| Author | Message | ||
     Hughlysses |
Pic just posted to their FB page:  Looks pretty nice for a cruiser. Only odd thing to me is the swingarm seems like it's excessively long. Wonder what's up with that? | ||
| Hughlysses |
Webpage updated: http://www.indianmotorcycle.com/en-us/home | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
When they bring out something that doesn't look like it fell out of Arlen Ness' ring I might have a little more interest . | ||
| Crusty |
I love the look of the engine. The rest of the bike looks like a wannabe Indian. That beautiful engine deserves a better looking chassis. | ||
| Blake |
H-D is fixin to lose another chunk of market share. The Yamaha Star line took a chunk, now the buy American folks have another choice too. In response, maybe HDI will decide to buckle-down and concentrate on their core business, so they can close down the motorcycle factories and really focus on clothing and finance. | ||
| Pwnzor |
Tassles and a huge, ugly front fender. Might be some other folks' cup of tea, but to me it's just more same ol' same ol'. Oh... nearest dealer to Atlanta? 115 miles. | ||
| Gschuette |
Nice Blake, nice.  | ||
| 99savage |
Yawn, a big motorcycle with a honkin', big, push rod, V-Twin, how interesting (Wish them every luck tho.) | ||
| Cityxslicker |
t-shirts and pool tables. | ||
| Fuzzz |
As I start getting closer to retirement age, I've thought about a Geezer Glide, and if the new Indian company builds a 120" inline four, with great suspension and brakes, I might consider "cruising" across country on one... | ||
| Badlionsfan |
I'd ride the one on the left all day every day. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
I like the engine but not much else. Oh bother.  | ||
| Brumbear |
i'm with Nate here engine thats all I see that has appeal | ||
| Firstbuell |
me, too the engine's pretty cool - the chassis WAY too Harley-appearing go look at the original twin which the site shows as their styling inspiration - especially the tank - then, look at the 2014 version | ||
| Bienhoabob |
6 speeds plus a final drive, nice Overall, I like it. Priced in the Harley, Victory range. They might just hang around for a while. | ||
| Hughlysses |
From the Cycle World article:
That sounds pretty interesting to me. http://www.cycleworld.com/2013/08/03/2014-indian-c hief-vintage-and-chieftain-bagger-first-ride-revie w-photos-specs/ | ||
| Hootowl |
There's a very good reason these bikes look like Arlen Ness had a hand in their design.  | ||
| Cataract2 |
Problem with Indian is it is worse than HD in hanging onto the heritage. Their bikes still have that gawd awful front fender and the design never looks updated. I will give HD credit in that at least their designs of the bikes look more updated and "modern" than Indian. I wish them luck and hope they move forward from the 1950's looks. It's always nice to see more players on the field. | ||
| Hootowl |
1950's true, but resurrecting a marque and then making the new bikes look nothing like the old bikes seems like a bad idea to me. Why use the Indian name if you aren't going to build what people think of when they think of Indian motorcycles? | ||
| Hughlysses |
Well, according to the head guy at Indian (see quote above from Cycle World), apparently most prospective buyers DO think these look like old Indian motorcycles. You can bet that everything on these bikes is a result of careful market analysis, surveys, etc. We may not like them, but the designers didn't just arbitrarily choose the styling and features. | ||
| Hootowl |
"apparently most prospective buyers DO think these look like old Indian " I believe you took my statement out of context. The previous poster made the point that they decided to go retro/heritage and that it looked outdated, and I commented that they didn't really have any choice if they wanted to build Indians. A modern looking bike would not serve them well, and likely would not sell since there would be no tie to the Indian of legend other than the name plate. | ||
| Tootal |
Agreed. Polaris being the parent company already has the Victory line which in comparison to Indian is a lot more modern looking. I think they did a great job on the new bikes. I like the fact that the Vintage has more rake for a more cruiser stance yet the Chieftain has less rake for better handling. They all have cruise control and abs standard. That sounds modern to me! I'll give them a couple of years to get the bugs out, by then my Road Glide will have around 130,000 miles on it. We'll see what happens but I could see myself on the Chieftain. Fairings not really nice to look at but I ride a Uly too! Definitely a function over form guy! | ||
| Hootowl |
One of our members is at Sturgis right now on his Uly, and test rode the Chieftain. He said it "pulls like a freight train on steroids" with its 119 lb/ft of torque. "Very impressive". | ||
| Chauly |
Hey, Fuzzz: How about an updated version of this...  My grandfather, in 1921. He sold the bike to buy an engagement ring for Bessie, not Betty... :-) He always said that he would never marry a woman that would ride on his pillion. I think he had his priorities backward, but then again, I suppose I wouldn't be here! (Message edited by Chauly on August 05, 2013) | ||
| Cataract2 |
The biggest thing that I can't get past is that front fender. They need to go with a smaller slim lined one without the head on it. If they did that it would help the looks of the bikes IMO. Otherwise the bikes look ok to me. I just feel that the fender really detracts from the overall look. | ||
| Panhead_dan |
Those fenders are extremely functional in the rain but a detriment in the snow. | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
Those fenders are extremely functional in the rain but a detriment in the snow. You think so? Ha! That huge ugly front fender flips round to become a plow blade using the optional fitting kit. Bet HD never saw that one coming!! | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
Modern version of that inline four:  (sorta) at least made in a similar format for the same reasons. Smoothness and narrow package | ||
| Hughlysses |
Hootowl- yea, I completely misinterpreted your comment. I agree with your post. | ||
| Badlionsfan |
Personally I've always had a soft spot for the skirted fenders.... |
