The Return Of Indian Motorcycle Company On The West Coast

On April 17 & 18th, it will be a west coast premiere for Indian Motorcycle Company. Its return to California with the Indian Motorcycle Los Angeles grand opening.

The new dealership is located under the same roof as California Harley-Davidson at 1521 Pacific Coast Highway in Harbor City. Using a “team built” concept (the same 2 people build the bike from scratch to finish), in 2009 Indian Motorcycles produced fewer than 500 bikes. For this year they project they project in the neighborhood of 600 motorcycles.

The new Indian Motorcycles company positions itself as the manufacturer with the highest quality motorcycle on the market. It is rumored that for 2011, new models will be released within and outside the Chief model platform. Did you think Indian Scout? For those who intend to participate to the festivities, there will be an antique Indian Motorcycle show, the line-up 5 Chief models test rides, opportunity drawings, a food fair, a beer garden, Lee Rocker playing (the legendary upright bassist of the Stray Cats), etc. More info at Indian Motorcycle Of Los Angeles.

23 Responses to “The Return Of Indian Motorcycle Company On The West Coast”


  1. 1 Fredp Apr 4th, 2010 at 12:47 pm

    Not an efficient, quality,or profitable way to build production bikes, fellas!! Time to read up and learn Lean manufacturing and 5 “s” programs.

  2. 2 jatinder pal Apr 5th, 2010 at 12:27 am

    The only way INDIAN can bounce back is by creating new products,Its as simple as that.Look at the VICTORY,they are getting bigger and bigger day by day.

    Indian cannot sell their bikes in volume with parts that any one get and build his own INDIAN.

    Please do justice to the Historic INDIAN marque.

  3. 3 Bigalyts Apr 5th, 2010 at 8:34 am

    I believe you are Possibly correct, jatinder pal . Indian either has surrendered to the place in the V-Twin market of building a 1000 Bikes a year and ask and sell forTop Do$$ar . The other way is to use their Indian style to introduce some New Models, instead of some variations at a lesser price !!

  4. 4 heavy-duty Apr 5th, 2010 at 9:16 am

    You can call it whatever you want, you can ‘build’ them wherever you want but a real Springfield Indian Motocycle hasn’t been built since 1953 nor can another ever be ‘built’ again. Just because you badge it an Indian doesn’t mean that it ‘is’ an Indian. I don’t blame entrepreneurs for trying to resuscitate the Indian – they’re beautiful – but it ain’t gonna happen. Not in Kings Mountain and not in LA.

  5. 5 keith Apr 5th, 2010 at 9:40 am

    You mean like when AMF rebadged Harleys?

  6. 6 MDK Apr 5th, 2010 at 11:53 am

    I’ve been saying from day one of the newest Indian that they are way over priced and that will be their undoing! The local dealer still has new bikes from over a year ago and they can’t unload them but the Victories and Triumphs are selling because they are reasonably priced.

  7. 7 sidewinder Apr 5th, 2010 at 12:47 pm

    This is how TITAN was doing there production years back. It just doesnt work on an efficiency model. It is nice to think 1-2 guys custom built your bike for quality but for a business model it has its flaws.

  8. 8 Troy Apr 5th, 2010 at 3:27 pm

    RE: The new dealership is located under the same roof as California Harley-Davidson at 1521 Pacific Coast Highway in Harbor City.

    I thought all Indian dealerships were going to be stand alone businesses??? Not that I really care, just saying….

    Good luck!

  9. 9 Harley guy Apr 5th, 2010 at 8:00 pm

    Great to hear from all you motorcycle supporters out there. All your positive comments are really helping the economy, and putting a constructive spin on the industry. I’ve seen the Indians. Dave Perowitz told me personally that the engines they are making perform to incredible standards. Under testing they achieved exactly to the specifications as they were advertised. They are beautiful to look at, fun to ride, and because of the way they are constructed, have the essence of a custom bike. They are expensive, but that’s relative. These will be collectors items someday, simply because of their low production numbers. By not over doing the numbers produced, they won’t find themselves in the same bind that Harley is in right now. I’ve always been a Harley supporter, but it’s always good to have an alternative. Good luck to ’em. Old Indians Never Die, and hopefully the new ones will be around for a while.

  10. 10 09 Indian Rider Apr 5th, 2010 at 10:36 pm

    Interesting to see the Indian / Harley Wars are finally, completely over.
    Sharing dealerships is a sign of the new age of motorcycling.
    KOOM-BYE YAH Lord KOOM-BYE-YAH.

    From my own experience I will say if you are buying a new Indian for its collectors vallue that would be a mistake if the trade in offered on the one I rode is any indication.

    As for not over doing production numbers?
    Well if the numbers on the 09 sales are any indication they might think about cutting back on last years production as there are QUITE a number of 09s left in the dealerships under another last ime special offer.

    No matter–Good Luck Indian in California it’s a hard trail you are getting ready to ride.
    Wish you the best.

    Happy Trails to you and all Indian Riders.

  11. 11 09 Indian Rider Apr 5th, 2010 at 10:51 pm

    Oh–quick question Harley Guy.
    Does Perowitz work for Indian?
    Or does he own a Stellican Indian?

    As for the low prduction numbers keeping Indian out of the “bind” you say Harley is in?
    Well you need to make a few phone calls–do the math on the 09s–and report back.

    Biggest drawback Indian will face in a shared dealership with Harley will be the chance for a one stop comparison of the HD as opposed to Indian, and the bang forr the buck thing.

  12. 12 02 indian owner Apr 6th, 2010 at 10:48 am

    HHMMMM, Stand alone dealerships, I think not, proven track record, i think not. As much as I like to see the brand back on the road, I had nothing but problems with my power plus motor, from oiling to case breakage causing extensive cost to me after the factory closed its doors. Kings Mountain said they would not be offering factory support to all the 99-03 Gilroy Indians, but now parts are available for the 02-03 power plus motors, if parts are available how many changes were actually made to the new indian power plant, I say good luck stellican, but putting Indians in a building with new HD models doesnt seem like the wisest decision. Roadmaster chief with deco fenders, two tone paint, leather hard bags and a lexan windshield, for the base price of 34,999, or how about this juicy 2010 street glide, hard bags, 96 inch motor, six speed, batwing fairing, and stereo for 19,995 best of luck!

  13. 13 Kustom Kolors Apr 6th, 2010 at 9:02 pm

    I received a personal invite from them…. I regret to say I will naot be able to make it! Wish them luck!

  14. 14 madmastiff Apr 7th, 2010 at 3:25 am

    ford tried to revive the t-bird …it died
    chevy the camaro and dodge the charger… they are on life support.
    people want new stuff not stuff warmed up, warmer over.
    since they have tried to rise from the dead many times and failed people are wary of buying another loozer.

  15. 15 Keith Apr 7th, 2010 at 2:24 pm

    Camaro on life support??
    Not hardly. They are selling like hotcakes, and in fact, are cutting into Corvette numbers. Now I still wouldn’t buy a GM product since they screwed the taxpayer with a bailout, but Camaro is doing fine. the New Chief is a beauty…seen them up close, and plan on taking a test ride at the Fresno Dealer, (which is a stand alone, by the way), and most likely will pull the trigger on one, even though the price is high, I’d pay 30K for a indian over a screaming eagle harley.
    Harley saturated the market, and everybody and their uncle owns one…I respect Harleys, and love em, but too many of them out there…I’d be afraid if I bought the black street glide I wouldn’t be able to find it if I go to a bike event.

  16. 16 TPEvans Apr 7th, 2010 at 8:41 pm

    A delaer near me sells Indians. I go in every now and then just to look at them. They are beautiful. Yeah – the price is a problem for a lot of us, including me. But, I can still look and wish them the best of luck. Thye could use it after finally getting off the ground about the time the economy came to a screeching halt. If they make it, there are a few more fellow Americans in Kings Mountain able to support their families.

  17. 17 Ray Seidel Apr 8th, 2010 at 10:29 am

    The price may, or may not, be a problem. Yeah, the top of the food chain is expensive, but the base model, in contant dollars, is about the same price (with the ’09 discount) as the Gilroy Indian. I don’t know how stand-alone the Fresno dealer is, being sold out of a Subaru car dealer. I think there’s room for Indian’s return (again), just riding Harley’s coattails. The closer you look, the better THEY look. KM wants to get it right, Springfield wanted to get it right, Gilroy – after Rey resigned – just didn’t care that much.

  18. 18 lenny Apr 9th, 2010 at 8:47 am

    Indian has never left So-Cal as Mike Tomas of Kiwi Indian has always been here keeping Indians alive.

  19. 19 Ray Seidel Apr 9th, 2010 at 3:15 pm

    Mike Thomas was apprentice to Jedi Master Bob Stark whose family has been selling and servicing Indians since 1918. Bob being in Perris, CA for some time now. And who designed the Vintage edition for Gilroy Indian.

  20. 20 Mike Kiwi Tomas, Kiwi Indian Motorcycle Co Apr 10th, 2010 at 1:25 pm

    Yes Bob certainly is the master in his day when it came to old Indian’s. It is a pitty these days to see both him and Shorty wither away as they are both great folks. Bob certainly has put his time in. Going back to who even when Bob was an apprentice and new to the west coast he learned his trade from who is considered THE Mr Indian, Sammy Pierce. Hanging out at Sammy’s shop and buying his parts to resell certainly gave him a great start. We all pass along the flame to others who then move Indians forwards themselves. Many people all over the world have been responsible for putting many Springfields back on the road. Indian always seems to be in a fluid motion which is not all bad by any means, the old passing on and different factions rebirthing/resurrecting Indian. Let’s hope this time around Indian will be here for the long haul as they have some well college educated people at the top. We all together push Indian forwards for the world to enjoy. It is not due to just 1 person but a collection of many. United we stand, divided we fall. Triumph got it right. Hopefully an American company can too. Old, new, it’s all good.

  21. 21 Ron Apr 22nd, 2010 at 8:57 pm

    None of these new bikes have a sole like the old ones, they are just another motorcycle

  22. 22 29Roadster Sep 17th, 2010 at 8:56 pm

    I have ridden one of the new Indian Chief at the Fresno grand opening. I liked everything about it and gotta say IMC has done their homework. I was impressed with how quiet they were at idle, yet open the throttle just a little and they pull strong and the exhaust barks. I’ve been a Sportster fan for 30 years, while I’m a big guy (270), I like their light easy feel, but the Chiefs have me sold. yeah, I can’t afford a new one right now, but I will someday.

  23. 23 Doc Dec 30th, 2010 at 1:00 am

    Just Info:

    Do not be caught in a biker’s bad bet. While in receivership, Indian made a bunch of bikes for NYPD over 1954-55. 🙂

    Ride safe!

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Cyril Huze