Jay Leno Restores 1940 Indian Chief Motorcycle After Serious Accident

American TV host and motorcycle collector Jay Leno suffered a severe crash while reversing his 1940 Indian Chief with sidecar, breaking a clavicle, both kneecaps and ribs. The impact nearly destroyed the bike, exposing extensive hidden damage, including large amounts of filler, poor past repairs and a front fork that had been improperly chromed, risking hydrogen embrittlement.

Leno commissioned New Zealand‑based specialist Kiwi Indian to undertake a full restoration. The project involved rebuilding the sidecar, overhauling the 1,300 cc engine, replacing the clutch and addressing the compromised fork. During disassembly, workers discovered that the motorcycle had previously belonged to former NFL quarterback Joe Montana and that many of its handling quirks were due to earlier shoddy work rather than its age. After the extensive rebuild, the Indian Chief returned to the road with its original character restored and improved performance.