KIWI INDIAN ORIGINS
Long ago, far away, in a mountain country near Antarctica, winds whipped by the foaming surf whirled around tops of volcanoes.
Deep mud puddles bubbled and popped with sulphureous gases.
In the bowels of the earth, a warrior people tinkered, fixing machines.
Machines that were valuable to them, junk to anyone else.
Kiwi Mike was one of these: still a young 'un, shouted and ordered about, he lived in terror of black-clad ogres of the forge.
Out, they'd shout, and he'd go to work outside, ramming pink, scarred fingers into freezing cold iron jugs, grinding and filing for all he was worth.
Which wasn't much, in Kiwi land. Machines they valued more than people, especially sprogs who'd yet to prove themselves.
Outside the shelter, in the freezing darkness, Kiwi Mike eavesdropped on tales of the awesome, the all-conquering Indian.
He knew, to gain the respect of his elders, he had to find and tame this beast.
One day, lying in a heap in a farmer's barn, he found just such an Indian, an old and decrepit model 741.
Mike took all the skills he'd learned in his time around the forge and beat, hammered and wrenched the sad old wreck back into shape.
Soon, his Indian would run so fast and so far that it would beat even the Hardleedee Milwaukee machines the elders lusted after.
Swearing Mike to secrecy, an elder passed on the talisman of the Kiwi tribe,
saying "Armed with this device, you will detect the false and untrue, and identify the right parts for Indian motorcycles".
From beneath his tattered coveralls he brought a shining object, a Rockwell Hardness Tester, and gave it to Kiwi Mike.
Mike knew his time was done there, and he would have to cross the Pacific Ocean to find more Indian challenges.
Armed with his knowledge and his Rockwell Hardness Tester, Mike arrived in America, and discovered many of his idols of Indian restoration were false.
The cheap parts - even many expensive ones - were weak as putty, and would quickly fail.
With the help of his fair wife Carolyn, Mike started to make parts that were strong and long-lasting.
Together, they built Kiwi Indian Parts from tiny beginnings into the modern business it is today, dedicated to keeping Indians alive.
Kiwi Mike and Carolyn settled in their warm riverside home, determined to raise a family who would never know the terrors of volcanoes and freezing mountains.
Indian owners became satisfied customers. Maybe there is such a thing as a happy ending?
COMPANY'S TIMELINE
2012-March 2012 Cycle Source mag "cover bike"
2012-Cycle Source magazine "best custom" model motorcycle.
2011-Best of show Ultimate Bike Builder competition Southern Calif. Kiwi 1939 Chieftain!
2011- Kiwi Introduces the Electric Starter!
2011- Kiwi 2011 second place AMD WORLD Champions in production manufactures class STURGIS SD.!
2011- Kiwi 2011 Introduced New 101 Chout model!
2010- Kiwi 2010 Introduced New Board Track Racer model!
2010- Kiwi Sturgis 2010 3rd place winner! Production class
2009- Kiwi Ross Tomas Sets record at Bonneville as the world's youngest Indian Rider!
2008- Kiwi introduces The Chieftain, featuring an S&S powerplant
2008 - S&S 50 Year Anniversary Build- Kiwi is among 10 of the worlds top bike builders
2008 - Winner of My Fox LA's Hot List- Best Motorcycle shop in Riverside County"
2008- AMD 4th World Champion Production class
2007 - Crazy Horse Sturgis City Council Bike Week - Most Favorite
2007 - Arrow Space build for Michael Lickter "One World Choppers" photo exhibit
2007 - Easy Rider Show Los Angeles, Ca- "Best Of Show"
2006 - Chopper Fest, Ventura, Ca -"Best Of Show"
2006 - Southern California's Inland Empire Entrepreneur "Innovator" Award
2006 - Kiwi Motorcycle Co and Super Co Customs win on Discovery Channels "Great Biker Build Off "
2006 - AMD World Championship of Bike Building, Sturgis - 1st Place Production Manufacturer class
2006 - Introduced the 1st redesigned piston since the factory developed their T slot
2003 - Created the USA’s 1st updated Leaf Spring forks
2003 - Developed the worlds 1st replica Indian motorcycle
2003 - Developed the 1st 4-1/4 gal tank with Matt Blake
2003 - Purchased their 11,000 sq ft facility in downtown Riverside for their much needed expansion
2003 - Won 6 long distance riding awards from Nthn Calif, Oklahoma, Ohio, New York, 2x Springfield Mass
2002 - Built the worlds 1st updated hydraulic forks
2002 - Built the worlds 1st retro sprung and rigid frames.
2002 - Rode Kiwi’s test engine across the USA covering 6000 trouble free miles
2001 - Organized the Century Ride Home anniversary ride celebrating Indians 100th anniversary riding from
California to Springfield Mass covering almost 4000 miles
2000 - Created the 1st replica rear shock assembly
2000 - Developed the worlds 1st new Indian engine since the factory closed in 1953
2000 - Kiwi crank cases and heads were born
1999 - Introduced new complete wheels and rims
1999 - Began introducing new gasket technology through a relationship with James Gaskets
1999 - Started offering parts in kits.
1997 - Started work on his custom bobber. Little did he know bobbers were going to be a big industry boom in 2003
1996 - Started work on the industries “Indian builders book” which was finally launched in 2006
1996 - Created the innovative in tank oil filter
1995 - Created performance flywheels, connecting rods, Bonneville cams and followers
1995 - Introduced advanced materials in transmission gears becoming THE standard.
1992 - Developed an updated internally designed ignition switch.
1991 - Developed an updated speedometer using a silicone dampened spindle
1990 - Moved into their larger 2400 sq ft facility
1988 - Introduced the industries 1st illustrated catalog (everyone laughed at Kiwi because they thought an illustrated catalog was a joke)
1988 - Kiwi Indian was started in Calif. with newly wed wife Carolyn In 1982 Mike left New Zealand to travel to Canada then buying a motorcycle and touring all over the place eventually settling down in California
1977 - Mike bought his 2nd Indian, a 1924 Chief
1976 - Mike bought his 1st Indian, a military 741
1976 - Mike started his apprenticeship in Automotive Machining in New Zealand
AWARDS
