Indian Motorcycle will participate in the show Media Day on December 7th at the Long Beach Convention Center with senior managers from parent company Polaris Industries in attendance. On an all new special “Indian Motorcycle Experience” display, the company is going 1- to feature a custom-built sound booth where, for the first time ever, attendees can experience firsthand the sound and rumble of the upcoming, completely redesigned, all new Indian Motorcycle engine. Host Mike Wolfe from the HISTORY Channel’s “American Pickers” series will guide attendees via video as they hear and feel the excitement of what’s to come later in 2013 with the highly anticipated reveal of the new Indian Motorcycle Company under Polaris Industries ownership.
2- to reveal a limited quantity, model year 2013 Indian Motorcycle that pays tribute to the Kings Mountain era motorcycle. 3- to feature legendary vintage motorcycles including the original Burt Munro 1920 Indian Scout that broke the under-1000cc land-speed record in 1967 at the Bonneville Salt Flats as famously portrayed in the movie “The World’s Fastest Indian.” A secondary exhibit at the show will also include the fully-restored 1935 Indian Chief featured on the History Channel’s November 5th broadcast of “American Pickers.” 4- to display its exciting line of apparel for men and women, including jackets, gloves, casual wear, and more — much of which will be available for purchase by show attendees.
Indian Motorcycle, a wholly-owned division of Polaris Industries Inc. (NYSE: PII), is America’s original motorcycle company. Founded in 1901, Indian Motorcycle has won the hearts of motorcyclists around the world and earned distinction as one of America’s most legendary and iconic brands through unrivaled racing dominance, engineering prowess and countless innovations and industry firsts. Today that heritage and passion is reignited under new brand stewardship. Consumers are invited to take part in the “Indian Motorcycle Experience” at Long Beach, or at upcoming International Motorcycle Shows in Minneapolis (January 11-13), New York (January 18-20) and Chicago (February 8-10). For tickets and more information on specific shows, log on to Motorcycle Shows.
Very impatient to hear the sound of the new Indian. Turn on or turn off?
Indian. A history worth repeating…Yes, if it’s not a repeat of Gilroy and Kings Mountain.
Screw hearing it, I want to see it and ride it!
What would Hendee and Hedström think of the following text (which is being used to promote the current Indian brand) after seeing the absence of a racer in the Indian catalog for decades?…..
“…earned distinction as one of America’s most legendary and iconic brands through unrivaled racing dominance, engineering prowess and countless innovations and industry firsts. ”
Reading the above text wouldn’t get tiring if a modern performance bike from Indian would be built. That would be a major announcement.
How about a Moto3 racer to start? Polaris – this could begin to pull you away from HD by proving any performance engineering advantages over them. You do build performance sleds, so isn’t time for a performance bike?
Unfortunately, the premium cost of the Indian’s are going to keep them in the “rich mans toy” bracket. Now, if they could put out a decent bike for under 20k, that would be a major announcement!
Well said Racetrack Style.
They have the knowledge and experience to build something NEW.
I hope they move forward, become their own motorcycle company. Not just another follower. The time is ripe to start anew. The current trends aren’t trendy anymore.
Why is it ( and I the only one ) I’m getting the distinct feeling the ‘ New ‘ Polaris Indian is going to be more about Merchandising than Motorcycles as well as Hyperbole -Platitudes and Attitudes than Substance ? We’ll see …….
.. all investors want to hear about is THE BRAND and its management. ugh. get used to it.
I don’t expect a whole lot from the “year 2013 Indian Motorcycle that pays tribute to the Kings Mountain era motorcycle.” I’m expecting it to be an updated and improved version of what was inherited.
I do expect the 2014 models to be a unique Polaris/Indian motorcycle designed by their own in-house engineers and that has me intrigued.
Gilroy Scouts with the 88″ S&S power plant are pretty damn sweet once you work out the rear end alignment issues and replace the ignition system (oh yeah, and after you fix the headlight mount that breaks when you’re doing 90 down the freeway in the dead of night!) Bullet proof engine + light chassis=good times. And, they definitely stand out amongst a sea of Harleys.
If they can release another Scout model following the same recipe and resist the temptation to put the humongous fenders on them and all the tacky trim, that’ll help keep the cost down and be something I’d be interested in.
Dec 7th is the Aniversary of the japs bombing Pearl Harbor!
It’s a polaris……………………big fenders are their thing….
And I luuuuuuuve the big fenders, long live the Kingpin and Indian!
So if I’m readying point (1) correctly, they won’t be displaying one of the new engines per se or even showing what the new engine looks like, just letting you listen to a recording of one running?
Yeah, Sheridan, It sounds like an electric bike with a huge sound system.
If one believes an aggregate of all the rumors…
They will have multiple models with multiple price points.. not just diff’ versions of the Chief
They will have a bike sub $20k ( closer to $18K ) to get more folks on an Indian ..
These 2014 models should deliver in late summer of ’13 .. give or take a month..
Just my opinion after compiling data.. and more data ( facts and opinions ) .. over the last several months from everything i can get my hands on to read…
Me personally .. hoping they come out with a Full Touring model that does the Indian Motorcycle heritage justice.. and gives us a bike with the amenities with expect ( cruise,stereo, etc, etc)… and get that cost down around 30-35k to compete with the HD CVO’s Ultras…
I’m with you Rick L. This is exactly what EVERYONE is wanting it seems and, hopefully, Indian/Polaris has been listening. I am really looking forward to summer/fall 2013.
I’m still waiting for a modern inline four cylinder.
While we are engaging in conjecture of epic proportions, may I suggest the kind of approach that will not rattle the cage – it will rip it right out of its foundations and toss it over the fence forever.
Indian cannot, should not and likely will never make a sports bike (viz a street-/boy racer). The Japanese are the de facto leaders and have moved beyond a meaningful challenge – in the near- to medium term at least. The Italians have tried and have always only come a brave second. The Austrians have tried recently – well, they are at best, a distant third…
If Indian is looking for the “silver bullet” – here is a suggestion:
– A bona fide light weight, high torque at low revs, cruiser and later a “tourer” derivative (but still a light bike). Ie everything Harley should already have been and perhaps never will be.
– Confederates are cool, but they remain aesthetically convoluted designs, mostly though their architecture is still the lean forward ‘jockey’ style stance (albeit less than the typical high performance full-fairing sports bike, but akin to performance naked-bike) – so essentially nothing new in that department – viz really only a tarted-up naked sports bike. Conf’s have certain engineering aspects, though, worth expanding on.
– So my dream Indian will have (inter alia),
— Cast Aluminium Alloy Frame. Perhaps a welded Alu-section piece.., OR the engine is a stressed member – ie technically NO FRAME. Just make it super light. Optimised CAD, FEA, Dynamic Stability design (sub-contract the best in the industry to make it super light and strong)
—- Carbon Fibre Body parts/panels (ie tank, fenders, etc) and wheels – YES, the wheels most definitely (keep unsprung mass to an absolute minimum).
—- 55deg – 60deg V-Twin engine along the design approach of the S&S X-Wedge, but perhaps finding the optimum weight compromise between air-cooled (cool looks – no pun intended) and liquid-cooled – iow a hybrid, without making it look a “pregnant fairy” as with the the V-Rod.
— It must retain the very big capacity (eg => 110 ci) low-down torque. Target a 120lb-ft from 2500r/min to 4000r/min (curve as flat as possible in this range). A tall order I know, but I am sure it is attainable – eg optimise the ‘Victory 106’ for a shorter stroke, bigger bore, ratio and use the best materials available.
— ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL: a positively light-weight engine. Make the engine the greatest breakthrough in V-Twin history – the lightest per torque output EVER, BY FAR…
— The capturing theme must be LIGHT WEIGHT. The principle cruiser design/bike must weight nothing more than 475 pounds in full running order (full tank fuel, oil, battery, etc).
— Keep the relaxed “cruiser”-rider-seating-stance.
— Do not design to a budget. Design first to a spec sheet and then optimise to bring cost down (if required – but limit compromises).
— Get a special tire designed to cope with the prodigious acceleration.
Okay.., enough for now – I am allowed to dream am I not..?
Some good thoughts, Sigfreed, but I think that to truly, ” rip it right out of its foundations and toss it over the fence forever” it can’t be another V-Twin. Bring on a straight-four and rock the bike world.
come on Indian Sportbike…. call it the Brave, or Warrior or something..and go after Yamaha/Honda/Suzuki…. one can dream.
Would like to see Indian evolve like Triumph did. But only time will tell.
Sigfreed, maybe you’re already aware but Victory guys are punching their 106’s out to 110 or 116 and getting better numbers than your dream v-twin already. That engine isn’t just attainable, it’s done attained. I also have good reason to believe the new Indian, as in not the Chief, will have a cast aluminum frame. Getting under 500 lbs will take some work though. I suspect it will be June or July before we see it.
It’s coming & the board is already busy with anticipation ??
Did they hit a “Home Run” or just Strike Out ?
Hearing it is nice, I guess, but I will still wait paitently
for Cyril to get the words & the first photos out,
before I weigh in, along with the masses ……
I think we ALL are going to be surprised !!!!!
BobS you are right we wont see a new Indian until mid summer.
“…reveal a limited quantity, model year 2013 Indian Motorcycle that pays tribute to the Kings Mountain era motorcycle.” Translation: We still have frames, engines and tins from the Kings Mountain purchase that we need to get rid of.
My guesses:
Take a good look at the Boardwalk. Imagine it with a restyled Freedom engine and valenced fenders. They want Indians to come off the same assembly line as Victories.
Also, since Victory has a history of premiering new motorcycles in NYC, expect a reveal of the 2014 Indian there in January.
Actually Waldo, I’ve been inside the factory. They are building a completely new assembly line just for Indian, seperate from the Victory line.
With some of the biggest names in customs on the design board of the new Indian it should be different from all the other platforms out there.
Straight American Made Inline 4? Now that’s something to think about but I suspect that’s all it will be, something to think about.
Quit tarnishing, a once proud brands name. Indian went out of busines in 1953. Stop prostituting the name and let it rest in peace.
Sigfreed, I am afraid Indian will be bankrupt & looking for yet another owner befor they accomplish all you ask for.
Stub said it best, just stop it…
“the sound and rumble”
I’d rather hear the power and revs of a high performance engine. I just hope, hope, hope, it’s not another cookie cutter V-twin.
Bshirk, again, the people designing new Indian’s have already built the bike Sigfreed has asked for. The Victory CORE concept was built years ago ( lightweight cutting edge). There are 110″ Vic’s all over the place running 130+ ft.lbs of torque. We’ve heard them say over and over they’re not going to just rebadge Victorys, which is good, but since they already have the abilities to build such a bike there’s no reason to think that they won’t.
As far as not producing Indian…well I believe in capitalism.
Oh boy, you guys have no clue what we will see in July 2013. Thats the roll out of the 2014 Indian Motorcycles.