HarleyTechTalk

Well I'm definitely in the minority here. I like nostalgic looking bikes. I like the looks of all the Indians. Not sure I would have done that combination of colors on the tour pack, or whatever they call it on the Indian. I can't see those leather seats holding up well in the sun.

I just sold my Yamaha Stratoliner that is an art deco design. Great bike but not for touring. I've always wanted a Cross Bones, and hopefully I will some day.

I test road an Indian in Sturgis. It seemed to be a cross between my 2006 Yamaha Stratoliner, and my 2004 Ultra Classic which were paid off. I couldn't see spending 20K for basically the same thing I had at the time.

Having bought a 2014 Ultra Limited, it's hard to imagine the Indian has anything on that bike. I do love the classic lines, and the Coke machine styling of the Indian but as I can tell, I'm in the minority. Bet it would be hard to find a buyers with those same taste down the road. I like unusual machines but it makes them hard to resell.

Looking at it from the front reminds me of a glorified Vespa ..   Sorry Vespa
Like I said on another post about the Indian bikes. We were in Reno last year for SV and rode over to the Victory and Indian demo place. At 4:00 pm Sat they were done with demo's, I asked a rep there from Victory why closing up so early ? His reply "low turn out"
We walked over passed the scalloped Victory's to look at the Indians, I had to actually walk up and tap places to see if it was actually metal or plastic.  Just looked all plasticee...

That's the catch phrase "Nostalgic Looking"
Kinda like those 1/10 scale models of cars and bikes you snap/glue together , looks like them, but really not them...

I could tolerate the styling if it was good to ride and built well. I like the looks of the seat but doubt if it will wear well or look good very long out in the elements. I like the storage in the lowers. I dont like the way the trunk opens..at stops we pile our helmets and jackets on the back seat and I see the way the lid opens as a hassle. the front end of the fairing could look better. the price is steep, but the new ultras and limiteds are high too..I have a client with big bucks who is buying one just to have something different but I would have to really pucker up to spring for one..

The first Indian motorcycle I have seen live was about 2 months ago. It was at a BBQ restaurant in central Virginia. It was blue with tan seat and saddlebags, and it was downright gorgeous. They did a good job with that bike, and I'm glad that Indian is making bikes again. I knew once Polaris bought the rights to Indian, we would get a proper competitor out of it, not some plastic-ee chrome-ee pieced together clone.

Are they beautiful? I think so. I've not ridden one, but I'm sure they're going to be good. Do I think they will drive HD out of business? Not likely. But the metric cruisers are probably living on a very short life at this point. If I were to buy a metric bike, I would be far more interested in an air-cooled inline 4, such as the Honda CB1100.

I would buy an Indian, but my wife owns too much Harley stock. Plus, all her riding jackets are HD, so we would be shopping for clothes, and that would be the big expense of buying the Indian!

Quote from: Princess Butt on July 30, 2014, 09:19:07 AM
I'm glad that Indian is making bikes again

Indian is not making bikes again. Polaris is making a brand new modern motorcycle that looks like an old Indian and has the Indian name.

When I am referring to the Indians, I called them Polaris-Indian.
The purpose of calling Polaris-Indian, is that they are different than all the "resuscitated/dead" previous intents of fabricating a "new" Indian and to point out that this time, there is a highly successful company (Dow Jones PII) behind the "new" Indian.

I am certainly hoping this american built bike succeeds this time.

Quote from: iconicbikesrider on July 30, 2014, 08:49:12 PM
When I am referring to the Indians, I called them Polaris-Indian.
The purpose of calling Polaris-Indian, is I that they are different than all the "resuscitated/dead" previous intents of fabricating a "new"Indian and to point out that this time, there is a highly successful company (Dow Jones PII) behind the "new" Indian.

I am certainly hoping this American built bike succeeds this time.

     

  Yeah, just the name Indian describes the big bikes built in Springfield Mass. Enfield Indian describes the imported models that were built overseas that were still coming in well into the 70's. Gilroy Indians were the first resurrection attempts, using a name that they had no right to. They were dressed up Harley Clones where just about every single part was interchangeable with a Harley Softail.   Kings Mountain Indians were the second resurrection attempt, using a more proprietary driveline but was still able to be replaced with a Harley Softail driveline. That brings us to todays Spirit Lake Indians, a company just like all the others that stands alone to fail or succeed, but has the backing of Polaris for their first "Out of pocket" expenses. It's the first resurrection that has nothing on it that will interchange with other brands, including Victory.
  I think that they stand a pretty good chance to make it. I'm anxiously waiting to see what all they have for the 2015 year models as are a few people who come by our shop. There is one guy who owns one of each Indians fairly close by. He stopped in a few months ago to show off his new Indian Vintage. He didn't get a limited model like Steve has, he just wasn't fast enough, but he now has one from all 5 manufacturing plants. As a true Indian enthusiast, I think he is more than qualified to say whether it's an Indian or not since he has and does ride each one. He's pretty happy... Since he's excited to see the Roadmaster, I think I may get to ride that soon too...
EASY

When I am referring to the Indians, I called them Polaris-Indian.

I think you are on to something if everyone here refers to them as Polaris-Indian  we can ALL get along better here.   

Went on a little bar run last night and one of the guys had the Chieftain, I think, with the fairing. At night there is a glaring orange light from the dash. I mean it was obnoxious. It's the info screen between the tach and speedo guages. It looked like a giant "Check Engine" light. It bothered the "Potty mouth" out of me, and I was next to him. Can't imagine what it's like to be staring right at it all night.
Another reason why I'm not old enough for a fairing.
My Road King has one guage, and I rarely look at that.

It would be interesting to hear from Easyricer if he has ridden the Indian at night, and what his take is on the orange glowing cone.

Quote from: Hossamania on October 17, 2014, 06:37:44 AM
Went on a little bar run last night and one of the guys had the Chieftain, I think, with the fairing. At night there is a glaring orange light from the dash. I mean it was obnoxious. It's the info screen between the tach and speedo guages. It looked like a giant "Check Engine" light. It bothered the "Potty mouth" out of me, and I was next to him. Can't imagine what it's like to be staring right at it all night.
Another reason why I'm not old enough for a fairing.
My Road King has one guage, and I rarely look at that. 

It would be interesting to hear from Easyricer if he has ridden the Indian at night, and what his take is on the orange glowing cone.

Quote from: easyricer on July 28, 2014, 04:29:40 AM
A buddy of mine recently bought a Chieftain from the Ft Worth dealer. ...
... The overall impression of the Chieftain, pretty darned good. I'm still warming up to the look of the fairing, but it does seem very functional. A tour box and fairing lowers will be on the market PDQ so that complaint has been answered as well as the heal shifter and rear footboards. All I need now is the money to buy one! I'll still keep my Shovelhead, but the Electraglide can be replaced.
EASY

Thanks for the writeup, Easy.  I love the style of the Indians.  I recently parked my 04 two-tone Ultra beside a new Indian version of the Road King.  The styling on the Indian made my Ultra look like a motorcycling version of an Accord.  It was like a fin-tailed Cadillac out of the 60's.  Gorgeous.

The ride on my Ultra is so refined, though, that I'll wait a few years before taking Indian seriously.  I've discovered, to my Inner Hooligan's dismay, that I appreciate that refinement a lot more than I ever thought I would, after insisting on riding FX Softails for so many years.

I sure enjoy lookin' at the Indians, though.  Gorgeous bikes. 

If I remember, I'll post a picture of both bikes together.  I took a couple with my newfangled mobile phone contraption.

ape

Quote from: road-dawgs1 on July 27, 2014, 06:18:10 PM
Kinda looks like a Coca-Cola machine on wheels!

Yep..can really see the Victory in it.

The looks of those lowers is just stupid wierd along with the black  around the brown seat. And for being out a yr now they done nothing to improve  the dash pod that reflects  back at you, and hard to read the  orange  lo tone numbers. Somebody needs to get there head out of there ass, away from the desk  get out with a proto type at harley events and ask . would you buy if it looked like this , or how about this.  i do like what's under the hood, no shifting cranks , comp issues, 6 speed tranny bearing blues, moving pri-bearing race, on & on  with the big H-D

how long you think those nikil sil cylinders will last?

Quote from: fattmann101 on October 21, 2014, 12:56:37 PM
how long you think those nikil sil cylinders will last?

A really really long time. The only engine that seems to have limited success with them is Harley. Cyl design has a lot to do with it.
Ron