Kiwi Mike's The Chieftain
82 images Created 3 Aug 2020
Kiwi Mike's The Chieftain - 2003
America is the most exciting market and and still a place where dreams do come true. I started out with a dream in a garage making some parts for vintage Indian motorcycles in 1988 which grew fast into designing and manufacturing over 2000 part numbers of my own Kiwi Indian brand. I continued dreaming of one day manufacturing my own engine, which in all honesty I thought to be just a pipe dream. Dream big and my Kiwi 84” flat head engine was born in 1999. I kept dreaming about making brand new Indian inspired motorcycles, and then this too became a reality in 2001. Today, we have 7-models in the offering and with more on the drawing board. You dream it and I will build it.
All economies go up and down and the US is no exception. In every down economy I always see opportunity. The vintage Indian market is resilient to recessions and in the 32 years of being in business, I’ve been through a few, which have always led to big growth spurts and new opportunities. While the Indian market is foreign to most custom US builders as they just don’t understand it, but thankfully, I do understand it and this has helped me survive all these years.
The bike that you see before you is my first ever complete bike build and the first attempt of anyone in building a brand new vintage Indian. While some things you see that I've done aren't quite up to snuff, we've all gota start somewhere. This is my "Chieftain Roadmaster" which when decked out with a windshield, luggage rack, saddlebags and spotlights, was the King of the Indian range back in the day.
This replica utilizes my 84 ci Flathead engine and 4 -peed overdrive transmission for modern day riding. This purpose-built spring frame, hydraulic forks and spring seat post allows for excellent handling and comfort on today’s highways.
My 45-year passion has always been Indians (since I was 15 years old) and even today continues to grow into a lot more models than this. The US is a huge market with immense opportunities. I remember a well-known TV celebrity telling me 20-years ago that building new Indians is a silly idea so don’t even go there. Today that same guy loves to ride my bikes. Believe in yourself, follow your own dreams, go with your own gut feeling and make your own road. It’s OK to be different. I built a career and successful business out of being different.
Dream big, dream small, but dream and believe in your product, your brand and yourself. Your passion will carry you to unimaginable places. Don't be one of those people that looks back on life and says, "I could have, would have, or should have ". Just go for it. As my Grandfather Mick Tomas would say "never look back at what you have done but look ahead as to what you have got to do".
-Kiwi Mike Tomas (2020)
America is the most exciting market and and still a place where dreams do come true. I started out with a dream in a garage making some parts for vintage Indian motorcycles in 1988 which grew fast into designing and manufacturing over 2000 part numbers of my own Kiwi Indian brand. I continued dreaming of one day manufacturing my own engine, which in all honesty I thought to be just a pipe dream. Dream big and my Kiwi 84” flat head engine was born in 1999. I kept dreaming about making brand new Indian inspired motorcycles, and then this too became a reality in 2001. Today, we have 7-models in the offering and with more on the drawing board. You dream it and I will build it.
All economies go up and down and the US is no exception. In every down economy I always see opportunity. The vintage Indian market is resilient to recessions and in the 32 years of being in business, I’ve been through a few, which have always led to big growth spurts and new opportunities. While the Indian market is foreign to most custom US builders as they just don’t understand it, but thankfully, I do understand it and this has helped me survive all these years.
The bike that you see before you is my first ever complete bike build and the first attempt of anyone in building a brand new vintage Indian. While some things you see that I've done aren't quite up to snuff, we've all gota start somewhere. This is my "Chieftain Roadmaster" which when decked out with a windshield, luggage rack, saddlebags and spotlights, was the King of the Indian range back in the day.
This replica utilizes my 84 ci Flathead engine and 4 -peed overdrive transmission for modern day riding. This purpose-built spring frame, hydraulic forks and spring seat post allows for excellent handling and comfort on today’s highways.
My 45-year passion has always been Indians (since I was 15 years old) and even today continues to grow into a lot more models than this. The US is a huge market with immense opportunities. I remember a well-known TV celebrity telling me 20-years ago that building new Indians is a silly idea so don’t even go there. Today that same guy loves to ride my bikes. Believe in yourself, follow your own dreams, go with your own gut feeling and make your own road. It’s OK to be different. I built a career and successful business out of being different.
Dream big, dream small, but dream and believe in your product, your brand and yourself. Your passion will carry you to unimaginable places. Don't be one of those people that looks back on life and says, "I could have, would have, or should have ". Just go for it. As my Grandfather Mick Tomas would say "never look back at what you have done but look ahead as to what you have got to do".
-Kiwi Mike Tomas (2020)
