[sarnali]

Yeah, but the V11 series is too nice to give up. I'd keep the Aprilia line as scooters and run Moto Guzzi as the V11 and California series.

That way Texas Pacific has Ducati full on sport bikes, Monster "hooligan" bikes, V11 Cafe` bikes and California cruisers and (more or less) sport tourers.

Purty durn good mix, I think<

 

[sarnali]

What Indian needs to be is the same as Triumph. A line of modern unique bikes and a line of updated "classic" bikes. If all they're going to do is build fat fendered Harley clones they can be ressurected till the cows come home and they'll go tits everytime.

What alot of people don't realize is that Harley probably wouldn't be building retro style bikes if Indian had of stayed in buisness. Competition between Harley, Indian and later Triumph and BSA is what drove innovation for all of them.

While HD copied the Brits. and went to OHV with the Knucklehead and Panhead engines, then unit engines and swingarm frames with the K model and Sportsters, Indian cranked out the same sprung axle sidevalves and slowly went under.

While new HD's are technicaly superior, visually most of their styling is the same as it was when Indian went tits up.

While this little rant has nothing to do with Ducati or Aprilia, everytime ressurecting old brands comes up Indian gets dragged out of the closet. They went under because they failed to keep up with the times.

 

[sarnali]

I meant Springfield Indians, not the latest necropheliac attempt to pimp a corpse

 

[sarnali]

They're just jealous because I have a Triumph and I can lick my eyebrows (girls find that appealing ya' know)

 

[sarnali]

Trimph could sell them Speed Triple engines.

 

[sarnali]

Re: what bikes will survive?

Triumph is selling just fine, in the neighborhood of 28% growth last year, with backlogs on the Rocket 111 and the Thruxton.

They are moving away from the sportsbike market and expanding their core-competancy of cruisers and classics, but that's where the European and American markets are heading so it's just sound buisness practice.

 

[sarnali]

Re: Why America is so Beautiful

Umm.... I think it's supposed to be "free Leonard Peltier" now........(Just tryin' to help bro...back at cha')

Right On! ***** the Pigs! Stop the War! Power to the People!

 

[sarnali]

Re: Why America is so Beautiful

If you'd have plugged a couple of grannies you could be running for President.