This could get interesting.

[unstuck]

http://hellforleathermagazine.com/2011/05/an-open-challenge-to-make-indian-good/

[Scuba_Steve]

must say good rant, & good challenge I can only hope Polaris accepts his challenge then things get interesting :yes:

But it does seem Polaris suffer from "big business syndrome" can almost guarantee most of their "talent" are managers & project managers with no knowledge of what their in charge of, and all the REAL talent they have are ignored because they are "just engineers"

[Banditbandit]

COOL .... I happen to agree with him .. could get to be real fun ...

[oneofsix]

http://hellforleathermagazine.com/2011/05/an-open-challenge-to-make-indian-good/

the interesting bit will be what JT produces. Polaris have shown their colours and they are big, slow crusiers, in that they have revived the Chief but not the nimbler Scott.

[Edbear]

They could do it. Be interesting to see if they will give it a go, though. JT would get publicity he just couldn't pay for!

[Swoop]

But it does seem Polaris suffer from "big business syndrome"
The larger the company, the more the committee mentality kicks in and a meeting needs to be held, minutes taken, etc, etc.

Should be interesting seeing if the challenge is accepted*.





































* Probably after a meeting is held to see if the lawyers need to be informed and consultants hired...:facepalm:

[oldrider]

He say Polaris speak with forked tongue! Have to agree with him ... good luck American motorcycles! :mellow:

[Big Dave]

What a load of crap.
It's not even worth bothering picking all the holes in it. There are too many.

[Smifffy]

My money is on Polaris ignoring it.

[avgas]

Hmmmmmm now that Polaris own it - any chance of a 2 stroke indian?
That'll show em

[Big Dave]

I wrote this elsewhere a month ago:
------------

Having met Mr Blackwell and some of his Victory folks I have every confidence they will do it right.

Look at all the leverage Triumph gets from their 'heritage'.

Apart from being English, the current company has a few tenuous links to the Meriden or Coventry Triumphs, but they are almost without substance.

Possibly the best of them is that Riccardo Engineering - for whom the Triumph Riccy is named - supplied consultancy to Hinckley.

Yet the way they (Triumph) flog Steve MacQueen, Rockers and Mods and 60's imagery would make you think that Turner was still at the helm and 650 Bonnes were all the rage. Very cool and it's been very successful.

It's a brilliant opportunity for Victory to put some 'Heritage' in what? A 12 year old product.

It might only be an emulation. Harley are the only ones with that genuine 100 year history (depending on your AMF stance), but I'd buy it like I buy the Triumph Scrambler.

--------------

Very much looking forward to seeing the new Indians. They should be ornate, American, 60-70 mph vehicles for mine.

[Laava]

That was a good read tho. I spose Polaris will do exactly what Harley did with Indian and essentially re-badge one of their own.

[Big Dave]

What the independent custom builders don't have to do is get Compliance Plates for mass production/export/import of their vehicles. Currently that ends in a catalytic converter and a decibel count in accordance with Euro 6.

[Paul in NZ]

Um - with the possible exception of Buell..... Has the USA ever produced a conventional motorcycle that offered world class performance? (other than the cruiser, long empty roads chugging along at 50mph type)

I dont quite see what hes raving about. Americans have never made hi tech street bikes....

[Big Dave]

The only Buell with world class performance (speeds) has an Austrian Engine.

They are still great bikes nonetheless.

[Smifffy]

To clarify, I meant Polaris will ignore the challenge, not that they will ignore the Indian brand.