In the beginning The Indian motorcycle story actually begins with bicycles. At the turn of the century, racing bicycles on wooden tracks known as velodromes was a popular sport. Crudely motorized bicycles set the pace for the racers. One such pacer built by Oscar Hedstrom, caught the eye of Springfield bicycle manufacturer George Hendee. Hendee recognized its potential for wider application. In 1901, the two teamed up to create a motorized version of Hendee’s Indian bicycle-- the Indian Motocycle. The Hendee Manufacturing Company expanded rapidly to dominate world production of motorcycles by 1913, when it manufactured over 30,000 motorcycles.
Oscar Hedstrom's Bicycle Pacer, c. 1900	Indian Motorcycle Prototype, c. 1901
Oscar Hedstrom	George Hendee
Indian motorcycle factory
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