Indian 'what's in the box' reveal - it's a NEW Scout

Indian 'what's in the box' reveal - it's a NEW Scout

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Discussion

Russ T Bolt

1,686 posts

282 months

Tuesday 5th August 2014
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tvrolet said:
I wonder how much of the HD revenues are in clothing and accessories? Anyway, since Indians were only relaunched last August it's been pretty impressive from a standing start.
2012/13 no.of Indian Chiefs/Chieftains sold - 0
2013/14 no.of Indian Chiefs/Chieftains sold - est 10,000
2013/14 no.of HDs recalled - 25,000 with 'do not ride' + 3,000 this month
2013/14 no.of Indian Chiefs/Chieftains recalled - 0

As above, I'd rather have shares in Polaris than HD. Exciting times ahead. Absolutely nothing against HD and came oh-so-close to buying a new Road King...but it's nice to see some solid competition from the new kid on the block
Why are the FY 13/14 sales figures estimated, don't they know how many they sold ?

As you ask Q4 figures
Motorcycle sales $784 million
Merchandise $75.9 million
P&A $169 million

My point was that Victory haven't had much of an impact on HD, why do you think it will be significantly different with Indian.



Edited by Russ T Bolt on Tuesday 5th August 22:01

TLandCruiser

2,788 posts

197 months

Tuesday 5th August 2014
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Well if the new scout has changed my mind from buying a harley to wanting to buy a scout, there must be others as the scout is priced around 10k and so are the 1200 sportser, which was the amount of money I was looking to spend on a bike, I'm in no rush as I need to finish with my house move first so with the scout coming after Christmas, I can wait smile

Mag I'm in essex smile

RumpleFugly

2,377 posts

209 months

Tuesday 5th August 2014
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Russ T Bolt said:
My point was that Victory haven't had much of an impact on HD, why do you think it will be significantly different with Indian.
Because with the Indian name they finally have the brand Heritage to take the fight to HD. Indian is the only name other than HD that carries the same historical weight in the US.

Considering how many Americans buy HDs because of the heritage and not because of the performance of the bikes, The new Indian company have a better chance than any before it to make a significant dent in the HD death grip of the US cruiser market.

The fact that the bikes seem technically better and more reliable out the box is the cherry on the top.

Snapper7

990 posts

258 months

Wednesday 6th August 2014
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tvrolet said:
First ride report/video from some US journos...cool dude etc...

http://m.motorcycle-usa.com/155/18963/Motorcycle-A...

Interesting all the talk of marketing to new riders. I remember having a Z900 in 1976 and it was THE fastest thing pennies could buy, and major bragging rights with 82 horsepower since the Honda 750/Trident/Commando 850 were all sub 60hp and all classed as bikes suitable for only the hairy of chest.

This thing has 100hp.

Hell a Ducati 916 only has 14 more... Have 100hp bikes really gotten that easy to ride these days? My first 'big' bike was a Commando, and at maybe 60hp it scared me sh!tless until I got used to it...and I'd been riding for a couple of years.
My first bike straight after passing my test was a 1731cc Victory Vegas 8 Ball with 96bhp and what ever stage 1 gave it.. For my hight and size it has been a perfect motorcycle for me. The bikes Victory make are just a dream to ride and I see no reason why the Indians should not be the same

srob

11,566 posts

237 months

Wednesday 6th August 2014
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Russ T Bolt said:
Why are the FY 13/14 sales figures estimated, don't they know how many they sold ?

As you ask Q4 figures
Motorcycle sales $784 million
Merchandise $75.9 million
P&A $169 million

My point was that Victory haven't had much of an impact on HD, why do you think it will be significantly different with Indian.



Edited by Russ T Bolt on Tuesday 5th August 22:01
I'm on a couple of 'vintage' American bike Facebook pages. Any photo of an old Indian generates by far the most likes, "wows" and general comments.

That interest in the brand is why this bike will have a far bigger bite into Harley's sales than Victory who are trying to make their own history and brand awareness. I'm sure the bike mag editors are already planning their old and new Chief photo shoots as we type and all those who don't fancy a foot clutch, LH throttle and often lack of front brake on the originals will be all over this like a tramp on chips.

tvrolet

Original Poster:

4,251 posts

281 months

Wednesday 6th August 2014
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Russ T Bolt said:
Why are the FY 13/14 sales figures estimated, don't they know how many they sold ?
I'm sure they do - but not figures I have. I was going on the VIN numbers that are now coming through to the dealers. Remember the bikes were only revealed at Sturgis this time last year and didn't appear in the dealers until September I guess. There were none available to ride/demo in the UK until January IIRC? The first 1901 bikes were numbered (mine's #1717 smile), and they pretty much sold out by December. I'd say it's mighty impressive to go from 0 units to 1901 units sold of a £20,000 product when all potential purchasers had to go on was the name, the looks, and the reputation for a quality build that Polaris and Victory brought to the party. THAT's what Victory did for Indian - I've never heard anyone have a bad word so say about a Victory; it's praise all the way. And that's what's given folks the confidence with Indian initially I'd say.

Russ T Bolt said:
My point was that Victory haven't had much of an impact on HD, why do you think it will be significantly different with Indian.
Heritage, Heritage and Heritage. Folks can argue as much as they like that the current bikes aren't true Indians (although in fairness, that's really only from the HD camp), but it says Indian on the tank (and on 36 other places...I counted wink) who outside the motorcycling community has heard of Victory? Great bikes but zero heritage.

Why is heritage important? Well I can't have been alone in looking for my own chunk of heavyweight V-twin Americana. I was absolutely going to buy a Road King...in blue...hell I even bought a T-shirt with a blue Road King in advance of ordering. I was under no illusions that the Victory was a better bike, together with some of the Japanese cruisers. But I wanted proper American.

Then I saw the Indians just after the launch. The name had all the same kudos to me as Harley - more so in fact. My late dad has always talked of how he liked the Indians he'd come across that some of the American forces had; I know the history, I knew the brand, I'd seen The World's Fastest Indian wink

So without even swinging a leg across one I'd placed an order...with confidence in build quality coming pretty much exclusively from what Polaris had done with Victory.

If you're in the market for a bike like this then you're either just looking for a generic cruiser, in which case anything will do, or you're looking for 'an American V-twin'. And loads of folks are in the latter category. And despite being an 'American V-twin' Victory just didn't have the heritage. Indian does, and so pretty much every Indian sold isn't a lost sale of a Honda, Kawasaki, Ducati or whatever - most Indian sales are lost Harley sales.

So yes - I am a paid-up Indian fan-boy, but supported by the quality of the bikes. Park the Indian beside anything else (including HDs) and unless they're real out-and-out custom jobs it's the Indian that gets the attention. And the brand recognition from non-bikers is amazing.

I like Harleys, and if Indian hadn't launched the Chief last year I'd be riding one now. But I also like what Polaris have done with the Indian brand and of course the bikes, and I think it's a real wake-up call for HD. And unless HD pull something else out of the hat rather than parts-bin specials or different paint jobs then Indian is going to take a big part of their market in years to come...although from a purely selfish perspective I'd be happy to have he only Indian in town; I don't need to see any more on the roads.

I think its exciting times ahead if you are in to American motorcycles, with HD and Indian back in the market together. A bit like the American muscle-car revival I guess where after a few relatively stagnant years we've got Mustangs (OK, Pony car), Camaros and Challengers slugging it out. It can only be good, IF HD raise their game.

And so back to the Scout. It's a classic name with great recognition, and with the first ride reports starting to filter through it seems to be a quality bit of kit with good power, handling and manners.

bass gt3

10,186 posts

232 months

Wednesday 6th August 2014
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I will say as someone who has possibly less than zero interest in this style of machine, the Indian Brand still resonates, possibly better than HD.
To my leather clad speed monkey brain, Indain is waaaay cooler than HD, has great heritage and hopefully won't be associated with the patched up squadrons of Bad Ass wannabees.
Riding an Indian should be an expression of enjoyment for the style of machine, not a weak allusion to a 1%er pretend lifestyle when not in the office or Rotary Club.
Good luck to them, just keep left, speed monkeys might be approaching biggrin

crofty1984

15,830 posts

203 months

Wednesday 6th August 2014
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The image of HD must attract a shed load of people, just for the name. But I can't be the only one who is also put off by it? When looking at buying a bike a few months back I actively avoided Harley because I didn't want to be associated with the "Born to be mild" Righteous Bro brigade. Selling a product based on a lifestyle that as an office-based worker I and most people just don't have!

If I wanted an American type V-twin cruiser I'd certainly be knocking on Indian's door.

That said, I'd still have an Ironhead sportster or a Shovel. smile

TLandCruiser

2,788 posts

197 months

Wednesday 6th August 2014
quotequote all
crofty1984 said:
The image of HD must attract a shed load of people, just for the name. But I can't be the only one who is also put off by it? When looking at buying a bike a few months back I actively avoided Harley because I didn't want to be associated with the "Born to be mild" Righteous Bro brigade. Selling a product based on a lifestyle that as an office-based worker I and most people just don't have!

If I wanted an American type V-twin cruiser I'd certainly be knocking on Indian's door.

That said, I'd still have an Ironhead sportster or a Shovel. smile
I have just started to look for a new bike and had decided to buy a Harley, I did not think about the brand image for one moment because unless you buy into the image, people wont really associate it with you. I was just going to wear normal riding clothing but just wanted a full face helmet that did not look like the typical racing helmets. I was undecided between the 883 Iron or the Forty-Eight.....Then I saw the press release of the Indian Scout, and apart from looking absolutely gorgeous in my eyes and with a great price tag, it also screams heritage to me and thoughts of Burt Munro.

I think the reason people buy into the born to be mild brigade as you put it, is because they get drawn into the social side of it... No different to people who get into shooting and but into the tweed jacket and trousers look too.

Yazza54

18,464 posts

180 months

Wednesday 6th August 2014
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Quite like the look of this

Worrying

SickFish

3,503 posts

188 months

Wednesday 6th August 2014
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Yazza54 said:
Quite like the look of this

Worrying
Agreed..... coming from a love of sports bikes..... I am trying to apply man maths with a broken calculator wink

ZesPak

24,421 posts

195 months

Wednesday 6th August 2014
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Loving loads of the Victory's (Hammer/Vegas :lick), very unknown in these parts though and the HD scene is huge.


tvrolet said:
First ride report/video from some US journos...cool dude etc...

http://m.motorcycle-usa.com/155/18963/Motorcycle-A...

Interesting all the talk of marketing to new riders. I remember having a Z900 in 1976 and it was THE fastest thing pennies could buy, and major bragging rights with 82 horsepower since the Honda 750/Trident/Commando 850 were all sub 60hp and all classed as bikes suitable for only the hairy of chest.

This thing has 100hp.

Hell a Ducati 916 only has 14 more... Have 100hp bikes really gotten that easy to ride these days? My first 'big' bike was a Commando, and at maybe 60hp it scared me sh!tless until I got used to it...and I'd been riding for a couple of years.
Well, could be down to advancements in tyres, shocks and brakes (unless you buy a HD).
Add to that stuff like FI and ECU, which make it a lot easier to make a bike rideable by, for example, reducing torque in lower gears,...

Not to mention electronic aids like ABS and TC.

mrmaggit

10,146 posts

247 months

Wednesday 6th August 2014
quotequote all
TLandCruiser said:
Well if the new scout has changed my mind from buying a harley to wanting to buy a scout, there must be others as the scout is priced around 10k and so are the 1200 sportser, which was the amount of money I was looking to spend on a bike, I'm in no rush as I need to finish with my house move first so with the scout coming after Christmas, I can wait smile

Mag I'm in essex smile
Try Robinsons Foundry www.robinsonsfoundry.co.uk/, you'll have to cross the stream, but I mentioned calling in on my way down on a wine run and I've had test offers, special offers and loads of contact. If it wasn't for the great lads at Freedom in March, and Gil at Thunder Road, I'd be there asking about the bikes.

mrmaggit

10,146 posts

247 months

Wednesday 6th August 2014
quotequote all
bass gt3 said:
I will say as someone who has possibly less than zero interest in this style of machine, the Indian Brand still resonates, possibly better than HD.
To my leather clad speed monkey brain, Indain is waaaay cooler than HD, has great heritage and hopefully won't be associated with the patched up squadrons of Bad Ass wannabees.
Riding an Indian should be an expression of enjoyment for the style of machine, not a weak allusion to a 1%er pretend lifestyle when not in the office or Rotary Club.
Good luck to them, just keep left, speed monkeys might be approaching biggrin
Kind of like my post on the Diavel thread.

Richyboy

3,739 posts

216 months

Thursday 7th August 2014
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First time a bike like this has sparked my interest. Seems like a bargain is well - abs, cruise, 5 year warranty. In matt black it looks nice, that exhaust doesn't do anything for me though.

There any plans to have a dealer close to London?

Yazza54

18,464 posts

180 months

Thursday 7th August 2014
quotequote all
bass gt3 said:
I will say as someone who has possibly less than zero interest in this style of machine, the Indian Brand still resonates, possibly better than HD.
To my leather clad speed monkey brain, Indain is waaaay cooler than HD, has great heritage and hopefully won't be associated with the patched up squadrons of Bad Ass wannabees.
Riding an Indian should be an expression of enjoyment for the style of machine, not a weak allusion to a 1%er pretend lifestyle when not in the office or Rotary Club.
Good luck to them, just keep left, speed monkeys might be approaching biggrin
Totally agree

Indian is a much cooler brand than HD IMO

mrmaggit

10,146 posts

247 months

Thursday 7th August 2014
quotequote all
Richyboy said:
First time a bike like this has sparked my interest. Seems like a bargain is well - abs, cruise, 5 year warranty. In matt black it looks nice, that exhaust doesn't do anything for me though.

There any plans to have a dealer close to London?
Robinsons are in Canterbury, Aye Gee in Welling.

srob

11,566 posts

237 months

Thursday 7th August 2014
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Now come on Indian, build another four cloud9

tvrolet

Original Poster:

4,251 posts

281 months

Thursday 7th August 2014
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srob said:


Now come on Indian, build another four cloud9
Like this?



OK, OK, it's not a 'Polaris' Indian, but I another branch of the Indian family tree.
No idea what's happened to that business now, but it used to be in Edinburgh...
http://www.p2r.se/mc/dakota4/

aeropilot

34,299 posts

226 months

Thursday 7th August 2014
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Richyboy said:
There any plans to have a dealer close to London?
They need this if they want to really attack HD.

A flagship Indian dealership in central London would have Warr's sweating a little I'd imagine.