2013 Indian Chief

[Hillbilly]

Apparently the Indian motorcycles have been back in production since 2009 by Polaris Industries, the same people in the US who bring us the Victory motorcycle range. If you want one of these new 2013 Indian Chiefs then Haldanes are obviously the people to speak to. They have really gone for the authentic 1940s apperance, although with a variant of the running gear
used on the Victory range. Certainly a really nice alternative to the Harley Davidson Softail Classic. You can check out the range here:

http://www.indianmotorcycle.com/en-us/chief/pages/overview.aspx

This is what the all new 2013 Indian Chief range looks like:

[Subike]

That dark horse looks good, pity the price is like way outa this world for me, a mere below average factory worker

[jim.cox]

From their website

"an extremely limited number of Indian Chief Final Edition bikes being built, the biggest question is whether to ride it or just proudly display it in your garage"

Sort of says it all :(

[AllanB]

A once proud name in motorcycling that should possibly be, very respectfully, allowed to rest in peace.

[Laava]

it,s just a fat chick with different dresses!

[mulletman]

My sister in Baltimore was looking at one of those even allowed to sit on one back in Nov, they were
$US 45grand !!! She didnt get one as she realised she'd be looking at it for at least a couple of months cause of likely snow, thats alot of $$$ parked up.
She wisley kept her 1200RT and updated her old jeep to a new rubicon, same sort of $ mind.

[Big Dave]

Let me at 'em. They appear to have done a great job.
If it goes like the standard Vic 106 I can't wait for a fang.

[xknuts]

Let me at 'em. They appear to have done a great job.
If it goes like the standard Vic 106 I can't wait for a fang.

Dark Horse looks cool, just hope Polaris keep Indian quite separate from Victory & not a clone.
But a great company to keep the name going forward, and based on their current share price on the US Stock Exchange I think Indian brand future is safe! :niceone:

[lakedaemonian]

I remember a few years back, just after Polaris had purchased Indian we were walking to the Harley Summer Dealer Meeting in Denver at the Convention Centre.

Sitting right out front of the Denver Convention Centre was a tractor trailer sign painted "Indian" sitting right out front on the curb, with signage also indicating they were looking for new dealers.

It was pretty cheeky......VERY cheeky.

Looking at the stratospheric prices combined with the average fit/finish/refinement and I was running away.....not walking.

But I'm pretty biased.

Some Harley corporate folks and dealers were pretty pissed off.........but I just laughed.....that was child's play compared to the dodgy dealings between the two brands fighting it out prior to Indian folding in 1953.

[Banditbandit]

Errr .. pass ... ugly and almost certainly slow ...

[rickstv]

Shit me, can you imagine the shit hitting the fan in NZ if a bike manufacturer named itslf 'Maori' and had a model named Chief:confused:
Rick.

[Big Dave]

almost certainly slow ...

Actually, quite satisfactory for a road bike where the disqualification speed is 141.

[Banditbandit]

Actually, quite satisfactory for a road bike where the disqualification speed is 141.

Fuck ... I went passed that this morning (and I don't believe I was in top gear either) ... and I wasn't disqualified

[Banditbandit]

Shit me, can you imagine the shit hitting the fan in NZ if a bike manufacturer named itslf 'Maori' and had a model named Chief:confused:
Rick.

First Nations people in North America do object to this - also to the use of names in football teams, basketball teams ... just that we don't hear about it easily here.

And as Māori we are a bigger chunk of the population in Godzone than the Indians are in North America ... and therefore have a bigger slice of the voting pie and more power ...

[RoscoP]

The move to the indian brand is in order to gain traction against H-D (in my opinion) Polaris bought the rights to Indian some time ago but did nothing with them for a while. I seem to remember about 15 years ago another company did as well, made a limited production run of v-twin indians and then went belly up to never be heard from again. This a direct frontal assault on H-D so will be interesting to watch. Victory has not done well in taking market share away from Harley so far. Have had at lease 3 resellers come and go here in NZ. Good luck to them I say.

[Big Dave]

Fuck ... I went passed that this morning (and I don't believe I was in top gear either) ... and I wasn't disqualified

Small country. Very Heavily policed. Modern technology. Only a matter of time if you push it regularly.

Anyway, 'Fast' bikes do it in first - with 30 to spare.

[Hillbilly]

Here's a good look at the 105 cubic inch "pan head" powering the new Indian Chief:

[Banditbandit]

The move to the indian brand is in order to gain traction against H-D (in my opinion) Polaris bought the rights to Indian some time ago but did nothing with them for a while. I seem to remember about 15 years ago another company did as well, made a limited production run of v-twin indians and then went belly up to never be heard from again. This a direct frontal assault on H-D so will be interesting to watch. Victory has not done well in taking market share away from Harley so far. Have had at lease 3 resellers come and go here in NZ. Good luck to them I say.

Polaris bought the Indian Motorcycle Company in 2011. That company was created in 1999 ... and made a few bikes ...

Go here .. the suppository of al knowledge has a pretty good history of INdian Motorcyckes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_(motorcycle)

[Banditbandit]

Small country. Very Heavily policed. Modern technology. Only a matter of time if you push it regularly.

Anyway, 'Fast' bikes do it in first - with 30 to spare.

Yeah .. I get caught with enough frequency to annoy the wife - as it affects the bank balance .. and occassionally I'm reduced to walking ...

Which is why I don't ride fast bikes that will do it in first ... I'd never have a licence ...

[RoscoP]

Polaris bought the Indian Motorcycle Company in 2011. That company was created in 1999 ... and made a few bikes ...

Go here .. the suppository of al knowledge has a pretty good history of INdian Motorcyckes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_(motorcycle)


Very interesting, didn't releases how many other companies had a go since 1945, would be good to see H-D be given a run for their money and overall competition tends to improve both parties. I don't think that either of them are going to enter into a full on price war, just have a cheaper entry level machine (or range) and spend lots on advertising and promotion. The question is, if a person had the discretionary cash would you buy one and why?

[ellipsis]

...would I buy a Bugatti made by Mazda...probably not, irrespective of how well it worked...

[Hillbilly]

Well, with the closure of Haldanes it doesn't look as if we'll see any new Indian Chiefs down here any time soon.

[Berries]

Does Auckland really need more tassels?

[AllanB]

They are the last of the 'last' companies design. Polaris are introducing a 'new' Indian in 2014 I think.

I hope they are not just another HD 'look-alike' yawn yawn. There is potential for a inline 4 engine mounted NS. But I bet they shy away.

Instead of loading up a V2 engine with 400kg of cosmetic crap why don't they strip them down to light weight (for a cruiser) 'fast' bar hoppers/bobbers that will thrash the shit out of HD and out handle them?

[ratusratus]

They are the last of the 'last' companies design. Polaris are introducing a 'new' Indian in 2014 I think.

I hope they are not just another HD 'look-alike' yawn yawn. There is potential for a inline 4 engine mounted NS. But I bet they shy away.

Instead of loading up a V2 engine with 400kg of cosmetic crap why don't they strip them down to light weight (for a cruiser) 'fast' bar hoppers/bobbers that will thrash the shit out of HD and out handle them?

Thrash my XR?? stick to your Hondas you deserve them :-)

[Paul in NZ]

They are the last of the 'last' companies design. Polaris are introducing a 'new' Indian in 2014 I think.

I hope they are not just another HD 'look-alike' yawn yawn. There is potential for a inline 4 engine mounted NS. But I bet they shy away.

Instead of loading up a V2 engine with 400kg of cosmetic crap why don't they strip them down to light weight (for a cruiser) 'fast' bar hoppers/bobbers that will thrash the shit out of HD and out handle them?


I'd just ask Triumph to build a few extra Rocket 3 engines...

[Hillbilly]

This is a direct quote from the Australian based manager for both Victory and Indian motorcycles. They'll be doing a launch for Indian motorcycles in ther future, but they definitely will be available in NZ:


In regards to Indian, the launch is still a long way off but there is likely to be a pre-sale program to take deposits on the first available units- keep your eyes on our websites and Facebook along with motorcycle media for more details.

Thanks again for you contact and I hope we can be of assistance.

Regards


Peter Harvey
Country Manager- Motorcycles
Australia & New Zealand
+613 9394 5610

[Motu]

I took this photo at Fort Takapuna in 2010 - so looks like Polaris has done nothing to the design.

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af212/bmwr65/P3280406_zpsde90c4cc.jpg

This is the Indian that should've saved the company....

http://www.motohistory.net/images/VindianRight2.jpg

[Big Dave]

Has that got a vincent motor in it?

[Kickaha]

Has that got a vincent motor in it?

http://www.myvincent.co.uk/bikes/vindian/bill_gordon.php

[ellipsis]

...Chavez wont be riding anything for a while or contributing on this forum...

[Grizzo]

Does Auckland really need more tassels?

Nipple tassels are the go:2thumbsup