Comments on: 2 New Indian Motorcycles. Chief Bomber And Chief Dark Horse.

By: areyakiddin?

areyakiddin? — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 21:56:46 +0000

Geez, this is exactly what is wrong with people who ride bikes. Bikers, yuppies, shanks, wanks, boyz and chix there is room for everyone. Who cares if you’re a yuppie and have a job and *gosh* “only ride on weekends”. What, now if you ride 8 hours a day you’re somehow better than everyone else??? Folks, you’ve all seen too many movies (sadly not the good ones, either). Bikers, and all the other riders are just out having fun on a motorcycle—why not just leave it at that? Some people drive trucks all day (called–*gasp!* truckers), are people who drive pickups not as good b/c they don’t make a living from them? People who fly planes are called (surprise, surprise…PILOTS) oooooh, so weekend flyers are somehow suspect??? This tiresome argument is so stupid it truly belies any kind of common sense whatsoever. Indian is re-creating a cool brand that was around a looong time ago, so what if it is costly? If you want one, buy it. If you prefer a Harley, go ahead! Hey want a sport bike? I say “go for it!” I like the fact that in AMERICA we get to choose most things for ourselves, including what we drive. I say choose for yourself, it’s your money and you are free to decide.
BTW, I couldn’t care less what you ride and how often, it does not take away from my enjoyment of it one way or the other. Couldn’t care less what you wear either (long as it aint MY clothes…haha). I find very little more satisfying than chatiing with and looking at bikes, knock-offs, one- offs, oldies, customs and clunkers. Who cares? I’d drive a couple hundred miles to see em.

I like bikes PERIOD!

By: Mark

Mark — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 03:58:25 +0000

I ride a 2000 Indian Chief Silver Cloud and a 2005 Honda VTX. I’ve riden all kinds of bikes from HD’s, metrics, wings, sport and dirt….The best part of riding an Indian is the eclusitivity of it. Whether I’m getting gas, stopped at a light, pulled up at Sonic for eats, I “ALWAYS” and I mean ALWAYS have someone come up to admire my bike. This ocassionally happened on the others, but NEVER, to the extent that I recieve on my Indian. Everyone can buy a Harley, they were the #1 seller in the WORLD last year even OUTSELLING Honda if you can believe that (274k to 262k). They are wonderfull bikes but EVERYONE has one, their like roaches, EVERYWHERE!!! I ride to ride, but i also want something no one else has….that is what riding is about, at least for me. Ride Safe, no matter what your ride is.

By: William Conklin

William Conklin — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 23:18:06 +0000

Indian did an awesome job on this scooter! The Vtwin, Transmission and Limited Edition is outstanding! Thumbs Up!

By: indianlover

indianlover — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 22:07:20 +0000

GREAT LOOKING BIKE!! we have a 03 indian scout and a 46 chief,and its all american.
thanks guys and great JOB!

By: MichiganMike

MichiganMike — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 01:01:36 +0000

Hey, Hey , Hey you guys! the one’s that are saying how great Indian is…….the one thing that makes people look first is the full front fender with the Indian Head perched on it. The next thing is the beautiful Indian logo, which makes the H-D log look mundane.
I can buy a used Kawasaki Drifter for under 7,000 , put the Indian head on it and the script on the tank and then I have something I can ride 50,000 + miles without having to work on it except to change oil and tires. I don’t think that 30,000 dollars is too much for the newest Indian…..they won’t be making that many of them, and you pay extra for that feature.

By: Old Indian Rider

Old Indian Rider — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 21:25:48 +0000

I like Rob Goulet am from Canada. I ride a 2003 Chief Springfield that initiates conversation every where I go. The more experienced at life have a “I remember my sisters boyfriend owned one Dad hated him but liked the bike”, to the croch rocket crowd that ask “Who makes Indian?” Then in Thunder Bay , Ont. there was the 78 year old on his 2008 HD decker that drooled at the chief then got up to show me the Buddy Saddle off his 48 Chief mounted on the decker saying he gets it recovered every 15-20 years. Nothing about the Indian is mundane or common that is why Gilroy and KM want to follow the inspiration from Springfield. The concept of the new BOMBER is Great!! with the black out sections and clasic lines tank-n-fender graphics (can different icons be choosen eg. Betty Boop??) I may need to give up on other dream toys to deposit into the new Bomber jar of course by the time it has much in it the cruiser may take priority as I to am antiquing and like the comfort although any more than the Springfield could put you to snoozin.. Hurry On Calmly K/M INDIAN!!!

By: Exclusive Close-Up Look At The New Indian Motorcycle Chief Bomber at Cyril Huze Blog

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 03:35:42 +0000

[...] I posted a few days ago, Indian Motorcycles is releasing 2 brand new 2010 models. The Indian Chief Bomber [...]

By: Brenda Fox

Brenda Fox — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 15:27:09 +0000

Awesome photo — props to the photog!

By: 2 New Indian Motorcycles. Chief Bomber And Chief Dark Horse. at … | BikesRegion.Com

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 16:44:04 +0000

[...] See more here: 2 New Indian Motorcycles. Chief Bomber And Chief Dark Horse. at … [...]

By: OkieSam

OkieSam — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 17:20:05 +0000

1. I can afford one of these bikes. That doesn’t mean I’m going to waste my money on one.
2. They don’t appeal to me. My Softail, Sporty, and Ultra appeal to me.
3. I don’t see the value in a bike that is, once again, a start-up with no substantial dealer network, parts or accessories
4.

By: bigalyts

bigalyts — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 02:29:11 +0000

i lOVE IT WHEN WE “VENT” , BOYZ ! There sounds like a lot of Angry, and Grief Strickin Dealer and Builders on Cyril’s Blog ! I think that the Bottom Line is that Indian is Out There Developing and Moving forward while the rest of you “Einsteins” and “Yves St. Laurent” designers are Intellectualizing Indian , while you are Playing with Your PUTZ’s ! Get out there Find a Cheaper Way to make a Bike Look like what most Cruisers Buyers want for bETWEEN $20 to $30 Grand. It sounds like The Public needs a Bike that can Fit a Guy that is 6′5″ and a Napolean 5′5” Dood. If you can do that you will be in Front of everyone for starters. Make a True 100 HP Rear Wheel Motor out of the Box is another Feature that all will want and make it Ride, Handle and Stop like a Fricken 14,000 Yamaha Warrior and you will have another What People want Feature and now what is left………….. Paint and Sheet metal with different looks that can adapt on this One Model and I Think you will have a WINNER ! NOW WHO IS GOING TO BE THE VISIONARY TO BUILD IT????????????? i WILL BE lOOKING?

By: A 1 cycles

A 1 cycles — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:37:54 +0000

i make my living building customs, changing oil, tires, dyno tuning, a true one stop shop….but i have a professional boxer customer..hes 6′ 7″ and he has one of the last gilroy chiefs with the bottle cap motor, we extended the floorboards 3inches and i can barley reach the brake pedal (im 6′ tall)i love when his bike comes in for service! i have full blown air ride customs, bobbers, sportbikes with nitrous, but i admit when i ride that chief..its special, its nice, it runs strong, it stops well, and people stare costantly, at lights i get the thumbs up! its universally recognized as a true motorcycle, they might not know its an indian but i think they see the fenders and the size of it and go gaga for it…dont know but i enjoy riding it…its not my bike. i dont get attatched to bikes, but i do enjoy that one.

By: Rob Goulet

Rob Goulet — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 06:44:29 +0000

Great looking bikes…..I own The only Canadian 2000 Indian Chief Silvercloud …..An proud of it….To all the ones that don’t like the Indian Motorcycles……..it’s probably cause of the price…..so if that’s the reason go by 1 Sporter from Harley Davidson and drive an 883 cc motorcycle and brag that you ride a Harley…Big deal!!!! If you can’t afford it but you like it …Don’t talk against Indian motorcycle…..Remember They invented the Electric Start you guys would still be Kick Starting your Harleys……..Indian is going in the right direction…..It’s like a Ferrari not alot of people rides them….thats why they are special…Same thing with Indian……Everybody can buy a Harley!!!…and a Honda ….and a Yamaha …..etc.

Remember a Chief is always the Leader.

By: GThompson

GThompson — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 03:22:12 +0000

Well now that Pop said all that I don’t have to

Thanks Pop

By: David

David — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 03:17:37 +0000

Rodent youyr right!!! Jeff your right!!! Nicker your right!!
But you see “I’m Glad..I’m Glad… Michael Jackson’s dead”.
Also you all know the price of oil is slightly inflated so the cost of Flat black,OD green and Flat sliver Krylon HAS GONE UUUPPP!!! This justifies the cost!!!

David

By: Pop

Pop — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 02:12:37 +0000

I don’t knock the builder / assembler. It takes a real eye to pull something different out of two wheels a frame and a V twin. You can look at a parking lot full of customs and most of the time one or two will be real top shelf stuff, tricky or just plain dead nuts got it right. Art can flow out of a hammer and a gas axe as much as a paint brush and an easel and a quality motorcycle can rise out of a single 75 watt light bulb shed as well as a clean room mock up facility.

Then there’s the Chief. Maybe if Springfield hadn’t been run into the ground by such a bunch of corrupt neanderthals and they had held the company together there wouldn’t be a mystique, maybe the valenced fenders and the leather wouldn’t draw a crowd like it does, hell, maybe the valence and the Deco kitch woulda been wrung out of the brand by now . That’s the what if but this here is the now.

It looks like it does because that’s what it is. Don’t matter where your mama pumped you out or what god you get on your knees for, if you have an iota of motorcycle in you then by the time you get close enough to an Indian to read the tank badge you are just confirming what you knew from 100 feet away. It’s an Indian. Period.

That didn’t happen by accident. You can see things on the Gilroys and the KMs that are in your face tells to the brand heritage and they are that way for one reason only; to sell it. It worked for Gilroy (wasn’t sales volume that fragged those nitwits) and if appearances are any indication from the foot traffic at events and dealership open houses it’s working for KM today. Thing is, you get a litle closer, past the “eat off the primary chrome” and the electrolux bells and whistles, you cozy up to the bottlecap mill, punish the inverted swingarm, stretch out like a big man deserves to on a machine made for an adult and you know you are riding something entirely different from Springfield, different from HD, different from anything else. Is it worth 30, 35 large? If I didn’t have one I might think so. I thought it was worth 25 in ‘03 and that was six years ago. I got mine and can’t justify the outlay now but I can take either side of the cost argument.

Pop doesn’t often hammer on other riders and their particular merits. Asphalt takes yups and outlaws same same, but as a persnal benchmark, recessions and the state of the economy are of little importance is the decisionmaking process where hot wimmin and hot motorsickles is concerned. One of the happy coinkadinks of life is that the more the lousy economy influences your notion to get iron between your legs, the more machines and highway you leave for those of us that don’t let the small stuff wad up our BVDs.

Lat thing. The Indian motorcycle is an OEM machine with all the R&D and regulatory muck that goes with it. It costs what is costs for a variety of reasons and likening it to a shop custom is apples and oranges. It’s an ignorant comparison, not ignorat pinheaded, just ignorant in a lack of thinking it all the way through kind of way.

By: nicker

nicker — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 02:07:57 +0000

OK but words mean something.
So, lets choose our words appropriately.

Regarding the Thousands of people, (not Indian):

RE:
“… Thousands of people now a day’s build “one off customs” Its no big deal anymore to do so. Get a grip on reality man!…”

Well, it’s not a big deal because they don’t “build”…. they “assemble.”
That’s not to say folks don’t have fun assembling a scooter.

However, with respect to “one off customs” the issue is creativity and execution
Bolting a scooter together is called “building” only if painting by-the-numbers can be called “art.”

-nicker-

By: Indian Rider

Indian Rider — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:38:39 +0000

Harley is the new Honda… nothing too special about Harley’s these days… everyone and their yuppy suit and tie brother duuring the week has one.. Love the costumes they sell over at Harley too.. “Dress up like a bad ass over the weekend!!!!”
“BE PART OF THE BROTHERHOOD!” What a bunch of insecure people that feel they NEED TO BELONG to something” Why not get a premium bike like an Indian and lose the Baditude. Harley riders.. it’s ok if you let go!!! Really it is!!! Get something that will actually get attention and not get lost in the crowd.

By: rdawsoniii

rdawsoniii — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:53:52 +0000

As beautiful as these bikes are in the picture, I’ll bet they are twice that in person.

I fear however, that these bikes are going to end up as “Garage Queens”. Nothing inherently wrong with that, but I was hoping Indian’s new models would be something different. A sporty Scout for example, or a basic sub-$20,000 Chief (still more expensive than most bikes yet also not priced out of reach of riders who want to separate themselves from the Harley crowd). Bikes that are meant to be ridden everyday, not just on holidays or to bike shows.

Can’t wait to see pics of the Dark Horse. I’m also glad to see Indian red will be a standard color on the new Chief Classic.

(sigh) Someday……..

By: Marcel Dumont

Marcel Dumont — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:25:24 +0000

Belles machines…Superbes

By: Jeff Nicklus

Jeff Nicklus — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 22:29:29 +0000

Really more interested in the airplane …. looks like a Beech C-18S (AKA: Beechcraft Model 18 or Twin Beech)… the bird is worth way, way more than the scooters ….. and is better looking ….. in my humble opinion.

I was at Luke AFB a number of years ago and had the privilege of watching one of these old birds do a high speed pass ….very cool ….. not an F22 but cool none the less.

Over & Out,

Jeff

By: Craig (Warchild)

Craig (Warchild) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 19:58:38 +0000

Danny –
Nice to see you pop up again –
I like seeing the new rides, and Indian out there being conservative in thier marketing. Tight product to the right clients, they know who we are. They don’t have to notch up to Harley, every once else is sniffing around behind Harley. I happen to own a 2002 Indian chief w/PP Plus, and love the beast. I love the looks my Indian gets everywhere it goes – and I get to go along. From Arizona to Maryland & it is not everyones’ type of ride – but its mine – choices and options make it all go around –

rubber side down, wind in your face, and sunny days ahead -

Craig

By: Danny C Flucke Jr

Danny C Flucke Jr — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 18:21:41 +0000

If bobfather considers himself a “custom builder” – So be it. Here in SoCal every biker hangout is filled with “customs” and the crowds still always gather around the Indians….

If Indian wants to build Chiefs for $30k – So be it. There are plenty of riders with the cash to buy one. If you aren’t one – That’s okay. As long as you are riding now – Maybe things will change down the road…

If badmonkey likes to fantasize about men in circle jerks – So be it. In phsyc 101 waaaaay back in college we learned most accusations actually hide hidden desires. Seems with all his “gay this and gay that bashing” he should just find himself a nice boyfriend and spend weekends gobbling the goop. Of course I could be wrong. Maybe he’s just bi-curious….

As a Gilroy Indian rider – I have to say the quality and fit/finish of the KM Indians puts my ride – And all my previous six HD’s to shame.

Anyone who says they aren’t worth the money is right. This ride is not for you.

Out of all the riders I know who have actually ridden a KM Chief – Myself included – Not one stated it wasn’t worth the money. Times may be too tight – But if they could – They’d get one. Maybe the current rebates will help. (Up to $5000 off the standard Chief brings it under $25k)

And it seems KM has deep enough pockets to wait for the right buyers who have the cash.

Me? I’ve got my Indian. The new VMax is next. Then again – I’m hearing rumors about a full on touring Chief with ABS, GPS, the works – To compete for the UltraGlide/Goldwing crowd.

Hmmmmmmm………………..

Work hard and ride safe…. Thanx, D

By: Rock Star

Rock Star — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 17:44:37 +0000

timing is everything. the boomers love affair with 1930’s nostalgia is over… just ask HD’s 10K.

Indian should have taken Victory’s approach & pushed it even further.

By: Rodent

Rodent — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 17:16:33 +0000

Indian died in 1953 and is still dead…Michael Jacksonis deadalso

By: PPChief

PPChief — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 15:39:46 +0000

You have to ride one and FEEL the difference, there is nothing else to compare it to. The Chief is, as someone stated above, a big bike that a full sized adult (or 2) can be comfortable on, not like the feeling of being perched on top of an HD (Yes, I have both- both are baggers) and especially the performance, both in handling and power. I suppose you could bring an HD up to that level, but it would cost way more than just buying the Indian to begin with. If you haven’t ridden one, you should.
(Most Indian dealers will arrainge a test ride for you if you call in advance – Try that at your brand x dealer)
Price is subjective… It’s what you get and how you feel about it. If nothing else, owning one of these will restore the passion.

By: Who Cares

Who Cares — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 13:54:49 +0000

I dont own an Indian nor do I want to. But you wont see me talking crap about Indian Motor Co. just so I can make myself look like I have done some wonderful thing by bolting a bike together and calling it a “one off custom”. Thousands of people now a day’s build “one off customs” Its no big deal anymore to do so. Get a grip on reality man!

Now to actually manufacture a real product that uses your own engine, tranny, and frame, that takes time, money, and alot of smart and talented people to pull it off.

Do you have that BadMonkeyMW ? If so, please let us all know where to find and or buy your product .

If you cant show your product, then you and Bob can continue “Bobbing” eachother, you wanna be.

By: Rickkcir

Rickkcir — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 13:43:35 +0000

I just ordered a Vintage model …. would really like to see what the Dark Horse model looks like before I pick mine up ( in 2 weeks ) .. .anyone seen any pics?!!?!?!

$$.. I think they are expensive, but I refuse to buy a Harley. 1) EVERYONE who thinks they are someone, rides it. 2) They are physcially smaller. At 6′4, 290, the Chief actually fits me What a Concept. I was preparing to commit to the purchase of a Boss Hoss when I heard Indian was ‘back’ …

If you can’t afford it… go buy a used Harley …. sorry

By: Churchburner

Churchburner — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 13:42:10 +0000

Indian or not.. Nice looking bikes.. too much moolah!

By: BadMonkeyMW

BadMonkeyMW — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 13:05:59 +0000

A question for Who Cares, Icy, & J: Who’s the pivot man in your yuppie circle jerk? Or do you take turns? If any of you three had half a clue about what you’re talking about you’d be dangerous.

You should each buy one of the Indians and go ride them at the head of the gay pride parade. You go girls!!!!