Rare Indian At Doc’s Motorcycle Parts Show

WATERBURY, CT – The rain held off and the vintage and custom bikes rolled into Doc’s Motorcycle Parts today for the store’s 47th annual customer appreciation day and motorcycle show.

A sunny sky would have no doubt resulted into a larger turnout, but those who attended were treated not only to free hot dogs and soda, but to some spectacular custom and rare vintage machines.

Among the eye candy was an Indian-badged, Royal Enfield-powered Chief owned by Chris Wright of Goshen, CT.

Wright has owned the Chief for 44 years. He got it when it was 16 years old. It’s registered as a 1962 model, but he said it came off the assembly line in Springfield, MA in 1958. How’s that? Didn’t the original Indian go belly up in 1953? Yes, it did. But the British-owned Brockhouse Corporation acquired Indian’s intellectual property and began selling re-branded Royal Enfields under the the Indian name.

Wright’s Chief has a 700cc Royal Enfield Constellation motor. It still has the original front tire and only 11,190 miles on the odemeter.

“I saw a coffee table book once. I swear it was this bike rolling out of the factory,” said Wright, explaining that the front tire was the tipoff. Nonetheless, he rode it to the show, despite the fact “it needs better tires on it.”

Wright also noted that the bike has rigid foot pegs. “When you hit, it’s not good,” he said.

Meanwhile, Rit Caron of Terryville, CT came aboard his 1977, AMF-era Harley-Davidson FLH Electra-Glide, which he called an “every day rider.”

Caron has owned the FLH for 21 years. When he first acquired it, the local DMV office was located where Doc’s Motorcycle Parts now calls home. He recalled there was a line out the door and around the building when he went to register it, but that he was able to jump the queue because he had all of his paperwork filled out in advance.

“The bore is still stock – 1,200cc,” he said. “There was no kicker on it. That’s the first thing I put on it.” Not surprisingly, he has loads of spare parts at home – gas tank, fenders, the original solo seat, and fairing.

Some of the bikes on display were familiar. After a one-year absence, Jacob Springs of Rehobeth, MA returned with his German-made 1955 Triumph BDG 250 SL.

And Dan Gaudiosi of Thomaston brought the 1948 Harley-Davidson FL that he inherited from his father, Buch Gaudiosi, who passed way in April 2014 at age 88. He rode the bike up until his 87th year.

Gaudiosi said the bike still runs well. “I finally learned exactly what it’s looking for as far as starting it. She’s finally accepted me,” he said.

Here are some more pics from the show:

And a two from outside of the parking lot: