Motorcycle.com

Jedi25 · 09-20-2003, 01:50 PM

Here's a link covering the closing.

http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercuryne...ss/6818690.htm

Even though their technology wasn't the latest and greatest, I was hoping they would succeed.

Buzglyd · 09-20-2003, 01:53 PM

Well, I feel for the employees who've lost their jobs, however the new "Indian" wasn't any more Indian than a Kawasaki Drifter.

Another clone bites the dust.

BobW · 09-20-2003, 02:20 PM

Their pricing didn't help. You had to really want that retro look. Interestingly enough, people who bought the original Chief with the big fenders tended to remove them; as a retro item it was never more than a niche. I did like the other models however.

BobW · 09-20-2003, 02:23 PM

Oh, and I did drive by the empty Excelsior Henderson factory in Belle Plaine today. Thought about the dealer there that sold, you guessed it, Indians. And Triumphs. They have an unsold 2002 Thunderbird that they'll practically give away. Wouldn't want to make a living selling retros.

sarnali · 09-20-2003, 02:42 PM

Big surprise huh? The only way you can resurrect an old company is to come up with clean sheet designs like Bloor did

Charging top dollar for HD clones with extra sheet metal and aftermarket heads apparently doesn't make it.

mattg · 09-20-2003, 03:59 PM

It's a shame but there really was nothing that set Indian apart from Harley. Many arguments have been made about Indian being nothing but another clone company banking on a legendary name. I have to agree with this. rounded off cylinders can't change the fact that every other part, with the exception of the fenders, look like they just came straight from the Harley catalog. If anyone tries to revive the name again, let's all hope that they can be at least a little more unique.

Captain_1 · 09-20-2003, 04:17 PM

While its sad to see another American manufacturer shutter its doors, I'm not surprised. In addition to product, you need a strong (profitable) retail organization to succeed. Indian came up short in both areas.

Based on Indian's market research surveys emailed to me on a regular basis, I don't think they had a clue. I can also name a few other brands that are currently introducing new products -- but are miserably represented by a makeshift dealer body.

Gabe · 09-20-2003, 04:40 PM

Gilroy, CA (UPI) Honky Cheese Wagon, inc., a new manufacturer of "upscale semi-mobile lifestyle display platforms" announced the opening of their plant here today.

Right on the heels of a press conference announcing the closure of the Indian Moto-Cycle plant in the same location, the announcement was a surprise to the leisure industry.

Lou Terhar, former president of the Indian Motorcycle corporation, had just finished one press conference announcing the closure of the one plant when he suddenly turned 90 degrees to face a different bank of cameras and microphones, donned a lime green vest and a dual beer can holding hat and stated, "Today is a great day for the upscale semi-mobile lifestyle display platforms industry." He then went on to unveil the new product, which looked like an Indian Scout motorcycle, but painted lime green with fuschia polka-dots. The vehicle is also equipped with training wheels, a Super Soaker(tm), and a 40 gallon aerosol dispenser full of Silly String (tm). Top speed is governed to 8 miles per hour, to comply with National Conference of Clowns and Jugglers (NCCJ) conventions.

"To save on costs, we will be making these units with special imported labor." Terhar than pointed to several 40-foot shipping containers with holes cut in the sides. Human voices could be heard from within.

"This is a product that should sell well," said C. Morton Funbrook, a leisure industry expert and author of "Severe Fun Warning-America's Leisure Purchase Obsession". "With the rise in demandd for such absurd products as $9,000 gas grills, Pot Bellied Pigs and Hummer H2's, Americans have demonstrated their eagerness to use their tax-cut dividends on completely useless, yet well-marketed, purchases."

As yet, delivery dates for the Honky Cheese Wagons have not been set.

ofreen · 09-20-2003, 05:21 PM

The whole thing never made any sense to me. Why would anybody spend thousands more than you would for a new Harley and get an inferior motorcycle?

detansinn · 09-20-2003, 05:35 PM

Harley clones != Indians

Maybe this will open the door for the gentleman in Britain who is producing a modern rendition of the Indian 4-cylinder. Absolutely yummy.

http://www.p2r.se/mc/dakota4/

09-20-2003, 01:50 PM	#1
Jedi25 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 11	Re: Indian Motorcycles Shuts Its Doors Here's a link covering the closing. http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercuryne...ss/6818690.htm Even though their technology wasn't the latest and greatest, I was hoping they would succeed.

09-20-2003, 01:53 PM	#2
Buzglyd Founding Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 10,137	Re: Indian Motorcycles Shuts Its Doors Well, I feel for the employees who've lost their jobs, however the new "Indian" wasn't any more Indian than a Kawasaki Drifter. Another clone bites the dust. __________________ Jay Leno: "President Obama released his tax returns. It turns out he made $900,000 less in 2011 than he did in 2010. You know what that means? Even Obama is doing worse under President Obama."

09-20-2003, 02:20 PM	#3
BobW Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 40	Re: Indian Motorcycles Shuts Its Doors Their pricing didn't help. You had to really want that retro look. Interestingly enough, people who bought the original Chief with the big fenders tended to remove them; as a retro item it was never more than a niche. I did like the other models however.

09-20-2003, 02:23 PM	#4
BobW Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 40	Re: Indian Motorcycles Shuts Its Doors Oh, and I did drive by the empty Excelsior Henderson factory in Belle Plaine today. Thought about the dealer there that sold, you guessed it, Indians. And Triumphs. They have an unsold 2002 Thunderbird that they'll practically give away. Wouldn't want to make a living selling retros.

09-20-2003, 02:42 PM	#5
sarnali Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 3,416	Re: Indian Motorcycles Shuts Its Doors Big surprise huh? The only way you can resurrect an old company is to come up with clean sheet designs like Bloor did Charging top dollar for HD clones with extra sheet metal and aftermarket heads apparently doesn't make it.

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09-20-2003, 03:59 PM	#6
mattg Founding Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 59	Re: Indian Motorcycles Shuts Its Doors It's a shame but there really was nothing that set Indian apart from Harley. Many arguments have been made about Indian being nothing but another clone company banking on a legendary name. I have to agree with this. rounded off cylinders can't change the fact that every other part, with the exception of the fenders, look like they just came straight from the Harley catalog. If anyone tries to revive the name again, let's all hope that they can be at least a little more unique. __________________ continuing the great experiment involving the effects of sleep deprivation among the marginally sane

09-20-2003, 04:17 PM	#7
Captain_1 Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 157	Re: Indian Motorcycles Shuts Its Doors While its sad to see another American manufacturer shutter its doors, I'm not surprised. In addition to product, you need a strong (profitable) retail organization to succeed. Indian came up short in both areas. Based on Indian's market research surveys emailed to me on a regular basis, I don't think they had a clue. I can also name a few other brands that are currently introducing new products -- but are miserably represented by a makeshift dealer body.

09-20-2003, 04:40 PM	#8
Gabe Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 720	Honky Cheese Wagon Factory to Open in Gilroy Gilroy, CA (UPI) Honky Cheese Wagon, inc., a new manufacturer of "upscale semi-mobile lifestyle display platforms" announced the opening of their plant here today. Right on the heels of a press conference announcing the closure of the Indian Moto-Cycle plant in the same location, the announcement was a surprise to the leisure industry. Lou Terhar, former president of the Indian Motorcycle corporation, had just finished one press conference announcing the closure of the one plant when he suddenly turned 90 degrees to face a different bank of cameras and microphones, donned a lime green vest and a dual beer can holding hat and stated, "Today is a great day for the upscale semi-mobile lifestyle display platforms industry." He then went on to unveil the new product, which looked like an Indian Scout motorcycle, but painted lime green with fuschia polka-dots. The vehicle is also equipped with training wheels, a Super Soaker(tm), and a 40 gallon aerosol dispenser full of Silly String (tm). Top speed is governed to 8 miles per hour, to comply with National Conference of Clowns and Jugglers (NCCJ) conventions. "To save on costs, we will be making these units with special imported labor." Terhar than pointed to several 40-foot shipping containers with holes cut in the sides. Human voices could be heard from within. "This is a product that should sell well," said C. Morton Funbrook, a leisure industry expert and author of "Severe Fun Warning-America's Leisure Purchase Obsession". "With the rise in demandd for such absurd products as $9,000 gas grills, Pot Bellied Pigs and Hummer H2's, Americans have demonstrated their eagerness to use their tax-cut dividends on completely useless, yet well-marketed, purchases." As yet, delivery dates for the Honky Cheese Wagons have not been set. __________________ Gabe Ets-Hokin Just a guy in the ether...

09-20-2003, 05:21 PM	#9
ofreen Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 329	Re: Indian Motorcycles Shuts Its Doors The whole thing never made any sense to me. Why would anybody spend thousands more than you would for a new Harley and get an inferior motorcycle?

09-20-2003, 05:35 PM	#10
detansinn Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 48	Re: Indian Motorcycles Shuts Its Doors Harley clones != Indians Maybe this will open the door for the gentleman in Britain who is producing a modern rendition of the Indian 4-cylinder. Absolutely yummy. http://www.p2r.se/mc/dakota4/