Rode one at Sturgis. They ride like a dream. I wouldn't pull the trigger either as there is no reliability record on these. They're flat-out beautiful, however.
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Indians
Has anyone here test rode a new Indian Chief?
Im curious how they perform compared to the Road King.
I have no desire to own one, but I would like to take a ride for giggles. The nearet dealer is 215 miles away, I don't want to ride one that bad.
Im curious how they perform compared to the Road King.
I have no desire to own one, but I would like to take a ride for giggles. The nearet dealer is 215 miles away, I don't want to ride one that bad.
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I like the fact that they come with the 111CI motors made by S&S. S&S makes quality motors and with a few upgrades the 111 should be capable of producing some good HP and TQ. Other than the motor and trans the rest of the bike should run without issues I would think. I would not hesitate to buy one if the engine/trans are holding up so far but I have not been following the new biles very closely to say for sure.
The latest version of Indian Motorcycles is a subsidiary of Polaris Industries, and they designed and built a new free-standing engine design, sharing nothing with previous Indian revivals or Polaris’ existing Victory motorcycle products.
SS made the engines for the previous Indian before Polaris.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_(motorcycle)
http://www.indianmotorcycle.com/en-us/chief-classic-thunder-black/specs
SS made the engines for the previous Indian before Polaris.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_(motorcycle)
http://www.indianmotorcycle.com/en-us/chief-classic-thunder-black/specs
We've had two Indian days at the local dealership (same guy that owns the H-D dealership) I have ridden them both times. In my opinion anyway:
Some Pros:
Some Cons:
Some Pros:
- They have a ton of cool technology like all the stuff the Rushmore bikes have as well as an adjustable windshield and such. The controls, ergonomics, etc. are top notch. Some of their features are only available on a CVO Harley.
- They captured the Indian vibe pretty well in terms of style.
- They sound great without changing the exhaust.
- It sure feels like a stock Indian would tear a stock H-D a new one. They seem to have a lot more power.
Some Cons:
- They have a bit of that "plastic-ish", modern vibe about them. Everything is covered for the most part.
- it has a single cast motor/transmission (like a Sportster) The mechanics just don't have that mechanical, machined look like a Harley. It's almost a Metric feel in a lot of ways.
- They definitely don't seem like something the owner could wrench like a Harley. Could be wrong on that one.
Would love to read from owners after they have a few thousand miles on them. Remember seeing comparison videos on the Victory engine vs. Harley, but not on the Indian engines...
This is the only engine video I found:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nm5baYf6lAQ
I had an itch to test ride one... Specially when it came time to change the 2012 RGC CVO... Afraid I might do something stupid, I have stayed away from the local dealers. Good thing that for the 2015 they dropped the blue... that would have been something that would have push me closer to buying one... but I am happy now with the RK CVO.
But back then, this one really caught my eye...
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Just because I like to change things every so often... and the wife refuses to let me apply that to her.... I even thought about replacing the Sportster for the Scout... but I love how my 48 looks, and it is a blast to ride... and I have it perfectly dialed in for me...
Maybe one of these days I stop by for that test ride...
This is the only engine video I found:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nm5baYf6lAQ
I had an itch to test ride one... Specially when it came time to change the 2012 RGC CVO... Afraid I might do something stupid, I have stayed away from the local dealers. Good thing that for the 2015 they dropped the blue... that would have been something that would have push me closer to buying one... but I am happy now with the RK CVO.
But back then, this one really caught my eye...
Just because I like to change things every so often... and the wife refuses to let me apply that to her.... I even thought about replacing the Sportster for the Scout... but I love how my 48 looks, and it is a blast to ride... and I have it perfectly dialed in for me...
Maybe one of these days I stop by for that test ride...
In 2013 I bought the misses a RK CVO. We put it on the dyno with my Electra Glide, there wasn't much difference, maybe 10% hp/tq.
My 09 EC was a 96 that I had upgraded to a 103 with stage 1 intake/exhaust/tuning.
I want to retire in the SW, its rough on a big cube air cooled bike in that climate. That's one of the reasons that I like the new liquid cooled touring bikes.
My 09 EC was a 96 that I had upgraded to a 103 with stage 1 intake/exhaust/tuning.
I want to retire in the SW, its rough on a big cube air cooled bike in that climate. That's one of the reasons that I like the new liquid cooled touring bikes.
When I rode back to back my '12 RGC CVO and my friends '11 RGC (103) I really could not tell much difference performance wise... That gap has to be less now with the improvements made to the '15 103 engines.In 2013 I bought the misses a RK CVO. We put it on the dyno with my Electra Glide, there wasn't much difference, maybe 10% hp/tq.
My 09 EC was a 96 that I had upgraded to a 103 with stage 1 intake/exhaust/tuning.
I want to retire in the SW, its rough on a big cube air cooled bike in that climate. That's one of the reasons that I like the new liquid cooled touring bikes.
There were a few videos comparing the engines of the Victory and Harley that helped me learn some of the short comings of our loved HDs. But I can't get over the looks of the Victory...
Here is the first segment of that series of videos...not to open a can of worms... I learned a lot from it on areas to look for on my ride. That is just how I looked at them, as learning more about our engines...:blahblah:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGkFPUeNUqc
I test rode a couple Victorys during a demo day. They seemed like nice bikes, rode smooth, but the looks and whole riding experience just didn't do it for me.
I have owned 3 Goldwings, 3 1800 VTXs, Rune, and a bunch of other bikes. For the long haul the Goldwing is the nicest, but throw in around town and short hops, I like the Street Glide best, plus my misses has so much invested in Harley gear, we cant afford to change brands.
I have owned 3 Goldwings, 3 1800 VTXs, Rune, and a bunch of other bikes. For the long haul the Goldwing is the nicest, but throw in around town and short hops, I like the Street Glide best, plus my misses has so much invested in Harley gear, we cant afford to change brands.
My two cents:
PROS:
* Competition for the MoCo which should make Milwaukee and York remember to not take us all for granted
CONS:
* It's an Indian and not a Harley
* Acres and acres and acres of plastic
* The space between the gas tank and steering head should have been filled with some of the acres and acres of plastic they used in other places because that part of the bike looks emptier than the surface of the moon
* Art Deco 1920s styling was old in 1953 and it's old today
* This bike is designed and marketed purely based on nostalgia in an industry that Harley developed and maintained since 1903
PROS:
* Competition for the MoCo which should make Milwaukee and York remember to not take us all for granted
CONS:
* It's an Indian and not a Harley
* Acres and acres and acres of plastic
* The space between the gas tank and steering head should have been filled with some of the acres and acres of plastic they used in other places because that part of the bike looks emptier than the surface of the moon
* Art Deco 1920s styling was old in 1953 and it's old today
* This bike is designed and marketed purely based on nostalgia in an industry that Harley developed and maintained since 1903
Rode an Indian Chieftain at the Lafayette dealer early this summer. Easy and smooth ride. Really liked the adjustable windshield. Just could not justify pulling the trigger on a brand new bike.
Saw one up close in Vegas at the dealer in August while on a west coast Harley ride. At first As I walked up I thought it was gorgeous. Then I started paying attention to the little stuff on the Chieftain (sp) & I thought too modern for the design.
The grips, dash, speakers & stuff like that made me think of an import I guess rather than vintage look. My Ultra Limited had a better mix so I purchased it while down there instead. Hope the explanation of the modern touches make sense. When you see it you'll get what I'm saying.
The grips, dash, speakers & stuff like that made me think of an import I guess rather than vintage look. My Ultra Limited had a better mix so I purchased it while down there instead. Hope the explanation of the modern touches make sense. When you see it you'll get what I'm saying.
Not right now, but maybe in a few years, after the brand has established itself for reliability and longevity.
i do like the new scout-to me it has the right look for a liquid cooled bike-
A buddy and I took test rides on Indians at AZ Bike Week this year. He traded his Heritage for the Vintage model. I came close to getting the Chieftain but I had just bought my Road Glide so I didn't do it.
My friend is crazy about his Vintage and it is a beautiful machine. No mechanical problems at all yet (10,000Mi.) The bags faded pretty bad but in August Indian found a company with a treatment that has made them look amazing.
The Chieftain was smooth, powerful and a dream to ride. I was pretty darn impressed.
I don't like the way they did the retro front fender and it does have a lot of plastic, but so do Harleys.
Still like the Harley look better than any.
IMO
My friend is crazy about his Vintage and it is a beautiful machine. No mechanical problems at all yet (10,000Mi.) The bags faded pretty bad but in August Indian found a company with a treatment that has made them look amazing.
The Chieftain was smooth, powerful and a dream to ride. I was pretty darn impressed.
I don't like the way they did the retro front fender and it does have a lot of plastic, but so do Harleys.
Still like the Harley look better than any.
IMO
A guy I know who owns a local tavern bought one not too long ago. It's just like the one pictured...and it's beautiful. The guy loves it. There isn't much customizing to do on them; it's all there.Rode one at Sturgis. They ride like a dream. I wouldn't pull the trigger either as there is no reliability record on these. They're flat-out beautiful, however.
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My $0.02 is they are just trying to hard to look retro. It's like someone imagined what Indians of 1953 would have looked like today and didn't take into account 6 decades of change.
And the fringe on them reminds me of something my late mother would have worn during her hippy stage back in the 60's and 70's. Which, as you can imagine, is not something I want ride.
And the fringe on them reminds me of something my late mother would have worn during her hippy stage back in the 60's and 70's. Which, as you can imagine, is not something I want ride.
I'm stickin with my Heritage and the Harley line.I don't like the way they did the retro front fender and it does have a lot of plastic,
Still like the Harley look better than any.
IMO
No need for any changes. All stock except for the exhaust, but that had already been changed by the dealer. So . . . . ALL STOCK
Plenty of power and acceleration. I don't want to be plastered on the back of a semi like Whylie Coyotee although I'm sure I could on the stock Heritage. :bikerguy:
Didn't even reach the 1 minute mark before I heard their first lie.Here is the first segment of that series of videos...not to open a can of worms... I learned a lot from it on areas to look for on my ride. That is just how I looked at them, as learning more about our engines...:blahblah:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGkFPUeNUqc
They said that the last car to come off the assembly line with a chain drive system was the 1939 Nash.
4x4 trucks coming off the assembly line today come with chain drive transfer cases!
Whats wrong with being a 60s-70s hippy?
The problem in our house is that my misses says if you want one, get one.
The problem in our house is that my misses says if you want one, get one.
1 - 20 of 33 Posts
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