i think it's a very honorable thing for Indian to do, and i applaud them.
on a completely different note while we're talking Indians, i think they are ridiculously overpriced. $23,000? what are you getting for that price? this is nearly double the price of the average cruiser. In the auto world, a car that is double the price of its competitors(BMW, Mercedes) has a level of refinement and performance that justifies the price. i don't see this on the Indians. i only see a good looking bike with decent performance.
I agree I thought this was Motorcycle.com and with that note I would just like to state a few things that some of you might find interesting about BMW MOTORCYCLES. First I used to work at a BMW Dealership and I've worked at Honda and Yamaha dealerships in the past as well in Parts & Accessories. The first thing I noticed was out of all the Hondas and Yamahas that we sold how few problems we had. Second, with so few BMWs that we sold (compared to the other brands), how many had problems (so where are the refinements). Third, the Germanys must be trying to pay us back for kicking there butts in WWII, because there Parts system is unlike any other company in the world. Hey, just ask any parts guy that works or has worked at a BMW dealership. The best example I can give is: Germany words on the Microfische, most people read left to right not up and down (ask a parts guy about that statement), hey when you ask someone at BMW for help you get the run around, PARTS PRICES (well see below, trust me BMW prices are expensive), and the worst part customers are the one that get hurt and they don't understand. Last, here are some parts comparisons between Honda VT1100C Shadow Spirit 98-2001 and BMW R1200C.
Desc. Parts Honda Price BMW Price
Battery $64.99 $91.50
Starter Motor $446.98 $520.50
Fuel Pump $103.98 $217.75
Fuel Filter $ 16.74 $15.75
Spark Plugs (each) $ 2.75 $ 6.99
Air Filter $27.24 $17.99
Frt Brake Pads(each) $38.50 $46.99
RR Brake Pads $37.75 $56.25
THE BIKE $ 7,999.00 $14,500.00
(The price of the bike does not include, frt, prep, tax, etc..., but hey there's a big differance)
Well, I do not know about the rest of you, but I'll save my money and buy a Honda, Yamaha, or Suzuki.
I agree I thought this was Motorcycle.com and with that note I would just like to state a few things that some of you might find interesting about BMW MOTORCYCLES. First I used to work at a BMW Dealership and I've worked at Honda and Yamaha dealerships in the past as well in Parts & Accessories. The first thing I noticed was out of all the Hondas and Yamahas that we sold how few problems we had. Second, with so few BMWs that we sold (compared to the other brands), how many had problems (so where are the refinements). Third, the Germanys must be trying to pay us back for kicking there butts in WWII, because there Parts system is unlike any other company in the world. Hey, just ask any parts guy that works or has worked at a BMW dealership. The best example I can give is: Germany words on the Microfische, most people read left to right not up and down (ask a parts guy about that statement), hey when you ask someone at BMW for help you get the run around, PARTS PRICES (well see below, trust me BMW prices are expensive), and the worst part customers are the one that get hurt and they don't understand. Last, here are some parts comparisons between Honda VT1100C Shadow Spirit 98-2001 and BMW R1200C.
Desc. Parts Honda Price BMW Price
Battery $64.99 $91.50
Starter Motor $446.98 $520.50
Fuel Pump $103.98 $217.75
Fuel Filter $ 16.74 $15.75
Spark Plugs (each) $ 2.75 $ 6.99
Air Filter $27.24 $17.99
Frt Brake Pads(each) $38.50 $46.99
RR Brake Pads $37.75 $56.25
THE BIKE $ 7,999.00 $14,500.00
(The price of the bike does not include, frt, prep, tax, etc..., but hey there's a big differance)
Well, I do not know about the rest of you, but I'll save my money and buy a Honda, Yamaha, or Suzuki.
He bought the whole Triumph company, while it still existed as a motorcycle company. He licensed out the production of bonnevilles to a 3rd party who was already manufacturing parts for triumphs, and they produced bonnevilles (that weren't brought to the US) up until 88 or 89. There was only about a year that no new triumphs were being produced. Then he came out with a proprietary design, in a configuration used by Triumph. Most importantly, except for the bonneville america abomination, Triumph is making motorcycles that are exactly what Triumphs should be in this age. "Indian" is using harley aftermarket components, based on softails--harley's cheesiest frame design, that don't work as well as new Harleys (except for the motors). Their legal claim to it is debatable, aside from the courts' decision. They didn't even want to make motorcycles, they just would've lost the name if they didn't put it on a bike and sell it. No, they don't deserve to be called Indian and I don't call them that.
I don't know much about Indians (it would help if MO reviewed some!), but when I looked up on CycleTrader I realized something: a 2001 Indian Scout, priced over 18K, was easily found @14500. Compare to Harleys (of course, not Sporsters which don't really compare to Indians). My question would be, given (or assuming) that you can actually but an Indian at less than any Softails and, probably, most Dynas, and given that, enginewise, they look a lot like big Harleys engines PLUS all the stuff you would pay and add to give it a decent power (a couple of G's? We're talking 80 hp in a stock Indian), do you still think Indians' prices are still so obscene compared to Harleys (of course, we are comparing apples and apples, sportbikes, naked bikes, everything else does not apply). Unless Indians are so less reliable than Harleys (is it possible?) or something else I'm not aware of. Someone please explain to this uneducated squid.
One last thing: if Harley owners are proud to pay for tradition, Indian has some too, right?
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