P.S .. After all ”Indian was the first bike ever made.”……….they must know something.

Indian Fan

Good luck.

singing bare

Also?
I would be interested to know why they promote their link to Springfield so heavily, and kind of run on by their link to Gilroy.
Seems their pedigree is more closely tied to Gilroy than Springfield but we don’t get much mention on their website.

But you already said you don’t build bikes anyway. 200 tire hints that you don’t ride much either.

If Indian went with a larger tire they would show they only care about fads and not real bikes for people who ride.

Yep, EFI is smoother than a polished baby’s bottom…as you pointed out, no hiccups during the warm up phase (and overall). The downside of course is the potential to leave you stranded and unfixable on the side of the road…carbonators and points can be repaired with a hammer and screwdriver. But you can’t stop progress, which in this case is spelled E.P.A.

As for the 200 tire, that’s about the largest that makes sense from a style AND technical standpoint. Granted there are those who want the steam roller look and that’s great for them, but even they’d have to admit that tire widths of that scale begin to create handling issues. So we’re back to the 200 size (or perhaps just a touch wider). I personally can’t stand the original size tires on these Chiefs, what with pizza cutter sized rubber beneath that Fat Albert fender. Reminds me of the body width overhang of a ‘59 Chevy (google that and you’ll instantly understand that statement).

Remember, your 1-year unlimited mileage warranty started the day you purchased your bike while the Gilroy factory was open. If you bought the bike after they closed you should have been informed by the seller that there was no factory and no 1-year unlimited mileage warranty and the dealer should have offered you a thrid party warranty. Which, depending on how many years you bought, could still be effective today. I have seen them go for up to 5 years!

Since Gilroy shut it’s doors back in September of 2003 … basic math comes into play on your 1-year unlimited mileage warranty.

when I stated “maxed out that frame”, I was referring to the geometry and such, not tire size…

I liked the RSD for the reasons mentioned. I think big dog started going rsd last year and I wonder if most major manufacturers will follow suit..
I mentioned that bike yesterday on the IMC forum, but didn’t remember it was a 200..I think that was aesthetically nice and is a good size and is probably as large as I would go. That mite be a nice aftermarket kit…ya know.. I’ll have to find my pics and take another look..

well, my website is not cooperating and i can’t update it…gotta figure out what’s going on there..

oh,..and it was crown..I don’t drink jd!

Enjoy, take lots of pictures.

Listen, not for one moment to I pretend or claim to be a genius, but history is filled with many instances of some very smart people overlooking fixes or improvements. I’m sure there have been times when you peeked over someone’s shoulder and offered up a “why don’t you do it this way” sort of comment to which they smacked themselves on the forehead for not having seen it.

It’s called a fresh perspective (which matches my mouth, which is ironic considering how foul it usually is)

You got a fat tire chief running? w/o chain conversion..come on, do tell….you can share–I’m on no payrolls, I won’t tell …I don’t know how wide is “wide enuff” tho.. maybe as wide as the rear on the ‘07 fatboy??
With all those engineers and a test rider that apparently tries to kill himself each time he gets on the bike, I’d imagine KM’s changes have maxed out that frame…but time shall tell…
oh, and fwiw..you’re more of a smartass, than an asshole..lol

That’s right, I’m an asshole (in case no one has noticed).

Ant.. remember, the dealer requirements are not a franchise fee..just an estimate to start from scratch, buy land, float employees salary and build and run the biz for a while.. Their estimate of production is based on the estimated # of dealers and estimated demand…maybe $30 is the estimated cost now–you never know, base chief may be more like $25 or so??? Don’t know about you, but I’ve spent well over 10k on each, and perhaps approaching $20k or more on one of my bikes to get what I wanted..if the factory has a ton of options, I think low numbers (sub 1000) will move annually no problem..And when the other price points and styles come out, dealers will hopefully be ok–esp when multi-line dealers are allowed in.

Please don’t break any non-disclosure agreements as I know you may not be able to elaborate much until your article. However, as I mentioned above, the 02/03 chiefs are superb handling, but looking at the pics it seems something is different. Did you notice or learn anything new about the frame’s geometry or wheel base?

Ant, I think these bikes have been redisgned and not just "slightly modifed", Maybe much major noticeable redsigning was not needed, however, it appears that all of the known flaws of Gilroy are being addressed?? I think they actually started tabula rasa….and tried to keep the bike (esp engine) aesthetically familiar to the Gilroys, but the improvements make this a new machine. The goal was to make as many parts be exchangeable or retrofittable with the Gilroy PowerPlus bikes..I’m sure we’ll learn more about this as time goes on..

Marilyn, my site is at http://www.indianmcinfo.com or you can just click my name, lol…
haven’t updated it in a while, but will get to it this week…remember–i’m not a web designer, lol..
There’s lots of info there to help the Gilroy owner, and I actually gave KM the nod to referr people there. I hope to update w/the Springfield owner stuff I have, and maybe KM info one day…
A couple other useful links are http://www.indianmotorcyclecommunity.com and http://www.jamltd.com

We’re not the ones boasting about $30 million budgets and a building full of engineers either. The facts are that what we’ve accomplished with a skeleton crew and budget is pretty remarkable by anyone’s standard, but perhaps yours.

Have a loverly day.

Most of the bikes they show pictures of and appear to be claiming as their builds were out when Gilroy was in business. I remember seeing them in magazines and on the American Thunder TV show.

Never trust a builder who claims someone else’s work.

http://www.crazyhorsemotorcycles.com/

I searched but could only find a transport company, painter, a custom bike built to raise money for the memorial …

Boy if this ain’t the kettle calling the pot black I don’t know what is.

“Bringing out a slightly(?) modified model of a bike that was penned some 8 plus years ago at a higher price”

In fact your entire statement sans the first paragraph can just as well be applied to Crazy Horse Motorcycle.

Damn, irony is humorous!

As to the KM affair…good luck. Bringing out a slightly(?) modified model of a bike that was penned some 8 plus years ago at a higher price in a down market and economy smells of disaster. Doesn’t matter how good it may be.

Dealer requirements are wholly unrealistic. Anyone smart enough to have the wherewithal to meet the criteria are going to ask the hard questions (due diligence) regarding Indian’s financial stability etc etc.

All this talk about the company being in it for the long haul (10-20 years always gets bandied about) is pure fluff. What would you expect them to say? “We’re gonna hit it hard and fast and suck all the money out of everyone while the getting’s good”??? Seriously, their claim of the “long haul” is hollow and meaningless. Think of it from this angle: They may be in it for the long haul, but how can they expect a dealer to survive if the product is overpriced and can’t be supplied in the quantities that a dealer wants/requires? And that’s not even addressing the upfront costs they demand of dealer applicants.

I’ll believe it when I see it and not a nanosecond before. Their press releases have been too few and far between (and lacking ANYTHING of SUBSTANCE) for this writer to take heed.

You are the only person I have ever heard that doesn’t like the fenders and lines on the Chief.

As for $11K bikes, China, Korea and Japan make buttloads of ‘em. Just pick one out.

I am not a bit surprised that choppers are dying, never was a thing practical about them, besides being the epitomy of butt ugly, course that’s just my opinion, but it is evidently not in the minority or they would still be in demand.

Oh yeah, the Nighster looks alot like an Indian Scout, ‘cept it won’t run with it. The Scout, that’s your fast little streetfighter.

You know Wayne? Then you also know he was fishing for investors and not pouring millions of his CASH into his project.

The country needs an affordable Sportster kind of bike
with a bigger motor for about $11,000.
They would sell a ton of them.
But no they have to aim the rich garage keeper buyer
who sadly is leaving choppers to go on to ????
The Bourget and Texas Chopper buyer is fading fast.
I think its great that we have another American made
bike but it needs to look good and be affordable.
The last Indians were butt ugly like the Excelsior Henderson
and most Victorys.

Think about it
the coolest thing Harley makes now
is the Nightster. Tell Indian to make a
fast lil streetfighter thats reliable and affordable and there is a dealer nearby and they will have a hit.
Big ugly fat fender bikes with hard to find parts and not dealers is just
a bad idea from the start.

Homer, it’s a 150 tire on the Chief, I think. Can you confirm? No plans for anything over a 200 is what I heard – no room under the fender. Don’t know any specs on the planned Scout.
What’s the address for your site? I’d like to see it.

Did any of you current Gilroy bike owners complete a survey from the new Indian people about satisfaction, or lack thereof, with those bikes?

Hey stirstick, you obviously don’t know didly about modern Indian Chiefs.

The ‘02 through ‘04 Gilroy Chiefs are not softails. They have a proprietary frame and suspension system that shares absolutely nothing with any H-D softail or it’s many clones.

It’s handling simply embaresses softails, in fact it has a very sporting nature about it that belies it 700 plus pounds.

I have friends that are crotch rocket jockeys, and they have all been amazed at how well it handles.

Check your facts before making blanket statements.

dave, a PP105? scout is next on the block…i hope they use that fat tire design as an option like Gilroy was…their early plans called for about 50 Indian exclusive dealers in the next 3 yrs….well, not sure when that clock starts or started..