Could be the Little Big Horn, all these Indians and Victorys but we are in Australia.

Tom at the Victory and Indian dealership in Ashfield NSW invited me to join in a customers' ride.
I think he plans on getting me onto an Indian or a Victory.

The only thing stopping me Tom, is the 'Home Treasurer'.

The details are on the Showroom window.

So the big day arrives. I am so excited I have arrived 30 minutes early and am forced to have a coffee and the 'Hungry Boy' franchise next door.

Have I actually patch over? It's a T-shirt not THE jacket or vest.

I was given a Victory shirt by a friend so I thought is safer to wear then the Milwaukee brand or the brand of the Burgundy steed which I safely parked next door.

The staff of the dealership arrive including the new Dealer Principal, Rob who is joining us on the ride. He has been working with Heavy Machinery which are heavy than the machinery of today's ride and has always loved riding.

Maybe the 'Home Treasurer' will let me have a model.

Time to wander around the showroom in wonder, maybe I can get a remote control one to practice at home with. I don't think I could ride it though.

I'm like a diabetic in a lolly store (candy store). Actually, I am a diabetic.

Now this is what a showroom looks like when you are talking,

the OTHER BIG AMERICAN V Twins.

The whole view. Where does the choices end?

I don't think this is 'my ride' for the day.

Too hard to get off the pedestal so this Chieftain will have to stay in the camp.

"Who you looking at?"

Even standing back, it's just as impressive.

'Big Blue' awaits, more computing power then an early IBM.

The tribe begins to arrive.

So is this the 'War party' or just going to be the mobile party?

 

Somewhere in there is the coffee machine. The tribe gathers.

 There is the perennial question of how to herd cats. Well I discover throughout the day coffee is a good herder of motorcyclists. Here the dealer is going to take control and tell us what we will be doing and what we cannot do. It's about enjoying a group ride safely.

We are given our ride briefing then it's outside to mount the array of steeds. The group consists of Victorys with their 106 cubic inches (1740 cc) and Indians with 111 cubic inches (1819 cc) V twin engines. Amongst the group I discover a P plate rider on a Yamaha XV650. A popular choice for Cruiser riders starting out and who plan to join the tribe.

An interesting start as we battle the traffic to get onto Parramatta Road even these 'thunder makers on wheels' do not stop the traffic. We finally get break and away we head for Strathfield then Belfield, where else would you charge these steed except on fields. OK, Punchbowl next Bankstown then the road widens and we head through to the Shire. The coffee stop (the only way to herd riders remember) is Waratah Park. Easy parking off the main highway but only 2 of us know where it is. The majority have stopped at Loftus Oval. Easy to get them confused it would seem. A quick call to the Coffee Van Man and the coffee stop becomes Loftus Oval.

Loftus Oval Car park. Definitely not winter or it would be full of soccer parents.

The coffee queue. Is this a Pow wow?

 I discover at this stop there are some other flavors, a BMW F650 and a Ducati which at least is a V twin. Different angle engine, different sound and definitely a different ride.
 

The meeting of the V twins. Where's the peace pipe Rob?

With the coffees done we return to the road, a easy left into the National Park as we are going to ride its length and gather. meet or Pow wow at Bald Hill. No stop, we are on a path to Robertson and the Pie shop. I try to video the motorcycles passing but the traffic does help to make it happen, so it doesn't sorry anyone who thought they would be famous.
 

Traffic as we head for the Old Princes Highway from Bald Hill.

Look up in the sky it's not a bird or a plane.

I lose everyone at the next junction and take the Freeway to try and catch up. It's just me, Big Blue and the radio plus the gorgeous bass notes being played by the exhaust pipes.

I catch up to the P Plater as the roads have been 100 kph and he is limited to 90. He has another problem and he indicated he is running low on fuel. I reply to 'follow me' as I have an idea where the fuel stations are. OK, I am 4 suburbs out but we get to Unanderra Caltex without him running out of fuel. As he fills up, he tells me he doesn't get far to a tank. We discover why when he thinks he has filled the tank but is only three quarters full due the deep throat of the filler.
He pays for the fuel and we return to the freeway and on to the turn off at Albion Park. Back road before the main road which runs through Albion park saves as the drama and queue of the traffic lights. An open run to the start of Macquarie Pass until we catch up to a ute and a car with a trailer. I know the P plates is on the right road and I have the opportunity to pass both vehicles and the road again is clear to the Pass. Up Macquarie Pass, remembering to stay at 60 kph as a certain group lay in wait here. Big Blue still impresses, I expected the highway to be a breeze but the Pass should have been a challenge as curves not corners rule in the US of A. This an easy ride as even the 25 kph corners are easily swept through. I catch the traffic half way up the and wait for the overtaking lanes. 111 cubic inches just pushes the motorcycle and I pass the traffic and to a higher place, like the top of the pass. I stop for the P plater and he is not far behind. We arrive together at the Robertson Pie Shop.
 
Its pie time and a cup of coffee of course.

Robertson Pie Shop. I believe they sell other food stuffs.

The Car park or is it a Motorcycle Park.

With pies and coffee inside us we return to the road. Next stop is fuel for some of the motorcycles at Caltex Mittagong.

Same, same but different. In some ways, very different.

No top box on the Chieftain but it's a day rie so no problem.

The Victory Gunner with a Victory Cross Country just visible behind it.

It's been a long day and the motorcycles have had their fill, time to refresh the riders. Make mine a Diet Bundaberg Ginger Beer.

George the IV, a popular stop for a lot of riders.

Victory Gunner and a Victory Cross Country Tour.

Victory Cross Country Tour with a Victory Cross Country.

Reflecting on the day which has almost ended.

I had to pose BIG BLUE. Beautiful from any angle. Maybe a top bag would look out of place.

After washing the road dust down we mount and return to the road. The old Hume Highway to Picton Road then the freeway to Bexley North. Did I mention the electric windscreen and cruise control. I still am travelling on the first tank of fuel. Some of the other ri8ders need fuel which is OK as there is a service station on Bexley Road before Campsie. We not needing fuel head through Canterbury then back to Ashfield.

Home again, home again, jiggety-jig.

What a day, I experienced. The Indian Chieftain , the comradery of the Polaris Family whether it be Indian or Victory I was welcomed and appreciated everybody's company and our time together.

Thank you to Tom for the invitation, now it how to fund whatever I choose.

I hear it's easier to ask forgiveness and ask permission. 

So where did we go?

Click on the map for directions

Equipment: 2014Indian Chieftain in Springfield Blue, the original Indian colour so I have been lead to believe and who am I to destroy a good story.
Samsung Galaxy S5.
Good company, both who supplied the motorcycle and rode with me on the day.

Indian Motorcycles Australia www.indianmotorcycle.com/en-au
Victory Motorcycles Australia www.victorymotorcycles.com/en-au