The New Indian Chief Thunder Stroke 111 merged threadfest

[redrider90]

Chicago is laid out on a near perfect 90 degree grid with a point near downtown, State and Madison where the street numbers begin at O-O. All (but a few) streets north/south or east/west/ are either parallel/perpendicular each other.  There are only a handful of diagonal streets and they run from downtown diagonally north by north west or south by south west. There are few shorter streets that do not follow that rule.   
Every 800 = 1-one mile. So I lived at 3600 North Nora and 7200 West Addison. That puts me 4.5 miles North of Madison and 9 miles West of State Street. (or more importantly 8 miles West of Wrigley Field).
Odd ending street numbers are on one side of the street and even ending numbers on the other side of the street.
The numbers are on most poles as well as city street signs. Watch the number going up and you are going way from ground zero and numbers going down towards ground zero.
You just need to now which side of State and Madison you are on and which direction you are facing.  State street is easy because it is so close to the Lake that there are not many addresses East of State street.

[Lannis]

West Addison.

Ever since 1981, I can't even read that without grinning .....

Lannis

[rocker59]

Ever since 1981, I can't even read that without grinning .....

Lannis

1060 West Addison!



 :BEER:

[redrider90]

1060 West Addison!



 :BEER:

Wait a second that is the address of Wrigley Field. You're pulling some leg here. Elwood Blues indeed.

[Rumba]

Moto Indian Thunder Stroke Le Mans III merged Motorcycle:

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[rocker59]

Wait a second that is the address of Wrigley Field. You're pulling some leg here. Elwood Blues indeed.

You saw the movie, didn't you?

[Stormtruck2]

My favorite movie of all time.  People don't realize that it was a MUSICAL!!  At no time in the movie is there not music playing.  And only once do you see Jake and Elwoods eyes.  BB 2000 sucked as a movie.  I think it was just a great excuse for great musicans to get together and party, film it, and call it a movie.  ;) :D

[redrider90]

You saw the movie, didn't you?

Of course. I was just playing stupid.

[sliphorn]

Chicago is laid out on a near perfect 90 degree grid with a point near downtown, State and Madison where the street numbers begin at O-O. All (but a few) streets north/south or east/west/ are either parallel/perpendicular each other.  There are only a handful of diagonal streets and they run from downtown diagonally north by north west or south by south west. There are few shorter streets that do not follow that rule.   
Every 800 = 1-one mile. So I lived at 3600 North Nora and 7200 West Addison. That puts me 4.5 miles North of Madison and 9 miles West of State Street. (or more importantly 8 miles West of Wrigley Field).
Odd ending street numbers are on one side of the street and even ending numbers on the other side of the street.
The numbers are on most poles as well as city street signs. Watch the number going up and you are going way from ground zero and numbers going down towards ground zero.
You just need to now which side of State and Madison you are on and which direction you are facing.  State street is easy because it is so close to the Lake that there are not many addresses East of State street.

North side has named streets and the south side has numbered streets for those streets going east-west. There's a few exceptions, though. The Bridgeport neighborhood gets a little goofy because of the river.

[rocker59]

Of course. I was just playing stupid.

 ;-T

[leafman60]

I took the opportunity to ride the new Indian VTwin along with PYoung last week at Bike Week.  I rode the top-of-the-line Chieftain and PYoung rode a Chief Classic(?).

The ride was, of course, limited and we never got out in the country where we could let the machines stretch their legs but it was a nice sampling.  I was impressed with how far Indian has leaped with these bikes in such a short time.

Fit and finish and overall quality is top-notch.  Marketing and factory support seem to also be on the mark. You can see in my pics that, between test rides, Indian had people out there wiping-down and polishing the bikes before the next group of riders saddled-up.

Before I had returned home, I had received three emails from the Indian dealer closest to me thanking me for the ride and offering to follow-up with more test rides and information.  On top of that, I received two phone calls, one from my closest dealer and one from the Indian factory, thanking me for the test ride.

The Indian I rode did fine.  In my mind I was comparing it to my experience with Harley-Davidson. The Indian power and suspension seemed similar to comparable stock Harley models. Transmission shifting was a little notchy but not offensive.

The overwhelming thing I noticed about the Indian was the inordinate amount of engine heat that roiled up from the engine onto me.  I really think this will become an issue and need addressing, especially for riders in hotter climes.

Overall, I think Indian is making a good showing but they are not nearly as finely-polished and developed as the Harley models.  

Prepping the test fleet-


Decked-out Chief Vintage with all the fringe-


Engine cutaway, non roller lifters-


Beehive valve springs-


Single-shock rear -

[Yeahoo Whoyah]

The overwhelming thing I noticed about the Indian was the inordinate amount of engine heat that roiled up from the engine onto me.

That's what bothers me about the late model big twin Harley-Davidson's too.

[bpreynolds]

Thanks for report and pics.  Nice to see they are really making a run at it especially with the calls and follow up.  Did they say anything about when we can expect a standard with that engine in it?   :BEER:

[leafman60]

Thanks for report and pics.  Nice to see they are really making a run at it especially with the calls and follow up.  Did they say anything about when we can expect a standard with that engine in it?   :BEER:

Nothing was said about that.  I don't expect it anytime soon.  They have targeted the market for H-D's most popular models and seem to be focused on making a go at it.

They don't have to sell a huge number of bikes to have a successful initiation into the business and I think they may have a chance for those who like the styling but simply want something different from the dominant Harley.

Interesting to me is that Victory seems to be the red-headed stepchild all of a sudden.  These Indian banners proclaiming "Finally a choice in American motorcycles" totally overlook their sibling brand that has been around for a long time now.

Next to the Indian tent was the Victory tent and they had a trick rider out front doing figure 8s on that big Buck Rogers model showing how nimble it really was.   There were folks over there but no where near the numbers hovered around the big pretty Indian bikes.

[Kev m]

That's what bothers me about the late model big twin Harley-Davidson's too.

What late-model, liter-plus, air-cooled twin doesn't put out a lot of heat?

My Breva 1100 was unbearable in hot summer temps.

[leafman60]

I'm talking a significant amount of heat from the Indian, especially compared to the air-cooled Harley models.  

The water-cooled Harleys are even better at heat management.

[Kev m]

I'm talking a significant amount of heat from the Indian, especially compared to the air-cooled Harley models.  

The water-cooled Harleys are even better at heat management.

I didn't notice that myself, but I didn't ride one with a fairing.

I did ride some Victory models with windshields and fairings last summer, but again, didn't notice a problem.

My Breva 1100 was seriously unpleasant in ambient temps maybe 90°F and above, and just "uncomfortable" in 80°F and above.

[leafman60]

Did anyone else test ride a new Indian? Impressions?

[wavedog]

I rode one and put up a ride report here last night. I enjoyed riding the Indian, no heat issues but wont be trading my Jackal for one. I do hope they make it, however.

[tonUPRacer]

I spotted my first "new" Indian on the commute into work today. It was the Red Vintage model, it looked like a parade float going down the road, but I'm sure the owner was enjoying the ride. We (NE WI) have a new Indian dealer in the area and they are doing Demo rides May 15-17. I may try to get up and take one for a spin, cuz everyone loves a parade.

http://www.tytlerscycle.com/eventslist.htm?groupId=40584&itemId=196973

[boatdetective]

"it looked like a parade float going down the road"

You are a bad person   ;)

[NC Steve]

"it looked like a parade float going down the road"

You are a bad person   ;)

But honest :D

[LongRanger]

The one I sat on last month was unnecessarily heavy. Nicely finished bike, but I could hardly get it off the side stand. And footboards don't cut it for me. I'm sure it's quite capable, but that's not the best setup for the type of riding I enjoy.

[NC Steve]

I'd about be afraid to take a new Indian on a demo ride.

It could be mighty hard to explain how I leaned past vertical and got off balance, and had to leave their new $22K, 850 pound motorcycle laying in a ditch... :o

[tonUPRacer]

I'd about be afraid to take a new Indian on a demo ride.

It could be mighty hard to explain how I leaned past vertical and got off balance, and had to leave their new $22K, 850 pound motorcycle laying in a ditch... :o

I'll let you know my results if I do get a chance to try it out. No interest here, just a curiosity. I guess the float reference comes from those full skirt fenders and all that fringe flappin' in the wind, just needs a girl on back doing the Miss America wave.

[rocker59]

merged into the threadfest

[kirb]

I spotted my first "new" Indian on the commute into work today. It was the Red Vintage model, it looked like a parade float going down the road, but I'm sure the owner was enjoying the ride. We (NE WI) have a new Indian dealer in the area and they are doing Demo rides May 15-17. I may try to get up and take one for a spin, cuz everyone loves a parade.

New Indians are very impressive in person, they seem to have a great build quality, and are NOTHING like the clones of old. The engine is an impressive looking lump up close. Personal opinions of everything else subjective.

They are going after the HD softail/street glide sales. Expect the same level of fit/finish/performance you would get from those bikes and you won't be disappointed.

[redrider90]

"it looked like a parade float going down the road"

You are a bad person   ;)

I remember those Guzzi boys at the New Cumberland/WVa rally who came in with totally leather fringed/fish tail pipes and all the rest of chrome and glitz that you could manage to find a space for on the bike. If I remember these guys where either from Monaco or Westmorland Guzzi. They came in as one big loud flashy "parade float" and left the same way: loud and at full throttle. I had never so much had seen one Guzzi dressed like before much less a group of them. Anybody here part of the group or have pics?

[Madtownguzzi]

Local dealer had the demo trailer here a couple of weeks ago. I went and sat on one thinking I would like to take it out on their demo ride but the way forward position of the floorboards were a turn off for my short 30 inch inseam. No way would I like to ride that thing with all my weight sitting on my tail bone!!! Plus they have no trunk option for touring. Good luck to them but not for me.

[Chuck in Indiana]

The kid and I ran into the demo truck in Madison Wi. a few weeks ago. They tried to get us to take a demo ride. Sorry, not interested. They did have a gorgeous maroon sidecar rig (40K) that I'd look good on..
In person they didn't look nearly as ponderous as I expected. Fit and finish were top notch. Cruisers. Pfffft.