In December, Indian Motorcycle is going to open 6 new dealerships. In Omaha, NE. Pittsburg, PA. Detroit. MI. Paducah, KY. Wichita, KS, Phoenix, AZ. Each of the initial 50 Indian dealerships will feature interior space entirely devoted to selling and servicing Indians and official Indian parts and accessories and will be staffed by an experienced general manager/Indian enthusiast and factory-certified mechanics. Indian Motorcycle.
Update December 1, 08. Additional locations to open in 2009. Atlanta, GA. Tampa/St Pete, FL. Miami, FL. Minneapolis, MN.Scranton, PA. Boston, Mass. Dallas, TX. Las Vegas, NV. North Jersey, NJ. Indian Motorcycle has already a flagship dealership in Charlotte, NC opened last October.
Those guys must have money to burn. I wish them all the luck, thats one more American with a job.
Burning money is right……..what jackass is going to pay 35K for a 20K bike……..we’ll see how long they stay in business…
Any bets on how long they last……..?
Crazy Cowboy. You are crazy. There is more than $20,000 in parts on a Chief. Visibly you know nothing about building motorcycles, cost of parts and labor involved. Go back to your horse.
It’s because they sell their bikes 35 K that they will stay in business.
With limited production (which does make sense for a start-up) how many bikes is each dealer going to sell? It looks like it’s a large investment for a dealer with a small return. A big gamble in my opinion. I would think it’d be less of a risk to utilize some of the existing “Gilroy era” dealers who already have a facility and experience in the business. I would think the motorcycle business is rather lean right now but what do I know. I still wish them luck.
Hanz………u smell like rotten german deuche sausage……….you are the clueless one about parts on a bike………..there is nothing special about the new indians and everybody knows it……so if you think that there is 20K in parts you have been eating too much kraut………there is maybe 13K to 15K at MOST in parts and labor in parts on that scoot……..Harleys sell for 18K out the door and they make money….ever thought about that one?
I was in the business for over 35 years and I am know safely retired…….and I get to make fun of amateurs like you.
Hey Patrick……….you need to go out and buy a 20K bike for 35K……….and come back and tell us how you liked getting it in the b…tt by your buds at indian….and how you didn’t even get a kiss…….
Ride on girls…..ride on…..
Crazy Cowboy. You just confirmed that you know nothing about building motorcycles. Have you ever thought that a limited number of bikes means higher part costs. Your insults to Hanz show 1- that you are prejudiced based on a 1st name. How do you know he is not American? 2- If you can duplicate a Chief using the same parts for less than 20 K , for example 17 K (you want to make a profit, right?), do it. Call Indian and do it front of them. They will have a good laugh. Me too. BTW, 1- give us your full name & credentials so that we know what you built in your active life. Or are you a forever complete unknown in the business? 2- Nobody is safely retired.
Patty…..shame on you…limited production???..that means NOTHING!!
The only reason why Indian is calling the bikes limited production is so they can make more money on the same product that they would sell for less money. It is the oldest trick in the book. I guess they think that they can fancy label it and people will want it more. Please…..try again, but not today.
As for the Indians, they are nothing more special than a Harley……….except Harleys are half the price!!! Profit??!!! You tell me!! Like I said, Harley is doing it very well and I assure you that the Harley part is much higher in quality than the “so called limited” production parts that Indian is using.
As for whom I am, don’t worry about it. Whom I am is not important. What you should be worried about are your ridiculous posts here on this blog trying to defend your employer Indian. Yes, we all know that you work for Indian and you are trying to make a stand for them. I seriously feel for you due to the fact that you have a huge task at hand trying to fend-off the obvious.
Only if you guys weren’t as greedy and like they say between greed and stupidity there is a fine line. Maybe your “owners” will figure out the American rider has caught on to your rip-off tactics.
Good luck Patty……I feel for you.
Hmm….. so NO dealers in Florida or California?
Good plan- those aren’t really big biker states anyway………..(!)
Crazy Cow…I think you want to buy an Indian Chief but have only 20 K. So you made up a story trying to convice yourself that an Indian is worth only 20 K. It may works for you..
You are confused old cowboy. I don’t wotk for Indian. But for a Harley dealer…and I still like the Chief.
Sure you do Patty….sure you do. We ALL believe that one.
I’m sure you do like the chief Patty….after all, you work for Indian…..don’t you?!….right?!
You better start looking for a new job soon Patty…….cause things are going to get UGLIER for Indian sooner than later….it’s going to be a long winter. No sales, no money for the honey Patty.
Crazy Cowboy out.
I see where Indian is opening a dealership in Detroit. I believe the economy in Detroit is the worst in the country. I don’t see any possible way that an Indian dealer can make a profit in a stand alone dealership.
What a joke, Indian is dead…died in 1953 RIP…remember Gilroy…Wayne BachmaN
Quoting crazycowboy: Whom I am is not important.
Agreed. And by default, the spewage seeping from your empty piehole. Thanks for providing the comic relief though!
Indian, Stephen Julius and Steve Heese, and their employees deserve more respect than you have shown for the dedication that has gone into turning the brand around. I wish them the best-o-luck.
Wake up, Rodent. Indian is well and alive.
Support the motorcycle industry. Support Indian.
Long live Indian!
Quit fighting kids ! I`m trying to take a nap .
Thank you CrazyCowboy. I think I now have a better understanding of the illogical mind. Medicare, Social Security, bailing out GM – it all is stating to make some sort of twisted sense.
I know you must be relieved that there is no law requiring anyone to buy an Indian. Therefore, – and this is really important – only people that want to spend $33,000 on an Indian will do so. I may not – but I do wish all those who do so well. I will admire the bike, and be thankful for the jobs their purchases support.
To be fair and logical, I am thankful for the jobs you support in the psychiatric field.
Professor “Lugnut” spare us with the intellectual jargon……….
Truthfully, the only “nut” here is you……..I take it that you are also part of the Indian rescue crew???!!!……….Please Professor……..I think that you are a day late and a dollar short…..I seriously don’t think that Indian will be included in the bailout package……..what do you think Professor???…Please tell us….we are all dying to know how such a sophisticated mind like your thinks……..
Let me guess Professor…………you won the Nobel Prize??……am I right??
Get a life…..dude….
Crazy Cowboy out.
Do I want to see Indian succeed? Yes, but it seems like the way they are doing it is all backasswards. There is a place for the high-dollar flagship bikes but at the same time they need a weapon to go after their competitors (H-D & Victory) and build a bike in the $12,000-$17,500 catergory that will appeal to a bigger majority of the bike riders out there. Dunno about you all out there but I’m not rich but if the time ever came for a new motorcycle I could afford a bike that was in the $12,000-$17,500 price range as opposed to $30,000+ for a bike. Just my opinion…
Cowboy. 1- I don’t believe one second that you are retired from the industry. 2- Any company is in business to make money. 3- An Indian Chief, the way the new company built it, can’t be sold for 20 K. or they wouyld sell it at this price. 4- You can’t afford a 35K motorcycle. 5- They will not need a bailout, buy you need to be intellectually rescued because you don’t sound very bright when expressing your comments. Rescuing a brand is to keep it alive, not pleasing idiots like you who have no clue about business and would bankrupt any company in less than 3 months. I agree with one of the comments above. To support Indian is to support the motorcycle industry. We all know that cowboys don’t like Indians. Indian Motorcycle doesn’t need you.
Been watching the Indian fiasco for the last 20 years–who has the marks? Or are they still scattered across the planet? Remember the past attempts? What happened? Do we learn EVER? I hope it is successful this time, but the customer service area is the major area for sure! There are people out there with money-remember RUBS??? They are still there! It’s not like the old days where service was the thing-now it’s all money-no knowledge! Know how to change your oil? How about CHECK the level? hahahahahahahaha I’ve had to deal with the idiots that call themselves “bikers” since Harley went Corporate-think about it-now Indian? please Tmanmaui
Sweet!
Long Live America’s Original Motorcycle.
First cloned in 1903.
Oh, for the record…I would be willing to bet that crazy cowboy is part of the pathetic crazy horse crew.
sad dudes for sure.
Indian was not America’s original motorcycle and they quit making them in 1953. However I do wish the New Indian Motorcycle company well. But they should’nt be making claims as “America’s First”
or “Since 1901” as they weren’t, and there was more time between then and now when they were out of production. But maybe they will vindicate themselves this time by staying alive and everyone will be eating their words. On the same note, they weren’t first cloned in 1903 either. If the reference is being made to Harley, their first motorcycle (first marketed in 1905) didn’t look at all like Indian’s early “Camelback” style bikes.
Whether you love or hate the Indian Motorcycle is totally immaterial here ….. I am just glad to see someone with the balls to open any new dealership and risk the financial exposure in today’s motorcycle environment. I say “Good Luck” to them.
Over & Out,
Jeff
Crazy Cow Boy comments are worth nothing. He is a well known basher of Indian all over the net because of professional jealousy. I wish a lot of success to the new Indian company.
I wish them the best i really liked the 99-2000 Chiefs with the S&S motors they where real nice rides .and i think they where going for twentys back then .When ever somebody builds something in the USA that”s great for us all .GOOD LUCK
Yeah, great BIG balls! I wish success to all the dealers. Also, J, someone might put a satellite dealership in CA and FL? It could happen! I kid. peace
Oh goody, their gonna open another Indian dealership in Dallas. Let’s see, the first one in Dallas went bankrupt, so did the second one, so did the third one, but the 4th one, oh yeah, it went bankrupt as well. Let me guess, it’s a car dealership guy….so were 2 of the last 4. Those guys will never learn. Good luck.
RE:
“… Indian was not America’s original motorcycle …”
Hmmmm…..??
Lets see now.
At the turn of the last century the bicycle racers were using powered bicycles to draft behind.
At first these things were so slow and unreliable that the racers could sometimes peddle past them.
But as motorized bikes were improved they became commercially viable as a commodity.
Certainly, there were many “garage” builders in that era.
However, as an advertised commercial venture, as i understand it, Indian was the first in the US.
I could be mistaken (but i doubt it)
-nicker-
If I must be succinct, they were America’s first PRODUCTION motorcycle, thus Americas first. My ” first cloned in 1903″ statement is a tongue-in cheek,light-hearted jab at Harley and not meant as an exact reference.
I love Indian motorcycles and I’m thrilled they are making a serious go. I do worry about this terrible economy, and the fact that our government thinks throwing gasoline on the flames via socialist corporate bailouts is gonna fix things when in fact will only throw us inot a depression, but I hope Indian builds a quality bike and it’s reputation is restored.
I believe the first production motorcycle in the USA was built in 1898 and by 1901 there were several manufacturers. I could be wrong. None of these early manufacturers lasted more than a few years which may lead some to think Indian was the first. I guess my point is the “hype” the new company claims which sorta implies they were in constant production and are tied to the original company. I ride the old ones and I own several Harleys as well, but all these “claims” are a real turn off. If I were to spend that kind of money on a bike, I’d buy an original and have money left over. I’m not saying the new ones aren’t worth it as I haven’t seen them in person. Just that I wouldn’t buy one. I do wish the company well and hope they last this time but I think the jury’s still out….
OK, I wanted to make sure I was correct. America’s first commercially mass produced and advertized motorcycle was the Orient in 1898. They were also the first to use the word “Motorcycle” in their advertising that same year. So I guess you could say they were America’s First Motorcycle. Prior to this, they had been making motorized pacer bikes since about 1895. There was also the Marsh which was advertised and mass produced in 1900 but Mr. Marsh had been experimenting with motorized bicycles long before this. These were both well known brands in their day. This is bona fide, not like Harley which produced a few castings in 1903 and didn’t market a motorcycle until 1905 but that’s another story….
MADE BY AMERICANS IN AMERICA …………..ENOUGH SAID
GOOD LUCK AND MUCH SUCESS TO INDIAN
I agree with J that leaving Florida and Calif off the list of dealers is not a wise move, but it’s there $$. I don’t agree that just because the bikes are $35k that is a sign they are going to make it….yes the rich will still buy toys in a recession, but do the rich want to throw their easy earned monies at another Indian?
We’ll see.
Frank
And on a side note…..geez guys, grow up and quit yer bitchin’, I can’t believe all the sniping going on here!! Whaddya all married to each other?
Lyle, your facts seem correct, but Indian is still considered the First Production m/c because of the mass production Hendee and Hendstrom did in Springfield.
My point is there were other producers of motorcycles in 1901 that far exceeded Indians production. What is Indian’s definition of “mass production?” I think they made 2 bikes in 1901. By then each of those other companies were producing hundreds in the US. Indian didn’t’ get into that level until 1904 or so. Even the original factory literature never said “America’s First Motorcycle.” I have some old ads that say “America’s Pioneer Motorcycle,” but that means something entirely different as you can be a pioneer (one of the first) without being the “first.” I don’t have anything against Indian, and those that know me know I’m probably one of the biggest Indian enthusiests out there, but if I hear BS, I’ll call em on it. And that’s what it is: BS. Indian’s early claim to fame had more to do with racing than production. I wish them well, but they have nothing to do with the original company. There does seem to be enough hype over the new ones so maybe they can sell enough to stay afloat (no pun intended for Chris Craft, another good old brand that they own too). I really hope so. We all love the brand which is why we’re all passionate about the subject.
Oooops…..!
RE:
“…I could be mistaken (but i doubt it)…”
Sorry, looks like i WAS mistaken…. 🙁
see:….http://www.gwrramassw.org/trike_history.pdf
“… Although a gentleman named Pennington built some machines around 1895 (it’s uncertain whether any of them actually ran), the first US production motorcycle was the Orient-Aster, built by the Metz Company in Waltham, Massachusetts in 1898. It used an Aster engine that was a French-built copy of the DeDion-Buton, and predated Indian (1901) by three years, and Harley-Davidson (1902) by four…”
-nicker-
Crazy, definitely. Cowboy………doubt it. Obviously 35 years in the “business” and you didn’t learn a thing except how to display your lack of respect and intelligence to other people in this forum. The truth is you were probably canned, but why the h*** do I care.
Did you ever think that HD can sell a bike for 18k because they make more money on merchandise than they do bikes? C’mon now I don’t have a preference for ANY “mainstream production” bike, and I’m not raggin on HD, but let’s be honest here HD sells more freakin T-Shirts in a day than they’ve sold bikes since 1905.
I am looking for the day that a TRUE AMERICAN designed, manufactured, and assembled motorcycle with technology and innovation that is “off the chart” and not some overpriced 100 year designs that are still being marketed as something unique.
I think Indian needs to follow HD’s success plan with selling “the lifestyle” and HD needs to focus more on up to date designs. Neither are perfect and neither are junk. Both NEED improvement.
With this economy, it comes down to who is better at selling the merchandise(image). Besides cowpolk, whatta you ride, or do you……
Cowboy you stick to the farm and let us “real bikers” worry about what Indian is doing/not doing.
For the past few years, Indian Motorcycle’s engineering staff, led by VP of Engineering Nick Glaja, have logged thousands of hours developing, evaluating and refining each and every engineering detail. Rigorous testing continues until each component has proven its durability and performance. There will be no rush to market. Mr. Glaja, also a motorcycling industry veteran, was Principal Engineer of Powertrain Technology at Harley-Davidson before joining Indian.
I looked at opening an Indian Franchise. 10,000 sq. ft. required and over $1.5 Million plus parts and inventory financing. You have to sell 5O units per year to break even. If you want a better chance at making money, give it to Madoff.
Good Luck Indian Dealers. You will need it.
Indian is opening two Fl dealers this year and three or four in Cali. I have no problem paying the $$$ for a hand assembled bike….unlike the CVO stuff from HD that’s put together by a bunch of $8/hr former McDonalds workers. Dealers in the metro areas won’t have any trouble selling 50+ units….there won’t be a dealer every 500 yards like the “other” American bike manufacturer. I rode the ’09 at the opening in Charlotte…..great product and looked fabulous. I wish Indian all the best…and put me on the list to buy one.
Hey, don’t know what all the arguing is about, this is a company trying to bring back a bit of nostalgia to the motorcycling world. I say good for them and I wish them well in their endevor. next, what is all the fuss about what they want to charge for their bikes, it’s up to the consumer wether or not they want to buy one. Guy’s will go out and spend a fortune on cloned automobiles( e.g. Shelby’s,Chargers, Z-28’s ect. ) so why not a bike. I personally could not afford one but if I could, the vintage Chief looks pretty damn good to me. So in my opinion, in today’s world the way the economy is anything that keeps people employed aqnd happy is O.K. in my book.
Ken Withers
Guelph, Ontario.
Canada.
In my opinion anybody buying a bike for 15-20k; hell even 10k is out of their mind. If you have a garage and can work on your bike or customize your own 1k- 4k bike then thats American spirit and ingenuity. Your also still supporting the dealers by buying parts.
I about threw up at the dmv the other day watching this guy practice his test to get his first license on a 40k bike. Could not even keep it from wobbling.
Get your hands dirty and your knuckles bloody and build your bike. Harley and Indian are both overrated and over priced. Hey look Im a BIker cause I bought a new Harley. Maybe I should buy some shiny Harley boots to go with my new ride.
I do hope Indian can stay around this time, but give me a classic anytime and chop and rock.
Ride on and ride what you want. Bigger the bike smaller the banana.