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Tourer
Posts: 520
Simi Valley, CA | http://www.polarisindustries.com/en-us/OurCompany/News/PressRelease...
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Visionary
Posts: 3204
Memphis | I know one guy from VA whose wheels are really spinning now..... |
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Cruiser
Posts: 118
Spfld, IL but temp Bay area, CA | It will be very interesting to see what Polaris has in store for Indian--who's going to start the first rumor? |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 742
North Orange County CA | Unless Polaris acquired the entire 2004 Boston Red Sox line up as part of the deal, to act as curse busters, I 'll bet there are some guys in Milwaukee who are buying the first round of drinks tonight.
Edited by Tarpits99 2011-04-19 5:28 PM
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Iron Butt
Posts: 742
North Orange County CA | GURNZ - 2011-04-19 3:20 PM
It will be very interesting to see what Polaris has in store for Indian--who's going to start the first rumor?
Perhaps I should have said it this way...
"I heard that Polaris just signed the entire 2004 Red Sox lineup......."
Edited by Tarpits99 2011-04-19 5:33 PM
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Tourer
Posts: 492
Indianapolis, IN | All I know is that past performance says that Polaris has never gone very far out on a limb. They must have some sure plans or this would be about as big a risk, just looking Indian's history, that a company could take. I think we just may be surprised...... and if it flies, HD management could be wringing their collective hands on this one. After all Polaris would be the owner/producer of the real original american motorcycle brand. And if the engines are produced like a Freedom 106, than the most nostalgic american brand would sport an extremely reliable and powerful engine to boot. ;-o |
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Tourer
Posts: 554
2 mi from Jim Beam n KY | HHHmmmmm.....a classic Indian Chief.....powered by a Freedom engine.........man............The Vision needs a mate.......and that would do it!! |
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Tourer
Posts: 432
Gettysburg, 2008 Tour Premium | I owned a Gilroy Indian. Absolutely worst product I ever purchased! When it ran it had the potential to 'sound' good though. That was the extent of its good qualities. When they started production and were up and running for awhile I called and asked if they did tours of their facility and they asked if I owned a Indian. I said not at this time and said if the problems were solved as in my Indian Chief Vintage I would consider it. They refused a visit unless I bought a North Carolina Indian--no wonder they couldn't make it. Now with the Vision I rest comfortable in knowing I have the best--at least for me. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1359
New Bohemia, Va | SongFan - 2011-04-19 5:19 PM
I know one guy from VA whose wheels are really spinning now.....
Stoked....
I shared this before, but when I visited the Charlotte Indian and sat on the Chief and had a long conversation with Mark Moses, he shared with me the new Indian had folks working on it from Polaris who helped engineer the Victory's. The new Indians are a work of art and solid. I was impressed with how it sat, very roomy great pull-back, easy off the kick and the same seat height as the Vision, go figure.
I think this is a great move, owning a first, and owning the newest American motorcycle....
Sweet...... |
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Tourer
Posts: 401
| Since it's first downfall, Indian has never had the backing of a company as diverse and established as Polaris. If anything HD would look at this as a very serious branding threat, that has the potential to steal products sales that they presently have a monopoly on. This goes far beyond the sale of motorcycles, and could rocket Polaris into world of brand names.
Edited by sgiacci 2011-04-19 8:28 PM
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Cruiser
Posts: 249
Montreal, QC Canada | SongFan - 2011-04-19 6:19 PM
I know one guy from VA whose wheels are really spinning now.....
Tom, you always make me laugh.
Take care and stay awake at work! |
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Tourer
Posts: 447
Cleveland, GA | Cometman - 2011-04-19 6:13 PM http://www.polarisindustries.com/en-us/OurCompany/News/PressRelease... Anybody else notice this from the article? Gotta love it! “We are excited to be part of the revitalization of a quintessentially American brand,” said Scott Wine, CEO of Polaris Industries Inc. “Indian built America’s first motorcycle. With our technology and vision, we are confident we will deliver the classic Indian motorcycle, enhanced by the quality and performance for which Polaris and Victory are known.”
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Visionary
Posts: 1359
New Bohemia, Va | http://www.vision-riders.com/bb/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=6125&pos...
a blast from the past |
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Cruiser
Posts: 92
Chandler, AZ | Could get interesting here in my area. Closest Vic dealer just had Big Dog line shut down, so maybe they will get Indian; BUT, the H-D dealer only a couple hundred yards down the street now has the Indian franchise; wonder how that's going to pan out! |
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Visionary
Posts: 3006
San Antonio, TX | That is very interesting news. I love the look of the new Indians and have drooled about owning one...maybe someday. I had to check the date to make sure it did not come out on April 1st! |
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Visionary
Posts: 1350
| So all of "old" timers have wanted the CC to come back and now it might.  As long as Polaris can bring the new prices of the Indian down to range that fits most buyers. So this should mean the retirement of the Kingpin, don't need 2 big fender bikes.... Mass postings now.
I would like to see 2 engines, one for Vic and one for Indian. It would be interesting to see if the Indian engine starts toward water cooling with new EPA regs coming out each year. I still hope the oil cooled Vic engine meets them.
This should help the dealers. They could meet their buying requirements by selecting from each group as long as Polaris doesn't make them buy $X from Vic and $X from Indian.
I have my '99 and my Anny. I don't see another Victory in the stable but an Indian Scout might look good?
I raise my glass to Polaris and wish them the best. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 162
Northern NJ | Great news for Polaris & Indian. I love it! |
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Visionary
Posts: 2300
Georgia, west of Atlanta | Three thoughts: 1) Indian motorcycles the company and the bikes have been shit since the original Springfield plant closed the doors in 1953. 2) Everyone who has touched the Indian brand since then has contracted leprosy and died with them. 3) I can only hope either Victory bought them to vastly improve them, IE: a new engine and a "real" Chief that is modern bagger with cruise control, big bags, stereo and closed loop fuel injection, OR just kill it off. ( Nice chrome and good paint jobs do not make a kit bike with a evo engine and a Indian decal a real player in the motorcycle maufacturer world ) |
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Visionary
Posts: 1359
New Bohemia, Va | steve - find your nearest Indian dealership and pay them a visit, or ride to Charlotte to the one right outside the plant. I will assure you the new Indian has the improvements and has a work of art fit and finish. And to say there are decals on the new Indian is an insult, as each emblem is hand painted. We, Victory owners will whine and cry over fit and finish for a $24,000 bike that is superb in handling, the Indian at $39,000 is immaculent in fit and finish, but we'll complain about the price. I've not ridden one yet, but I believe Indian has what it takes at this time. And to repeat what I've said before VICTORY ENGINEERS HELPED WITH THE LASTEST INDIAN DESIGN AND ENGINEERING BEFORE THE '09'S ROLLED OFF THE ASSEMBLY LINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That was foreplay, this is consumation.
Edited by Cap'n Nemo 2011-04-20 9:00 AM
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Visionary
Posts: 2300
Georgia, west of Atlanta | Time will tell, and I have been by the Indian dealership in Gastonia. Like I said fine paint and chrome don't make a player in the top of the line touring bike world. A Chief is supposed to be a leader like a Goldwing, Vision, ElectraGlide and BMW 1600. The Chiefs I saw were "pretty" but not a class competetive touring bike. I sincerely hope Victory can make it work, but it'll need a new "modern" engine and alot of upgrade features to be competitive in the upscale Touring Bike world. I know my comments were harsh up above but my history lesson was right on target.......... Now about the future, we'll all wait and see. And if you disassemble the engine it is a marginally refined Harley Evo right down to the four lobe single cam driven off a pinion gear and the caged roller bearing male and female rods..............I'll even bet the number of fins on the cylinders are the same as a late model evo................ |
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Visionary
Posts: 1359
New Bohemia, Va | Okay - understand where you are coming from. What I see of Indian, which makes it a safe acquistion for Polaris from a Victory standpoint, it has it's own audience. Very few folks, and I mean very few, are the market for Indian, I would venture to say the percent of the Indian market that rides Victory today is about 2%. Just like anyone else, looking at the Indian just as a motorcycle and a world class touring, it is not what you want at all. It is not your modified RK, Gold Wing or Vision. Talking with Mark Moses the owner of the Charlotte dealership in Gastonia, he says that Indian has the market and they are selling very well. You'll not find any of those here on this forum. He says an incrediable sales took place overseas where executives wanted American Heritage in the garage. Most don't even ride alot, they just wanted the icon.
Currently, the motor is modern as it will get, state of the art fuel injection and so on, but they are preserving the iconic look as much as they can. I am totally impressed on how they sit and the pull-back, fit me to a T like the Vision. The seat is much firmer because it is genuine leather, as all premium motorcycles should have.
So, in my opinion, change all that stuff that folks says need to be modernized, you won't have an Indian, you'll just have a modern bike with an Indian name. That in of itself is not so bad, Indian was a moped for a very long time, legally, and if I'm not mistaken, still is in a foriegn country.
Just as there is Harley die-hards, Victory die-hards, and Gold Wing die-hards, there are Indian die-hards that say, I love it just the way you are. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 204
guelph ontario | I have seen the new Indians in person and just sat on them-will test ride later in spring. Ergonomics were great for a large person-both in height and girth and the fit and finish were great as was the paint. I was told by the salesperson that the engine was hard mounted and not counterbalanced. I had read this before and this makes it a shaker. It does indeed need a proper crusie for touring however I think that I would not like to tour on it because of the shaking. After a day or two in it my old body would want to give up. I have none of these problems with the very smooth Vision. Perhaps in a few more years when touring distance becomes not viable I can see this as a "bar hopper". With rubber mount and counterbalance and cruise I could however be lured away from the Vision. |
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Tourer
Posts: 411
Dallas, Texas | Perhaps if this partnership does blossom, as I hope it will, could we please get some more Dealers in DFW? I still think that DFW is a largely untouched market for Victory. 3-ish Dealers in this vast area.. |
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Visionary
Posts: 2300
Georgia, west of Atlanta | I know I've slammed Indian before, I just hope Indian and their always "in trouble" financial position dosen't hurt Polaris's bottom line............ |
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Visionary
Posts: 2300
Georgia, west of Atlanta | I've tried to find a sales figure for Indian Motorcycles on the web but can't locate a site that states such company figures. I found there are 23 dealers in the USA and 2 in Canada. That's about it. Anyone know how many units Indian moved over the past few model years? |
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Polaris buys Indian Motorcyles!
