Unofficial Royal Enfield Community Forum

General Discussion => Campfire Talk => Topic started by: jdrouin on October 06, 2009, 02:18:00 pm

Title: Revival of Indian
Post by: jdrouin on October 06, 2009, 02:18:00 pm
I hadn't heard that the Indian brand was being revived again:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/04/automobiles/04indian.html

Jeff
Title: Re: Revival of Indian
Post by: REA Member 131 on October 06, 2009, 03:20:09 pm
That's old news. They already have dealerships.

It's doomed, however. Their cheapest model is something like $25K if I remember correctly. It doesn't take a degree in Business to know that dog isn't going to hunt in this economy.

I wish they would just let the brand rest in peace.
Title: Re: Revival of Indian
Post by: REpozer on October 06, 2009, 03:39:40 pm
I remember the last time it tried to make a come back.
S&S engines and a $20K plus price tag.That was back in 2000.
Title: Re: Revival of Indian
Post by: scoTTy on October 06, 2009, 04:01:55 pm
there was a dealership here..wrong time to open though.. lasted 9 months and they sent back the remaining 3 to the factory..don't know if they sold any..  too expensive for my wallet
Title: Re: Revival of Indian
Post by: REA Member 131 on October 06, 2009, 04:34:34 pm
There is an article about the new Indian in the November '09 issue of Cycle World. It even made the cover.

I guess they never heard of the Hanlon brothers and their Excelsior Hendersons.
Title: Re: Revival of Indian
Post by: 1Blackwolf1 on October 06, 2009, 07:45:51 pm
  You can purchase a real Indian for lessthan a new one.  And have all the nostalgia too boot.  Heck I got a neo-Chief in the garage you can buy for less than $7k, and it's all decked out..  Will.
Title: Re: Revival of Indian
Post by: mbevo1 on October 06, 2009, 07:46:18 pm
They had a travelling road show a couple of months back at our local dealer (they carry Victory and Indian... no lightweights  :))

Looked at all the models - could sign up for test rides.  Rainy day so I didn't even think about it.

Listened to the sales guy talk about how he had been with Indian for several ownership changes, the new ones were very extensively researched and engineered, no discounts available off MSRP except for a deal where Indian would make six months payments up to $500 per month, and oh, by the way, the Vintage model you're looking at goes for $36,700... the two Harley guys listening rocked a bit at that one.  

Funny thing is, there were three guys looking at my Bullet in the parking lot... I talked to them longer than the sales guy...  then the best part !  

Two of the Indian owners went to leave, and one guy's battery crapped out at the edge of the lot.  Seems he had been showing his upgraded lights to his buddy and drained the battery too much to keep it running.  I helped him push it pack into the lot and they went for the charger.  Dude looked at my little fella and said, "Nice bike."  I thanked him, and Stumpy fired off on the first stroke of the kicker... ;D  He said, "Sometimes older is better, huh ?"

Mike and Stumpy in Michigan

Title: Re: Revival of Indian
Post by: Chasfield on October 06, 2009, 07:59:24 pm

It's doomed, however. Their cheapest model is something like $25K if I remember correctly. It doesn't take a degree in Business to know that dog isn't going to hunt in this economy.


Motorcycle prices in general  broke free of their moorings a while back.

In the UK:

In 1980 my new Honda 250 was 1/4 the price of a cheap compact car
Today, the cheapest 250 is 1/2 the price of a cheap compact car

The thing is that now, a whole bunch of marketing types visualise their well heeled, baby-boomer customer first then (with dollar signs in their little pink eyes) they dream up a price purely based on marketing principles, focus group feedback, etc.

Previously, engineers just tried their best to put wheels under ordinary folk who bought thriftily.
Title: Re: Revival of Indian
Post by: UncleErnie on October 06, 2009, 08:04:40 pm
Original Indians (and Harleys of the time) were just motorcycles- not "cruisers".  Fun to ride, too.  Once set up, not too big of a deal- especially if you're used to a Bullet.

The best imitation Indian I've seen is the Kawasaki Drifter.  Just putting scrpt on a tank doesn't make it so, IMO.
Title: Re: Revival of Indian
Post by: Chasfield on October 06, 2009, 08:07:48 pm
That hits the nail on the head.

The original makers weren't all wrapped up in a marketing a concept. They just tried to make the best motorcycle that they could.

The concept came later, originating in the minds of the people that bought the bikes. And that is right and proper; we know what is good; we don't need telling.
Title: Re: Revival of Indian
Post by: 1Blackwolf1 on October 06, 2009, 11:30:49 pm
Original Indians (and Harleys of the time) were just motorcycles- not "cruisers".  Fun to ride, too.  Once set up, not too big of a deal- especially if you're used to a Bullet.

The best imitation Indian I've seen is the Kawasaki Drifter.  Just putting scrpt on a tank doesn't make it so, IMO.

  Thats why I bought mine.  Whole lot cheaper than the new breed.  Will.
Title: Re: Revival of Indian
Post by: rideOn on October 06, 2009, 11:51:37 pm
i've been following the indian re-lauch for several years. it's a cool brand but will probably only find a niche, exclusive market. terrible story behind their bankruptcy in the 50's. coming out of producing bikes for the military, the company was near broke. where was government bailout for a company that supported the war cause? history says that the final straw was subbing bikes out to royal enfield. the initial quality, as is to date, sucked and ran down indian with warranty work.

they currently target one of ten potential harley buyers, which should be easy based on the uppity attitude of some (not all) h-d'ers. indian only wants to sell about 500 '09's and 600-1000 10's. they're opening new dealerships as we speak at $2M investment each. they should have enough dough to sustain in the current economy.

i'll have one for sure. it's still an indian. '10 models include some cool collector models like the bomber and dark horse. you can get an '09 for under 25k and how many people do you know that spent that much on gold wings and h-d? they'll sell
Title: Re: Revival of Indian
Post by: Cabo Cruz on October 07, 2009, 01:46:42 am
Br. Mike (and Stumpy) that was a priceless post!!!   :D :D :D
Title: Re: Revival of Indian
Post by: ace.cafe on October 07, 2009, 02:28:10 am
I wish them luck.
I just can't get too excited about it.
It's not my style.
For that kind of money, I'd buy a Norton Manx.
Title: Re: Revival of Indian
Post by: scoTTy on October 07, 2009, 03:48:43 am
me too
Title: Re: Revival of Indian
Post by: Cabo Cruz on October 07, 2009, 04:16:55 am
me three  :D
Title: Re: Revival of Indian
Post by: REpozer on October 07, 2009, 05:49:30 am
If they were $6K, I would purchase one :P
Title: Re: Revival of Indian
Post by: mbevo1 on October 07, 2009, 02:21:54 pm
Br. Mike (and Stumpy) that was a priceless post!!!   :D :D :D

Papa Juan,
It was my best "Bullet Moment" of the summer ! ;D

Mike and Stumpy in Michigan
Title: Re: Revival of Indian
Post by: stipa on October 07, 2009, 06:43:07 pm
http://www.crazyhorsemotorcycles.com/

Buy one of these and just build your own Indian clone.   These are really sweet motors. 

Steve J.
Title: Re: Revival of Indian
Post by: LJRead on October 07, 2009, 07:22:46 pm
The new Indians seem far more retro than any of the new Harleys, and they are looking for a small, high quality, niche market, which I do hope they will find.  Very pleasant to look at these fine bikes.
Title: Re: Revival of Indian
Post by: luoma on October 07, 2009, 09:57:53 pm
Google Kiwi Indian. Aparently, the guy is a New Zealand ex pat who now resides in the US. They restore old Indians for resale. They have some pretty bikes.
Title: Re: Revival of Indian
Post by: Lahti35 on October 07, 2009, 11:50:19 pm
Again? How many times are they going to breath life into that make? Kudos to the folks that won't let it die! Grandad ran those until he switched to BMW's when Indian folded the fist time, loved 'em all.
Title: Re: Revival of Indian
Post by: rideOn on October 08, 2009, 02:29:51 am
The new Indians seem far more retro than any of the new Harleys, and they are looking for a small, high quality, niche market, which I do hope they will find.  Very pleasant to look at these fine bikes.
the ride tests i've read so far indicate good things. why not go indian? who needs a hummer or an escalade? same principle. probably won't have to wrench every 50 miles!
Title: Re: Revival of Indian
Post by: REpozer on October 09, 2009, 01:48:28 am
I wonder if the Indian quality is on pare with REM?
Title: Re: Revival of Indian
Post by: ace.cafe on October 09, 2009, 03:17:06 am
I wonder if the Indian quality is on pare with REM?

Actually, Royal Enfield WAS Indian from 1954 to 1960.
All the Indian motorcycles during that period were Royal Enfields, including the Chief.