Not bashing -- New Chiefs are "nice" but too $$$$

[Ultrashovel]

One interesting issue showed up in the recently Cycle World road test of the "New" Indian Chief. Sadly to say, it's running at about 69 hp! That's nice but it's not enough to sway the typical bike buyer.

[hd06myway]

One interesting issue showed up in the recently Cycle World road test of the "New" Indian Chief. Sadly to say, it's running at about 69 hp! That's nice but it's not enough to sway the typical bike buyer.

They also complained of engine vibration getting inot the handbars and foot pegs over 70mph.  The evo motor is not rubber mounted or balanced.  69hp pulling a 750lb mc is not going to suffice a $30k bike.

[90flstc]

One nice thing is they come loaded up..As they should at 30+K.. My 2010 RK I spent 3K in additions in the first month.. Has anyone checked out Steve Tyler's "Redwing" Motorcycles now renamed as Dirico Custom Motorcycles... A bit pricey but look pretty nice

[Ultrashovel]

One nice thing is they come loaded up..As they should at 30+K.. My 2010 RK I spent 3K in additions in the first month.. Has anyone checked out Steve Tyler's "Redwing" Motorcycles now renamed as Dirico Custom Motorcycles... A bit pricey but look pretty nice

Indians are loaded you say? Where are the electronics for a touring bike? Am-fm, cd, cb, intercomm, speakers, cruise control?

[hd06myway]

Really, there as about as stripped down as you can get, and definitly low tech... but hey, u want one, go for it.

[Ram]

I would really love to have the money for one.  I hope they do make it and continue the proud heritage of the Indian name.

On a side note, as I've been reading the various threads above, all that I could think was, is this what we see on a Honda site when a member talks about a Harley?

Just a thought!

[76shuvlinoff]

Well we try to keep the "word vomit" to a minimum here.

[panhead_dan]

I find the "Dakota Four" a far more intersting bike.
I haven't kept up with them for a couple of years but it's a cool design using an air cooled in line 4 banger. They own the rights to Indian in europe, I understand.

[hd06myway]

I would really love to have the money for one.  I hope they do make it and continue the proud heritage of the Indian name.

On a side note, as I've been reading the various threads above, all that I could think was, is this what we see on a Honda site when a member talks about a Harley?

Just a thought!

Of course you don't. You know you meet the nicest people on a Honda don't you...?  

[Just_T]

Somebody on this board earlier posted an article about the new Victory Cross Road and Cross Country, I really like the Cross Country. They are priced to compete with the Road King and Street Glide. I'm really thinking about checking out the new Cross Country. Being a technical guy myself I'm impressed by the new frame and performance technology Victory is putting into these bikes. Hopefully I can get a demo ride in December at the International Motorcycle Show in Long Beach this year. I know guys here do a lot of bashing on metric cruisers but I have a Star (Yamaha) Raider as my commuter bike. 113" Air colled V-twin (96HP & 100+ torque), aluminum frame and swing arm, 210X40X18 rear tire, 120X70X21 front tire and it runs circles around any Harley I've owned for about $12K after negotiating (Imagine that, being able to negotiate a price with the dealer). I think the MoCo really needs to address the performance issues riders are starting to demand that other manufactures are starting to offer riders stock and not as $5k in upgrades.

Just a thought,

T.

[Ultrashovel]

Somebody on this board earlier posted an article about the new Victory Cross Road and Cross Country, I really like the Cross Country. They are priced to compete with the Road King and Street Glide. I'm really thinking about checking out the new Cross Country. Being a technical guy myself I'm impressed by the new frame and performance technology Victory is putting into these bikes. Hopefully I can get a demo ride in December at the International Motorcycle Show in Long Beach this year. I know guys here do a lot of bashing on metric cruisers but I have a Star (Yamaha) Raider as my commuter bike. 113" Air colled V-twin (96HP & 100+ torque), aluminum frame and swing arm, 210X40X18 rear tire, 120X70X21 front tire and it runs circles around any Harley I've owned for about $12K after negotiating (Imagine that, being able to negotiate a price with the dealer). I think the MoCo really needs to address the performance issues riders are starting to demand that other manufactures are starting to offer riders stock and not as $5k in upgrades.

Just a thought,

T.

The Star bikes are nice. My son has a Kawasaki Concours. It's a beautiful bike for $11K. 120 rear wheel hp, 140 mph, great for touring, etc. The Japanese bikes all look good, run well and are inexpensive. Unfortunately, I just don't feel right on one. The answer is to quit making worrisome mental comparisons and just ride whatever you want.

Remember though, that the social aspect of motorcycles demands that each individual group ride a specific brand. I didn't make that rule but you wouldn't want to be riding a Harley with a group of Goldwings or a Star in a HOG group. There is a lot of baggage that comes with specific brands. Like I said, I don't make those rules but that's just the way it is.

[ederdelyi]

>>Remember though, that the social aspect of motorcycles demands that each individual group ride a specific brand. I didn't make that rule but you wouldn't want to be riding a Harley with a group of Goldwings or a Star in a HOG group. There is a lot of baggage that comes with specific brands. Like I said, I don't make those rules but that's just the way it is. <<

The folks I ride with must not know that "rule" or they have decided to amend the "charter" to remove it. Maybe they just ignore it or we are all just a bunch of anti-social SOBs :>)

The way it works with the folks I ride with is if what you ride can keep up, has the fuel range needed, won't endanger the rest of the group by shedding parts or leaving an oil slick you are welcome to ride with us. If the rider proves himself incapable of riding in a group without endangering others or is just not a good fit for the group they will be asked (politely) to either change their ways or find another gruop to ride with. The brand or type of bike one rides has never been the reason someone has been given that choice.

THAT, IMO, is the way it should be. Guess me and my buds will never be "real" bikers.

[Ultrashovel]

>>Remember though, that the social aspect of motorcycles demands that each individual group ride a specific brand. I didn't make that rule but you wouldn't want to be riding a Harley with a group of Goldwings or a Star in a HOG group. There is a lot of baggage that comes with specific brands. Like I said, I don't make those rules but that's just the way it is. <<

The folks I ride with must not know that "rule" or they have decided to amend the "charter" to remove it. Maybe they just ignore it or we are all just a bunch of anti-social SOBs :>)

The way it works with the folks I ride with is if what you ride can keep up, has the fuel range needed, won't endanger the rest of the group by shedding parts or leaving an oil slick you are welcome to ride with us. If the rider proves himself incapable of riding in a group without endangering others or is just not a good fit for the group they will be asked (politely) to either change their ways or find another gruop to ride with. The brand or type of bike one rides has never been the reason someone has been given that choice.

THAT, IMO, is the way it should be. Guess me and my buds will never be "real" bikers.

"Real bikers" are your words. The people I used to ride with were bike snobs. That includes the HOG group, the Goldwing group and several mixed groups members of which would not stop kidding and joking about "lousy jap bikes" when I have a Japanese motorcycle, or about "Funny-looking Hogs when I rode a Harley amongst a predominantly Japanese bike group.

You know, I didn't just roll off the turnip truck. I've been riding for many years. When I was a kid, the Harley riders hated the Indian riders and the British bike riders due to their choice of motorcycle. The Indian riders hated the Harley riders and the British Bikers. The British bike riders hated everyone. Nowadays, the 1%ers' for the most part are Harley only. Then there are the Vincent owners and so on.

I even have people who own Harleys make fun of my sidecar rig and it's a Harley. Go figure. So apparently you have a group where everyone is nice. I've heard about groups like yours where people treat others with respect but I have to say that you are lucky since that is very unusual.

[ederdelyi]

They are not that unusual. Lots of folks don't buy the BS and brand snobbery. Shoot, I've ridden in dealer sponsored events with a non dealer brand bike more than once and never got flak for it. They like my company, not my bike's :>)

I prefer to ride alone, big group rides and functions are a real turn off for me. When I do ride with a small group it's as I stated before ... run what ya brung and don't be a butthead and we'll get along just fine.

That is my definintion of a "real biker" or, more correctly a motorcyle enthusiast. YMMV

EDIT: corrected correctly :>) note to self, use spell check before hitting "post"

[Just_T]

Myself and the people I ride with "don't care what you ride as long as you ride". Most of the people do ride Harley's. I ride solo most of the time or with 1 or 2 guys I trust and we have a good feel for road and traffic conditions and each others riding style. We can cruise or twist the throttle when the need for speed kicks in. I know guys I will not ride with because they don't know how to ride in a group and are going to get themselves or someone else killed and I don't want to be around any part of that. It's a great feeling when a group knows how to ride together but some guys just don't get it. Ok, honey do's are done so I'm going to take a nice solo ride for lunch and have a hot meal, cold beer and catch a game.

Have a great day guys  

T.

[Ultrashovel]

They are not that unusual. Lots of folks don't buy the BS and brand snobbery. Shoot, I've ridden in dealer sponsored events with a non dealer brand bike more than once and never got flak for it. They like my company, not my bike's :>)

I prefer to ride alone, big group rides and functions are a real turn off for me. When I do ride with a small group it's as I stated before ... run what ya brung and don't be a butthead and we'll get along just fine.

That is my definintion of a "real biker" or, more correctly a motorcyle enthusiast. YMMV

EDIT: corrected correctly :>) note to self, use spell check before hitting "post"

You are generalizing from the group that you are part of to the rest of the biker world.

Makes no difference to me what others ride but I've seen the issue come up in my experience.

We need to agree to disagree.

[ederdelyi]

Agreed :>) I don't deny it exists. I tend not to associate with folks like that .... which does limit the scope of my "acquaintances", and severely limits the number of those who I call "friend".

[Coyote]

The way it works with the folks I ride with is if what you ride can keep up, has the fuel range needed, won't endanger the rest of the group by shedding parts or leaving an oil slick you are welcome to ride with us. If the rider proves himself incapable of riding in a group without endangering others or is just not a good fit for the group they will be asked (politely) to either change their ways or find another gruop to ride with. The brand or type of bike one rides has never been the reason someone has been given that choice.

THAT, IMO, is the way it should be. Guess me and my buds will never be "real" bikers.

Damn, that sounds familiar.  I care much more about who they are and how they ride than what they ride. 

[panhead_dan]

I thought this thread was about Indians.
I have to say that I agree with most of what's posted since the drift off topic.- It aint what you ride, it's THAT you ride and who you are.
But what about the Indians? Anybody heard anything about the european Indians/ American Dakota Four?

[Ram]

I find the "Dakota Four" a far more intersting bike.
I haven't kept up with them for a couple of years but it's a cool design using an air cooled in line 4 banger. They own the rights to Indian in europe, I understand.

Your correct about the Indian rights in UK. 

Alan Forbes CEO
Indian Motorcycles Ltd.
5 West Scotland Street Lane
Edinburgh EH3 6PT

Tel: 0131 557 5807
Fax: 0131 556 4418

Registered Indian Trademark UK No. 2111027

I hope to pay Alan Forbes a visit in summer 2011 and see how they make them.  Would love to import them or at least have one made for me.

This photo is when they were at 2004 Daytona Bike week.