[30786]

Here's a link covering the closing.

http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/business/6818690.htm

Even though their technology wasn't the latest and greatest, I was hoping they would succeed.

 

[Buzglyd]

Well, I feel for the employees who've lost their jobs, however the new "Indian" wasn't any more Indian than a Kawasaki Drifter.



Another clone bites the dust.

 

[BobW]

Their pricing didn't help. You had to really want that retro look. Interestingly enough, people who bought the original Chief with the big fenders tended to remove them; as a retro item it was never more than a niche. I did like the other models however.

 

[BobW]

Oh, and I did drive by the empty Excelsior Henderson factory in Belle Plaine today. Thought about the dealer there that sold, you guessed it, Indians. And Triumphs. They have an unsold 2002 Thunderbird that they'll practically give away. Wouldn't want to make a living selling retros.

 

[sarnali]

Big surprise huh? The only way you can resurrect an old company is to come up with clean sheet designs like Bloor did

Charging top dollar for HD clones with extra sheet metal and aftermarket heads apparently doesn't make it.

 

[17693]

It's a shame but there really was nothing that set Indian apart from Harley. Many arguments have been made about Indian being nothing but another clone company banking on a legendary name. I have to agree with this. rounded off cylinders can't change the fact that every other part, with the exception of the fenders, look like they just came straight from the Harley catalog. If anyone tries to revive the name again, let's all hope that they can be at least a little more unique.

 

[33992]

While its sad to see another American manufacturer shutter its doors, I'm not surprised. In addition to product, you need a strong (profitable) retail organization to succeed. Indian came up short in both areas.

Based on Indian's market research surveys emailed to me on a regular basis, I don't think they had a clue. I can also name a few other brands that are currently introducing new products -- but are miserably represented by a makeshift dealer body.

 

[056]

Honky Cheese Wagon Factory to Open in Gilroy

Gilroy, CA (UPI) Honky Cheese Wagon, inc., a new manufacturer of "upscale semi-mobile lifestyle display platforms" announced the opening of their plant here today.

Right on the heels of a press conference announcing the closure of the Indian Moto-Cycle plant in the same location, the announcement was a surprise to the leisure industry.

Lou Terhar, former president of the Indian Motorcycle corporation, had just finished one press conference announcing the closure of the one plant when he suddenly turned 90 degrees to face a different bank of cameras and microphones, donned a lime green vest and a dual beer can holding hat and stated, "Today is a great day for the upscale semi-mobile lifestyle display platforms industry." He then went on to unveil the new product, which looked like an Indian Scout motorcycle, but painted lime green with fuschia polka-dots. The vehicle is also equipped with training wheels, a Super Soaker(tm), and a 40 gallon aerosol dispenser full of Silly String (tm). Top speed is governed to 8 miles per hour, to comply with National Conference of Clowns and Jugglers (NCCJ) conventions.

"To save on costs, we will be making these units with special imported labor." Terhar than pointed to several 40-foot shipping containers with holes cut in the sides. Human voices could be heard from within.

"This is a product that should sell well," said C. Morton Funbrook, a leisure industry expert and author of "Severe Fun Warning-America's Leisure Purchase Obsession". "With the rise in demandd for such absurd products as $9,000 gas grills, Pot Bellied Pigs and Hummer H2's, Americans have demonstrated their eagerness to use their tax-cut dividends on completely useless, yet well-marketed, purchases."

As yet, delivery dates for the Honky Cheese Wagons have not been set.

 

[ofreen]

The whole thing never made any sense to me. Why would anybody spend thousands more than you would for a new Harley and get an inferior motorcycle?

 

[detansinn]

Harley clones != Indians

Maybe this will open the door for the gentleman in Britain who is producing a modern rendition of the Indian 4-cylinder. Absolutely yummy.

http://www.p2r.se/mc/dakota4/

 

[detansinn]

Here's a link to the brochure:

http://www.indian-uk.com/indian.pdf

...and the official site...

http://www.indian-uk.com

 

[F451]

Anyone interested in the "two-wheel world" has to cringe at the closing of yet another motorcycle manufacturer of American motorcycles. Unfortunately, this current version of Indian did way too much in the way of advertising and damn little in the making of a motorcycle. Sad...very sad.

 

[7558]

Any upstart MC should try and sell Motorcycles to the masses first and then create a ultra expensive bike for the niche. Is that not how Harley started,Kawasaki,Suzuki etc.

GM sold corvettes but the chevette made the money for the company( IN the 80's). Make bikes for the average first, then tackle the rich bastards later..



Just a thought.



Mario

 

[11158]

Hope somebody buys the name who wants to make motorcycles and sell tshirts on the side.....not the other way around.



I've been thinking this for 15 years: Why doesn't one of the Japanese Big 4 buy one of these old names like Indian or Henderson and rebadge their cruisers with it. They already make some of their bikes in the states anyway. What better way to compete with Harley? If it says Indian on the tank and Made in the USA on the sticker, the average Joe is not going to care if it was designed by Kawasaki.

 

[43555]

The inline fours look very good. I don't think the world needs another H-D clone with Indian on the tank.



Somehow the new Vincent seems OK to me, despite its Honda motor.



Yes, the Drifter was as Indian as the one that closed down.

 

[ogre23]

What, again?



-Kawazuki

 

[ogre23]

Big Dog seems (and I certainly haven't been reading their quarterlies, so this is a completely superficial observation) to be doing all right manufacturing expensive H-D clones. I suspect their organization is more efficient than Indian's was. Not saying this is a great business model, but it isn't a universal failure.

-Kawazuki

 

[sarnali]

Maybe AMF can buy the rights to the Indian name, they have experiance building quality motorcycles.

 

[1163]

and what about BigDog?

According to their last financial report they're doing just fine.

Looks like BigDog (last of the super clones) Victory (the real American alternative) and Harley are the only remaining choices for the "I'll only ride American" crowd. That is at least if you can't afford the custom clone builders from American Ironhorse to Bourgets to Confederate MC.

 

[1163]

If it's the T-Bird Sport I'm there!

I'll take it off their hands. Those bikes are effin sweet!