Indian Motorcycles

**ringadingh** · 05-11-2008, 06:18 AM

Indian motorcycles is almost ready to start production of their Cheif model, due in the fall of this year. They have posted some artists renderings of the bike on their website. Although I like the look of the bike a lot, it is apparently priced from $30.900 up to $35,999. I have always liked the swooping fenders and nostalgic look of the Indians. If I could have another bike besides the Nomad it would be an Indian, or a Drifter model (which is much more affordable to most people). It seems to be a tough time to be introducing a high end cruiser in today's current economy. I think they have their work cut out for themselves.
Heres a link to there site.
http://www.indianmotorcycle.com/

beezer · 05-11-2008, 07:24 AM

Drifters are cool but I think Kawi stopped making them. Either that or they only make so many and don't get to all the dealers.

rflnomad · 05-11-2008, 08:14 AM

As much as we love the older Indians, I feel a used 800 ( or 1500) Drifter is a better bike. Hey, you got the look, real brakes, good power, reliable too! Its like the W650 that Kawasaki made. A better Royal Enfield than before!

beezer · 05-11-2008, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rflnomad

As much as we love the older Indians, I feel a used 800 ( or 1500) Drifter is a better bike. Hey, you got the look, real brakes, good power, reliable too! Its like the W650 that Kawasaki made. A better Royal Enfield than before!

too bad we can't say the same for the GTO

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ponch · 05-11-2008, 09:15 AM

At least there is a new GTO. Try getting a 442 W-30.

Quote:

Originally Posted by beezer

Quote:

Originally Posted by rflnomad

As much as we love the older Indians, I feel a used 800 ( or 1500) Drifter is a better bike. Hey, you got the look, real brakes, good power, reliable too! Its like the W650 that Kawasaki made. A better Royal Enfield than before!

too bad we can't say the same for the GTO

:(" title="

" border="0"/>

ponch · 05-11-2008, 09:16 AM

I think the W650 is more like a Triumph. It's a twin. The Enfield is a single.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rflnomad

As much as we love the older Indians, I feel a used 800 ( or 1500) Drifter is a better bike. Hey, you got the look, real brakes, good power, reliable too! Its like the W650 that Kawasaki made. A better Royal Enfield than before!

05-11-2008, 10:18 AM

Everybody's been talking and talking about the "new" Indians since the Gilroy plant closed and these new investors bought up the marque. They've got money, I'll give them that. The bikes (at least in the renderings they show) are pretty, so someone there evidently has some talent. But in the $30,000+ range I do not think they'll find enough customers to be really successful. These bikes will end up as butt-jewelry for rich wannabes, and a few really hard-core types who will go to any means necessary to own one.

unwind2 · 05-11-2008, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caddmannq

Everybody's been talking and talking about the "new" Indians since the Gilroy plant closed and these new investors bought up the marque. They've got money, I'll give them that. The bikes (at least in the renderings they show) are pretty, so someone there evidently has some talent. But in the $30,000+ range I do not think they'll find enough customers to be really successful. These bikes will end up as butt-jewelry for rich wannabes, and a few really hard-core types who will go to any means necessary to own one.

Yeah - I bet the motorcycle collectors - like Jay Leno - will get one and only ride it once then put it with his collection.

**ringadingh** · 05-11-2008, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beezer

Drifters are cool but I think Kawi stopped making them. Either that or they only make so many and don't get to all the dealers.

They stopped making drifters in 2006, Im not sure why they discontinued them, as Ive always liked them. Theres a guy on the Delphi Drifter forum that has a beautiful bike that looks just like an old Indian Chief. They arn't everybody's cup of tea though, with the fringes and all.

**ringadingh** · 05-11-2008, 04:55 PM

The W650 was a Triumph Bonneville clone, and Royal Enfeilds are still in production today. They have been made in India since the 60's 0r 70's. There was, or is a dealer for them here in Ontario, apparently they are still a leaky undependable bike.

**ringadingh** · 05-11-2008, 05:08 PM

I beleive the Indian dealer in Gilroy still has some brand new old stock Indians for sale there. I don't know a whole lot about them, but I think they were assembled in Gilroy with a lot of aftermarket parts from different sources. The new Indians from North Carolina are made in house with their own engines and other parts. They seemed to have hired some of the top engineers and CEO from HD, Victory and Bombardier. They seem quite serious in their ambition to make this work, although as I said in a previous post, I think it will be difficult to promote a high end bike when the US is heading towards a recession.

ponch · 05-11-2008, 07:49 PM

30-35K is nuts. It makes buying an HD a rational decision.

Quote:

Originally Posted by caddmannq

Everybody's been talking and talking about the "new" Indians since the Gilroy plant closed and these new investors bought up the marque. They've got money, I'll give them that. The bikes (at least in the renderings they show) are pretty, so someone there evidently has some talent. But in the $30,000+ range I do not think they'll find enough customers to be really successful. These bikes will end up as butt-jewelry for rich wannabes, and a few really hard-core types who will go to any means necessary to own one.

05-11-2008, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ponch

30-35K is nuts. It makes buying an HD a rational decision.

Quote:

Originally Posted by caddmannq

Everybody's been talking and talking about the "new" Indians since the Gilroy plant closed and these new investors bought up the marque. They've got money, I'll give them that. The bikes (at least in the renderings they show) are pretty, so someone there evidently has some talent. But in the $30,000+ range I do not think they'll find enough customers to be really successful. These bikes will end up as butt-jewelry for rich wannabes, and a few really hard-core types who will go to any means necessary to own one.

No kidding!

**coacha** · 05-11-2008, 09:03 PM

Love the look of the bikes but $30K+? Come on now. That is shear craziness.

bobzinger · 05-12-2008, 11:05 AM

I'd love to see another successful US builder to compete with Harley. Years ago I thought it was going to be Excelsior Henderson...I bought 1900 shares of stock and lost it all. I still think it's a nice looking, hi-tech bike and I wish someone would resurrect that brand too.
http://www.cifumotorsports.com/mc/2000excelsior/

05-11-2008, 06:18 AM	#1
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	Indian Motorcycles Indian motorcycles is almost ready to start production of their Cheif model, due in the fall of this year. They have posted some artists renderings of the bike on their website. Although I like the look of the bike a lot, it is apparently priced from $30.900 up to $35,999. I have always liked the swooping fenders and nostalgic look of the Indians. If I could have another bike besides the Nomad it would be an Indian, or a Drifter model (which is much more affordable to most people). It seems to be a tough time to be introducing a high end cruiser in today's current economy. I think they have their work cut out for themselves. Heres a link to there site. http://www.indianmotorcycle.com/ __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951 Login or Register to Remove Ads
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05-11-2008, 07:24 AM	#2
beezer Top Contributor Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: The VooDoo Lounge Posts: 5,779	Indian Motorcycles Drifters are cool but I think Kawi stopped making them. Either that or they only make so many and don't get to all the dealers. __________________ 2012 FLHTK
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05-11-2008, 08:14 AM	#3
rflnomad Advanced Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: PSL, Fla; Posts: 596	Indian Motorcycles As much as we love the older Indians, I feel a used 800 ( or 1500) Drifter is a better bike. Hey, you got the look, real brakes, good power, reliable too! Its like the W650 that Kawasaki made. A better Royal Enfield than before! __________________ 2005 Kawasaki Nomad, Black & Silver. 2006 Kawasaki KLR650, Lime Green! 2006 Ford F150 SuperCrew, 2WD, 4.6L; white & gold 1965 Pontiac GTO, 389 4 Speed. Bluemist Slate Cruising the back roads, that is living! Member #000033.
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05-11-2008, 10:18 AM	#7
Guest Posts: n/a	Indian Motorcycles Everybody's been talking and talking about the "new" Indians since the Gilroy plant closed and these new investors bought up the marque. They've got money, I'll give them that. The bikes (at least in the renderings they show) are pretty, so someone there evidently has some talent. But in the $30,000+ range I do not think they'll find enough customers to be really successful. These bikes will end up as butt-jewelry for rich wannabes, and a few really hard-core types who will go to any means necessary to own one.
	0

05-11-2008, 04:55 PM	#10
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	Indian Motorcycles The W650 was a Triumph Bonneville clone, and Royal Enfeilds are still in production today. They have been made in India since the 60's 0r 70's. There was, or is a dealer for them here in Ontario, apparently they are still a leaky undependable bike. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
	0

05-11-2008, 05:08 PM	#11
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	Indian Motorcycles I beleive the Indian dealer in Gilroy still has some brand new old stock Indians for sale there. I don't know a whole lot about them, but I think they were assembled in Gilroy with a lot of aftermarket parts from different sources. The new Indians from North Carolina are made in house with their own engines and other parts. They seemed to have hired some of the top engineers and CEO from HD, Victory and Bombardier. They seem quite serious in their ambition to make this work, although as I said in a previous post, I think it will be difficult to promote a high end bike when the US is heading towards a recession. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
	0

05-11-2008, 09:03 PM	#14
coacha Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Haysville, KS Posts: 6,259	Indian Motorcycles Love the look of the bikes but $30K+? Come on now. That is shear craziness. __________________ Ron "Coach" Allan, Haysville, KS 1999 Nomad Wine and Red "KawaTanker" 2009 BMW R1200RT 2003 BMW K1200LT "Magic Carpet" DOA 11/7/2015 VBA #00291 IBA # 41995 DS #320 '08 Elkins, WV; '09 Helen, GA; '09 Custer, SD; '10 Stanton, VA; '11 Maggie Valley; '12 Townsend, TN; '13 Estes Park; '13 Blairsville, GA; '15 Eureka Springs; '16 Helen; '18 Custer, SD
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05-12-2008, 11:05 AM	#15
bobzinger Sr. Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Livermore CA Posts: 1,334	Indian Motorcycles I'd love to see another successful US builder to compete with Harley. Years ago I thought it was going to be Excelsior Henderson...I bought 1900 shares of stock and lost it all. I still think it's a nice looking, hi-tech bike and I wish someone would resurrect that brand too. http://www.cifumotorsports.com/mc/2000excelsior/ __________________ Life is Good! Eternal Life is better!
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