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About This Quiz
Think you're a true motorhead? This quiz will test your ability to identify whether a given motorcycle is from one or the other of America's most famous motorcycle makers.
Who among us at one time or another hasn't thought about taking to the open road on a motorcycle and leaving our cares, responsibilities, bills, bosses and (in some cases) significant others behind? Since the days of "Easy Rider," when Peter Fonda made us all want to have a bike under us and trouble on the horizon, and even years before that, the life of a motorcycle rider (or "biker" if you have the right clothes) has been alluring.
In this quiz, we're going to show you sweet rides from two of the most hallowed of American motorcycle manufacturers, Harley-Davidson and Indian. Both have storied histories and decades of tales of the open road to back them up, although Harleys tend to be the more recognized of the two. Can you pick out which is which given only a picture and a hint?
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Harley or Indian: What am I?
Indian
Built between 1928 and 1942, the Indian 4 was based on a motorcycle designed by the Ace Company, bought out by Indian in 1927. It was powered by a four-stroke inline-four engine,
Harley
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Harley or Indian: What am I?
Indian
Powered by the Thunderstroke 111 which was based on the legendary Indian Power Plus engines of the 1940s, the 2017 Indian Springfield pays homage to those early Indian designs. This is an excellent tourer that offers impressive cargo space as well as driver and passenger comfort.
Harley
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Harley or Indian: What am I?
Indian Chief
Harley Model J
Another early racing model released by Harley, the Model J set a class speed record in 1920 when it reached 103 mph at Daytona.
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Harley or Indian: What am I?
Indian
The 2017 Indian Chieftan is a large tourer. It is powered by the Thunderstroke 111 engine and even features an adjustable windscreen that can be raised or lowered as the rider sees fit. The Chieftain also has ABS brakes.
Harley
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Harley or Indian: What am I?
Harley
For the Harley enthusiast who doesn't like polishing chrome, the Sportster Nightster is the perfect machine.
Indian
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Harley or Indian: What am I?
Indian Dark Horse
Not called the Dark Horse for nothing, this modern offering from Indian is finished in matte black. It also features a few mod cons including keyless ignition as well as cruise control, perfect for the open road.
Harley Roadmaster
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Harley or Indian: What am I?
Indian Chief Vintage
The 2017 Indian Chief Vintage harkens back to a simpler time with its looks. Immediately noticeable is its whitewall tires and old style leather saddlebags with tassels. Other than that, it is thoroughly modern and has keyless ignition as well as cruise control.
Harley Roadmaster
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Harley or Indian: What am I?
Harley
The Street Glide tourer has always been a popular Harley model and through the years, it has received numerous upgrades along the way. These include cruise control, ABS, improved brakes and in 2009, a total fairing redesign.
Indian
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Harley or Indian: What am I?
Harley
The XLCH Sportster, released in 1958, was an upgrade on the underpowered earlier model. It came about due to a request from California Harley dealers who wanted something a little more exciting for their customers.
Indian
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Harley or Indian: What am I?
Harley XA
Indian MM-5
Known as the Indian Mini Mini, the MM-5 was a tiny dirtbike essentially for children. Capable of around 12 mph, it even came with training wheels and was a marketing ploy used by the company to try and find the next generation of riders.
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Harley or Indian: What am I?
Indian
Harley
Considered the grandfather of all twins, the Harley Davidson Model 50D was released in 1909. Its V-twin design was the beginning of what Harleys are known for today. Only two remain in the world.
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Harley or Indian: What am I?
Indian
Harley
The 1949 FL Hydra-Glide received its name from the new generation of forks that were beginning to find their way into the motorcycle world. Today, hydraulic forks are taken for granted, but in 1949, they were a massive step forward from a regular spring suspension. The Hydra-Glide was powered by a 'Panhead' engine.
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Harley or Indian: What am I?
Harley
Indian
The 2017 Indian Chief Classic keeps that old school Indian look but combines it with many modern touches. The Classic is wall to wall chrome along with whitewall tires and wire wheels.
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Harley or Indian: What am I?
Harley
Based on the V-Rod, this Harley Night Rod Special loses all the chrome for an overall black treatment. And it just looks mean! The dual overhead cam liquid-cooled Revolution engine was partially designed by Porsche.
Indian
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Harley or Indian: What am I?
Harley MT350E
The 1993 Harley MT350E is a military spec machine used by a number of armed forces, including those from Britain and Cyprus, as well as a number of Gulf states. It was developed from the Armstrong MT500 with its four-stroke engine producing 30 brake horsepower.
Indian Vintage Chief
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Harley or Indian: What am I?
Indian
Designed for use in the US military and specifically for desert warfare, the Indian 841 was produced between 1941 and 1943. It was powered by a 737 cc 90° air-cooled side-valve V-twin and was capable of 70mph.
Harley
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Harley or Indian: What am I?
Harley
After riders complained about the original FXRS, Harley listened and made right. Not only was an extra front disk brake added to the 1985 FXRS Sport for more stopping power, they also raised the ride height, thus fixing two major complaints with the original bike.
Indian
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Harley or Indian: What am I?
Indian
The 2017 Indian Chief Classic keeps that old school Indian look, but combines it with many modern touches. The Classic Dark Horse combines some chrome with a matte black finish that simply looks incredible.
Harley
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Harley or Indian: What am I?
Indian
Harley
With its solid disk wheels and aspects of the Softail Custom and Heritage Softail Custom, the FLSTF Fat Boy was a little bit of a different offering when released in 1990. It soon became hugely popular and sold by the bucketful.
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Harley or Indian: What am I?
Harley
Indian
The 2017 Indian Scout is powered by a 69 cubic inch V-Twin engine that produces 100 brake horsepower. It also features a lightweight chassis as well as a Cartridge suspension on the front fork.
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Harley or Indian: What am I?
Harley
Another Harley just waiting for you to customize it how you see fit, the Dyna Super Glide was first introduced in 1994. This entry-level motorcycle is perfect for those wanting their first taste of Harley.
Indian
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Harley or Indian: What am I?
Indian
Harley
Harley's first V-rod, the VRSCDA was introduced in 2001. It featured a completely new design, something Harley had never attempted before. And I am sure you will agree, they didn't do too badly.
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Harley or Indian: What am I?
Harley
The Elektra Glide is Harley's stock tourer. No mod-cons here; all you get is a decent touring motorcycle that you can customize to your heart's content, just the way you want to. And in 2009, Harley significantly improved the Elektra Glide's chassis, making it handle far better.
Indian
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Harley or Indian: What am I?
Indian
The 2017 Indian Scout Sixty features a smaller 60 cubic inch V-Twin engine that produces 77 brake horsepower. If you are looking to own your first Indian, this is as good a place as any to start.
Harley
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Harley or Indian: What am I?
Indian
Harley
The 1983 Harley XR-1000 was an excellent bike, but at $7,000 it was expensive! Harley promoted it in a unique way by creating "Lucifer's hammer," an XR-1000 that won a race at Daytona. It then went on to win even more races and showed the public just what the bike was capable of doing despite its price.
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Harley or Indian: What am I?
Harley
With no parts from any of its production bikes at the time, the VR 1000 was considered to be Harley's first true race machine. It was powered by a DOHC liquid-cooled V-twin which pushed out 135 brake horsepower. Only 50 were made available for sale to the public.
Indian
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Harley or Indian: What am I?
Indian
The 2018 Indian Scout Bobber features the same 69 cubic-inch V-Twin that powers the Scout. The Bobber differs from the Scout in the fact that this is a stripped-down Scout with an aggressive slammed stand and chopped fenders. No frills, all attitude!
Harley
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Harley or Indian: What am I?
Harley
The 1979 FLT Tour Glide was a popular model with motorcyclists who wanted a bigger frame than what the FLH Elektra Glide offered. It was also the first Harley to make use of rubber engine mountings.
Indian
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Harley or Indian: What am I?
Indian
A tourer with a vintage look, the 2017 Indian Roadmaster is powered by the 1811 cc Thunderstroke 111. It features a number of fine touches including heated seats, grips, a power windshield and the Ride Command system with touchscreen.
Harley
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Harley or Indian: What am I?
Harley
The FLHTP Electra Glide was released in 2009 and is still a model in the Harley range eight years later. It features a 1690cc air-cooled V-twin engine and a six-speed gearbox. The P at the end of the letter part of its name stands for police as these are popular police cruisers.
Indian
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Harley or Indian: What am I?
Harley
Indian
Powered by the Thunderstroke 111 which was based on the legendary Indian Power Plus engines of the 1940s, the 2017 Indian Springfield Dark Horse pays homage to those early Indian designs. This is an excellent tourer that offers impressive cargo space as well as driver and passenger comfort. Of course, it is finished in matte black which gives it an even more imposing look.
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Harley or Indian: What am I?
Indian
Harley
As British and Japanese bikes rose in popularity, Harley tried a radical styling approach to at least have a model that looked similar. And so the XLCR Cafe Racer was born in the 1970s. This was also a light bike, weighing just 515 pounds
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Harley or Indian: What am I?
Indian
The 1928 Indian Big Chief was essentially the Indian Chief, but with a bigger 1200cc motor than the original 1000cc installed on all previous bikes. It also included an improved muffler as well as larger mudguards.
Harley
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Harley or Indian: What am I?
Harley
Strangely enough, the 1956 Harley KHK had one major change from any other Harley produced before it. The gear shifter was now operated with the right foot instead of the left. Harley did this as a way to try to draw from the market of competitors who set their bikes up the same way.
Indian
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Harley or Indian: What am I?
Indian
Along with the Scout, the Chief is another legendary early model from Indian. The Chief was introduced in 1922 and built until 1953. It was powered by a range of engines during this time, from 1000cc to 1300cc.
Harley
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Harley or Indian: What am I?
Indian
The legendary 1920 Indian Scout was designed by Charles B. Franklin. It was first released in 1919 and constantly upgraded until 1949. Engines on Scout models ranged from 500 to 745 cc V-twins.
Harley
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Harley or Indian: What am I?
Harley
The 1969 Elektra Glide model was the first to feature the now-famous Bat Wing fairing. Even today, although internals have changed, the Elektra Glide, which is still produced, remains much the same in terms of looks.
Indian
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Harley or Indian: What am I?
Harley
With many Allied troops seeing German motorbikes (like the BMW) for the first time and being impressed by them, Harley decided to produce a model similar to those European machines. The XA was very different with a boxer engine and a shaft drive. Harley wanted the bike sold for military use, but in the end, just over 1,000 were produced as the Army stuck with another Harley model, the WLA as well as the Willys Jeep.
Indian
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Harley or Indian: What am I?
Indian
Referred to as the "Model Nothing" the O was introduced by Indian after the Model K of 1916. It featured a flathead flat-twin motor pushing out 4 brake horsepower. The Model O was capable of reaching around 36 mph.
Harley
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Harley or Indian: What am I?
Indian
Harley
Manufactured for only two years just before the 1930s, the JDH was super fast and easily reached 100 mph. Harley even advertised it as their fastest-ever model at the time. It was powered by a 1200 cc, 74 cubic-inch motor.
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