The New Indian Chief Thunder Stroke 111 merged threadfest

[Rotten Ralph]

Back in the day most motorcyclists were either Indian guys or Harley guys - mostly to do with racing and brand promotion. They were both flatheads, big, heavy, and similar in performance - and neither had a big advantage over the other. That is, until Harley came out with the OHV. Indian stayed with the flathead and eventually got left in the dust.

I can still remember an Indian racing at Laconia - tank shift, rigid frame - trying to stay with with the Brits and Harleys. Going into the corners it would smoke and hop around like a rabbit - a dinosaur among cheetahs. ;D ;D

Indian went bankrupt because they didn't stay up with technology - the '53 Chief wasn't all that much different from the '39 Chief. Their attempt at the Brit bike market - the Warrior and Arrow were poorly engineered and lasted only a few years. Harry Sucher's book, The Iron Redskin gives a good history of Indian and reasons for it's demise. ;-T

[kidneb]

If Indian had never gone out of business, do you think they would be making a bike that looked just like what they sold in the 40's and 50's?I seriously doubt it.
Good point!
I think it's possible to keep the spirit of an Indian without having to make a copy with a modern motor although it would require more skill and probably more risk.

I expect the copies will be reliable with Polaris backing, but not something I would be interested in. The ridiculously long wheelbase, art deco fenders, and lighted ornament are cool to see on an antique motorcycle, but seem a little garish on a modern machine if you ask me. Yeah. I know you didn't.

I came across these two motorbikes on my way home from my Guzzi garage last week. Swedish registered ,-and the pilots, that looked like father and son,were asking a pedestrian for the way through the town of Aarhus. As one can see, they were participating in the 100 years anniversary of the "Skagenløbet"
- The "Skagen Rally" - http://guzzitech.dk/skagen-rally/ .
I think,-like others have mentioned earlier in this thread, that it would be interesting if Polaris , in their hunt of the true Indian Spirit, focused on the Scout, and decided to produce an American motorcycle with a more "sportmanlike" character. And of course restrain from excessive use of chrome and bling bling, and try to teach the market, and show it that a motorcycle can be even more exclusive without.

The "Indian community" has always been alive and strong in Sweden,- and if I were to give Polaris an advise, it would be to start working on a new Scout shortly after the launching of the Chief.
And if they are brave enough,- contact the right european designers for inspiring inputs. Not English,- not German,- but Swedish ones ! Just a feeling I have.

   OK,- have a nice day then !
                                                             (yeah- thats my bicycle to the right in the picture,- I am a cyclist after all)

[gusanito]

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

They will and it won't take 100 years.
In the early '70s, it seemed like everybody had or knew someone with a 45" for sale cheap, usually less than  $500. Pans could be had for a little bit more. They were everywhere, and I could've filled a barn with them. Nobody wanted them, they were slow, and antiquated. Try to find one now for less than $12k.
Shovels are going through the same thing now. Prices are dirt cheap and they carry a rep, wrongfully in my experience, of being terrible bikes. If I had the room, I'd stock up on them now.

[Nick]

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.aspx

Regarding 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.aspx

*       *       *      

Regarding 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 passed 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.
 

;-T

[tazio]

Tazio , you need to post more . I am sending  a PM .
Dusty

Got it

[cruzziguzzi]

Bought new, 35years,  110k miles, original motor, never broke down on me ever

Gad-zooks. Does that make me long for my '75 Super Glide. I was in the midst of negotiating a purchase of the then new FXRS when the Glide got pinched. Like yours, my AMFer was flawless for my brother and then me though doubtless the son of a whore who stole it woulda pated it out to other "10%ers".

No problem with the A M-Fers for my part other than the expressions of pity and indulgence on the part of the true-believers. Geeze, did that get tiresome.

[Route140]

Back in the day most motorcyclists were either Indian guys or Harley guys - mostly to do with racing and brand promotion. They were both flatheads, big, heavy, and similar in performance - and neither had a big advantage over the other. That is, until Harley came out with the OHV. Indian stayed with the flathead and eventually got left in the dust.

I can still remember an Indian racing at Laconia - tank shift, rigid frame - trying to stay with with the Brits and Harleys. Going into the corners it would smoke and hop around like a rabbit - a dinosaur among cheetahs. ;D ;D

Indian went bankrupt because they didn't stay up with technology - the '53 Chief wasn't all that much different from the '39 Chief. Their attempt at the Brit bike market - the Warrior and Arrow were poorly engineered and lasted only a few years. Harry Sucher's book, The Iron Redskin gives a good history of Indian and reasons for it's demise. ;-T

An attempt was made to breathe new life into the Chief when Phil Irving installed Vincent Rapide engine an Indian frame in 1949, creating the Vindian. Had this gone into production maybe both Indian and Vincent would've survived, at least a little longer.

Here's a picture my father took, at Laconia in 1957, of someone's homemade Vindian. Looks like this one has a Black Shadow engine, speedometer and Vincent front brakes.

[Rotten Ralph]

An attempt was made to breathe new life into the Chief when Phil Irving installed Vincent Rapide engine an Indian frame in 1949, creating the Vindian. Had this gone into production maybe both Indian and Vincent would've survived, at least a little longer.

Here's a picture my father took, at Laconia in 1957, of someone's homemade Vindian. Looks like this one has a Black Shadow engine, speedometer and Vincent front brakes.

Funny, when Indian did that experiment they used a plunger Warrior frame which might have been marginally better than the Vincent frame. They both may have lasted a little longer but both managements were in their death throes.

[Rotten Ralph]

Or lack thereof .
Dusty

 ;D ;D ;D

[T in NC]

Much angst about the so called letting go of the bars with one hand to shift. No worse than so many riders I have seen let go to check the cell phone or reset some GPS device.
The owner/rider had the option to set up his/her Chief with right or left throttle and right or left hand shift. Of course the shift was opposite the throttle. Factory parts were available for such preferences.

You don't have to shift to often, in fact it wasn't to hard to start out in third gear. When I was riding my 44 in the mid 70s I would switch back and forth  between my right hand shift Indian to right foot shift Triumphs and bach to left shift Jap bikes all the time. I almost never forgot which apendage needed to do what.

[Gnigma]

Bring back the Drifter!  ;-T

 :beat_horse

[gusanito]

At least the entry form.
Looks like Indian's having a sweepstake and giving away a new Chief.
Its a good way for the marketing boys to get your info, I guess.

[rodekyll]

That should be good for a lot of spammy returns on your effort.

 . . . and what's up with the 48-state limit?  American iron denied to americans.    >:(   

[Andrew Thomas Evans]

I'm feeling lucky!

 ;-T

[ITSec]

I'd enter, but I think I'm disqualified - at least, that's what the showroom construction would indicate.

[drums4money]

The video's a little smarmy with all the dramatic orchestra stuff, but I think it's a heck of a custom.

http://www.indianmotorcycle.com/en-us/riders/video/munro-documentary?WT.ac=IND-enus-camp-home-munro-documentary

[gusanito]

I guess nobody's noticed Todd Eagan is piloting the Burt Munro Special at Boneville.  :bow

The motor sounds awesome and I like the specs. If they offer a model without  the needless electronics that the manufacturers are dumping on the new bikes, I'm gonna have me one.

[Jim Rich]

Fun video.

[boatdetective]

http://www.indianmotorcycle.com/en-us/riders/video/munro-documentary?WT.ac=IND-enus-camp-home-munro-documentary

So, i was cruising around trying to get a first look of the new Indian. They have a GREAT website up. I had heard of a Munro tribute, but you really need to see this. They did a mini film of the beast underway. It looks and sounds- as they say here- PISSAH!  Check out the mini film as well as the "making of". Great stuff. The big surprise- I saw a Stelvio in one shot.  And who was the pilot of the manned missle?  Todd Eagan!  How cool is that?

I'm very excited to see their new bike and wish Indian all the best.  I'm sure a huge investment was made to bring back one of the pillars of our sport.

[Stormtruck2]

In that last shot you can see the rear of the bike wiggling around as he's running.  :D  Nice video.  Good luck!!

[Travman]

Just read in a Cycle World ad that we can see the all-new Indian Chief Monday August 5th at 9 pm EDT on the History channel.

[wheaties]

Hey, it's been almost half an hour since the 8PM unveiling Sturgis time.  Why can't we see it now?  ...huh?, ...huh?, ...huh? 






                         MooooMMMMM!  Can we stay up late to see the new Indian??

[ohiorider]

Reveal it to me .... please ...... reveal it to me!  Cruiser, chrome .... good stuff .... please, let me see the new cruiser.  I must see it .... I must see it ....

Oh, excuse me, let me go pack my 1200 Sport for a multi-day ride.  That's what I meant to say.

[Penderic]

Boffo! I can barely keep it in my pants.

[Aaron D.]

Sheesh, they're on the website, y'know..

[wheaties]

Sheesh, they're on the website, y'know..

They are!!!
http://www.indianmotorcycle.com/en-us/stories/2014-motorcycle-launch-video

[Aaron D.]

My wife wants a Vintage-bad!

[fotoguzzi]

 and if I were to give Polaris an advise, it would be to start working on a new Scout shortly after the launching of the Chief.
 

Patience Grasshopper, Polaris does know how to do it big time and you can be sure the Scout is way beyond a concept on paper.. they have it all ready to build if not already doing so.  I bet you'll be able to get one next spring..
 

[fotoguzzi]

They are!!!
http://www.indianmotorcycle.com/en-us/stories/2014-motorcycle-launch-video

COOL!

[Andrew Thomas Evans]

They are!!!
http://www.indianmotorcycle.com/en-us/stories/2014-motorcycle-launch-video

 ;-T