Kiwi Indian OriginsLong 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?