Is this the real deal?

[atoyot]

Has anyone had a look at the recently released Indian range of bikes?

http://www.indianmotorcycle.com/en-au/home

What do you think? Have Polaris done the Indian name proud or not?

When they first released info and photos of the "Thunderstroke 111" engine, I hoped they'd wrap a motorcycle around it that fitted with the tradition of the Indian. I'll have to admit, that even though I appreciate the quality of the Victory range, I find some of their bikes a bit too much "out there", when considering a cruiser; something that is so impractical compared to the ST. I was sceptical they could do it, so a few weeks ago when they unveiled the range to the world, I was busy clicking on my refresh button to find out if I thought they had succeeded.

Personally, I wasn't disappointed at all. I think that from the pics and videos that I saw, they got it right.

I was in Sydney the weekend before last with the young bloke for a state Footsall comp, and we dropped in to the Victory outlet to have a look.

Visually, I was just about knocked out! I crawled over all the models they had on the floor, and when a salesman asked me what I thought, all I could say was that they nailed it! These things in the flesh are absolutely awesome. Made the hair on the back of my neck stand up!

OK, the valanced guards aren't for everyone, if you can't live without tubeless tyres, you have to get the Cheiftain, and my daughter thought that the Cheiftain's batwing style of fairing came from a Fisher Price catalog! The tan leather is probably an acquired taste, but it is an Indian tradition, take it or leave it. The leather fringes though, well the salesman showed me that some of them are on Velcro, so they can be removed or relocated to other parts of the bike. Stolen I thought...

I really shouldn't have gone there to oggle, as I just have to have one now, but I cannot relinquish my ST for it's practicality and unmatched ability as a tourer. I also can't get rid of my MT-01, as Lindy often reminds me that I keep saying to never let me sell it, so I'm working on the idea that whilst the MT has the soul of a cruiser, it really is a sensible sports bike, as you can have fun on it at legal speeds. The missing bit in my biking experience is a heavy American cruiser, but how can I justify 3 bikes, let alone afford it and afford the running costs? Manufacturing and selling crack did enter my mind ever so briefly, but then was quickly replaced with a more  doable plan of winning lotto!

An Indian Chief is my dream and ambition. I even have a few genuine accessories already picked out, but in the meantime, I've got to work on a plan or two. Years ago, I swore that I'd never sell another bike, and so my scheming planning begins....

[Neale]

Well they definitely look like Indians. Not my cup of tea.

[Biggles]

I hadn't seen the whole range- just the tan leather jobbie.  It's definitely an acquired taste.
I saw the engine at the Ulysses AGM and it's an impressive looking power plant.  Looks powerful enough to shake the teeth out of your head, if it's true to the American V-twin tradition.

The batwing version looks too much like a Harley Electraglide for me to like it.

I think I'll stick with my plan to ease myself into my dotage like Brian, on a Goldwing.

[Greencan]

Mornin' All...

Is this the real deal

...Well I guess the short answer would have to be, No but rather an interpretation of what someone thinks an Indian may have evolved into.

To me a real deal would be a reproduction on what the last original was based on and looked like. Like a reproduced Brough or a reproduced Vincent A Rapide. Problem here though is cost as both the fore mentioned will depleat your wallet for around 100k. So to me the Polaris version is a more than a poor interpretation of what they believe will capture a few old blokes fading memories and perhaps, 30k

I'd rather source an original I could retore to ride occasionally or, if this style / concept of retro rides floats your boat why not consider a Carberry Enfield. About the same $$$ as the Polaris but with a little more of a soul.

Just a thought.

Ciao, the can :-)

[ST.George]

M8 I'm not quite up with the history of American bikes but where does Indian fit in with Victory and in terms of nostalgia where does Harley fit in?


But as far as gut reactions go they are pure freedom and personal expression vehicles whereas the STeed is far more general purpose. But 2 me that is the genius of the ST in that it ticks so many boxes as well as the personal expression box. I luv visual beauty and these Indians sure tick that box. So does the ST but not in a freedom way but in a "I'll get u there in STyle way".


As far as petrol fueled mc engines go u cannot better 4-cylinder DOHC 4-valve donks 4 pure 4-stroke efficiency. Fuel efficiency, power and smoothness. Some might say a 6 cylinder is even better but on a bike there is a point when a motor is 2 bulky. A big twin has grunt and torque and volcanic exhaust explosions that xcite and inspire testosterone behaviour. It's Easy Rider but certainly not "long rider".


But if your goal is to have a frequent testosterone buzz not 2 far from home then it seems these Indians scream war cries to the establishment and tells them 2 look on in awe. These bikes r a statement.    Cool!


The STeed is not a statement, it's an accomplishment. Every time I ride Wyvern I am a better rider cause it is a challenge to ride a machine that demands respect by it weight and rewards balanced riding with amazing coverage of kms at low cost. IMHO!!!!!  


But as u say Andrew, with enough $$$$$$$ we'd have one of everything and then we would not be able to ride a lot of anything.         

[atoyot]

I suppose that my original question could be re-phrased, "is the incarnation of Indian here to stay?"

I think that it will. I'm pretty sure that until the factory is producing enough stock to allow dealers in Australia to keep floor stock, they will forward sell all orders well in advance here. Oct/Nov for Feb/Mar 2014 is the next order, and they were hoping to have floor stock after that. With the existing Victory dealerships, they already have distribution and support covered. It's now just up to the market to see if they attract enough buyers from the equivalent Harley Davidson models.

Personally, I've been looking at a Road King for a few years now, and just comparing the Chief to the Road King, I think that they have it over HD in terms of tech, price, performance and certainly cubic inches. Current HD models have a 103CI engine, except the CVO models with the 110CI. Typically, the next mainstream HD engine will be the previous CVO 110", which is my guess one of the reasons that Indians went to a 111CI engine. If they could have fitted it all into the traditional 42deg V, they would have, but 49 deg was needed so the pistons would have clearance.

As the brochure says, Polaris is trying to honour the past and power the future, and if you combine that with the target of offering a choice in the heavy American cruiser market, I think HD have a fight on their hands. I hope they do survive and in fact prosper, because it can only increase competition and push HD to produce better and more technically advanced models. Then when you start to include the Japanese cruisers, muscle bikes such as the V Max, the new Guzzi 1400 Custom, choice is getter better and better all the time.

The Carberry Enfield is a beautiful bike, no doubt, and a wonderful link to the past, and I guess that other similar ventures like the BSA V Twin will always have a place, but I think that the new Indian has been reborn into the mainstream market to compete against HD. I'd love to have a wallet and garage big enough for these as well, but I'm going to have a hell of a time justifying a third bike now. Hmmm, I don't have any inline fours now, only V's, although if I include the other 2 in bits, I've got a single and a parallel twin. A triple would be nice, but too have to choose between a Jota, a Kwaka 750 2 stroke, North replica, Williams Triumph Legend, ah it never stops. Damn, I wish I was rich!

[Whizz]

Personal opinion is that it is far too bitty (i.e. too many bits), looks like it is trying to be a Harley...and who wants a Harley? Sorry, far too made up for Americans, so it's all shiny bits and bling and not enough real bike 

[alans1100]

M8 I'm not quite up with the history of American bikes but where does Indian fit in with Victory and in terms of nostalgia where does Harley fit in?

Briefly

Indian is or was making bikes 2 years before Harley http://theselvedgeyard.wordpress.com/2009/11/24/indian-americas-first-motorcycle-the-early-years-of-cool-innovation/

Victory is a new player from 1997/8 owned by Polaris Industries who in 2011 bought Indian http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victory_Motorcycles

[ST.George]

Thnx Alan. 

[Greencan]

A triple would be nice, but too have to choose between a Jota, a Kwaka 750 2 stroke, North replica, Williams Triumph Legend, ah it never stops.   Damn, I wish I was rich!

...I know exactly where ya coming from, it is kinda nice to have at least one motorcycle in the shed with some semblence of having a little soul and character

...like ya direction towards a Rob North ...trouble is they are getting quite pricie these days. But hey! The music they make is without a doubt, the very best. No other bike does it better.

Maybe one day

Cheers the can :-)