New Indian model

[Jamo11]

I don't think it's very good looking. It looks more like a VIctory. I don't think Indians had a fairing or saddlebags, so it's not like it was an Indian. It's a Polaris with that Nessie look to it.
It doesn't appeal to me.

It tries too hard to be eye catching and all it ends up doing is looking funny. I can't imagine falling in love with it. Most of the time, I don't want people to notice me anyway.

[fattmann101]

looks like ness influence, I never much cared for his stuff.. but, thats just me.   Call me old school, but i believe in cast iron liner in the cylinder. I know it wears, and wears long time. like a john deere, or a diesel.  but the "vega" type aluminum cylinder I would not trust for the long haul. could be they will work nowadays? But I will keep my FL

[88b]

I'm not keen on the front fender but the rest of it is ok . I'm 6'4" and find the seat too low or the foot boards too high. The Victory fits me perfectly.

[iconicbikesrider]

I own an Indian and I own 2 Harley. My Chief Vintage exceeded all my expectations. Style wise is what I had been dreaming of owning since I was a kid and saw the first Indian.
I own a '05 H-D Springer Classic. This Harley is a replica of a H-D from the 40's. This bike, I longing for years. Finally, I purchased one, used with 347 miles in 2008...I was told the previous owner had 6 bikes...
We may say many things about our bikes. Lots of people will agree the best H-D is the V-Rod. Well, as great as it is, V-ROD is not my cup of tea. I as far as I know, they don't sell well...go and figure it out...

I do not like a trunk in a bike, hence, I own a Street GLide and not a Ultra Classic.

General opinions about bikes looks are subjective and all are accepted. Testing a bike and reporting such bike performance is in my opinion objective and quantitative...I will follow such a report closer. The rest is hear saying.
About an Indian Roadmaster. I do not like the style of this bike. Do not like the trunk. Not my riding style.
On the other hand, my Chief Vintage. Love it. Smooth, powerful, full of chrome. All accessories I had to buy was the leather stuff which I like. I know some guys don't like fringes. I do.
I am proud owner of 2 iconic american brand bikes.

[easyricer]

  I like all motorcycles and I try to keep an open mind for the most part. As of right now I have 3 Harleys and I dream of adding an Indian Vintage to the barn. I'm that impressed with it and I like the idea that they kept to the heritage from where it came from. Say what you want, I think the new Indian Company is here to stay and will do great things with these modern versions of an old bike. Keep in mind up until the V-rod, almost every single Harley looked a lot like it's predecessors as well.  (you can complain about Polaris, Victory, Ness, Indian, or what ever, I really don't care) This is a real machine built by a real company with a real future in the industry and they are making waves. I guarantee Harley is watching... why else would Harley dealers start building Indian dealerships as well?
Personally, I like the looks and have little to complain about with the technology. Since it is a new company still, there will be growing pains as far as maintenance and service is concerned. They are still learning just the same as we are.
EASY

[Eccool]

I just do not understand all of the hoopla about Indian.  Most of us weren't even riding when Indian collapsed or even have a recollection of when you could walk into a dealership and buy a new one, so why the fascination?  As far as I am concerned, it might was well say Honda ore Kawasaki on the tank.

[Breeze]

Thats the ugliest thing I've seen since the Victory spaceship model.

[mr. pitts]

Thats the ugliest thing I've seen since the Victory spaceship model.

Ugly? You should see my ex wife>

[flhpolice]

I wouldn't say this is an ugly bike. Not at all. The price tag is ugly for sure. G

[Mountainman streetbob]

Ugly or not the Indian has 119 ft.lbs, heated seat, heated grips, adj passenger floorboards and electric adjustable windscreen on a $26k bike is MUCH cheaper than a new 15 HD with the same mods.

The Indian is a better value.

Of course so is a goldwing.

Still gonna keep my 13 shark.

[PoorUB]

I just do not understand all of the hoopla about Indian.  Most of us weren't even riding when Indian collapsed or even have a recollection of when you could walk into a dealership and buy a new one, so why the fascination?  As far as I am concerned, it might was well say Honda ore Kawasaki on the tank.

No argument from me, but at least it is an American built, American owned company. I could care less if they call it an Indian, or Bob's Motorcycle Co. I wish some would just let go of the "heritage hate" as we all know it is a bunch of B.S.

I hope Polaris does well with Indian, but I believe it is way early for everyone to start bragging about how great of a motorcycle they are. On the other hand, Polaris backs up their product very well, way better than HD does. For example a buddy of mine bought a Victory when they first came out. In time Victory discovered a problem with the transmission and recalled all the bikes affected, in warranty out out of warranty, no problem. My buddy got a letter in the mail telling him to bring in his bike and the dealer repaired the transmission at no charge. HD could use them for an example for customer service.

[Latrobedyna]

Well it sure is ugly !!!

[Bigs]

It's ok but I prefer a fixed instead of a handlebar fairing, that's why I ride a Road Glide. Now, if I was going to get another bike that wasn't a Harley and wanted a touring bike I'd get a Victory Vision. Yes I have to agree that it's different or if you must say ugly, but....it handles very well, good power, reliable and for me a lower seat than other touring bikes. If my legs were longer I'd have another BMW.
   Bigs

[iconicbikesrider]

When I ride my Indian along side with my buddies H-D, I easily keep up with them, some of them with $$$ in engine improvements.
Your opinion about the Polaris-Indian for the looks of the bikes is totally subjective. And every one has an opinion, as we all know it.
But if you have not ridden or seen an Indian in motion, you should. The bike does not shakes and vibrates as my own H-D and still runs well.
If we move to 1903 or to the Indian Wars between H-D and Indian...the argument will never end.
Thank God I am not bias because I own both brands. And both vehicles are Made In America.

[dakota224]

Ugly.  There is an Indian dealership near my house.  Whenever I ride by it I wonder if they are open.  There is virtually never any cars or bikes in their lot.  "Move over Harley".  Yeah, right.

I hear the motors are overheating??

[BJB]

Vics look like the love child of a tryst between the starship Enterprise and a Jacuzzi Bros air compressor.
Indians are too "old" or dated looking for my taste. I also do not like fake covers to make the motor look like an old flattie.
Riden a couple. Buddy is a mgr of the St Paul Mn store. The Indian does ride nice; Very very nice & pulls HARD. Just too ugly & to much $$$. 

[ScottFree]

The bike does not shakes and vibrates as my own H-D and still runs well.

Not my experience. When I wound out the Chief on a demo ride (darn hard thing to do, given how carefully chaperoned the ride was), it shook like a paint mixer above 3500rpm. And just about the time it seemed to be getting up on the cam, it slammed into a brick wall of a rev limiter that pretty much just shut the engine off. That, combined with the price and torture-rack riding position, put an end to my interest.

[iconicbikesrider]

Best cruiser motorcycle from a know mag
http://www.cycleworld.com/2014/07/28/best-cruiser-motorcycle-indian-chief-classic-cycle-world-ten-best-bikes-of-2014/

[rbabos]

Ugly.  There is an Indian dealership near my house.  Whenever I ride by it I wonder if they are open.  There is virtually never any cars or bikes in their lot.  "Move over Harley".  Yeah, right.

I hear the motors are overheating??

I find that hard to believe. Have you seen the fins on that sucker?
Ron

[sfmichael]

There is a couple things that could use improvement, but I do not agree that the bike is ugly. Different perhaps, but far from ugly.

I think many here get hung up on HD styling and find everything else repulsive. I try to keep an open mind. At least it looks better than a Vic Vision!

       

[ScottFree]

Ugly.  There is an Indian dealership near my house.  Whenever I ride by it I wonder if they are open.  There is virtually never any cars or bikes in their lot.  "Move over Harley".  Yeah, right.

I hear the motors are overheating??

I find that hard to believe. Have you seen the fins on that sucker?
Ron

Not to mention the oil cooler. For all practical purposes this motor is liquid cooled; it's just that the liquid of choice is oil, not water.

Somebody wondered how many bikes they're selling and whether they're turning a profit yet. The Chicago Tribune ran a piece in their financial section a while back:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/classified/automotive/sns-mct-bc-auto-indian-20140620,0,6736488,full.story

that included the following:

Polaris' motorcycle business, which includes the cheaper Victory cycles, in the fourth quarter of last year doubled to $69 million mainly from Indian sales and it expects motorcycle sales to increase 65 percent to 75 percent this year.

If I unpack these numbers, I get that Victory was doing about $35 million per quarter, or $140 million a year. At about $14K per bike (probably a slight low-ball; most of the Victory touring bikes seem to be nearly $20K), that's 10,000 bikes a year. Not exactly setting the world on fire--in fact, it's about what Buell sold in a good year. The sales forecast suggests the Indians are currently going at about a 7000 bike a year pace, which they hope to increase to about 10-12,000 this year.

Wikipedia also says that Victory has turned a "modest" profit since about 2002. Since Polaris has deep pockets in other fields (motorcycles are really just a sideline for them), I expect the revived Indian will be around for a long time, even if it never reaches Harley-like sales.

[98roadking]

This cracks me up. Take the exact same bike and paste the Harley name on it and everyone will drool over it.
Ron

I agree. Any time an Indian post comes on here the bashing begins.
"Indians are too "old" or dated looking for my taste." This from a guy that rides a Harley?
I love my Harley, but I like the new Indian too and if I had the money would probably own one.
As for all the Ness bashers, you need to go to his shop and see the bikes in his upstairs show room. There are some awesome vintage bikes up there. None of us know what Victory told him or what restrictions he was given when working with them on the Vision.

[Scooterfish]

I hope Indian does well. Selling 7000 bikes a year is 2-3 % of Harley sales.  A percent is a percent in market share but not exactly a big number to Harley.

[iconicbikesrider]

An analogy.
What kind of wrist watch do you wear? Great majority of people, millions to one, I am sure you wear a "Quartz" watch. Quartz is generic for battery/electronic wrist watches.
Quartz watches are infinitely less expensive and 60 times more accurate than a winding/automatic watches. I remember years ago Burger King used to give a wristwatch (quartz) with any purchase.

However, some people pays bizarre prices for an automatic/winding watch.
Rolex production is above 200K yearly. You know how much is a Rolex.
Guess what brand is the most inaccurate watch?
Many other excellent automatic wristwatches brand names are far more accurate than a Rolex (but far less accurate than a Quartz) and although have similar prices than Rolex, their yearly production is less than 10K per year. All major automatic/winding watches do not match Rolex yearly production.
Why do we pay King Ramson prices for a Rolex? There are so many far more accurate watches in the market and we still go for a Rolex?

Moving to motorcycles.
What brand name uses the oldest technology?
What MC is the most expensive ones?
What MC have/had more mechanic/oil leaking issues?
What MC dealers answer majority of your complaints with "They all do that" meaning, no, we will not fix it. So, learn to live with it.
What MC sales goes 20 or 30 times higher than the competition?
What MC is the dream MC for any one riding any other brand?
What MC you are drooling to own when you are riding any other brand?
What MC rider have never complaint about his MC, The MOCO and dealer?

Many other, several other MC brands have latest technology, they are build bullet proof, they cost less money, smoother, faster, world record holders.

This "superior other brands" MC are sold no more than 10K units per year each. When H-D having a "year off"  projection is 275.000 units. Honda sales worldwide with all the different models/style is one mill...but in $, the MOCo is ahead of the game.

We love our Harley. We bash our Harley. We hate anything that is not a Harley. We tell people, "you ride that bike because you couldn't afford a Harley"
When group riding, some people may say, "You have to ride last because your bike is not a Harley"
All other bikes have nick names. Some of those names are PI...does anyone cares?

If you still reading. My point. You like what you like. You buy what you buy. You have opinions and you are so rightful and so judgemental. Me too. So, learn to deal with it. My bikes are better than yours. And I spend my money the way I want it...or she allows me.

[Gerald]

My review

YUK