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Post by oldchopperguy on Aug 3, 2014 7:47:12 GMT -5
Well guyz and galz...
I'm now fully "switched over" to scooters, BUT I still know a winning MOTORCYCLE when I see one! I fell in love with the HUGE new Indian Chief, and NOW... Polaris/Victory has mixed their LIQUID-COOLED modern technology with 1940's styling... Aiming square at the Harley V-Rod... THIS ride has something for most everybody!
I wouldn't have thought you could successfully hang a radiator on a bike honoring a 1930's design... THEN, add just enough modern crossover features to compete with the Harley V-Rod... THEN... keep the price at $10,999!!! And to my knowledge it's all designed and made in the USA! What a combination! And with 100hp and 6 gears, it ain't gonna be no slouch, either! A trim, light, nimble and quick V-Twin that looks like it's 80 years old, and rides like today's best! How cool is that?
Doggone, this old Harley guy is fast becoming a major fan of Polaris/Victory/Indian...
Just a heads-up for you members wanting big-bike style, performance and class in a low-slung, head-turning and affordable package!
Ride safe,
Leo (wishin' I had MORE money, and LESS arthritis) in Texas
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Post by wheelbender6 on Aug 3, 2014 9:04:32 GMT -5
I agree Leo. If they can sell that bike for 11G and it is well made, they are going to take score huge market share in the cruiser segment. Angling the rear shocks to look like part of a hard tail frame is clever. -Victory just released a new model that lists for only 13G. Its a beauty, but not as innovative as the new Indian. f -I have been impressed over the last few years of the creativity shown at the new Indian company. Check out this model. Styling cues come from the classic era of railroad travel.  |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Aug 3, 2014 10:26:12 GMT -5
Wheelbender6,
That NEW Indian in your post is amazing! Another example of bringing the 1940's Big Chief into the new millennium of cruisers! I get all the Indian "spams" (Just 'cause a guy's on a diet, doesn't mean he can't check out the menu... LOL!) and it is just WILD how they are able to successfully blend pre-war designs, with modern construction and styling... I know Mike Wolfe from "American Pickers" is on-board with them, and he is a real authority on the Indian marque, and it's important to him to see it FINALLY be resurrected and thrive in a BIG way. Several unsuccessful attempts have been made to bring Indian back, but most were Harley-style bikes, with skirted fenders. Not enough... One serious attempt was made a while back using an actual new engine design, but that engine seemed to be plagued with problems.
Hopefully, with it's successful background in the Victory lineup, and a REALLY new engine, frame and cosmetics approach (field-tested for millions of miles BEFORE release) Polaris WILL finally succeed in putting a REAL Indian back on American asphalt. Sure hope so!
The angle of the rear shocks you mention is a classic example of this phenomenon of blending old and new into a modern bike that still appeals to guys my age, as well as the young guns... Heck, this new SCOUT is even likely to appeal to the galz!
A few years back, when I was more spry and able to climb aboard big bikes, I rode a pal's Victory. I was MOST impressed... It felt like it had the torque of a Harley, and the rpm of a crotch-rocket. A REALLY enjoyable ride! What a combination! That performance, combined with their great cosmetics AND low price makes Polaris a formidable adversary to Harley Davidson.
I truly don't know if their products are 100% made in America. I think they are, and if so, Polaris should be SHOUTING that in their marketing, ESPECIALLY with Harley Davidson doing more production overseas, and their prices getting higher all the time.
I will always love HD products, but the new Indian is like a breath of fresh air... AND their new bikes have a marvelous "crossover" appeal to reach the guy or gal who loves retro, modern, classic, innovative, custom... You name it, the new Indians have it in spades. And, Polaris had the good sense to build in enough "giddyup" in their proprietary V-Twins. Something Harley has only recently addressed. They're not going to run with a 400hp Japanese rocket, but then you don't have to ride 'em with your chin on the tank and your hands on the front axle, either... Ror REALLY sweet V-Twin daily riders, these new Indians are just what the riding public has been begging for since I was a kid! Woo Hoo! Gimmie a tomahawk and stick a feather in my helmet... I like 'em!
Looking over the VICTORY lineup, I see what looks to me like a definite "Arlen Ness" styling influence. I have no idea if Arlen is involved, but the Victory bikes look "Arlen Ness" like the new Mustangs look "Chip Foose"... If I'm even close to right, a mix of Arlen Ness and Mike Wolfe influence just could be the best thing to happen to American bikes in a hundred years!
Two "thumbs up" for Indian!!! 
Leo in Texas
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Post by JerryScript on Aug 3, 2014 10:32:35 GMT -5
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Post by wheelbender6 on Aug 3, 2014 11:16:44 GMT -5
I will probably never buy a cruiser motorcycle, but I do so enjoy following the recent cruiser arms race. By arms race, I don't mean larger engines. I mean creativity and innovation, and ability to blend new tech and vintage style.
-Some criticize Harley for water cooling only the heads on the new Rushmores. I guess those same people should critize BMW too, because they have done the same thing with the new 1200cc wasserboxer engine (heads only).
-I think the things that the Indian company has been doing lately will benefit the entire cruiser motorcycle segment.
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Post by trailheadmike on Aug 3, 2014 17:06:01 GMT -5
there is an Indian dealership a few miles from me and I have been known to head out on the weekend to check out their collection. They look like museum pieces they're so beautiful. Looks like I'll need to go again to see the scout.
Thanks for posting.
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Post by wheelbender6 on Aug 3, 2014 20:37:11 GMT -5
"Looking over the VICTORY lineup, I see what looks to me like a definite "Arlen Ness" styling influence."
I think the Victory bikes look hot, but an 1800cc engine and weight is too much for me.
I know two people that have been injured holding up their maxi cruiser bikes.
Both were hurt when they quickly planted a foot on the pavement due to the need for a sudden stop in traffic.
Neither incident involved a fall, but they were hurt when needing to suddenly support the bike with a leg.
The 1800cc bikes are not for everybody.
A sub liter engine is plenty for me.
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Post by oldchopperguy on Aug 3, 2014 23:51:21 GMT -5
"Looking over the VICTORY lineup, I see what looks to me like a definite "Arlen Ness" styling influence." I think the Victory bikes look hot, but an 1800cc engine and weight is too much for me. I know two people that have been injured holding up their maxi cruiser bikes. Both were hurt when they quickly planted a foot on the pavement due to the need for a sudden stop in traffic. Neither incident involved a fall, but they were hurt when needing to suddenly support the bike with a leg. The 1800cc bikes are not for everybody. A sub liter engine is plenty for me.
The older you get, the more that "sudden-stop/where's the GROUND?" phenomenon seems to creep up... LOL!!! Every so often, it happens to me even on my little 350 pound 250... Cheesh, the old arms and knees DO pay the price when that happens.
WAY back in 1970, I was fresh out of the Army, 6' 2" 285 pounds of badass, and full of myself. I had just bought my FIRST new Harley... a beautiful Electra-Glide. While coming to a red-light, on a warm summer night, I was eyeballing some local hotties in a new Corvette. All smiles, sure that I was "all that on a stick" I came to a swaggering stop, trying for some conversation with the girls...
I put my left foot down (without looking down) and found nothing but air... EEEWWW!
The 4-lane was under construction, and beneath my foot was six-feet of air, and a newly constructed drainage-ditch... Over I went, the new Hog landing on top of me, still running. Back then, my loaded new Harley cost a whopping $2,500 ($25,000 Obama dollars today). The "ground-loop" did $1,500 damage, and I burned the bejeebers out of my self, pinned under the 1,000 pound bike...
No cell phones back then. I had to burrow out from under the Hog like a gopher, climb back up to the road, and wait, embarrassed, shredded and burned until a local cop took mercy on me, calling a wrecker to haul the no-longer-new looking bike up to the under-construction road... I think I could still hear the gals in the 'Vette laughing 10 miles down the road...
Lesson learned! Forget the hotties, watch what you're doing and for Pete's sake, MAKE SURE there's something solid (no GRAVEL, no OIL and certainly no DITCH) under your foot when you stop... LOL!
I hate to admit to something THAT dumb, but maybe it will keep one of us scooter-jockeys from a repeat performance...
Yeah, if you're gonna ride a 2-liter behemoth, you better hit the gym now and then!
Ride safe, and keep the shiny side up, and the greasy side down...
Leo (keepin' it light) in Texas
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Post by rockynv on Aug 4, 2014 7:40:10 GMT -5
Even a dip in the road a few inches deep such as a rain gutter at an intersection can put you down. When riding you do need to watch the road so you don't end up doing a close inspection of it.
My Dad was a Chieftain rider back in the day and preferred them over Harley.
The new Scout looks like a winner.
Here it is back on the "Wall of Death":
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Post by spidergoat813 on Aug 4, 2014 8:33:56 GMT -5
I owned a victory before buying my vrod. They're smooth engines that make great power. Although I don't think the scout will compete with the vrod as much as they'd like, it does look freaking sweet. for 4k more you get 25 more hp and an aftermarket line up to be jealous of. I do love the idea of more big name motorcycle companies coming out. I have a special place in my heart for victory. Looks like they're headed in the right direction. Would like to see what they learn from the indian scout make its way to the victory hammer.
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Post by shalomdawg on Aug 4, 2014 13:15:15 GMT -5
howdy, i just checked for the nearest dealer and found it about 300 miles north. there is a dealer nearby that sells rotax powered reverse trikes so i expect he'll be a dealer soon.
lotsa miles and smiles to ya
ken
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Post by oldchopperguy on Aug 5, 2014 6:56:25 GMT -5
While at my Wife's chiropractor yesterday (he is an old Harley man, now at 82, riding a new Vespa 150 after trading in the Harley 2 years back)... he told me there is a new Indian dealership opening up near him, RIGHT NEXT DOOR to a Harley Davidson store! Now THAT should be interesting! He said he was told that Polaris is so sure of its quality and general appeal to compete with HD that they wanted this shop to placed so that customers could literally walk between the two brand's stores to compare and test-ride the bikes, apples-to-apples.
Only time will tell how well that plan will work... LOL! But I have a feeling that while many die-hards will still stay with the Harley Davidson marque, another great many open-minded buyers will opt for the nostalgic, yet innovative new Indian.
The place is about 50 miles from where I live, so I guess I'll have to give the old Kymco a good 100-mile 70mph romp on the freeway to do some "apples-to-apples" comparison myself. It'll do old "Minnie Mouse" good to blow out the city-riding carbon, and do me good to check out some real, heavyweight Milwaukee and Minnesota iron. If nothing else, it'll bring back some great old memories!
I'm a major HD fan, and also very impressed with the things Indian is now doing, so it will be chance for me to look over BOTH product lineups with an unbiased eye. I have a suspicion that truly unbiased buyers will have a hard time making up their minds... And the affordable price of the Indian may be the most important factor in their choice.
It'll be a few weeks before the Indian store is up and running, but when I visit the pair of dealerships, I'll check out their goodies side-by-side, and post a report. The two brands are aimed at the same target audience, and are both very similar, yet very different at the same time.
Now, after all this thousand-pound-iron, it's back to the loyal old 250 Kymco for the day's errands. No complaints... at my present age and budget, "Minnie Mouse" suits me just fine!
Now, if Harley and Indian would only make a REALLY good, ALL AMERICAN scooter... A "Lil' Hog" and a "Lil' Indian"... visually reeking of the WWII era, about the size and weight of a Chinese 150, around a 40hp 4-valve, fuel-injected 300-350cc, with effortless crowded city handling and 90mph highway cruise... 100% American-made, and dealership-backed... all for around $2,500................... RIGHT... LOL! THAT ain't gonna happen, but... Neat thought though.
Ride safe...
Leo in Texas
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Post by trailheadmike on Aug 5, 2014 8:08:12 GMT -5
Stopped by the dealership yesterday and they said the model is not coming in till December. Said they had 15 preorders so far.
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Post by rockynv on Aug 5, 2014 12:13:24 GMT -5
It takes about a $200,000 commitment to making the dealership meet Indian Standards, strict staffing and accounting requirements to be met with the dealerships owner required to be present during daily operations and maintaining $800,000 in inventory to be an Indian Dealer. Metal Pole Barns will not be acceptable.
Who's got a million they are willing to risk?
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Post by alente on Aug 5, 2014 21:16:15 GMT -5
As much as I dislike cruisers, I LOVE the look of that bike. Minus the V-Rod and the boulevard equivalent I've not really liked the look. They feel uncomfortable too. May have to run to the dealership and take an oogle of it.
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