Resurrected Makes

[Wolf]

From Strayjuliet's introduction thread:

Yay for Indians!!!!!! They should do a good job a remake that brand (previous attemps sucked).

Am I to take it the the current Indians http://www.indianmotorcycle.com/ are not up to standard?

I note they are claiming to be "America's First Motorcycle" despite seeming to be comprised of about 9 different companies that merged in 1999.

At the Paeroa BotS a few years back I was looking at the new Enfield - made in the original factory in India, apparently but with the "Royal" dropped as it is "no longer part of the Commonwealth" - or so I was told - looked good at at $5000 for a brand new 500cc single-banger, looked quite a reasonable price - great retro style too.

What is the general consensus on resurrected makes such as these and the Triumphs (I have heard complaints that the new Triumphs are sell-outs because the model names don't fit with the originals - like the new Trident is not a triple, etc)

[bugjuice]

these american-indian, or asian-indian? I thought the latter to begin with, but now I think the former..

[Wolf]

these american-indian, or asian-indian? I thought the latter to begin with, but now I think the former..

American, I gather, according to their website in 1999 there was a merger between "Indian Motorcycle Company Inc., American Indian Motorcycle Company, California Motorcycle Comapany and it's six related companies". It notes previous unsuccessful attempts to resurrect the make since 1953 (when the original company closed)

[White trash]

looked good at at $5000 for a brand new 500cc single-banger, looked quite a reasonable price - great retro style too.

What is the general consensus on resurrected makes such as these and the Triumphs (I have heard complaints that the new Triumphs are sell-outs because the model names don't fit with the originals - like the new Trident is not a triple, etc)

Firstly, Enfields aren't "retro", they're the same 60 year old technology they were when new. Why anyone would want a new/old bike is beyond me.

This concept was explained to me by a classic bike nut when I looked at buying one.

Secondly, there is no "new" trident, and when there was, it was a tripple. That's why it's called a Trident. You may be confusing the Thunderbird which was originally a twin, now a tripple. Or the Rocket III which wasn't even a fucken Triumph.

Bear in mind that the only thing common with Meridan and Hinkley Triumphs, is the name. Nothing else. Thank Christ....

[Cajun]

Okay little history of latest brand,

i think it was 99 new indian starts back up, orginally using harley, motors (very evil things aye trash man) i think it was, and lots of harley, parts they were pretty much a harley with a different badge, about late 00 early 01, made there own engine god knows where. They still good motorcycles, that i have heard, if i ever get a cruiser an indian it will be, one of my dreams has always been to ride an old indian around america, has to be stick shift, none of this damn womans foot gear shift.

ALot of there styling looks harley, but really how many different desgins can you make from a crusier, in all they all sorta look same, tear drop tank, big bars, big fenders, hmmm pretty much sums 90% of all crusiers.

Still saying this i that indian chief is horny making, sign me up on the line for one of those.

Its just one of those little bike brands in america now days like victory, triumph america, and indian, can't match it with the years that HD have been in the game.

[vifferman]

Wasn't the Indian brand owned for a short time by John Britten?

All this talk of brands and crap like that there got me thinking - there's a whole bunch of makes of bikes I've never ridden. I've ridden 1 Triumph, one BSA, lots of Suzukis, Hondas, Yamahas, and 3 Kawasakis.
No Italian stallions, no BMWs, and only one Yurpeen bike (if Husqvarna counts as Yurpeen).
So lots of riding still to do, methinks....

[Cajun]

Wasn't the Indian brand owned for a short time by John Britten?

All this talk of brands and crap like that there got me thinking - there's a whole bunch of makes of bikes I've never ridden. I've ridden 1 Triumph, one BSA, lots of Suzukis, Hondas, Yamahas, and 3 Kawasakis.
No Italian stallions, no BMWs, and only one Yurpeen bike (if Husqvarna counts as Yurpeen).
So lots of riding still to do, methinks....

i riden bmw, ands lets just say, they are like the tanks of the sportbike world

[White trash]

i riden bmw, ands lets just say, they are like the tanks of the sportbike world

Duh! That's 'cause thay aint sportsbikes.......

Edit: That's like saying the Gixxer 1K's the quickest steering chopper I've ever ridden.

[Cajun]

Duh! That's 'cause thay aint sportsbikes.......

Edit: That's like saying the Gixxer 1K's the quickest steering chopper I've ever ridden.

hahahah i know they market them as sports bikes tho, thats the difference, iu mean my father in laws k1200rs is there 'sport bike' well was, and its like 260kgs thats 100kgs heavyer than my 600, and it only puts out a 125ish hp, so by time gets to rw its about 100, so thats around same as my 600 for half the cc's

mine goes thry corners easy as pie, father in law bwm you have to mussel and wreastle thru every corner

[Wolf]

Secondly, there is no "new" trident, and when there was, it was a tripple. That's why it's called a Trident. You may be confusing the Thunderbird which was originally a twin, now a tripple. Or the Rocket III which wasn't even a fucken Triumph.

Ah, OK. I was trying to recall something someone said a few years ago, now - I can see how I screwed it up - knew it had something to do with triples.

[Paul in NZ]

Bear in mind that the only thing common with Meridan and Hinkley Triumphs, is the name. Nothing else. Thank Christ....

Ma - Git mah pitchfork and mah hangin' trousers and call the boys at the classic club. I can feel a good old fashioned lynching comin' on....

[Paul in NZ]

The real value in 'Indian' is not the bikes which are just aftermarket part HD clone bikes but in the merchandise you can sell around it.

Yup! Caps and tee shirts...

Every chancer and no hoper has laid claim to the name just like a lot of the other greats.

Bloody sad way for a once great make to go but they paid the same price the british industry did. How HD avoided it is a miricle.

[Biff]

Erm actually - I'd love to own an Enfield!! Fiddly fun all the way. In addition to a proper bike as well of course.

[White trash]

Ma - Git mah pitchfork and mah hangin' trousers and call the boys at the classic club. I can feel a good old fashioned lynching comin' on....

Ummmmm, surely they'd agree?! Just in reverse perhaps....

[Motu]

Back in the days when everyone was going down the tube together,there was a bit of hand holding.I used to have one of Bob Greene's Motorcycle Sports Quarterlies (stolen,the others I have are guarded with a death threat to whoever touches them) where Phill Vincent wrote an article where he fitted a Vincent motor into an Indian,a last desperate grab of the rim as both went down the gurgler.Would of been one hell of an Indian....

Floyd Clymer had the Indian name for a long time,and did some nasty things with it,but a couple,one being a Royal Enfield marrige and the other a Velocette one were also worthy of interest.

Anglo Indian Accord

Ha,ha,I just see that that site is run by Phill Doland,good one - I used to know Phill well and stayed with him in Melbourne,it was just bikes bikes bikes with us,and a few women tossed into the mix.It was through him we found the 5 new Stornello's hidden away in a house and bought the lot,we rode around together,him on his Falcone,me on my sidevalve M20 BSA.I remeber his father had the Munch Mamoth,but never saw it.I might have to drop him a line,dredge up 25 yr old memories....hmmm,maybe not....