The 1942 Indian 741motorcycleand Indian 841 bike were military bikes built for use in World War II . The 741 used Indian ’s conventional V - twin purpose , but the 841 had a modified twin and dig drive intend for desert fight .
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Indian ’s principal simple machine , the 741 , carried a 30.5 - cubic - in flathead V - Twin Falls base on the civilian Thirty - fifty model . Less knock-down than Harley ’s 45 - cubic - in WLA , the 741 was used mainly by couriers and spotter , as what it lack in performance it made up for in durability .
A handwriting - shift three - speedtransmissionand foot - operatedclutchwere check , both being normal practice for the day .
It must have been discombobulate for a rider to go from an Indian to a Harley , however , because the Indian ’s clutch was absorb when the lever tumbler was pushed down with the cad , while a Harley ’s engaged by pushing down with the toe .
Produced alongside the thousands of Indian 741s outfitted for military manipulation was the Native American 841 motorcycle , which was contrive specifically for desert foreign mission . With its " crabwise " volt - twin and shaft drive , it represented a radical departure from the company ’s distinctive machines .
The 45 - three-dimensional - inch locomotive of the Indian 841 motorcycle was a flathead pentad - twin , but it was mount up perpendicular to normal Indian practice , with the cylinders sticking out into the air stream . Despite the strange organisation , many internal components were borrowed from the company ’s Sport Scout model .
Up front on the Indian 841 motorcycle was a girder - style branching , same as the Indian 741 , but the rear was fitted with the company ’s traditional " plunger " suspension , which the 741 miss . last crusade was by jointed peter , a constellation view as more suitable for use in the harsh desert sand .
Contrary to conventional practice , the Indian 841 motorcycle had a ft - break / paw - grip arrangement , as did Harley ’s desert bike , the XA . Also like the XA , only about a thousand 841s were ever ramp up . Unlike the XA , however , at least some ( probably few than 50 ) saw military serve .
The balance were sell to civilians , most being converted for habit on the street , and many can still be found at motorcycle show across the country .
See the next page for more picutres of the 1942 Indian 741 bike and Amerindic 841 motorcycle .
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1942 Indian 741 and Indian 841 Pictures
After their use in World War II , often as courier and scout cycle , the 1942 Indian 741 and 841 models were sell as surplusage to civilian for street use .
