New Moto Guzzi Door Mats Available Now
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Wait a minute Bombardier is Canadian , and French Canadian at that , is this all a conspiracy ?Dusty
Kev and Dusty, I get what you are saying, and if trademark only, yeah no "DNA" connection. But if Polaris engineering designs in the features that made Indian different from other bikes (same as a Guzzi feels different from a Harley or a Triumph) in motor and ride and appearance, then I feel they are doing justice to the heritage or DNA or what ever you want to call it. If they don't, and the bike turns out to come across like a UJM for instance, then I would agree it will be an Indian in name only and the heritage marketing will be all BS hype. I do hope that is not the case and wish them much success.My $.02 and probably not worth that much.
Would people actually buy a bike with suicide shift, and manual spark advance on the bars? No, I think not.
That'd make things kind of fun!
The real fun is the left hand throttle! :o Back off of the gas by reflex and you keep going the same speed but with backfiring (just retarded the spark) ??? ???A friend blew off his muffler that way.
Kev and Dusty, I get what you are saying, and if trademark only, yeah no "DNA" connection.
In another 100yrs., I wonder if the bowling ball Harley's (AMF) won't be the "holy grail" bikes for H-D collectors :BEER:Makes ya go Hmmmmmmm
.That's an old stock CMC Indian. The ones with the HD 4-speed frame and S&S Evo engine.
I don't think so. I think this is one of the "Kings Mountain" era Indians, built in North Carolina by Stellican Limited, the private equity firm that bough the rights to Indian in 2006, and sold them to Polaris in 2011. In between, Stellican developed manufacturing facilities, a new chassis, and a new engine. (It is not an S&S motor.) The Kings Mountain facility was closed by Polaris to consolidate assembly at the Victory plant in Spirit Lake, IA, but there is an engine facility in Wisconsin that may still be making the PowerPlus 105 for the current models. Stellican was in it simply to revive the moribund brand, restore some of its value, and sell it off. That's what they do. (Prior to Indian, the did the same thing with Chris-Craft.) Mission accomplished.The "Kings Mountain" Indians are still available, BTW -- look here:http://www.indianmotorcycle.com/en-us/chief/chief-vintage-le/pages/overview.aspxRegarding the engine used:Question:What kind of powertrain do the new Indians use? Do you build it yourself or buy it off the shelf?Answer:The new Chief features a state-of-the-art, electronically fuel-injected 105 ci PowerPlus v-twin engine that fully upholds Indian's legendary reputation for power and durability. Engineered and developed by Indian Motorcycle, all engines are manufactured at our Osceola, WI facility.http://www.indianmotorcycle.com/en-us/resources-help/Pages/frequently-asked-questions.aspxRegarding the debate about "true" brands versus revived brands, I think there is something to be said for continuous manufacturing operation(s) in the same location(s), even where a company has not been under continuous ownership or management. People have finite lives; companies are bought and sold all the time, but corporations have an infinite lifespan, so a company old enough to have a significant heritage is never going to be able to show the same management throughout its existence, and most are not going to be able to show the same continuous ownership. However, with continuous operation in an historic location, comes a sense of heritage and history that adds a patina to the brand. You get generations of factory workers who are loyal to the brand. It also probably helps current management stay true to the brand. Not that an all-new operation that simply holds the trademark and patent rights can't pull this off (witness Triumph), but it certainly helps.Moto Guzzi is a prime example of this. If KevM is correct that it doesn't matter whether an iconic motorcycle brand has been in continuous operation in the same location for generations, or has been passes around from owner to owner, bounced around the country, had it's name applied to everything from mopeds to Harley clones, and, in general, been treated like a ten dollar whore, then Piaggio Group should have shut down the Moto Guzzi plant at Mandello del Lario years ago.Okay, show of hands: How many here think it wouldn't matter to the direction or future of the Moto Guzzi brand if Mandello was shuttered years ago, and production was consolidated with the Aprilia line in Noale? Nobody? What, you don't want a "badge-engineered" Shiver for the next Breva? I thought so. See, "continuous operation" does matter.From an economic standpoint, it probably made more sense for Piaggio Group to close the Mandello del Lario facility, and consolidate assembly in Noale. Even with upgrades, there are aspects of the facility and its location that make it a poor choice for modern motorcycle manufacturing. However, Piaggio did not close Mandello; they instead chose to invest in upgrading the historic Moto Guzzi plant. Why would a public company, whose sole mission is to make a profit for its investors, spend more money upgrading an outmoded facility than its is worth on paper? I believe the answer is because Piaggio management concluded (rightly, IMO) that the Moto Guzzi brand and Mandello del Lario are so closely associated that the old factory's advantages from an inspirational standpoint for management, the engineers and design staff, and the assembly workers, as well as its marketing advantages and other "intangibles," outweighs its economic disadvantages.
Kev, I don't disagree, but I think you are under-estimating the extent to which that "warm and fuzzy" feeling informs the decisions of management as to how to direct the brand, inspires engineers and designers as to what to come up with next for the brand, and consumers, such as yourself, as to how they feel about the brand AND its products.
Well who woulda thunk those little 100 cc Clymer Indians would be worth anything ? Have you priced one lately .Dusty
Bought new, 35years, 110k miles, original motor, never broke down on me ever
