After all of the hard work and no small investment, Indian Motorcycle Company is set to open its first U.S. dealership in North Carolina. It looks like they’ve done a great job of producing a high quality bike in the Indian tradition, what remains to be seen is how customers respond.
This is also a perfect example of how a company can build a fine product, plan for every contingency, schedule their opening and they’re greeted with this financial mess being over-reported by news anchors doing their best to get everyone to panic. Who says business isn’t exciting? I really do hope Indian gets off the ground in fine style, another successful motorcycle manufacturer helps everyone.
If you’re in the area, or could be, be sure to stop by. There will be live music, food, refreshments and factory tours, too. So, mark your calendar and check out the new Indians.
Indian Motorcycles press release follows:
Charlotte, North Carolina—Mark A. Moses, owner and general manager of Indian Motorcycle Charlotte announced that the Grand Opening of the first Indian motorcycle dealership in the nation will occur on Saturday October 4. A spectacular new showroom and service facility has been built along I-85 at Exit 22 in Lowell, North Carolina. The opening marks a return of the fabled Indian brand name to the marketplace.
The day-long celebration begins with factory tours at Kings Mountain beginning at 11 am and continuing until 5 pm. Motorcyclists touring the factory at 11 are encouraged to join a back road ride to Indian Motorcycle Charlotte beginning at 12:30. Festivities at the dealership begin at 1 pm with live music, food and refreshments, with beverage sales to benefit the Gaston County Shrine Club.
“We are thrilled to be the very first Indian dealership in America†said Mr. Moses “and look forward to offering this legendary motorcycle to those enthusiasts who share our passion for the Indian brand. Our new multi-million dollar facility was designed and built to be the flagship of Indian Motorcycle and a place where all motorcyclists are welcome.â€
Indian Motorcycle Charlotte is a 11,300 square foot facility, with about 65% of the space devoted to showroom, conference room and offices and the balance devoted to a pristine 4-bay service area, parts and accessories, and
inventory storage. The service area will open in November, offering service on a variety of American V-twin motorcycles including Harley-Davidson, Big Dog, Thunder Mountain, Bourget and others.
The new 2009 Indian Chief is an ultra premium luxury cruiser and will be produced in limited numbers. Indian Chiefs are available in four basic levels of trim with a wide range of color and accessory options. Prices will start at $30,999. It is expected that the first year’s production will be no more than 750 motorcycles, with plans to increase production in the second year. Each Indian Chief is assembled by highly skilled two-man teams, who also personally sign each motorcycle’s build certificate.
Indian Motorcycle Company has its headquarters and manufacturing plant at Kings Mountain, North Carolina, about 30 miles west of Charlotte. The company spent five years in research and engineering development to produce the finest quality, most powerful and durable Indian motorcycle ever. Each and every component has been analyzed, evaluated, re-designed and tested for maximum performance. While the instantly recognizable classic shape has been retained, the 2009 Indian Chiefs are all new. There are virtually no parts interchangeable with previous Indian motorcycles.
This new dealership is the design model for approximately twenty-five+ additional Indian dealerships to be opened in the next twelve months in key locations across the country.
Jeff says
Good Luck . I hope the economy improves and brings success .
Azzy says
Good luck to them.
Personally, if anyone out there is taking out a loan right now for anything they aren’t the brightest economic bulb in the shed. If you got the cash to blow on one, go for it.
marcus says
I had an order in at the time the previous Indian concern went under, so I have been waiting for these for a long time. I have to say I am pretty disappointed at the pricing and the timing. It is hard to imagine a worse time to bring a big buck machine to the market, and to go so high in price is really hard to undestand. I do not see how this effort can be successful as a result.
tim says
how long before the first kids hit up that sweet little skate ramp?
nice looking building!
Chris says
Looks like the same Indian as built by the company before it went under.
In other words, a ‘bike-in-a-box’.
Good luck, you’ll need it in this economy.
noodles says
Why retro-cruisers? Why build (yet more) overweight underpowered motorcycles with ridiculously long wheelbases? Victory and the Japanese manufacturers already offer Harley alternatives. It would have been nice had Indian decided to build modern motorcycles (an American version of Triumph).
Valanced fenders. Sigh.
Dirk says
Nice effort, good work, good luck, but using the Indian name it’s all based on bullshit.
John says
When Indian first started out over 100 years ago and for a few decades after they were the inovater and sporty bike company of America. There were some other American companies that tried very advanced stuff like Cyclone, who had an overhead bevel shaft driven cam V twin and Packer who had a desmo three Valve per V twin, but they didn’t last near as long as Indian. The new Indian should follow those traditions of the old Indian Company.The styling the new company has adopted is what Indian had when they went out of business!
WRXr says
I wish them luck, but I am afraid the timing could not be worse. Powersports machines are an elective purchase and in hard economic times, it is tough to justify.
GAMBLER says
in two years you’ll be able to get one off craigslist for 12K
kneeslider says
Forget the negative comments for a moment, it’s not helpful.
How about everyone using your knowledge of motorcycles to suggest what Indian could do to convince you they are really doing it right.
In the early 20th century, Indian went racing and had cross country runs and similar efforts to promote the brand. What could Indian do now?
If Indian wants to become a major player and really resurrect the old brand, that’s one direction. If they want to be a boutique brand, that’s another.
What might Indian do that would make you say, “Hey, that’s cool!”
kneeslider says
I’ll jump in first and answer my own question.
Since Indian is starting out in the high end boutique brand segment, why not recreate the highly desirable inline 4 cylinder Indian? The old originals with that engine command the highest prices on the auction market and look very cool, there’s no mistaking one when you see it. A brand new but vintage looking 4 cylinder Indian would step completely out of the V-Twin market and set Indian apart.
B.Case says
I couldn’t agree more with you Paul. What I’m reading here amongst these comments, are the same negative comments I’ve read over and over for the last 3 years about the new Indian.
Whether certain people like it or not, Indian is going to sell some bikes. About 5,000 is my estimate over the next few years, and that’s just to the diehards.
If, during that time, they happen to win over a few more followers with their apparently unpopular “made-in-America-and-providing-American-jobs” motive, and they don’t get too far ahead of themselves, then I think they’ll have earned enough momentum to segue into some new and revolutionary models.
As much as I’d like to see a modern longitudinal straight-4, and they’re probably the only ones who could pull it off, I think doing that now would be suicide for the brand.
-brian
Dodgy says
I wonder if they can find an old Kiwi bloke to try to make one do 200 mph at Bonneville?
That would get some press…
Or
give one to Ewan McGregor to ride around the USA, or do the whole of highway one maybe (Canada, USA, US of Mexico)
Mark says
Cool retro looking building, I look forward to seeing Indians back on the road.
John says
Kneeslider,I was not trying to be negative but give the bosses at Indian what I’d like to see.I own a 03 Harley Superglide that I’ve done some tuneing to and taken off what isn’t needed to make a fun squirt around on weekends bike.I’d like to see another American bike company become competative but thier are a lot of guys like me that want a hotrod and not a very expensive and heavy blingmobile.
Dr. Gellar says
I’ve had this little idea in the back of my head from time to time when thinking about a rejuvenated Indian. Though it isn’t a true straight 4, wouldn’t it be cool if Indian used something like the MotoCzysz C1 engine as the basis of a 4-cylinder power cruiser/Monster-style bike. It could be a modern, high-tech interpretation of Indian’s straight 4 machine. As long as it isn’t styled like another retro-cruiser, I think it would be pretty cool. Just an idea…
WRXr says
Or they can make a complete break with the past and forget about the v-twins and the inline fours.
Do something completely novel. Teach an old indian new tricks.
Nicolas says
I’m not sure we should tell these guys what they should or could do. The new Indian owners / managers are probably big boys who have decided to target their product on the bling-expensive-HD-like segment (+ derivatives), this decision probably based on serious market studies and economical simulations. That’s their choice, they own the name, nothing to say against that.
If you want to make a 4-inline with wooden wheels and oil in the seat or any whatever innovation, go and see your banker, spend some time at the drafting board, get a team of skilled techs and launch your own brand.
That’s what I’m gonna do … euh, well, maybe in a few years 😉
John says
Well said Nicolas
walt reed says
To all you “bike in a box” dudes, what do you think your Harley is? Seems to me you are a bit insecure. Let me see, isn’t it Porsche engineering that designs Harley motors?
As for myself, I wish Indian all the luck they need. I left a very secure job with Honda Motor Company in 2000 and opened Indian Motorcycle Vacaville, and Indian Motorcycle San Leandro. Yes, we opened those dealerships during the last recession!
A lot of great people bought bikes, that were faster and handled far better that the other American brand. Too bad it didn’t last.
Go ahead, bash another American brand trying to make a go of it, if it makes you feel better.
dave says
Ok I am selling my 06 night train to buy an indian. This is why, I used to live on my Harley after coming back from the Iraq war. That was a great few months. Now when I go into a harley store I see yuppy wimps with polo harley shirts tucked into tight blue jeans. These people are trying to live a life they don’t belong to. Or maybe I am trying to live a life that I don’t belong to. My grandpa owned an indian and I bought a harley only because it was available. The price is insane with the crisis we are going threw, however I know that there will be two people who buy an indian. The real deal people or the rich people who understand quality. I would like to think I’m both subtract the rich part. I am not a harley guy, they also include two groups snagle toothed rednecks or complete pussies trying to look tough. Both of those people walk around bike ralleys with a camera in hand attempting to catch a snapshot of an girl pulling her boobs out. I have my pride, I like to have fun but I can get laid if I want. Well What I’m getting at is that I don’t want to be one of the norm. I am what the harley folks imagine they are before they buy a harley and then realize everyone else has one. I think this time indian will stick around because of the price. It weens out the weak.