Indian Trike!?

S

seabiz

Aug 25, 2012
97
6
Jamestown, RI USA
I was at an Indian demo ride today in Massachusetts and was speaking to the Polaris rep. Indian will be introducing more models besides the three just released. Strong contenders are a full dresser with tour pak and a TRIKE!

Let me tell you, Polaris nailed it! Harley has its work cut out for it! I did not ride because of recent eye surgery, but my husband did. I also spoke to a lot of Harley riders after their demo rides. All said it blew their Harleys out of the water. My husband called it a Cadillac and it made his Road King feel like a bucket of bolts. He was very impressed, as were many others that attended the demo. They said it was a very easy bike to ride and very comfortable.

It was about 80* and no heat problems from a 1/2 hr mixed Hiway/city ride. Yes it has a cat with a 2-1-2 exhaust. A lot of new Indians got sold today and will be delivered in September.

ABS, rigid frame mounted counterbalanced engine, sweet sound with stage 1 option, 5 year warranty, powdercoat cast aluminum frame, led lighting (except headlight), smooth tranny, tracks very, very well. Only complaint was the kickstand; hard to find.

They know that their dealer network is thin and are looking into setting up satellite service centers as a possible solution.
 
The Indians have been getting lots of Great Reviews....we're getting a Dealership 50 miles up the road in Murfreesboro, Tn soon. They already handle all of the Japanese, KTM, Moto Guzzi, and Victory. Building a separate section for the Indians.....ThumbUp
 
I admit, I am a wannabee Indian trike owner, but the old prices were way too rich for my blood. There prices have come way down now and are competitive with every one else. Polaris has done a hell of a job with this motorcycle. I'm impressed. ThumbUp
 
WOW, that's quite a review! It would be great if they came out with a trike. Indians have always been amazing to look at, and these new ones are no exception. Thanks!
 
I'm really going to be watching how Indian progresses. The Chief was always my "Dream Bike". If things continue to go in a positive direction, especially with retirement coming up this June,,, I just might sell my Goldwing and go for the Indian. I'm only hoping that they'll have a dealership some where in Virginia. Time will tell! :drama::DThumbUp
 
skuuter said:
The Indians have been getting lots of Great Reviews....we're getting a Dealership 50 miles up the road in Murfreesboro, Tn soon. They already handle all of the Japanese, KTM, Moto Guzzi, and Victory. Building a separate section for the Indians.....ThumbUp
Click to expand...

I purchased my Trike across the street from where the Indian Dealer was. They get a Trike and I'm gonna have to look seriously at it.
 
If its running cool, is it water cooled? Sounds like a great trike, but when you do a lot of miles, dealer network is critical.
 
Bikerbozo said:
If its running cool, is it water cooled? Sounds like a great trike, but when you do a lot of miles, dealer network is critical.
Click to expand...

No, it's air cooled like the Harley. Rocker covers are finned also. Just seem to keep the cat away from the rider. Don't know what that would do to the passenger heat wise though. They know the dealer network is thin and that's why they are looking at satellite service centers to supplement the dealer network.

Also it has a single sump for engine, tranny, and clutch. You will need to change oil every 5000, not at 2500 miles like the Victory.
 
Well the new Indians are nice but I've always avoided getting any new vehicle the first model year they come out. There is always bugs to work out of them that first year or two.
Also if one would get an Indian trike it looks like it would still be a conversion. My question would be would doing the conversion effect the warranty and if it does how so?
A new 2014 Indian Chieftain trikes price would be $32,499. Cost of conversion added to the Chieftains base price. Conversion price from here:
Roadsmith Trike Conversion Kit Indian IRC Indian Chief | eBay .
That's just an Ebay price so another question is how much labor cost to do the conversion?
So exactly how much would an out the door price actually be for a 2014 Indian Chieftain Trike from the dealer or would one be left to spending $22,999 for the Chieftain and then have to buy the trike kit and convert it on his own.
A new Harley Tri Glide Ultra price is $32,549.
The base price of the Tri Glide Ultra and the Chieftain Trike is about the same but one would still have the labor cost to install the conversion for the Chieftain. I'm doubt that's would be cheap.
Just a few questions that still need to be answered but in the end I'd bet the cost or the Indian Trike would be considerably more than the Tri Glide and it would still be a conversion and not factory built like the Tri Glide.
Dan
 
You can purty much pro and con this subject to death but nobody's really going to learn anything that way. Somebody will actually have to do an Indian/Roadsmith or other install to get any real results.
 
Bullet said:
You can purty much pro and con this subject to death but nobody's really going to learn anything that way. Somebody will actually have to do an Indian/Roadsmith or other install to get any real results.
Click to expand...

Yep, that's right. Just got to find someone to be the ginny pig.
Dan
 
Bullet said:
Here ya go guys.

Roadsmith Trike Conversion Kit Indian IRC Indian Chief | eBay
Click to expand...

I hate to bust bubbles folks, but note that the date on this ad is Feb, 2013. The "current" Indian was not even presented to the public then. Given that and the complete new frame, etc. on the current production models, I would bet money these kits would NOT work on the current production Indians, only on the "old" (prior Kings Mountain) models. With that said, I'm sure our friends at Roadsmith will be cranking out a trike kit for the Indian soon!:)
 
"Indian rep I spoke to said Indian will be coming out with a factory trike, not a kit, like HD TriGlide. "

I made the 50 mile ride last Saturday to the Indian dealer in Lincoln Ne to check out the new Indians.
The only bikes they had there were 2 used older model Indians and 2 used Harleys. No new Indians at all. I was told they would be getting some new models in soon but they did not know for sure when. I asked about a trike model and was told that Indian is working on a deal with a kit manufacture to make a kit for the new Indians but that nothing is definite yet but that Indian was planning having a trike kit available by late next year. I asked if Indian actually had any plans on building a factory built one like the Tri Glide. He said no that when an Indian trike does become available it will be a conversion as there are no plans for them to make a factory built one at this time.
I spent a good 45 minutes talking with the man there and I heard all the great things about the new Indian from him but it would seam to me that even though he did not have any new ones there at that time that he would have at least have some idea of the date when he would be receiving any. Only answer I could get was he should have some soon.
While I was there a man came in that said he rode the new Indian while he was in Sturgus and thought about it and decided he wanted one. He walked out the door saying that he would just keep his Harley as he was not going to buy a new Indian when they could not even give him a ball park date that he would be able to receive it.
It would seam to me that it would be pretty hard to sell any new Indians with out even one in the showroom and not being able to give someone a delivery date should they chose to buy one.
The Indian dealer did nothing that impressed me or that would even make me consider buying one.
Dan
Dan
 
Geezzer Glide said:
"Indian rep I spoke to said Indian will be coming out with a factory trike, not a kit, like HD TriGlide. "

I made the 50 mile ride last Saturday to the Indian dealer in Lincoln Ne to check out the new Indians.

The only bikes they had there were 2 used older model Indians and 2 used Harleys. No new Indians at all. I was told they would be getting some new models in soon but they did not know for sure when. I asked about a trike model and was told that Indian is working on a deal with a kit manufacture to make a kit for the new Indians but that nothing is definite yet but that Indian was planning having a trike kit available by late next year. I asked if Indian actually had any plans on building a factory built one like the Tri Glide. He said no that when an Indian trike does become available it will be a conversion as there are no plans for them to make a factory built one at this time.

I spent a good 45 minutes talking with the man there and I heard all the great things about the new Indian from him but it would seam to me that even though he did not have any new ones there at that time that he would have at least have some idea of the date when he would be receiving any. Only answer I could get was he should have some soon.

While I was there a man came in that said he rode the new Indian while he was in Sturgus and thought about it and decided he wanted one. He walked out the door saying that he would just keep his Harley as he was not going to buy a new Indian when they could not even give him a ball park date that he would be able to receive it.

It would seam to me that it would be pretty hard to sell any new Indians with out even one in the showroom and not being able to give someone a delivery date should they chose to buy one.

The Indian dealer did nothing that impressed me or that would even make me consider buying one.

Dan

Dan
Click to expand...

Not a very encouraging report, sad to say. Yes, is the Indian my dream bike?

Absolutely! And it always has been. But unless they get their act together regarding available inventory and develop a decent dealer network, the Indian might still just remain a dream bike and not a reality for me. A good dealer network, to me, it crucial! As I said previously, only time will tell.
 
We have one Indian dealer in Houston now... It's one of the Harley dealers. I guess if you don't think you can beat em...join em. :laugh:
 
Hannigan will also be coming out with a new trike conversion and side-car for the new Indians in the first quarter of 2014. Just an FYI.
 
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