New Indians? Hmmmmm not sure this will work.

[Jethrol]

Ok, I read an article recently that said Indian was going to have some new bikes out soon. Then I kept reading and they're talking about $30,000 or more for a bike!!!! 30 FRICKING GRAND!!! My god....there's no way I'd pay that much for a bike....especially not an Indian where I can't be sure it's even going to be around next year.

I dunno, I love it that another American motorcycle company is up and running and releasing some new models. I'm also glad to have Indians back....they're not really my style but they're cool. However, I just can't see this company selling many bikes. I hope they do....I really do....but I'm just not seeing how this new incarnation will survive.

[DjWags]

Well, Indian has been selling all of their new bikes north of 30 grand... If they are producing new models, then they have made enough profit to do so. There will always be a market for top shelf products, even if they are not worth the cost. Same argument for why rolex stays in business.

[WACB650]

I think Jay Leno bought a few, that will keep them going a couple years.

[Jethrol]

Well, Indian has been selling all of their new bikes north of 30 grand...If they are producing new models, then they have made enough profit to do so. There will always be a market for top shelf products, even if they are not worth the cost. Same argument for why rolex stays in business.
Wait...what? They just had the first one roll off the assembly line. I don't understand what you're saying??

[Jethrol]

I think Jay Leno bought a few, that will keep them going a couple years.
Yeah I thought about adding that in but my edit was too late. It does seem to be targeted for celebrities and those with more money than most of us. :)

[Hogrider]

Indian at this point is suspect at best and when you consider the 2009 Chief Standard has an MSRP of $30,999 I have to ask, why? Indian builds like 5 variations of the same bike and they are all way over priced in my opinion. The dealer network is zilch and the thought of it braking some place in the middle of nowhere scares the heck out of me. Lets see if they can hang in there a while and come out with a mass production bike and dealers to support it.

[timf23]

I dont know if they are all that over priced. If you really think about it a Harley Screaming Eagle edition will run you upwards of $30,000 and they sell like crazy. I'll bet that when they get rolling and have all the dealerships up and running in the next 3 years your going to start seeing more and more of them on the roads.

[Mezmo]

i gotta agree that the price is enough to scare people off. i like mine cause i really like the looks of those big old fenders. maybe a new one someday....

Mez

[USIron]

i gotta agree that the price is enough to scare people off. i like mine cause i really like the looks of those big old fenders. maybe a new one someday....

Mez

Hey Mez,
You'll have to pony up additional money to get the iconic fenders. They're an option! OPTION on an Indian? Crazy!

[uplander]

Had a chance to see 3 of the new Indians in Branson Mo this year at the IRIP (Indian Rally at Indian Point) for the Iron Indian Riders (Ironindian.com) and they are definitely sweet machines. I have a lot o pics as soon as I meet that magical minimum number of 15!

[uplander]

I got to see these as I mentioned earlier in Branson,Mo earlier this year.
Here are a few pics.................

Me sitting on one.........
http://images.kodakgallery.com/photos4523/2/77/24/51/19/3/319512477208_0_ALB.jpg

This one rode with us..........
http://images.kodakgallery.com/photos4523/2/77/24/57/90/8/890572477208_0_ALB.jpg

three on end are prototypes ...........
http://images.kodakgallery.com/photos4523/2/77/24/36/27/2/227362477208_0_ALB.jpg

[Jethrol]

Hmm...I don't see any pics

[Goliath616]

me either, uplander, try using photobucket to attach them, it has always worked for me.

[cjren]

http://www.indianmotorcycle.com/
indian website.
all the bikes are over 30,000$

[LowRiderGhost]

I'm wondering if (?) it might not wind of being (for some anyways) like the story of 'The Fisherman who sold all that he owned to purchase one Pearl of great value'? Except in my case I'm thinking even if I sold (if I could) everything I owned right now, I'd still come up way too short ($$$)?! Sigh..... :rolleyes: BACK to work! :p

LRG :cool:

[uplander]

Sorry apparently site does not like the Kodak gallery from photobucket as suggested :)
[QUOTE=uplander;528007]I got to see these as I mentioned earlier in Branson,Mo earlier this year.
Here are a few pics.................

Me sitting on one.........
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn99/uplander6079/100_0342.jpg
This one rode with us..........
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn99/uplander6079/100_0364.jpg
three on end are prototypes ...........
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn99/uplander6079/100_0363.jpg

[Capt.]

[QUOTE=

I dunno, I love it that another American motorcycle company is up and running and releasing some new models. I'm also glad to have Indians back....they're not really my style but they're cool. However, I just can't see this company selling many bikes. I hope they do....I really do....but I'm just not seeing how this new incarnation will survive.[/QUOTE]


Indian is certainly an American Icon in the motorcycle world and are being built here in Kings Mountain NC but they are owned by a british London based company called Stellican Limited. They are the same folks who bought another American Icon....Chris Craft from the now defunked OMC (Outboard Marine Corp.) and have done a great job of bring Chris Craft back as viable boat builder borrowing from Chris Crafts older classic designs in a modern platform. Stephen Julius, as far as I know, is still the chairman of both Indian and Chris Craft.
We can only hope that they can bring Indian back to it's former glory as well as they did in the marine industry with Chris Craft.
My two cents worth.....
Capt.

[uplander]

Steven Julius in center..............
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn99/uplander6079/100_0107.jpg

[GI Jack]

Well, Indian has been selling all of their new bikes north of 30 grand... If they are producing new models, then they have made enough profit to do so. There will always be a market for top shelf products, even if they are not worth the cost. Same argument for why rolex stays in business.
not necessarily. They've just started production, and have yet to demonstrate they've got a stable business model, or that they've found a target audience for their product. Many companies fail for this reason. A handful of celebs buying a handful of bikes won't cut it.

They are still priced well above even the high end of the Harley Davidson models which offer something similar, and Harley is having problems with sales to the point its troubling their execs.

Being with this economic downturn in swing, I don't see them fitting a niche in a time where Americans don't have as much discretionary pricing.

While its great to see another American motorcycle company out there, especially one with a legendary name, I don't see this working out well.

Mabey they should bring back the "scout" model, as competition for the harley sportster.

[bmjwright]

Maybe they should bring back the "scout" model, as competition for the harley sportster.

IMHO This is the way to bring Indian back. A 50ci to 80ci Indian Scout that was about the size of a HD Dyna would gain some interest from the general public. Price it slightly more than a Sportster, but less than a Dyna (starting under $10k). An entry level bike won't make them a lot of $ per unit, but it will get people in the door and riding Indians...then they'll move up to the more expensive models.

When I was looking for a new bike, I wanted an American bike but the Sportster was too small and the Dyna was too expensive (Victory's were way more expensive)...so I bought a Yamaha (which I'm perfectly happy with). If Indian was out there with an equivalent (size, engine, & price) bike to the VStar 1100, it would probably be in my garage.

$30k is too far out of range for most buyers.