Running Bull: Ride with a Rock Legend

by David Cohen.

The team at Indian Brisbane asked me to come in and take a photo of Ian Moss as he was collecting a Chief Classic, "if I happened to be in town on Friday morning".

Imagine giving me an excuse for hanging around a bike shop! Who wouldn't be all over it?

Ian is a Chieftain owner and was borrowing a bike for an afternoon-off ride during his current national tour. A shot of an Australian Rock legend on an Indian is good PR, good for Heavy Duty Magazine news - and I was there because I'm a fan.

Ian Moss and the Chief Classic

We made it a double-edged trip as while I was there Robertino fitted the Back Rest and Highway Pegs to the project as the next stage of accessorising the bike.

I was still fiddling around taking pics of the new components when Ian and Rick (his promoter) arrived to collect their loaners. The third member of their party, 'Other Dave' arrived on Rick's own tasty Victory 8-Ball.

The bikes at Mt Glorious

My original plan was to head up to Mt Glorious after taking the snaps and grab a few shots of 'the Bull' with its new bits in a country setting. And because I hadn't ridden it out of town as yet.

So, we all got to talking at the bike shop - as you do - and amended plans saw me tagging along with three fellow enthusiasts into the hills west of Bris-vegas.

We headed out through The Gap and up to Mt Nebo and Mt Glorious for coffee and a snack where the Brisbane bikers go.

Queensland turned on a pleasant afternoon, around 22-23c with light cloud and it was a very enjoyable ride.

The road up to the mountains is quite twisty and climbs through ever thickening eucalyptus forest till it runs through tunnels of sub-tropical rainforest near the weathered summits.

On the road the bike is a delight. So torquey and the Stage 1 pipes have opened it up so it runs even sweeter.

Indian Chieftain owner and enthusiast.

The chat over coffee was as interesting as you would expect. We just talked about motorcycles and ... motorcycles, with a few musical side tracks. Being motorcycle enthusiasts gives a lot of common ground.

The funniest bit was when a Hungarian (as identified by Rick, who shares that heritage) rider was at an adjacent table, coffee in one hand, mobile phone in the other and speaking in Hungarian. Until the words 'Ian Moss' appeared in every other sentence.

Ian obliged with a riding photo call and then he and crew headed north to a sound check for the gig at The Woombye Pub, while I continued fussing around getting some shots of The Bull and bush.

The bike is all celebrity.

Riding it with a real celeb and his crew made it one for a big page in the scrap book.