Man, it’ s just before Christmas as I lay eyes on the Indian Challenger Limited in the Kiwi Rider driveway. A big, beautiful sled sitting there, gleaming redder than Santa’ s suit, and big like a bastard. I’ ve just zipped out to the pick-up point on my trusty Italian Vespa, so, in contrast, this American Beauty is a bit daunting. And the Challenger is all big, like, US-style pound and a half of Texas longhorn T bone served on a platter, big. Three hundred and eighty kilos of it, and over two and a half meters long. 19-inch front wheel. 100 watts of stereo. BIG.
RIDE OF THE VALKYRIE I can hear the soundtrack in my head already- The Ride of the Valkyrie from Apocalypse Now. Uh oh. Running boards, I hate running boards. They cause me pain. The cruiser position is hard
on my back- typically forcing my spine to act like a stressed member, and I know I’ m going to get cramp in microseconds. I’ m dreading the ride home. The saddle is wide and comfortable... plush and welcoming. The engine thumps over and is surprisingly polite-sounding, I twist the throttle, its not exactly electric, as it takes a sec to get 1830 odd cc’ s charging up and down inside the cylinder heads. The engine power feels strong but not alarming. There’ s the usual, agricultural kathunk into first, and slowly we glide away. The clutch is smooth and easy right off the bat. First is quite long and some slippage is called for on the loose gravel at KR Towers.
COCKTAIL HOURS Moments later the reindeer are fully in control, and we are swooping round some long corners,
48 KIWI RIDER