Indian 1916 Model K 221cc 1 cyl ts 3407

Indian 1916 Model K “Featherweight” 221cc two stroke single engine # 22H179
Late in 1915 the Indian management decides that a small two stroke utility type machine will add to their coverage of the market. In many countries light two strokes are getting popular and also the American domestic market appears to be ready for such a type of Indian. So early in 1916 a new model is presented in the catalogue: “ The Indian Featherweight is transportation made practically universal. By this we mean it has speed – but not too much of it. It has reliability. It is simple, not making complex demands on the owner’s skill by way of care and repair. It is clean. It is quiet. It is within the means of the most modest income.”
The machine is light indeed, it weighs less than 60 kilos, can reach a top speed of about 55 km/hour under favourable conditions and has a three speed gearbox and a multiple plate foot operated clutch. But quite a few dealers are not positive about a light Indian two stroke and sales are disappointing. The model would have benefitted from some extra engine development, but the company decides not to go forward with it, because of the dealer resistance and the continually increasing production costs brought on by the war in Europe. As a result, not many of these compact little Indians are manufactured, and only very few have survived.

The excellently restored specimen we offer comes with Jones 60 mph speedometer and Old Sol acetylene headlamp. She has been on display in the well- known Dubrovnik Indian Museum Collection in Croatia.