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Cruiser
Posts: 232
| Did a test ride last sat. my vision in the shop at Volusia motorsports. The statement that are made are IMO and are not to made in many other way. If that is the best Indian can do Harley Davidson has nothing to worry about.
The motor and trans. are the only thing I was impressed with. The handling was not what I'd expect from them. rode across a high bridge with a mod. wind bike was very unstable. The ride was not no where close to vision. It is way over priced for what you are getting. Has a great paint job(rode the red one). Have look down to see dash. Corning was the pits. Did not like the floor board at all the shape or the amount of space or position. The motor has great retro style, tranny had a real good solid shift and no noise or clung. All this is my opinion but at this point no Indian Chieftian for me. Would like to ride it again on a longer ride to see if my mind could change. I may be spoiled with the vision. I have ridden many motorcycle in my 55yrs of riding and have rode Indian before. Just hope that the company doesn't abandon the vision and goes with the Indian all out. No offensive was meant with this post. Please go ride one for yourself and form your own opinion. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | TRELL - a very honest review and I can agree. I test rode the Vintage, and for the class and intent of the bike, it hits the target, bullseye. However, I'm wondering if they will take on HD anytime soon, because there is a lot of effort to done to even scratch the surface. I have no doubt the new Indian will be a very dependable machine, if it's anything like the Victory. I also see them playing with different models over the next few years to get a draw. I believe if Indian comes out with a cool looking Scout or a Four, that will be the ones that will take up the competitor seat. Of course, this is all IMO as well. While I really enjoyed my test ride on a Vintage, what I got out of the whole trip was 8 hours riding my Vision on a beautiful day. |
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Tourer
Posts: 573
Central Illinois | For me a ride "some day" is all I will commit to do. According to the dealer locator, the nearest dealer is 140 miles from my home. Yes, I do travel farther than that on my Vision but not to do a curiosity test drive. I would gladly take a test drive if I was somewhere on a ride and happened to be close to a dealer. I have no desire to lose the Vision right now so no push in that direction. |
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Visionary
Posts: 2300
Georgia, west of Atlanta | I test rode a Chieftain at Biketoberfest down in Daytona this past fall. Nice motorcycle, but is not near the touring platform that the Vision is. Time will tell, it'll probably get a tourpack and rear speakers in 2014, that will make it a better touring bike but still not a Vision. Polaris made the Indians like they wanted to and this is it for now...........Not putting it down, it's just not for me ..............
Edited by XRsteve 2013-12-17 5:55 PM
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Glendale, AZ United States | I had the opportunity to ride all three models during a demo event at the Ride Now dealership in Peoria, Az a few months back. I think we are echoing the same sentiments because we are all Vision riders. As mentioned, it is a different platform compared to the Vision even though the price tag does not reflect this.
Like: Fit and finish, engine/tranny combo, quality leather, and keyless ignition.
Didn't Like: Having to look down to see the display. I too wasn't excited with the handling and braking and was also getting slapped around by the wind. Don't like the Chieftain faring "in my face" and a fork-mounted fairing in general vs frame mounted on the Vision. My brother recently purchased a 2013 HD Roadglide custom this past July. The roadglide "custom" is the same platform and price range as the Chieftain and I would have to go with road glide on that one. I think the Chieftain vs the street glide, I would have to go with the Chieftain on that one. We will see how many HD folks are going to be flying the coop. Vlad. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 154
| Your comparing apples to oranges, the Indian was never meant to compete with the Vision, not much out there that can as far as leg room and comfort. They went after the harley touring bikes and in my opinion they hit the mark, Motor is a beast for a stock motor, powerful, tight with a awesome power curve. Trans shifts tight with no sloppy feel or clunk like the Vic CC bikes and much more smooth than the Harley. I found the Chieftain to be very stable on the road even going over the Hoover damn that has crazy cross winds and the bike rides on rails as opposed to my 2011 RGC. Fit and finish is awesome and the chrome on these bikes is first rate. Everyone talks about lack of dealer support and being a first year model having unknown gremlins, I heard all the same comments from the Harley guys when I brought home my vision in 08 and that turned out pretty good. So comparing it to a Vision they are not even the same animal but head to head with Harley, they are off to a great start. I test rode all 3 models and currently own a 11 RGC and 08 Vision, Im 6'5 260 and no bike fits me better than the Vision (the reason why I keep it) The Harley I require forward controls and If I got an Indian would need the same.
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Visionary
Posts: 1365
Central Maryland | I finally saw a Indian Chieftain up here in Maryland; the parts guy at Chesapeake Cycles in Annapolis just bought one from Pennsylvania.
While it seems to be a nice bike; I don't think it's my cup of tea. It just doesn't grab me.
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Visionary
Posts: 1350
| Just paid Anny off early as a Christmas present to myself. Karen, my teller, said buying a new bike then she said that answer is taking a long time coming. I said no but I really like the new Indians. The one with leather saddlebags looks just an old Indian. No power windshield but that can't happen with a mounted one I assume. Handlebar speakers is a big thumbs down for me.
On the other hand the fairing would look so much nicer to me if it was color matched.
I will wait for the Indian full tourer in a few years. I bought a '99 so need to buy first year again. |
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Visionary
Posts: 2300
Georgia, west of Atlanta | They (Indian) will sell plenty, I'm guessing 3000 in 2013 and 4-5000 in 2014. Not alot compared to Harley Davidson but Hell That's a good number and a great start. I think Indian will do well and when there's a Chieftain with a tourpack they'll sell even more. I wish em good fortune and many sales. One day I might buy one myself..............As an addition NOT a replacement to the Visions.........
I am waiting to see what the aftermarket brings for the line, you know I've been spoiled by the ease we can get 115HP out of these Victory engines. That's not gonna be at all easy for the TS111.
Edited by XRsteve 2013-12-22 11:58 AM
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Cruiser
Posts: 232
| IMO the key word is TOURING...no way at this point and time is the Indian a touring bike.. |
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Visionary
Posts: 2300
Georgia, west of Atlanta | TRELL - 2013-12-22 12:19 PM
IMO the key word is TOURING...no way at this point and time is the Indian a touring bike..
You are 100% correct, it's NOT and it's not being portrayed as such, maybe that means there is a touring rig in the works................ |
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TEST RIDE CHIEFTIAN