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Cruiser
Posts: 262
Flowery Branch Ga | How about this for a rumor----- Victory will put the Freedom motor and the new transmission in the Indians, BUT will change the covers on every thing to look like they currently do to appease the old schoolers. Modern drivetrain, rubber mounting, modern ammenities, old school looks and fit and finish that Indians are known for. How could they lose???
Wayne |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 18
| A couple of things to not, for those not knowing, Indian was not "in trouble" when they sold to Polaris. When ggilroy went out of business, they were bought by Stellican, which is pretty much an investment company that specialize in buying iconic brands and bringing them back to life...See chris-Craft yachts. although they never admitted it, it was pretty much their goal to get Indian on their feet and sell it, and that's what they did...and I have to admit, i'm personally THRILLED Polaris is the one that bought them, as they had a few offers (including BMW). the King's Mountian Indian as they are called, are pretty quality bikes...the Power Plus engine was competely redesigned while keeping the good looking "bottle cap" heads. The are superior to my Gilroy Chief. I am hoping that Polaris can put Indian back in the forefront of Motorcycles like they used to be, and if I was a betting man, they'll offer some vintage looking models for the purists, but also offer some new advanced Indians for the motorcycle enthusiasts.
either way, long live Indian...Long Live Victory! |
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Tourer
Posts: 373
Lansing, MI | WOW!
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Tourer
Posts: 537
, FL United States | DannyB - 2011-04-19 6:42....The Vision needs a mate..... My wife had alway wanted an Indian, but after hearing about this last night she really wants one now. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 244
Lindale, TX | Very cool news. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 5
Alberta Beach, Alberta, Canada | XRsteve - 2011-04-20 12:30 PM
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?
From what I've read they made 1000 bikes a year since the last launch. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 18
| I think they made around 750 bikes per year....they were definitely expensive because they were handbuilt...that will be one of the Polaris advantages...to make Indian what it should be, an american bike that anyone can afford...this is pissing off the Rabid Indian Community as they prefer Indian to stay "iconic" and exclusive, but I think the idea is good...to get the Indian Name out and priced cometitively is smart....mostly because I'm sick of Harley. |
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Fountain Inn, SC United States | Here's what MotorcycleUSA wrote about the acquisition:
http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/744/9776/Motorcycle-Article/Polaris-C... |
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Visionary
Posts: 1359
New Bohemia, Va | I had a two hour conversation with Mark Moses last year about our passion, riding. Personally, I think the iconic approach is the best way for Indian, otherwise they may as well just become another Victory, or Harley, or who knows what else. A key element of Indian's history has been failure, for many reasons, but never for being iconic, that is what keeps it alive. Even Mark admits that the Gilroy's was a bad bike, but it is still Indian. He embraces the new Indians are very impressive. It is hard to deny in this day and age that iconic doesn't work by looking at Harley, and even the car industry with Mustangs, Camaros, Chargers,...etc that is hitting the streets. Mark talked very highly of Victory, not just because I was riding a Vision, but he also stated the fact in the motorcycle world they are different. I was talking to him about Indian being a 30,000 mile a year bike with lots of long distance riding. He didn't hesitate to say I had the bike for that. The Indian, though capable, does not have that in mind, but it would have to be up to the individual rider. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 669
Peachtree City, GA | Interesting write up.
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Iron Butt
Posts: 721
| Not that the deal is done perhaps Polaris will transfer production of the Vision to Indian and thus have the model named Indian Vision........ LOL, but that name combination WOULD sell I'm sure of it! |
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Visionary
Posts: 2300
Georgia, west of Atlanta | This is gonna get good one way or the other.................... |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 18
| I have plenty of friends that have ridden their Indians coast to coast a few times...I'm not one of them, and I wouldn't wanna do it. I live in California and rode to bransom Missouri and back and at my age it was not an easy ride...I Do love the Vision and would like to get one in my stable soon...but now that Polaris Owns Indian...maybe they will produce an Indian touring bike?  and Mark Moses is a VERY cool dude and lead the way with dealerships. |
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Visionary
Posts: 2300
Georgia, west of Atlanta |
The Indian Motorcycle manufacturing plant in Kings Mountain will close in a few months following this week's announcement the motorcycle company has been sold to Medina, Minn-based Polaris Industries.
Polaris spokeswoman Marlys Knutson said the operation will move to Spirit Lake, Iowa, but no timetable has been confirmed. She said about 24 employees currently work at the Kings Mountain plant.
Read more: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/04/21/2240365/kings-mountain-... |
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Cruiser
Posts: 72
Eyota, MN | Victory + Indian = Victorian. LoL |
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Visionary
Posts: 2300
Georgia, west of Atlanta | Polaris executives said they hope to relaunch Indian in 18 to 24 months, which includes moving the manufacturing from Kings Mountain, N.C., to Spirit Lake, Minn.
Indian and Victory engines will be made at a Polaris plant in Osceola, in northwestern Wisconsin. That plant was scheduled to close but now will remain open with about 60 jobs, far fewer than what it once had.
Indian had about $11 million in sales in 2010, barely a rounding error to Harley-Davidson's $4.2 billion. The bikes, priced between $26,000 and $36,000, will get a thorough review before the relaunch, according to Polaris.
"We have no intention of living in the past, but the heritage and style that Indian brings to Polaris significantly expands our target customer base," Polaris CEO Scott Wine said in a conference call with analysts.
"We are not going to try and push Indian into all of our dealerships, but we are going to make a concerted effort to leverage the brand, along with Victory, in the top U.S. markets," said Michael Malone, Polaris' chief financial officer.
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Visionary
Posts: 1359
New Bohemia, Va | that puts a twist to things, not that I didn't expect changes. I hope they can bring cost down without cheapening the brand. If the machine is worth $30,000, so be it. If we want a cheap Indian look-a-like, then get a roadstar with the fenders. But since I don't work for Polaris I guess I'll have to leave it to them to make the right decisions. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1359
New Bohemia, Va | double post joke time.
A biker was rollin' down the highway at quite a clip when this big beautiful colorful bird came at him and hit him right in the chest. Feathers flew everywhere and the bird flopped around on the road for a bit. The biker feeling sorry for the creature and thinking it must belong to someone when back and got him. He picked him up and realized it was still alive so he took him home in hopes of nursing it back to health.
When he got home he put him in an old bird cage he had in case he came too. He didn't want to have it flying around and hurting itself anymore. He went on to bed and got a good nights sleep.
The next morning he got and went to check on the bird. Being a big beautiful colorful bird he hoped to nurse to health and perhaps he would keep it. Just as he was about to go into the room where the bird was, it woke up. Seeing that it was in a cage it said, "Dang! I must have killed another biker and it landed me in jail again!"
Edited by Cap'n Nemo 2011-04-23 7:50 PM
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Visionary
Posts: 2300
Georgia, west of Atlanta | Marlys Knutson, spokeswoman for Polaris, said it's too early to say when Indian production will begin in Iowa. The company will move machinery and equipment from North Carolina, where 25 employees worked, to Iowa over the next two to three months.
The Spirit Lake plant employs about 600 workers, said Kathy Evert, who leads the area's economic development efforts. "We're very excited about Indian being made in Iowa. We think it will be a great fit."
Scott Wine, Polaris' CEO, said in a conference call that the Indian will enable Polaris to capture a bigger piece of the $11 billion heavyweight cruiser market.
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Visionary
Posts: 2300
Georgia, west of Atlanta | The addition of Indian Motorcyles adds to the product mix at the Spirit Lake plant, which will continue to assemble Polaris own motrocycle brand, Victory, as well as Ranger and RZR side-by-side vehicles, Knutson said. In addition, the Lakes area plant does some contract work for the U.S. military and for Bobcat, maker of a popular steer-steer loader line.
Edited by XRsteve 2011-04-23 10:50 PM
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Visionary
Posts: 2300
Georgia, west of Atlanta | With 18-24 months breathing room I hope Polaris is gonna do away with that PowerPlus 105 ( Harley evo clone engine ). If it's gonna be a real player it needs a modern engine, The freedom 106 would do with re badged covers but better yet for it own identity, maybe a larger displacement water cooled V twin or if it can get by with EPA a 116" version of the Freedom engine, or Maybe a large V-4 that just blows everything out of the water. Like I said before, whichever way this goes it will be interesting and I'm sure some people will be happy and some pissed........... |
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Tourer
Posts: 548
Mount Vernon, WA United States | I was reading some posts on the Indian Forums and I agree with the majority of the sentiment that Polaris would be wise to build the Indians just as they are, just build them better. I also agree with the general sentiment to not let anyone with the last name of Ness anywhere near them. Indian is not just another motorcycle. It was the First American bike. The bragging right of being the company that makes "The New American Motorcycle" and "The Original American Motorcycle" is something that Should just not be messed with. I also wouldn't expect the price to change much either. The kind of quality they should attain, should be worth at least what they are selling for now. I am guessing they will be amazing works of art, and amazing rides, worthy of the Indian badge. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1359
New Bohemia, Va | Miles - 2011-04-25 10:17 AM
I was reading some posts on the Indian Forums and I agree with the majority of the sentiment that Polaris would be wise to build the Indians just as they are, just build them better. I also agree with the general sentiment to not let anyone with the last name of Ness anywhere near them. Indian is not just another motorcycle. It was the First American bike. The bragging right of being the company that makes "The New American Motorcycle" and "The Original American Motorcycle" is something that Should just not be messed with. I also wouldn't expect the price to change much either. The kind of quality they should attain, should be worth at least what they are selling for now. I am guessing they will be amazing works of art, and amazing rides, worthy of the Indian badge.
Thank you Miles! I see it this way, if Polaris changes stuff to make a "more affordable" Indian, it wouldn't be an Indian.
I appreciate what Chrysler has done with Jeep by keeping it as its own line, but it shares a lot of similarities with the other lines. But to new age jeep enthuiasts, it is still a jeep, though it is not an original jeep.
Indian will do well under Polaris if they preserve the uniquely Indian format, yet share off of each other with technology. By the way, they already share somethings since there were Polaris engineers working in the rebirth. They also use nickel lined cylinders like the freedom, may not be such a big deal, but I understand that was an idea they got from Victory motors.
[picture: camera phones aren't always the best, but the model is wearing an Indian Motorcycle T-shirt and Hat. Motorcycle is the Indian Vision hybrid, or half-breed as some might call it.]
Edited by Cap'n Nemo 2011-04-25 10:53 AM
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Visionary
Posts: 4278
| They said Indian will move to Iowa |
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Visionary
Posts: 2300
Georgia, west of Atlanta | 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.
With this acquisition, Polaris adds one of motorcycling's legendary brands to its strong stable of Victory cruiser and touring bikes. Indian will operate as an autonomous business unit, building upon the potent combination of Polaris engineering acumen and innovative technology with Indian's premium brand, iconic design and rich American heritage.
We are delighted to have reached an agreement with Polaris. Polaris will utilize its well-known strengths in engineering, manufacturing, and distribution to complete the mission we undertook upon re-launching the brand in 2006: harness the enormous potential of the Indian brand, said Stephen Julius, chairman of Indian and managing director of Stellican. Polaris is the most logical owner of Indian Motorcycle. Indian's heritage brand will allow Polaris to aggressively compete across an expanded spectrum of the motorcycle market.
Edited by XRsteve 2011-04-25 5:37 PM
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Polaris buys Indian Motorcyles!
