| Author | Message | ||
     2kx1 |
Subject says it all! | ||
| Preybird1 |
No link or nothing! | ||
| Barker |
Polaris buys Indian http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/news/2011/04 /19/polaris-buys-indian-motorcycle.html | ||
| Just_ziptab |
My boss bought a couple of them about 10 years ago...turned out to be real POS. Harley better watch their ass........or Polaris will own them and make electric wheel chairs(in chrome and black) in the Harley factory.........for all the geezers who's fairy tale lifestyles changed for the worse. | ||
| 86129squids |
That's kinda weird. Why would they undermine their Victory brand, which seems to be doing well, by buying Indian?  | ||
| Greg_e |
Maybe for the patents on some of the nostalgia models? Lots of people would like a new "old" Indian. | ||
| 86129squids |
"autonomous brand"... Looks like someone has a hard-on to really give HD a run for its money, despite brand cannibalization. Heck, I'm no expert, but damn I'm curious about this and the implications for the market. | ||
| Midknyte |
Lots of people would like a new "old" Indian. It is a brand/name that refuses to die... | ||
| Geforce |
Maybe they plan to sell Indian and Victory side by side. Victory makes some great machines but not at great prices. Indian might bridge that gap. Nostalgia and a bit of flavor at an affordable price. | ||
| 2008xb12scg |
Now they have the Victory they can make a little more modern looking, and the Indian for that classic 1950s look. Seems odd though, why not just keep Victory? On the other hand maybe they got Indian really cheap. Hasn't Indian been owned by a few different folks that haven't been able to get it going? | ||
| Tpoppa |
In side by side comparisons Victorys usually do quite well against HDs. Victory doesn't have the nostalgia appeal which is apparently a big deal for some cruiser buyers. I think that's a good move for Victory. | ||
| Glitch |
Maybe they just want those cool fender skirts and those neat Indian head fender ornaments? | ||
| Cataract2 |
Well, I figure Polaris will do a much better job with Indian than HD did with Buell. | ||
| Rex |
I don't think they got much, other than the name, and a motorcycle that is very expensive. I think Indian may survive with Polaris, where they would have been gone by them selves. now they should buy Buell. | ||
| Blake |
Polaris - Victory - Indian The Indian acquisition addresses the large "heritage" cruiser market. Seems like a shrewd market strategy. Go Polaris, the forward looking American motorcycle corporation! | ||
| Boliver |
Polaris - Victory - Indian Harley Davisdon-Buell-Rotax God Bless America  and the foreign exchange..... | ||
| Dynasport |
I agree with Rex. Indian is almost a non-player. Really, how many bikes does Indian sell? | ||
| Brumbear |
I would guess either a 2 model production run or just close em out and keep the name under lock and key, then after the H-D brand it has a look of a hostile takeover  | ||
| Reepicheep |
Or they could take Indian the "Triumph" route... And put out a bike in 2012 that Indian would have put out if they were designing a bike in 2012. The new Triumph triples are awfully nice bikes... A little busy for my tastes, but I respect what they are doing. | ||
| Pattio |
In the past I've often paraphrased Andy Warhol and said 'In the future everyone will own the Indian mark for fifteen minutes.' It was an easy joke when the succession of owners seemed to be so long on hype and short on engineering, but I won't be able to snark on Polaris- they have pretty much been just the opposite with their Victory line. Personally, I'm borderline disappointed to hear this news, because I still hold out the hope that _some_ American brand will take an interest in short-wheelbase bikes. (no slight intended to Buell history, but I am among the motorcyclists who was never interested in the Sportster motor and prayed for something techier) The 1125 was the answer to this prayer for me, and that's why I bought one, but now I want to see more like it, and that are not orphans. This move looks to me like Polaris intends to forge even further into ornamented cruisers, exactly the opposite of what I hoped to see. I wish them great success in taking-it-to-HD and will continue to hope for the chance of short-wheelbase, technology-oriented American-made bikes to exist in the future. | ||
| Court |
>>>prayed for something techier Salvation Day draws near . . . | ||
| Badlionsfan |
I'd say make Indian the higher price point bikes with the nostalgia and make the Victory bikes more modern styled and performance driven, such as the Vmax or the ducati diavel. Speaking of modern old-school, I'm bringing my Bonneville T-100 home tomorrow. | ||
| Blake |
>>> Indian is almost a non-player. Really, how many bikes does Indian sell? Ya think that an actual dealer network might improve that along with a massive insurgence of engineering, manufacturing and overall technical expertise? With Polaris standing behind them, there are going to be a LOT more customers looking at the Indian brand. Count me among them. | ||
| Badlionsfan |
Exactly Blake. Here's a few examples of what they have to work off of styling wise. These are on display at my local Triumph/ Ducati shop (along with several vintage Triumphs and BSAs).   | ||
| Rwven |
Polaris should have Indian play against HD's CVO line. | ||
| Sifo |
I'd say make Indian the higher price point bikes with the nostalgia and make the Victory bikes more modern styled and performance driven, such as the Vmax or the ducati diavel. Exactly where my thinking is. With their established dealer network they may actually sell a respectable number of them. Every one they sell would almost certainly be a sale they take from HD. That would be one more HD customer getting familiar with their modern cruisers too. HD riders seem to have a certain respect for the Indian brand that they may not give to Victory. It could be a good way to bridge that gap. | ||
| Crusty |
I think it's a mistake on Polaris' part. Not quite on the order of Harley-Davidson buying MV, but I don't see where it's going to help Victory at all. Indian went out of business in 1953. All the attempts to revive the brand have only hurt the "Historic " value. Indian now equates with shoddy, unreliable Harley clones that aren't up to the quality of H-D. I demo rode their "Power Plus" engined model at Daytona, before the Gilroy operation was liquidated. It was heavy, slow and wallowed like a drunken hippopotamus in the corners. The engine is a restyled H-D evo with its oil filter on the front of the cam chest. If I want a Harley (and I don't), I'll buy one. Why would I want an imitation with fender skirts and poor reliability that costs a lot more as well? To me, this move by Polaris just shows that they're looking at motorcycles as expensive toys, and not as real, functional vehicles. | ||
| Sifo |
To me, this move by Polaris just shows that they're looking at motorcycles as expensive toys, and not as real, functional vehicles. I'd say that's exactly how most bikes are used. Sounds like they are right on target.  | ||
| Eboos |
There are plenty of people that want a "harley" but don't want a Harley. Polaris will need to get the marketing right, and then will do fine. | ||
| Buellgrrrl |
BTW, HOG(NYSE)'s finacials came out today and they didn't look too great. Meanwhile, Victory had a huge sales increase last year and is hitting Harley where it hurts with new police bikes. |
