The resurrected Indian Motorcycle Company of Kings Mountain, North Carolina is building their first new dealership to sell the brand new Indian. Located off I85 at Exit 22 in North Carolina, not far from the new factory, the 10,000 square foot facility is targeted for completion in April of 2008.
Link: Charlotte Business Journal
Related: Indian Motorcycle Restarts in North Carolina
Greg Zimmerman says
Yeah, a clone more or less. They really need something that sets them apart. Unfortunately, I don’t think they will get that. Maybe if they were to produce some period bikes like their old models, they would sell? I don’t know. Perhaps thats why I go to school for engineering, and not marketing.
Tanshanomi says
There’s this old tavern in my town on a street that was dead-ended when the Interstate went in, visible from the highway but impossible to figure out how to get to. About once a year, some fool opens it up under a new name. And each time it unceremoniously closes about six months later. You’d think these guys would notice the pattern.
…well, I have the same thoughts about Indian.
Kirk Feyerabend says
Any brand resurrection is tough but, this one particularity difficult because sting of the Gilroy Indian failure is still fresh in many enthusiast’s minds. Thousands of people were negatively impacted when the company collapsed. Customers saw the value of their bikes drop and dealers lost millions of dollars. To me the brand name is tarnished and I want nothing to do with it. I suspect there are many out there that feel the same.
taxman says
when you go to the Indian website their intro is all old classic race bikes and board trackers (is that the proper name?). then you view the bikes that will hit the streets in 2009 and the smallest one looks like it will weigh 900 lbs.
taxman says
i also forgot to mention that when you view their history the whole first half of it is all about breaking speed records and winning reliability races. it would be great if they would keep that as at least a side focus. if they brought out a board tracker style bike with a powerhouse of an engine, I’d sell my sportster without hesitation.
Ricky says
Taxman’s first comment is showing up right next to the picture of the awesome-as-hell Wakan 1640. I wish the folks at Indian could see that — the Wakan, from all accounts, is an incredible bike showcasing the v-twin Indian feels they need to hitch themselves to yet displaying the stripped down racer ethos Taxman is spotlighting.
Ry says
Inside information, The new Indian is being revived by the same people who revived Cris Craft in-fact the checks the are paying their suppliers with are in the Cris Craft name. I have helped in making exhaust prototypes for them. Indian has stolen some of Harley’s engineers to put this machine together and they seem pretty motivated. I am yet to see a prototype though ( other than pipes that is ).
Phoebe says
It makes me really happy that people would like to see a retro-sporty american bike. I visited the Indian museum in Springfield, MA probably 15 years ago, and I was really struck by some of the smaller bikes that were there. I thought they were the coolest things.
Anyway, I think the cruiser market is pretty much saturated now, and really, what makes these new Indians stand out from other cruisers, other than the name? (nevermind the sketchy company history, which will probably make customers avoid these bikes like the plague.)
Marfanman says
How can Indian claim to be building FIRST NEW DEALERSHIP after the GILROY, CA. attempt was a BUST? They took over the old Nob Hill Foods
warehouse / office complex and, left it a ghost
town just like there name of the bike.
seattle says
Do we really need yet another air-cooled low-compression low-horsepower 100-cubic-inch 45-degree V-Twin engine? Why bother even making your own engine? Anybody who would buy a New Indian would be just fine with an S&S engine. Why is it Triumph can make a variety of engines and a variety of bikes in different categories but all the American manufacturers can do is nip at Harley’s ankles like a puppy dog? It’s pathetic. Victory makes ONE engine and five versions of the same Harley-esque bike and now New Indian will make ONE engine and five versions of the same Harley-esque bike. I hope Big Dog and OCC sell more cruisers than Victory and New Indian. At least Big Dog and OCC are honest about being boutique builders while Victory and New Indian pretend to be actual motorcycle manufactures. By the way, what is New Indian possibly going to fill this dealership with? The 2009 Chief in red, the 2009 Chief in blue with leather saddlebags, and the 2009 Chief in white with an oversized windshield – or maybe Indian logo T-shirts, Alpinestar jackets, and Bell helmets.
Mayakovski says
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Thanks for the laugh I needed that.
Brian says
Don’t hold back, Seattle…
Waldo says
I think Harley Davidson needs to have some competition. I have a 2007 Heritage Classic Softail that I needed to spend another $5000 after purchase to get it to run properly and also replace some really cheaply made components. I needed a Power Cammander111, new exhaust, new air cleaner. The really cheap seat is stapled together, so I replaced it. All the footboards and footpegs were junk and replaced. And any servicing they did I had to bring the bike back to have done properly. If you read some of the Harley Forums there are pages and pages of complaints about the 5th gear rattle and poor tolerances that Harley refused to address with their pretty much worthless warranty. Now Victory has a really slick new cruiser that may give HD some competiton. I really hope Indian can make a go of it although the odds are stacked against it. Otherwise HD will continue to provide shoddy workmanship and a snotty attitude. Good luck to Indian.
todd says
maybe they can sell imported dirt bikes and lawn-mower-engined mini bikes with the Indian badge on them. It worked before.
They could source the bikes from… India no less.
-todd
stacius says
Its weird how conservative so-called ‘rebel bikers’ are. Some new manufacturer steps into the arena and instantly the snipe-fest begins. How many of you on this board ever actually rode an Indian? Any Indian?
I’d bet it’s not more than one or two — if that.
If Stellican brought back Chris Craft, you can bet they’ll make a go of Indian. Stellican is a privately held investment group…so it’s their money they’re playing with.
The cruiser buying demographic is growing older and yeah, we’re pretty much sick of seeing new billet barges, but wouldn’t it be nice if just for once, someone offered a road-ready bike that you could take out an ride the hell out of?
To me, the beauty of a motorcycle is it’s simplicity. Two wheels, a motor and the sky’s the limit. At least someone is out there trying.
So can we just see the damn thing before people start complaining?
Brian says
In my opinion, if Indian wanted to be different they’d try to capture the essence of what an “Indian” used to be prior to WWII. So maybe the “Chief” was a big iconic seller for them, and that’s why current execs will try to capitalize (again) on that icon. But I believe it was only a good seller in an era when most bikes had the same look. There were dozens and dozens of motorcycle companies with “better mousetraps” back then, but only one US motor company has proven stratospheric success by staying with nostalgia. And even that was probably luck.
I wonder, if they had never gone out of business the first time, would their bikes still have that nostalgic look like Harley-Davidson kept? Or would they have tried to differentiate their brand over 60 years ago? We don’t all drive around in winged-rocket-ship cars today like the ones Harley Earl designed for GM in the 1940’s. It’s classic car design, yes, but car design has since evolved.
Indian could evolve, too. They don’t have to stay in a time capsule. They almost need to hire one of those forensic sketch artists who predict what missing children will look like after aging. That’s what I think of when I think of “Indian”, a company who’s missing it’s middle years.
AND, to make this post even longer…there’s an unrestored 1915 Indian racer, still dripping DNA, in this museum I know of. With a mural behind it depicting board racers circling at death-defying speeds. It gives me chills just standing next to that machine. Sure, there’s Chiefs near by, too, but even they were cutting edge technology back then. Is a Chief cutting-edge technology today? No. If George Hendee were alive today, would he still be dreaming of a Chief?
So where was the disconnect? Harley-Davidson may have been in a better position after the war, but had the first Indian company lasted, I do not necessarily believe they would have followed the same nostalgic path. I believe they would have continued to innovate.
What would that Indian look like today?
taxman says
stacius- i think that we have plenty of cruisers out there. i would really like to see any company put out multiple styles. what i would love to see is a nice classic board tracker. it could be there entry bike small engine very basic, and nice and inexpensive. then toss out all your cruisers that are exactly like a harley and tack on the “Indian” fenders.
Phoebe says
“So can we just see the damn thing before people start complaining?”
Sure, just go to the website.
sarion says
I waited and waited like a groom at the alter for these indians, had always wanted one since I was 10 (and that was along time ago)then just when I was starting to make enough money to buy one, they went belly up. now my bride has blinked again… after waiting years I started thinking about it. do I want a belt driven bike? nope do I want air cooled? nope do I want to spend an arm and a leg for a bike that was to me the ultimate in the “every working man’s bike”? nope. I am honestly let down by these folks who seem at this time trying to sell a niche item. I hope I’m wrong and I wish the old girl luck, we need the indian motorcycle company. alas I’ve left the church I couldn’t wait any longer and found a new bride she’s got water cooled / a shaft drive and she didn’t cost me a 10 year loan. above all I enjoy the heck outta her.
OTTO MANN says
I MUST AGREE WITH SOME. I MUST DISAGREE WITH OTHERS. BUT THERE”S NOTHING WRONG WITH SOME MORE COMPITION. I JUST WISH THEM LUCK.
Prester John says
Just looked at the website – whoa, are they like ripping off the fender lines from Kawsaki’s Drifters or what? 🙂
Tom
Prester John says
I like the new Indian Apache single:
http://www.tvsapache.com/
Tom
Tanshanomi says
Tom,
I went to the site. Only in India would a 160cc, 70MPH bike be a “performance flagship.” I find it somewhat ironic that they named it the Apache, even though it’s Indian and not, um… Indian.
GAMBLER says
they are going in the wrong direction with yet another clone – the writing is on the wall for boomer cruisers – HD is scrambling for something fresh & Indian is going with something that is already DOA
Tom says
Let’s not be overly Americanocentric. How about India, and the other really BIG motorcycling countires like China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam? And while the American concept of European motorcycling is an R1200S, the typical European riders is actually on a 125cc machine. I think TVS (who built three times as many motorcycles last year as Harley, and twenty-five times as many as Ducati) is doing OK.
BTW, in the commercials, they pronounce it the “Indian” way: Ah-pah-chay. 🙂
Tom
LR says
Comments?
http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/2087/ellergreenbi4.jpg
RH says
LR,
Was that one of the bikes done by the Eller Industries team, including James (RADD) Parker? I thought those were the only good Neo-Indians. I should have saved some of their images before their site disappeared.
Maybe Mr Parker or others have saved them – or is this something they’d rather forget?
Tanshanomi says
Tom,
My post on the Apache was not intended to be critical or chauvinistic. Just remarking on how radically different the sport is over there…
Mikeywr says
Well, I fell for the Gilroy indians myself. I own one and would never sell it. The styling sets you apart from the Hardley crowd and always gets noticed. I did not want another metric bike and the Victory’s just look too damn much like a space ship! There are a lot of us out there that like the old style look of a Hardley but we do not want to own a bike that every other person riding owns. We want to be unique. My Yellow and cream 2000 chief makes me unique on the road and I would love to see Stelican make a good go of the bike again. Be it just the chief, or the chief and a few others. As everyone says, competition is a good thing and right now Hardley has NONE!
Pop says
As far as the fenders looking Kawasaki, Indian Motorcycle Co, Inc. licencd Kawasaki to use the Indian skirt on the Drifters. Horse before cart please.
I own a Gilroy, the flagship Vintage. It is not a boutique bike. The engine is proprietary as will be the Kings mountain Chief engine. According to all news getting out of NC the bike will be entirely proprietary and that is a massive undertaking that Big Dog et al are not willing or able to take on.
Indian is a storied American brand and although I see no personal benefit to me that Stellican is reviving the name yet again, all motorcycling benefits when another brand finds legs.
Tim says
I own and ride a 2003 Chief! It is quite obvious many people posting their opinions have never had the pleasure of riding one! Its about riding a unique machine and not being like the Harleys of the world. Ride your Jap scrap. I got rid of my Suzukie M109 because it did not have the ride. Sure its dependable but so is my grandmother!! Jap scrap is for young riders with no cash and a need for fast plastic. The older folk who ride the Jap scrap shop at the Dollar store daily! It looks like deal until you try to resell the lump of plastic chrome. LOL! Hey, I realize not everyone can afford luxury! Thats why Jap bikes exist! As far as Harley goes ! Nice bikes and cudos on the new factory paint schemes. I have never met a harley rider that did not want to sit on my indian and hear her start up. I just have to go to the dealer to sit on a Harley. I will be buying new Indian Chief because Indian sets itself a world apart from other bikes. Just ride one!
homer says
take a look at my site and you’ll understand…. these bikes are beautiful..to the beholder, more beautiful than any HD or clone..more beautiful than any metric could ever be…if you’re into
American iron, you’ll appreciate these bikes. the chief is not retro, but a contemporary version. the PP100 is a high torque, high ompression beast, and can handle most competitors right out of the box, as it moves these 800lb monsters down the road…imagine when they put it in the scout…Indian vision extends beyond the cruiser market and fans of other platforms will hopefully eventually be pleased–and this will be under the Indian name, not a spin off…btw…who’s the clone?
i own two Gilroy bikes..a vintage, like Pop and a custom chief bought well AFTER the Gilroy factory closed..could have bought any bike I wanted, and the Indians still spoke to me…I do think the OCC’s and the “chopper” fad is over.. but the I wish them well..I hope and think that Indian will find longterm success in this ressurection because they have to get it right.
homer says
oh yeah… http://www.indianmcinfo.com to see my bikes..
Shaman says
A word to the open-minded:
Interestingly, the Chief is NOT going to be the only bike coming out of King’s Mountain, just the first. A bit more inside info: the business plan includes a full-on sportbike (which may or may NOT be a V-twin!), a tourer(possibly with a FOUR cylinder, like the old Indian fours!) and even DIRT BIKES.
Initially, the plan is to position themselves in a upscale niche with the Chief, but then expand into all sectors of motorcycling. They feel that Harley Davidson has hitched their wagon to one venue, the cruiser, as their faithful don’t WANT anything else. Buell doesn’t count…most HD owners don’t buy Buells and vice versa. Buell has even begun running the Austrian Rotax engine instead of the HD Evo.
The history of Indian is rich in ALL types of engines and bikes, and as such, they hope to be the American answer to the world bikes. It’s been way too long since an American bike could stand toe to toe with the best from Europe and Japan.
This is the reasoning behind the history noted on their website. They plan on going there again, the first U.S. company to attempt that in a very long time.
Stellican is not a bunch of amateurs or clowns. They are most assuredly NOT Gilroy or CMC, the last incarnations of Indian.
They are very seasoned businessmen, with the resurrection of one American icon, Chris Craft, under their belt.
Don’t bet against them.
Wish them luck, and hold onto your seats, gentlemen.
This is going to get interesting.
Brian says
You know, when I first moved to Alabama almost 2 years ago, I couldn’t understand what the big hub-bub was about Alabama college football. If you’ve been anywhere in the state, you’ll know what I mean. Everywhere you go it’s “we’re the best” and “you have no idea what it’s like to see an Alabama game”. Well, have they ever seen a game at another college?
ROHORN says
With the conceited “We’re better than Hardley (sic)” attitude, Indian is bound to succeed as wildly as Excelsior-Henderson did! Yeah, that wasn’t that long ago. Same old arrogance and ignorance.
Say, where are the Hanlon brothers these days? Or Philip Zanghi?
Mark says
ROHORN said:
“Same old arrogance and ignorance.
Say, where are the Hanlon brothers these days? Or Philip Zanghi?”
Comparing the Hanlons and Zanghi to Stellican could also be interpreted as being just as arrogant and ignorant.
You have to admit, there is more than sufficient arrogance in some of the riders of Harley Davidsons, the Ducatisti, the antique Indian riders, and so forth, to go around. (The old Indian enthusiasts call the new Indians ‘Pretendians’)
Every rider likes to think of his bike, his pride and joy, as one of the best on the road. Slamming one another, and this new company, does nothing to advance motorcycling, and is more damaging to the sport than helpful.
Why not be a bit more supportive of each other, and support a new U.S motorcycle manufacturer that seems to be trying to do it right. (Out of all the responses here, I found Shaman’s post awfully interesting, myself.)
Who wouldn’t want the new company to succeed? I sure do.
Also, Stellican appears to be “wildly successful” at what they’ve done so far, wouldn’t you say? Bringing Chris Craft back from the dead, and building it into a very profitable corporation is no small feat.
Tommy Gunn says
“Say, where are the Hanlon brothers these days? Or Philip Zanghi?”
Just look at http://www.stellican.com and you will wish you never made that remark.
And I am not saying that I agree it should be done or that it can be done. I am just saying learn the subject before you speak.
“It is better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid then to open it and remove all doubt”
ROHORN says
Wow – defensive, aren’t we?
WHERE did I compare Stellican to the Hanlons or Zanghi?
I am NOT even remotely against Stellican bringing the brand name back to life.
I agree – there is plenty of arrogance & ignorance to go around in various brands. But if you have to point out where the problems lie in other brands without cleaning up your own backyard, then expect your potential buyers to be turned off by your “faithful”. Who wants to be like “Tim” above? Too much Moet, perhaps?
The brutally OBVIOUS impression made by some of your “faithful” is no different than that made by some of the Hanlons’ and Zanghi’s statements. So if you don’t want to be associated with them and their failed marketing (?) tactics and strategy, then do something about it. Whining at me only proves that you don’t know what you are doing in the motorcycle market. I’m only saying what a whole lot of others are thinking.
And knock off the “We’re Gonna” marketing strategy. Name ONE motorcycle (re)startup has succeeded that way. To proceed otherwise is just more arrogance and ignorance. Unless, of course, that is just another form of “Strategic Market Postioning”.
I’m beginning to think that there’s something to the articles in Motorcyclist magazine back a few months ……..’tis a shame, really. I was hoping for something much better.
Sorry if my memory is inconvenience.
Please respond with more inappropriate cliche’s.
homer says
please don’t mis-interpret my remarks as being elitist or arrogant..i said “to the beholder…these are the most beautiful bikes”, etc… it’s funny, most of my friends that ride, don’t ride Indian, simple mathematics will tell you that…I hear “shoulda bought a harley, etc” all the time… i usually counter with..”yeah, and every three years i’ll be one in a million”…it’s all in fun, and owner pride…nuttin wrong with that… HD’s are not for me, never were, never will be….but Indians, ducati’s, victory’s, etc will never be for riders of other brands… the great thing is that we have the choices..
and screw alabama..you’ve never been to a football game til you visit Death Valley on the LSU campus on a saturday nite..geaux Tigers…geaux Indian…geaux (insert brand/team except alabama, ole miss, florida, auburn, tennesse, south carolina, usc, ohio state, oklahoma, oregon, notre dame,dallas cowboys, phili eagles, ny giants…)
Brian says
See what I mean, football, the perfect analogy for how people feel about their favorite motorcycle.
Best wishes to Indian.
ROHORN says
Homer,
Your comments reflected a lot of enthusiasm for the bike – nothing ever wrong with that.
I’d rather stare at, or better yet, own an Indian Chief, Scout (before they ruined it with the big frames), the Fours, the boardtrack racers, etc… than anything else H-D made – before WWII. They (Indian Motocycle) were once #1 – they didn’t get that way with “Me too/Cliche'” bikes. I don’t see Indian v?.0 being remotely as stimulating.
Stellican has something with loads of potential – they actually have far less design baggage holding them back than H-D has. I hope Stellican doesn’t blow it by making the same mistakes as previous custodians of old brands. Many see lots of indications that they are.
Mark says
Rohorn, I’m still a bit confused by your hostile attitude. You say that you are not even remotely against Stellican, but then proceed to list all the reasons they probably won’t succeed.
You then appear to attack Shaman (who may, or may not, be from the inside of the new operation) with the “knock off the “We’re gonna” marketing strategy” comment, yet turn around and say:
“Stellican has something with loads of potential – they actually have far less design baggage holding them back than H-D has.” Which was, I think, precisely the point Shaman was making in disclosing the planned direction of the company.
“Whining at me only proves that you don’t know what you are doing in the motorcycle market.”
I don’t. You may not. Stellican just might, don’t you think?
“I’d rather stare at, or better yet, own an Indian Chief, Scout (before they ruined it with the big frames), the Fours, the boardtrack racers, etc… than anything else H-D made – before WWII. They (Indian Motocycle) were once #1 – they didn’t get that way with “Me too/Cliche’” bikes. I don’t see Indian v?.0 being remotely as stimulating.”
You obviously know a great deal about Indian.
So do most of us who own new ones. We are, in most cases, very well aware of the history of the marque, we love our bikes, and yes, we DO get defensive. Why shouldn’t we? Would you get defensive if someone told you that your significant other was ugly, unattractive and unreliable. Even if it was true, would you want someone pointing that out?
I didn’t think so.
We all have an emotional investment in our bikes that simply doesn’t exist in most marques. They spoke to us, in a way that only certain kinds of machinery can. A Spitfire, an XKE, an Indian Chief. Works of art in steel, rubber and aluminum. To us, a 2003 Roadmaster is just as beautiful as a 1953 Roadmaster.
We are well aware of the mechanical warts and blemishes and unreliabilities. We have to be. We ride them. We have an entire (fairly large) community devoted to rebuilding them, modifying them, and making them far better than they left the factory, when the average rider would simply sell it and move on. We don’t.
Because?
We. Just. Don’t. Care.
We want to ride Indians, and the old ones simply cannnot do what modern cycles do. We all love and revere the old ones as well. The 101 Scout may be the best American bike ever built, in it’s milieu.
So, we keep our bikes, and wrench on them, and hope that Stellican pulls this off.
I realize that I am probably trying to teach pigs to sing, but what the heck…I guess I’m an Indian evangelist, LOL!
I’d rather try to make converts of you than chase you off as infidels and unbelievers.
ROHORN says
Now THAT is enthusiasm!
I forgot which year Gilroy shut down, but the pictures of the bikes they were supposed to build the following year (and were going to display at the dealer meeting which got cancelled at the last minute, if I remember right) looked pretty neat. Shame the financial types pulled the plug, I think.
As much as I like hearing about potential range expansion, I’m also under the impression that such work depends on the success of their initial offerings. That’s why I’m rather pessimistic about the “We’re Gonna” bit. Maybe I’m wrong. Seriously: I hope they succeed. I have nothing to gain from their demise. I’m sick of SOS bikes – some new thinking applied to new bikes would be a thrill.
What I don’t understand is how building more or less the same old thing that didn’t support a business last time is going to succeed because a different set of people are in charge. They aren’t the ones buying the bikes. But no doubt they’ve thought about all that – I’m interested in seeing how it all works out.
Brian says
Well, there’s no doubt that good brands create emotion. And there’s still a lot of good equity in “Indian”.
Although I like your comments Rob, I would say there’s at least 5000 Indian faithfuls out there, like Mark here, who WOULD but a new Indian Chief. And that’s all that matters to a company trying to generate some cash flow while getting their plan off the ground. This, I believe, is why they would have to come out with the “accepted” Chief initially. Then they can stir things up a bit…
KC Cheef says
Stellican?
LET’S RIDE!
Make your $1000 on a BRAND NEW INDIAN CHIEF!!!!
’06?
Nope!!
’07?
Nope!!
’08?
Nope!!
Now it looks like ’09.
I’m thinking at this point–if I had made the deposit–I’d be asking for my money back.
He Homer — how you doing?
As for the who’s the clone?
I’m guessing it was Gilroy, and is going to be Kings Mountain (maybe).
Indian left us a long time ago.
What we ride has no connection to Springfield(except through lawyers and lawsuits.)
I’m happy as hell with tat though.
These gilroy bikes are Beautiful, Heartbreaking rolling works of art.
Eric says
Wow! All this pessimism, bashing, disdain and throwing of accusations at an attempt (albeit a second attempt) to revive Indian.
Seems some are already throwing them under the bus! Well, my turn to rant…
To all the Harley riders who want to claim that Indian is cloning their bikes I say “Read your history!” Harley used Indian as its R&D Department for nearly half a century! Indian made Harley what it is today. Now you point fingers at the rest of the market accusing them of copying you! If that isn’t arrogance than it must be panic! And well…your panic is understood…because your reign as the only American bike is over. Victory, as well as Indian (hopefully) have hit the scene, not to mention all the “custom ASSEMBLERS” like OCC and Big Dog. Live with it. If you truly dont like Indians, than keep riding your HD and be one of the millions of sheep. We that dare to straddle Indians, old and new,(and our numbers will hopefully continue to grow) will continue to ride with pride as an elite minority!
As for Indian’s chances of success…well…it’s full count, bottom of the nineth. It can be done. It can also be lost forever. I can accept that truth. However, to hit the market with a board-track racer would be suicide. When was the last time you saw a board track race? Talk about a select market! As for putting out a Scout to rival HD’s Sporty, well that rules out all the weekend riders that want baggers…and the bigger guys that need something more than a beefed up trail bike…and the guys that enjoy bobbing something with a big motor in it. Again, the Scout is a much more select market. Even though the big “V” market seems to be fading it is still the largest market for American bikes. Sounds like a place to start that will allow for name recognition and model expansion as the market changes. The Cheif is the flagship of Indain Motorcycle and has been since 1940! As for putting out something more than the Cheif I ask you to consider the starting line. Did you start (or have you ever) had all the makes and models you wanted from the word “Go!” HD started with one model. Ford started with one model, mass produced. Corvette started with one model, in one color, and only offered options of three interior colors on its second year. Let’s face it…even though Indian is calling this a “revival” they are truly starting new. There are no links whatsoever (short of the script the name is written with) to the original Indian motorcycle they are claiming attachment to for promotional advantage. However, that in itself is a smart move as it has us all squabbling and as the old advertising saying goes “Any talk is better than no talk.”
To all the “old” Indian owners who want separation from the new bikes I ask “Where will you be standing if King’s Mountain is a success?” I would bet my money you will be flying the Indian flag high and claiming you were there all the time. If they fail, you were safe enough to stand cautious for no reason other than to protect your “I told you so” attitude. Real visionaries you are…NOT! If you are truly concerned for the preservation of the Indian name then wouldn’t it behoove you to pray for the success of that name rather than encouraging its failure?
Wow…all this bashing over the possible ressurection of an iconic American brand. At a time when we are all griping about off-shoring of everything American, I would think that the “bikers,” who so love to wave the red, white and blue would stand behind this attempt. I, myself, could care less what the guy beside me is riding, as long as he is riding! I wont ride anything but American. That’s me. If I see you ride up on an HD I will gladly ride beside you…on one of my Iniands. We can ride together. Personally, I would much rather say I had tried something new (and saved something old and American) than to be one of the sheep that just follow the masses.
So, to all of you who claim to be “rebels” in society but bash anything that isn’t a carbon copy of what you ride, where is your head? I dont know anyone who has bought an American ride and not immediately began making it “theirs”. You know, making it DIFFERENT! To those who claim Indian is an HD copy, I ask you to look at the round jugs on the Indian motor, the left side carb and how about the skirted fenders! I challenge you to show me a stock HD that is as long and as the Cheif. How about the flowing lines from front to back! This is a production bike! HD’s Softtail, Fat-boy and Road King are astecally different more than they are mechanically! There is only so much you can do to a bike and still mass produce it! Custom is what we do them to make them unique! The production bike is simply the starting block. So, to all who want Indian to be something different than a Harley but then talk nothing but smack when exactly that is attempted, however slowly that attempt may be…think about this. Rebels you are not. You may well be the black sheep of society…but you’re still sheep!
That said, HDs, Victorys and the Great Spirit willing, Indians, what does it matter! We might even wanna let one or two of those bikes from accross one of the big ponds join in! Let go of your ego driven insecurities and be glad you have so many that want to ride at all! Fire up whatever you ride but, come on…LET’S RIDE!
Brian says
Geez, Erik, thanks for proving there’s no limit to how long a post can be on kneeslider!
I think all this talk about Indian and Harley (even Victory was thrown a bone or two) and yet no mention of Honda. When in fact, Honda owns the largest market share in the U.S. Maybe Indian’s sights are not set on just Harley.
There’s at least another 20 years of 50million+ baby boomers, who are probably not going to run out and hop on the latest muscle-cramping sport bike with 140hp. Which means, the “take it easy” cruiser crowd is not dead yet.
The irony here is that because of Indian’s recent history, those who switch to it ARE taking a risk. I think this effect is actually working in Indian’s favor because it strengthens the pride of ownership. No doubt Indian owners are probably the “outsiders” of their cruiser friend’s circle. The “rebels”, so to speak. Funny, though, how often motorcyclists confuse “rebellion” with “individualist”, especially when they try to persuade others to follow their way.
And, there’s probably a lot more supporters of Indian than those who post on this site. I would say their future is looking bright.
Eric says
Ya Brian, I guess I can get long-winded when I get my feathers ruffled.
Like I said though, I’m kind of tired of these people that want it both ways. They dont want anything to resemble their precious HD but if its not virtually the same thing it gets beaten to death with criticism.
I would much rather be critisized and/or ridiculed for be different than to simply be lost in the thousands, if not millions, of orange and black clad clones that think they are individual and/or rebelliuos. In other words, I would rather be the only guy riding an Indian, from any of the now 3 eras of production, even if I do have to spend some time wrenching on it, than to just be one of the thousands riding a Harley. But hey, if they want to be just another one OF a million, I’ll be more than happy to be the one IN a million!
Know what I mean! The “Indian Uprising” is alive!
rusty says
I live close to the new plant and I was hoping I might find a machinist job there since I heard that Indian is going to make their own parts. I am currently working on a two year degree at a local college in this field.
This company might just make a go of it hear. This area has more experienced machinists than any place I know of.
It is machinist heaven.
George Hamer says
I’d like to know why the 30.000.00 plus price tag for a copy of a copy of the original. Because of the name? How do they plan to complete with warranties, established dealers, rider and roadside service, and freebies (oil changes, gift cards, rallies). I was thinking of looking at one, but I’m blue collar not Jay leno.