and away he went, searching out all sorts of silly problems that would've taken me a dogs age to fine, what with being a Gormless old bugger and all. Didn't get the bike home till the spring, trying to get parts when the Plague was on turned out to be a monumental task, no worries as it happened, couldn't do anything while the Plague was about anyway. So time was on my side for once, then I got the call and the bike came home....

WoW what a transformation, two priming kicks and it starts first kick every time, even when red hot, and best of all when everyone and his dog is looking right at it, after filling up at the petrol station. Life is good and all was well, so children settle down for a little Yarn....


LAST weekend there was a bank holiday here, I was meant to be working Friday & Saturday but booked them days off at work, so Friday morning saw me roll Cochise out of the fettling shed, petrol on, choke on, half throttle, and two kicks. Then choke up one click, retard the ignition, on with the ignition switch, and..... She fired straight up....

The machine was fully frighted with all the gear I needed for a four day weekend camp, and so I set off into the lanes of Kent, ending up at Kenley aerodrome, an Olde War time Spitfire & Hurricane base, now used by Gliders. Up with the Canvas Hovel and time to settle in with the lads and Lasses of the Indian Riders Club....





A couple of bikes that caught my eye....








Friday night saw us quaffing Ale and being entertained by one of the lads on his guitar, last time another lad had a go with his Blues harmonica, and he blew me away with the music, tried as hard as I could to get him back up there to blow it, but he avoided the stage and I failed miserably...

A great night was had, then next morning ladies volunteered to cook us all breakfast...








And then we all hit the lanes for a run, no starting issues here move along, we arrived at our destination Verralls is a small Old bike dealers....




Crammed full to the Gunwales with bikes...







BUT wait....What's this I spy, surely not, it can't be..? It IS...!





Yes it is the Hairy Mong's Bombay Express, that lovely 1937 Royal Enfield KX is now up for sale at Verralls, seems the Mong has gone all Harley Davidson on us, I'm told this sort of thing happens to people of a certain age....

Back to Cochise and first kick we were off, where back at the site they had the Gymkhana on the go, so I entered, nothing too strenuous, just a riding skills thing with obs tickles to master....







That night in the marquee they had the results of the day....






Only turned out I'd WON, oh yes, I'd beaten the best and came in First, my prize was a lovely Bishey Barney Bee Pillow, which is a Norfolk Lady Bird. And a nice addition to my camping equipment....

After breakfast the next day we were out in them lanes once again....









After a lovely ride we ended up at my local brewery....




A great weekend was had by one and all, and best of all, something I spied at the very start of it all while mooching was this....




NO not that, THIS....




Oh YES, that right there isn't just some old Kawazaki that has been dumped. Oh NO Matey me Ladio, that there is only our very own Kev's bike, YES it was Kev's very own machine and he'd ridden it to the Rally fully Freighted with all the camping gear and beer he needed for his return to camping with he's mates once again, how fantastic was that. And SO darn good to see him after what he's been through....


What a fine weekend that was, and a great bike I now own after a couple or three years of messing around, worry NOT. Normal BSAing is afoot, there's a Rally coming soon so stay tuned all y'all, it won't be long, the camera is charging up as we speak....

Fantastic Shaun and please give my regards to Kev when you see him

Thanks Bill

It has been a long time since I attended a rally, I did one night at the Clox forward rally back in March, but a week later I was in hospital under the surgeons knife! tThe rest of this year has really been a blur, hospital, sleep, more hospital, more sleep, interspersed with some work when I had the energy I did buy a few rally tickets, but they came and went with monotonous regularity as I just never had the energy to attend. In amongst all this Shaun invited me to the Injun rally, with no pressure to attend, but as the weather seemed fine, no rain on the horizon, and not to hot, I thought I would give it a try. So I loaded up my W650, picked a route that included no motorways, and headed out.



This Shaun...



But it was an Indian rally..



even if they share parts from a BSA...

A look in to a New World, that of Indians and not BSAs, but it looks like the same sort of gray-bearded geezers that I know and love, and the same kind of good time that you'd expect at any rally in the Sceptered Isles ... thanks for the travelogue and pics as always ....

Lannis

The infamous Cochise

So there you go my trip to the Injun rally, I enjoyed every minute of it, great fun, great people, even if I did end up totally fatigued, will I make another rally this year? I have no idea, but if this was my last one it was worth it.

Thanks Shaun.

Sure looks like a fun event. Great looking old classics. (no comment re: the newer ones)

NIce< all around- cool yarn, looks like a gas AND Kev gets off the boat! Thanks to both of you guys for posting, and I can't express in words how glad I am to see you getting "oot & about", Kev!