"New" Indians ?

Question

Ok, so they are going to try again to drag out the Indian Chief. BFD.

Yeah, it looks good, So what.

Is anyone ever going to bring back the inline-four Indians (or other makes) from our rich American motorcycling past? Or a halfway decent single? (not the Buell Blast, which should have been a 650)?

I like V-twins as much as the next guy,don't get me wrong!

But is every "new" American motorcylce (Victory, Confederate, re-deceased Excelsior) doomed to be a V-twin, just cuz Harley won the WW2 contract with one, 60 years ago? To me, if they don't want to compete with Harley for the market (and image) shouldn't they make a different type of bike? It just seems lazy and copycat-ish.

Answer 1

My neighbor bought one of the last indian models. I tried to convince him to buy a harley. He went with the indian (bad move) he has had more problem's with his indian by 10k then i have had with my softail at 150k.

Answer 2

So don't buy one. They are trying to make money like everybody else and the American public wants their cruisers to be a V-Twin. Blame the public, not the manufacturer.

Answer 3

Dont think it will fly. There aint no more room for V twin cruisers on this block. Titan went under and the other Harley clones are strugling to sell bikes. The new indian? YAWN!!!! who cares.

Answer 4

There have been about 4 Indian resurrections... currently with a company called KIWI. The problem with your request is the tremendous amount of excess capital needed to NOT use existing motors and frames (the 1st resurrection used S&S motors). To tool up, design and build a totally new motor and frame would be insane in this market. Even if the old engine existed it would have to be brought up to '06 EPA emmission specs. S&S jut spent MILLIONS doing that with the XWege.

Answer 5

I agree with you, the V-Twin fad has worn things pretty thin.

There should be (and so, probably will not) be other offerings, as you suggest. I have no interest in a "new" Indian. Yet I like the old ones a lot.

Since you mentioned the military contract, I bring this up before the bashers do: HD beat out Indian by submitting a motorcycle that was larger displacement than the contract specification, thereby having a more powerful engine. Indian played by the rules.