When the U.S. War Department asked American motorcycle manufacturers to come up with military machines for World War II, Harley and Indian answered the call.
At first, both companies produced models with V-twin engines derived from their existing streetbike lines. But the War Department also asked for experimental designs to use for desert fighting in North Africa.
Harley opted to copy the design of BMW’s R71—which was being used by the German Army in that hostile environment—building a flat-twin boxer motor.
Indian took a slightly different route, creating the Model 841. The motor is a 750cc V-twin, which makes it sound like an American-style powerplant, except that the cylinders are turned sideways and set at 90 degrees. It’s an engine configuration that we now associate with Moto Guzzi—but Indian built it first.
The 841 also came with several other new features, including shaft drive, a foot shift, hand clutch, hydraulic girder spring fork, rubber-mounted handlebars, a sprung rear hub and 8-inch drum brakes, all of which made it onto postwar Chiefs.
