Indian Looking for Dealers, Closer to Locating Production Facility.
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3,415 Posts
Never happen. There's still money to be made picking over the corpse.
Take your pick, invest in a new Norton or invest in a new Indian. I think you're on the right track with the Ducati GT, you'll be riding that long before anyone sees a real live production bike for sale from these two.
Take your pick, invest in a new Norton or invest in a new Indian. I think you're on the right track with the Ducati GT, you'll be riding that long before anyone sees a real live production bike for sale from these two.
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68 Posts
Do we really need another air-cooled pushrod v-twin dinosaur? Are there really enough people out there so enamoured with the Indian marque they think they have a chance? The one dealer in Herndon, VA was quite disgusted with his experience, and had the one last Indian bike taking up floor space for a LONG time... I wouldn't be surprised if it's not STILL there.
How many of these 'parties' giving this 'overwhelming response' are experienced motorcycle dealers? I'll bet none of the previous dealers would touch this with a ten foot totem pole (sorry).
I've never liked the signature fender styling.
Victory would be a good company to model Indian after if they want to last more than a year or so. Of course then, they have to find a big parent like Polaris to give them breathing room, lots of money, and have decent engineers and designers pop out a string of winners.
I hate to ***** on anyone's parade, but I'm thinking that even if they perfectly correct every single mistake made in the last resurrection, their chances are still less than even.
Regardless, best of luck to them.
How many of these 'parties' giving this 'overwhelming response' are experienced motorcycle dealers? I'll bet none of the previous dealers would touch this with a ten foot totem pole (sorry).
I saw and sat on one of the previous Indians at a dealer last year, and was totally underwhelmed. To me, it was a collection of everything I don't like about Harleys with none of their redeeming qualities. The only thing they had going for them then, and again this time, is the Indian name. Sorry, not enough. Massive, top-to-bottom refinements might make three models they're planning sellable, but even then, they'd need some new interesting models really quick to get anywhere this time.
I've never liked the signature fender styling.
Victory would be a good company to model Indian after if they want to last more than a year or so. Of course then, they have to find a big parent like Polaris to give them breathing room, lots of money, and have decent engineers and designers pop out a string of winners.
I hate to ***** on anyone's parade, but I'm thinking that even if they perfectly correct every single mistake made in the last resurrection, their chances are still less than even.
Regardless, best of luck to them.
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64 Posts
Indian and Norton vs Polaris and Triumph. The promise of what might be vs that which is actually available.
It reminds me of political candidates in some ways. We can all see which ones haven't a hope of winning, but they are blind, hopelessly optimistic and driven by a dream. In this case we might possibly get a "new" and unusual motorcycle out of the dream instead of just another broken promise. Anyone remember Silk motorcycles? Were they a dream or did they actually ride for a while? "Smooth as a Silk" I seem to recall.
It reminds me of political candidates in some ways. We can all see which ones haven't a hope of winning, but they are blind, hopelessly optimistic and driven by a dream. In this case we might possibly get a "new" and unusual motorcycle out of the dream instead of just another broken promise. Anyone remember Silk motorcycles? Were they a dream or did they actually ride for a while? "Smooth as a Silk" I seem to recall.
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25 Posts
It does not matter if the bike is crap as long as it has a name like Harley Davidstone and good marketing
These people are turaround specialists, maybe not exactly Bain Capital (Staples, KB Toys, Dunkin Dougnats,...), but still pro's. They will get the company up and running and then sell it. They don't do this for the love of motorcycles. They do this as a business. They could care less if "Indian" is a motorcyle, a boat or a pizza.
I am pretty sure that you will be able to buy an Indian. The question is if it will be a good motorcyle and if the company will fail under whoever buys it.
Personally, I could care less.
I am pretty sure that you will be able to buy an Indian. The question is if it will be a good motorcyle and if the company will fail under whoever buys it.
Personally, I could care less.
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4,129 Posts
Pessimism out of MOrons- figure that. The new owners of Indian KNOW what they are up against. They also know better than to live on the failures of the past. The "new" Indian may come back as a copy of the past to start but the plans are for a different Indian in the future. Look, when Polaris started Victory the bikes were vanilla as could be. Now, 7 yrs later they have bikes that sell very well. Don't sell the Indian guys short. What they resurrect may not be the coolest thing going but the company has to start with the customer base they had when CMC was building the bikes. From there they will make the changes that are going to drive them to the future.
Personally I've alway's liked the Indian look. I know the last generation was known for quality issues and knocked for being a HD ripoff. I think if they can market this product correctly, incorporate a UNIQUE engine, chasis, tranny, etc (re: not an HD clone) and come to the market with a competitive price and solid build quality that this marque has a real shot. I think there is a BIG market for the american style cruiser but for people that are not looking for the "me too" that comes with a HD.. just look at all of the japanese "american" cruisers being pumped out today.
Why not sell the Indian name to the Chinese,after all thats all it is,a brand name.
Watching the Indian name over the last few years has been like watching a game of pass the parcel through the courts,and the only winners where the lawyers.
The Chinese are about to break into the larger motorcycle field, if anyone can turn out a cost effective motorcycle,they can.
Watching the Indian name over the last few years has been like watching a game of pass the parcel through the courts,and the only winners where the lawyers.
The Chinese are about to break into the larger motorcycle field, if anyone can turn out a cost effective motorcycle,they can.
I read somewhere that this is a company that specializes in resurrecting old hallowed names. It would be great to have some of the old lines back out there, but do we really need another Harley knock off?
Old time Indian riders would be incensed by that. They used to claim that the difference between a Harley owner and an Indian owner was that Indian owners know how to read. Sounds like they should talk to Victory or somebody else about making engines for them that are at least contemporary with the latter decades of the last century.
Old time Indian riders would be incensed by that. They used to claim that the difference between a Harley owner and an Indian owner was that Indian owners know how to read. Sounds like they should talk to Victory or somebody else about making engines for them that are at least contemporary with the latter decades of the last century.
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