The New Indian Chief Thunder Stroke 111 merged threadfest

[Gary]

I like the look, ...and yes the script is similar to that of Coca Cola. The Indian has been alternately criticized for not being original and for not being modern enough. Go figure. The Indian styling is iconic and certainly stands out from the crowd. I think the "style" is classic. Of today's motorcycles few can boast of timeless styling. Ducati certainly can. Maybe Moto Guzzi. Both are iconic and somewhat timeless. Others? I certainly think Indian qualifies.

If the business plan is solid, Indian will be a huge success. A dealer just told me he already had 11 orders since the unveiling. They'll sell, and sell well of that you can be sure. It is a contender for my next bike (along with the California 1400). It would be nice to buy an American bike I liked.

[v7classic]

Harley Davidson, made of tin; ride 'em out and push 'em in.  You can't wear out the Indian Scout nor it's brother the Indian Chief.  It's those Harley's that cause eternal grief. 

From Sammy Pierce aka Mr. Indian.

I bought a 2 owner unmolested '48 Chief for $1200 in 1972.  It had 4,300 miles on it.  I rode it another 9,500 miles.  Great bike.  As road worthy as anything, but they require new guides and valve seat refacing every 4,500 miles.

[rocker59]

I bought a 2 owner unmolested '48 Chief for $1200 in 1972.  It had 4,300 miles on it.  I rode it another 9,500 miles.  Great bike.  As road worthy as anything, but they require new guides and valve seat refacing every 4,500 miles.

Ah!  The good old days!   :BEER:

[Kev m]

There's a dealer a SCANT 100 or so miles from here who is having their demo truck next Friday.

I think Jay (Jas67) and I are going to take a ride up that way and see for ourselves. Maybe compare/contrast to the Cali 1400 we test rode recently.

[leafman60]

Again, the quality and fit-and-finish on that thing is superb.

I hope they do well with it. 

[rocker59]

There's a dealer a SCANT 100 or so miles from here who is having their demo truck next Friday.

I think Jay (Jas67) and I are going to take a ride up that way and see for ourselves. Maybe compare/contrast to the Cali 1400 we test rode recently.

Take some pix!

[Kev m]

Jay and I are signed up for a demo ride at 1 o'clock on Friday!

Hope the weather holds.

Will give me a chance to test out my new Memphis Shades touring windshield on the Sporty for a 100 mile or so blast on the highway for the way home, but hopefully we can take some back roads on the way up.

I'd take the V7, but looks like a good part of the day is going to spent on the highway anyway...

We'll report back (assuming we make it).

[LowRyter]

how was the test ride?

[bad Chad]

Jay and I are signed up for a demo ride at 1 o'clock on Friday!

Hope the weather holds.

Will give me a chance to test out my new Memphis Shades touring windshield on the Sporty for a 100 mile or so blast on the highway for the way home, but hopefully we can take some back roads on the way up.

I'd take the V7, but looks like a good part of the day is going to spent on the highway anyway...

We'll report back (assuming we make it).

" a good portion of the day on a 100 mile or so highway..."    How slow do you ride Kev, a good portion of the day to go 100 miles??   If you want to take the Sporster than just own it brother,  a 100 miles of highway on a v7 stone in no reason not to take a v7 Stone!   

[Kev m]

It's over 100 miles one way, and sadly that is through North Jersey, meaning it can take 3+ hours each way.  :BEER:

And hopefully that's not the only riding we'll be doing.

Honestly, I'd rather take the V7, but if we wind up droning to make time or stuck in traffic the Sporty is the better fit. Plus I think he's taking the B11.

That said, I love the Sporty too and don't need to pretend anything.

[Guzzigary777]

O.K. so Indian went out of business in 1953; and now a new owner is bring them back.  Better that than selling your soul to a bowling ball manufacturer to save yourself from the same fate.

[alguzzi1]

I rode the indian last saterday up in Worchester Mass. I have to say H.D. is realy going to loose some business over this bike. I rode the fully loaded Bike and it was amaizing lots of power , brakes fantastic well balanced I
still cant get over that bike. Will sell like hot cakes.

[Aaron D.]

Worcester? At Wagner's?

[Rough Edge racing]

O.K. so Indian went out of business in 1953; and now a new owner is bring them back.  Better that than selling your soul to a bowling ball manufacturer to save yourself from the same fate.

 Not exactly,Harley was down but not out of production when bought by investors in 1981.They improved the product which was still based on traditional Harley engineering features.
 Indian was done in 1953 and just the name continued on with rebadged Brit bikes and the many attempts at reintroducing big bikes based on Harley clones...

[Rotten Ralph]

Not exactly,Harley was down but not out of production when bought by investors in 1981.They improved the product which was still based on traditional Harley engineering features.
 Indian was done in 1953 and just the name continued on with rebadged Brit bikes and the many attempts at reintroducing big bikes based on Harley clones...

...and Harley used the same factory. The Indian Springfield plant was totally razed so today nothing remains of the old Indian Motocycle Company. The name even stopped continuing after a bit.

That doesn't mean that the new Indian isn't a really good, well engineered bike - but it is totally new and has not one thing to tie it to the original company.

[Kev m]

That doesn't mean that the new Indian isn't a really good, well engineered bike - but it is totally new and has not one thing to tie it to the original company.

You mean like Triumph...

... but who cares really.

The new Indian has the 2 MOST important ties - the legal name and decent designers who seem to understand the heritage/market/function of the bikes.

Hopefully I'll know more Friday - finger's crossed on the weather.

[keithl]

Not exactly,Harley was down but not out of production when bought by investors in 1981.They improved the product which was still based on traditional Harley engineering features.
 Indian was done in 1953 and just the name continued on with rebadged Brit bikes and the many attempts at reintroducing big bikes based on Harley clones...

I had a 2003 "Indian" and loved it.

[Rough Edge racing]

I had a 2003 "Indian" and loved it.

 I'm sure it's just as good as a Harley,maybe better...S&S engine in that Indian ? Or another  Harley type engine?  If I take a Guzzi engine,copy it in all engineering features ,then change an outside cover or the logo ,is it a Moto Guzzi or a "Rough Edge Racing Interceptor"?

[oldbike54]

You mean like Triumph...

... but who cares really.

The new Indian has the 2 MOST important ties - the legal name and decent designers who seem to understand the heritage/market/function of the bikes.

Hopefully I'll know more Friday - finger's crossed on the weather.

Nothing wrong with using the name , even if it is just a marketing ploy . One small difference between Polaindian and Triumph , and maybe meaningless . John Bloor purchased the Name from the remains of Triumph in 1983 , and spent the next 6 years or so developing a modern product with no fanfare , 100 million English pounds later Viola , instant success . Kind of a different route , not necessarily "better" , just seems to be a business model more in line with long term success than lots of hoopla . Bloor developed a new line that was not based on nostalgia and established quality control and a dealer network , along with a good parts and service network before delving in to "nostalgia" models . I do wish Polaris well , but going mano y mano with HD is not going to be easy .
Dusty

[rocker59]

  John Bloor purchased the Name from the remains of Triumph in 1983 , and spent the next 6 years or so developing a modern product with no fanfare ,  Dusty

He bought more than the name.   But  at this point it doesn't really matter.

[Kev m]

Nothing wrong with using the name , even if it is just a marketing ploy . One small difference between Polaindian and Triumph , and maybe meaningless . John Bloor purchased the Name from the remains of Triumph in 1983 , and spent the next 6 years or so developing a modern product with no fanfare , 100 million English pounds later Viola , instant success . Kind of a different route , not necessarily "better" , just seems to be a business model more in line with long term success than lots of hoopla . Bloor developed a new line that was not based on nostalgia and established quality control and a dealer network , along with a good parts and service network before delving in to "nostalgia" models . I do wish Polaris well , but going mano y mano with HD is not going to be easy .
Dusty

Though interestingly enough sales were slow and small until he debuted the Neo-Classic line.

He bought more than the name.   But  at this point it doesn't really matter.

For all intents and purposes - not really, but yes, it doesn't matter.

It's not like he wound up with an operating factory or tooling or well, anything he really used but the name and some real estate.

[oldbike54]

KevM , slow but solid . In the long run a well established parts and service network , along with a well developed reputation for a reliable product is more important to long term viability than splashy marketing , at least in the MC world . The nostalgia models sold because Triumph was once again a trusted name . HD would have folded long ago if their product line had not been greatly improved , and AMF provided most of the funds to develop the EVO motor and other improvements that kept Harley alive . Money , money, money , money ... and patience work almost every time .
Dusty

[Kev m]

KevM , slow but solid . In the long run a well established parts and service network , along with a well developed reputation for a reliable product is more important to long term viability than splashy marketing , at least in the MC world . The nostalgia models sold because Triumph was once again a trusted name . HD would have folded long ago if their product line had not been greatly improved , and AMF provided most of the funds to develop the EVO motor and other improvements that kept Harley alive . Money , money, money , money ... and patience work almost every time .
Dusty

I don't disagree that those are vital components - but one could argue that Indian has (because of Polaris and Vic) a head start on the parts and service network and reputation for reliability, even if this is a new motor/chassis.

There seems to be dealers in major areas that are already 10-12 deep on orders.

[keithl]

I'm sure it's just as good as a Harley,maybe better...S&S engine in that Indian ? Or another  Harley type engine?  If I take a Guzzi engine,copy it in all engineering features ,then change an outside cover or the logo ,is it a Moto Guzzi or a "Rough Edge Racing Interceptor"?

S&S engine, trouble free for me.

[oldbike54]

I don't disagree that those are vital components - but one could argue that Indian has (because of Polaris and Vic) a head start on the parts and service network and reputation for reliability, even if this is a new motor/chassis.

There seems to be dealers in major areas that are already 10-12 deep on orders.

Once again , I wish them well , but once the first blush is gone , what happens next is way more important to long term viability . Victory builds a tremendous bike,
but one of the complaints I hear is lack of resale value . When we are talking 20K plus bikes , and the target demographic , resale value means a lot . I really hope I am wrong about all of this , and the new Polaindian is a smashing long term success, if one of the outlaw clubs adopt it as the bike of choice , well , sales will skyrocket , the appeal to the weekend outlaw will be irresistible . ;D
Dusty

[alguzzi1]

Yes at Wagners this past weekend.

[rocker59]

It's not like he wound up with an operating factory or tooling or well, anything he really used but the name and some real estate.

(original) Bonneville production continued under Bloor from 1983 to 1988.  Production was licensed to Les Harris of Racing Spares. They were not imported to the USA. 

Bloor's company was initially called "Bonneville Coventry Ltd" before changing the name to "Triumph Motorcycles Ltd".

There is a lot more continuity in Triumph than in any other re-born motorcycle company.

Polaris would've had to buy Indian's dilapidated Springfield works from the reciever in 1953 for there to be any similarity with Triumph.

 :BEER:

[Kev m]

(original) Bonneville production continued under Bloor from 1983 to 1988.  Production was licensed to Les Harris of Racing Spares. They were not imported to the USA. 

Bloor's company was initially called "Bonneville Coventry Ltd" before changing the name to "Triumph Motorcycles Ltd".

There is a lot more continuity in Triumph than in any other re-born motorcycle company.

Polaris would've had to buy Indian's dilapidated Springfield works from the reciever in 1953 for there to be any similarity with Triumph.

 :BEER:

Sorta.

It was "production" on the level of OCC at best.

And hardly continuous if you look at what it was before and what it has become after that.

The resurrected Bloor company had not a single bit of tooling, or frame, or motor design in common with the predecessors.

So in a way it's exactly the same as the Indian rebirth.

A new owner of the name, designed a completely new line of bikes based on the legacy of the name.

[oldbike54]

OCC , old cycle commitment , right ?
Dusty

[youcanrunnaked]

Polaris would've had to buy Indian's dilapidated Springfield works from the reciever in 1953 for there to be any similarity with Triumph.

Except I don't think Bloor ever manufactured anything in Meriden.  After the workers' cooperative that succeeded Triumph Engineering Co., Ltd. went bankrupt in 1983, the Meriden plant was sold by the receiver and it was torn down in 1984.  The land was re-developed as a housing subdivision.

By buying the Triumph patents, designs, spares, and some of the tooling, as well as the trademarks, Bloor (through a licensing agreement with Les Harris) was able to keep "old" Triumphs in production until he was ready with new models for the "new" Triumph, Triumph Motorcycles, Ltd., so there is some legitimacy to the claim of continuous production.  However, the Harris bikes were built in Devon, and the Bloor bikes were built in Hinckley (now Hinckley and Thailand).

Not that any of it matters.  Even the "old" Triumph company could not claim continuous production from a single location, as prior to WWII, the company was based in Coventry.