Harley vs Indian

[Huelshorst]

Seems there isn't a lot of new motorcycles to review and write about so every biker magazine is giving Indian lots of print. Motorcycle Consumer News has details which involve any number of new ideas to decrease the amount of heat coming off of the engine. If Polaris is going to be successful with the Indian, they almost have to do everything better than Harley Davidson. They've really praised the new engine and I would buy one if I could just get past the design of the front and rear fender. No matter, Harley has to compete so I would say it means better motorcycles for us.

[Softail Trike]

I'm sure the look of the Indian as well as it's history will appeal to a lot of folks. I'm with you though, the fenders do nothing for me. Hopefully they will add to the models in years to come with different styles to choose from. I have a couple of different Polaris products & they have been very reliable. I wish them luck with the Indian, I hope it's another successful American made bike! However, I don't think I will be jumping ship anytime soon......nothing like some good competition to keep you on your toes though!!

[screwball]

The Indian name has been bought and sold several times. The 'NEW' Indian is being brought to you by the makers of Victory Motorcycles, Polaris Indisturies. If they maintain the quality they put into their ATC's I'd buy one, been very satisfied with their quads!

[rmrc51]

I tell ya,,,... I'm looking at the Indian website more and more along with watching all of the YouTube demo rides and reviews. As I've mentioned in past threads, the Indian Chief was always my 'Dream Bike'. Unfortunately, there's no dealer within a reasonable distance and none at all in Virginia. That in itself is a negative aspect to me. But hopefully, as time passes their dealer network might begin to expand. I've toyed with visiting one of the out-lying dealers in PA or NJ just to see an Indian Vintage (my model choice) in person and of course sit on the bike, but that would be a dangerous venture, lol. I just might wind up doing something stupid!

[msocko3]

I tell ya,,,... I'm looking at the Indian website more and more along with watching all of the YouTube demo rides and reviews. As I've mentioned in past threads, the Indian Chief was always my 'Dream Bike'. Unfortunately, there's no dealer within a reasonable distance and none at all in Virginia. That in itself is a negative aspect to me. But hopefully, as time passes their dealer network might begin to expand. I've toyed with visiting one of the out-lying dealers in PA or NJ just to see an Indian Vintage (my model choice) in person and of course sit on the bike, but that would be a dangerous venture, lol. I just might wind up doing something stupid!

They are some nice looking bikes. The dealer I bought my 2012 Wing from is an Indian dealer, I just haven't gotten over there to check out the bikes in person.

[rmrc51]

They are some nice looking bikes. The dealer I bought my 2012 Wing from is an Indian dealer, I just haven't gotten over there to check out the bikes in person.

Wish I lived closer to you. We'd go together,,,, and,, maybe both of us would get in trouble!! LOL

[Jerry/MD]

One thing Harley has over Indian/Victory/Polaris is a large dealer network. If you have a problem away from home finding service could be an issue.

I wish them luck, but IMHO this is a big problem.

Jerry

[rmrc51]

One thing Harley has over Indian/Victory/Polaris is a large dealer network. If you have a problem away from home finding service could be an issue.

I wish them luck, but IMHO this is a big problem.

Jerry

And I have to agree 100% with you, Jerry! That's one of the reasons I'd be very hesitant buying one at this point. Although Indian says that a Victory dealer can service the Indian, which kinda makes sense. They even mentioned that if you have a warranty issue and cannot get the bike to an Indian dealer, they'll contact the nearest Victory dealer to have the work done. But that still doesn't give me a warm feeling not knowing how well the mechanics at the Victory dealership would know the Indian.

Ah well, it's only a pipe dream any way. The only Indian I'll ever own the the model I have of one, lol.

[iaff84]

"Capture iconic design and styling aspects of the most historic models in our 112-year history " (from a Indian ad)
Does anyone know how many years they have been in real production? Just seems they say since the name has been around 112 years that they can now as a new company, claim they have been produced for 112 years!
Dennis

[msocko3]

"Capture iconic design and styling aspects of the most historic models in our 112-year history " (from a Indian ad)
Does anyone know how many years they have been in real production? Just seems they say since the name has been around 112 years that they can now as a new company, claim they have been produced for 112 years!
Dennis

Sounds like they're taking a page from HD's advertising, your right the name has been around a long time but not the company.

[Brentwood Bob]

Not real fond on the looks and do have a couple of dealers around me. I'll stick with Harley and go with Polaris for my water sports.

[pcombe]

When i was growing up my dad and uncle had a virtual scrap pile of bikes on the farm they were always tinkering with. Just about every early model i could think of.

If one broke down we would just go out and get a part off another one.
Early tote goats, Honda, suzuki,Kawasaki, Jawa, Rex gurelli, Ariel, triumph, BSA, Harley, so many it's hard to remember them all. I think there was a basket case excelsior?

They weren't anything venerated, but grist to mill, something to buy, work on and sell.
My cousin and i would jump the creek or over barrells and cars with them.
One was a 48? indian cheif that we just banged around on.
I used it for irrigating and such nonsense.
If had known then what i know now? ( you know the story?)

The only thing i seldom got to ride was my dads 56 panhead with side car. ( i didn't say he was dumb)
He did however get a little toasted one time and ran it into a swimming pool just like in the movies.

Mom was always so proud of us!
Especialy when she cam home to find i was working on a honda 90 in the living room.

[lboos]

I really don't see why Harley would have any worry about the new Indian, after all Harley has been around for over 110 years, and has quiet a history, this new Indian was designed in 27 months, been out a little less then a year, and is the newest motorcycle on the market, it has nothing in common with the org. Indian M/C of old [the one with a history] they tried to copy the looks of the org, and bought the name and put an Indian head on the frt. fender. it has no history, the one with the history stopped making them in 1953.
I just don't see what all the hype is about, I don't mean to knock the Indian, I have never seen one yet, and only know what I have read.
JMO... but this is not the old Indian being resurrected from the grave , it's just the newest motorcycle on the market.
I can't stand those fender skirts , but I wish them well.

[msocko3]

I really don't see why Harley would have any worry about the new Indian, after all Harley has been around for over 110 years, and has quiet a history, this new Indian was designed in 2-1/2 months, been out a little less then a year, and is the newest motorcycle on the market, it has nothing in common with the org. Indian M/C of old [the one with a history] they tried to copy the looks of the org, and bought the name and put an Indian head on the frt. fender. it has no history, the one with the history stopped making them in 1953.
I just don't see what all the hype is about, I don't mean to knock the Indian, I have never seen one yet, and only know what I have read.
JMO... but this is not the old Indian being resurrected from the grave , it's just the newest motorcycle on the market.
I can't stand those fender skirts , but I wish them well.

As the years go buy present day and future Harley's have nothing in common with their predecessors except the company. I'm sure Polaris didn't design and engineer the Indian line in 2 1/2 months.

[lboos]

As the years go buy present day and future Harley's have nothing in common with their predecessors except the company. I'm sure Polaris didn't design and engineer the Indian line in 2 1/2 months.

Msocko,
You are right, I stand corrected, it was 2 years and 3 months .
From Polaris Engineering: Polaris says it typically requires aprox. 40 months to create a new large-displacement motorcycle from scratch but the Indian team took just 27 months to bring the new chief to life.
It was fortuitous that Polaris had two decades of cruiser engineering to lean on with "Victory" teaching valuable lessons along the way.

As far as the old and the new Harley having nothing in common, you are right again, it's because Harley has 110 exp. building Harley motorcycles' unlike the new Indian [Polaris] with only one year building Indian motorcycles .

I still wish them well,..... if they could only do away with those fender skirts .

[Sloufoot]

Msocko,
You are right, I stand corrected, it was 2 years and 3 months .
From Polaris Engineering: Polaris says it typically requires aprox. 40 months to create a new large-displacement motorcycle from scratch but the Indian team took just 27 months to bring the new chief to life.
It was fortuitous that Polaris had two decades of cruiser engineering to lean on with "Victory" teaching valuable lessons along the way.

As far as the old and the new Harley having nothing in common, you are right again, it's because Harley has 110 exp. building Harley motorcycles' unlike the new Indian [Polaris] with only one year building Indian motorcycles .

I still wish them well,..... if they could only do away with those fender skirts .

Those fender skirts are as iconic as the Indian head on the fender. Just part of what makes Indian , Indian...... Had them on my '53 Chief.

[lboos]

Those fender skirts are as iconic as the Indian head on the fender. Just part of what makes Indian , Indian...... Had them on my '53 Chief.

Yea, I know.
Sloufoot, Have you got a pic. of your 53 Indian chief, I know everyone here would love to see it.

[Sloufoot]

Yea, I know.
Sloufoot, Have you got a pic. of your 53 Indian chief, I know everyone here would love to see it.

All the pix of that one are on paper. I'll have to see if I can scan some of those this winter.

[Casper]

Saw them in Sturgis last year, I like the Vintage, black with the tan seat and bags....cool!
Mike Wolf was there promoting the brand...
Of all the motorcycles I've owned, two stand out as the best...1957 Pan, and a 1994 FXLR.
The FXLR was the best handling Harley I've ever ridden....would love to have another..

[Phu Cat]

working on a honda 90 in the living room

Musta been cold (hot, sunny, windy, foggy, rainy, cloudy, snowy, dark)outside. What's wrong with that?

Phu Cat