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A Story about my Nimbus
Miles Mushlin
I’ve owned my 1953 Military Nim- proud that I could just walk around ser at its construction. I judged it
bus, named “Nimbelle” for eight Oley and “appreciate” the parts useless to me, and moved on.
years. I was formerly an Indian and machines, having no means to
guy. I had restored two Chiefs and buy them or take them home. It About a half hour went by and I
a sidecar, and frequently went to felt good not to be tempted. was drawn back to the Nimbus.
swap meets in an attempt to dig Each time I circled around it I
out the hard to find parts at reaso- The Oley meet ran Friday through became more intrigued, by virtue
nable prices. The meet I enjoyed Sunday, and early on Sunday mor- of its unique and apparent high
the most is the AMCA (Antique ning we came upon a Harley ven- quality construction. It appeared to
Motorcycle Club of America) meet dor named Frank Digenero. I did be mostly original, (or so I thought
in Oley, Pennsylvania, which occurs not own a Harley, but Frank also at the time) save for the paint job.
early in April. In years past, I had had some really hard to find origi- I found my friend Peter, and told
seen a few Nimbus motorcycles at nal Indian parts I could admire. him about it, and he commented
this meet, and my son, Zeb, was Often, Harley guys have no inte- that my son Zeb had admired them
always enthusiastic about them as rest in Indian stuff, and if they do for years so why not get serious
a more reasonably priced alter- have Indian parts, they may not be about this one? I reminded Peter
native to an Indian Four, but for as highly valued or as expensive as that I had no cash and no way to
me they held no interest. what the Indian part vendors get it home. No worries: our
would charge. Being a real bottom friend, Ben, owner of ‘C&D Chop-
In 2005, I traveled to Oley with my feeder, I was snooping around per” in Rutland, VT, was at Oley,
good friend, Peter. I purposely Frank’s stuff in hopes of finding an and we were sure he would gene-
took no cash, and drove there in a Indian “prize”. I had no luck fin- rously offer to lend me the money,
small (by American standards) car, ding Indian bargains; what I did and arrange space in his truck hea-
as my collections of “hard to find find in all that stuff was a homely ding back to Vermont in a few
parts at reasonable prices” was big black Nimbus, with a downright hours. This really could be done!
enough. I felt I needed a self- ugly “brush” paint job. I walked BUT, are we kidding here? I didn’t
imposed restriction…. a kind of around it a few times, and with need a Nimbus, I was an Indian
motorcycle parts “diet”. I was each circle I looked closer and clo- guy!
As found in 2005.
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