Discussion
Dont own one, but did 2400 miles on a Roadmaster across USA last year.
Nice bike, loads of gizmos, super comfy, handled and stopped surprisingly well once moving faster than walking pace....really didnt notice the 430kg (!) once moving. The other half chose it due to the rear seat and really liked it.
Crazy amount of heat coming off the big air cooled engine though...to be fair it was 30-45 deg ambient temp, but on some days I really wished Id got a Goldwing or BMW K1600....something liquid cooled
...wouldnt be an issue in the UK of course.
I have ridden a Scout and that would make a nice cruiser style bike if I didnt already have a VRod. The Scout has more power than any production Harley and is 50Kg+ lighter than most of its competitors so goes very well.
As a brand Indian are doing very well, the bikes seem very good quality and a decent alternative to Harley-Davidson in every way other than residuals.
Nice bike, loads of gizmos, super comfy, handled and stopped surprisingly well once moving faster than walking pace....really didnt notice the 430kg (!) once moving. The other half chose it due to the rear seat and really liked it.
Crazy amount of heat coming off the big air cooled engine though...to be fair it was 30-45 deg ambient temp, but on some days I really wished Id got a Goldwing or BMW K1600....something liquid cooled
...wouldnt be an issue in the UK of course.I have ridden a Scout and that would make a nice cruiser style bike if I didnt already have a VRod. The Scout has more power than any production Harley and is 50Kg+ lighter than most of its competitors so goes very well.
As a brand Indian are doing very well, the bikes seem very good quality and a decent alternative to Harley-Davidson in every way other than residuals.
I can see why Indian are doing well.
Good looking bikes and I don’t think Harley money . As previously mentioned residuals may be an issue but I guess Time will tell on that one.
Never riden but may have to arrange that with a local dealer at some stage .
I’m just never so sure about riding a bike with the foot pegs so far forward
Good looking bikes and I don’t think Harley money . As previously mentioned residuals may be an issue but I guess Time will tell on that one.
Never riden but may have to arrange that with a local dealer at some stage .
I’m just never so sure about riding a bike with the foot pegs so far forward
Indian Chief Vintage here - numbered bike from the first batch in to the UK. Fishtails, high-flow air filter, stage 2 cams etc.
Fabulous bike - best I've ever owned...seriously. There's a GPz1100 in the garage too that's been SORNed since I git the Indian, and I can't see me ever riding it again. For me, it's a joy to ride; it just feels so good with massive torque and enough handling that I certainly don't exceed it's cornering clearance. Great as a [retro] tourer and easily capable (bike, butt and aged body) for 600+ plus in a day with luggage, or popping up to the shops. And the big bars actually make it quite good in traffic and slow speeds. Clearly a proper sports bike ridden with 'commitment' will leave it in the dust, but I've done quite a few runs in the company of sports stuff and at the speed most folks 'actually' ride over a distance (as opposed to 'can' ride) it keeps up no problems, and indeed it's a lot of fun baiting 600s and Harleys. For my sins and eternal shame I recall reeling-in and passing a guy on a sports 600 on the twisties and he dropped it trying to keep up. Clearly he wasn't a great rider as I gather he hit the front brake as a corner tightened...but the Indian got round OK. There's a world of difference in the performance and handling of an Indian Chief versus a Harley too. I did a tour last year and one of the chaps was on a Road King, and the Indian was soooo much quicker, and he was touching-down and scraping stuff on corners while the Chief still had loads more lean (and more than I have the cahonies to use). Another acid test, is having parked up and walked away, do you always turn around and think 'wow - that looks great'. I still do - but I accept it's not to everyone's taste.
I think I've done maybe 25K miles from new....but I'd have to check. Nothings gone wrong, broken, fallen off etc. (there, I've said it now!). But these were brand new clean-sheet designs with totally new motor, chassis, electrics etc and since launch in 2014 there's only been 1 recall for the fuel rail that could rub on the frame - I think a cable tie was the solution. But that says something too. But everywhere you look they do seem built to a quality and not built down to a price - at least the Chiefs. You can see where there's been cost savings on the Scouts. Had a test ride on a Scout and it was a pretty impressive but of kit too. Felt really light (but then after a Chief anything is light) and torquey bottom-end, but revvy-enough top-end.
Just waiting now on the Stage 3 kit (new barrels, pistons, cams, throttle body etc and takes it out to 1900cc) to be launched for the 2014 bikes - should be 'Easter' Indian say. That's my next present to self; currently 115 ft/lb at the rear wheel on the Dyno - I'd like to think I could get 130 with the stage 3...but that's another story.
Shameless opportunity to post up pic of the bike
[url]
Fabulous bike - best I've ever owned...seriously. There's a GPz1100 in the garage too that's been SORNed since I git the Indian, and I can't see me ever riding it again. For me, it's a joy to ride; it just feels so good with massive torque and enough handling that I certainly don't exceed it's cornering clearance. Great as a [retro] tourer and easily capable (bike, butt and aged body) for 600+ plus in a day with luggage, or popping up to the shops. And the big bars actually make it quite good in traffic and slow speeds. Clearly a proper sports bike ridden with 'commitment' will leave it in the dust, but I've done quite a few runs in the company of sports stuff and at the speed most folks 'actually' ride over a distance (as opposed to 'can' ride) it keeps up no problems, and indeed it's a lot of fun baiting 600s and Harleys. For my sins and eternal shame I recall reeling-in and passing a guy on a sports 600 on the twisties and he dropped it trying to keep up. Clearly he wasn't a great rider as I gather he hit the front brake as a corner tightened...but the Indian got round OK. There's a world of difference in the performance and handling of an Indian Chief versus a Harley too. I did a tour last year and one of the chaps was on a Road King, and the Indian was soooo much quicker, and he was touching-down and scraping stuff on corners while the Chief still had loads more lean (and more than I have the cahonies to use). Another acid test, is having parked up and walked away, do you always turn around and think 'wow - that looks great'. I still do - but I accept it's not to everyone's taste.
I think I've done maybe 25K miles from new....but I'd have to check. Nothings gone wrong, broken, fallen off etc. (there, I've said it now!). But these were brand new clean-sheet designs with totally new motor, chassis, electrics etc and since launch in 2014 there's only been 1 recall for the fuel rail that could rub on the frame - I think a cable tie was the solution. But that says something too. But everywhere you look they do seem built to a quality and not built down to a price - at least the Chiefs. You can see where there's been cost savings on the Scouts. Had a test ride on a Scout and it was a pretty impressive but of kit too. Felt really light (but then after a Chief anything is light) and torquey bottom-end, but revvy-enough top-end.
Just waiting now on the Stage 3 kit (new barrels, pistons, cams, throttle body etc and takes it out to 1900cc) to be launched for the 2014 bikes - should be 'Easter' Indian say. That's my next present to self; currently 115 ft/lb at the rear wheel on the Dyno - I'd like to think I could get 130 with the stage 3...but that's another story.
Shameless opportunity to post up pic of the bike
[url]I was touring Norway on my Triumph Explorer when a saw a cruiser in the distance, the road was winding along the coast so I caught a glance each time we went into the next bay.
I’m pretty flexible on speed limits so I expected to catch it pretty quickly, they were two up and had a fair bit of luggage.
It took me about 10 miles before I caught them, and I was going pretty quickly.
I got talking to the couple at the next ferry, turned out the bike was an Indian chief.
When I mentioned that they were traveling faster than I expected he just grinned and showed me the chamfered exhausts!
Found a picture
I’m pretty flexible on speed limits so I expected to catch it pretty quickly, they were two up and had a fair bit of luggage.
It took me about 10 miles before I caught them, and I was going pretty quickly.
I got talking to the couple at the next ferry, turned out the bike was an Indian chief.
When I mentioned that they were traveling faster than I expected he just grinned and showed me the chamfered exhausts!
Found a picture
Edited by Speed addicted on Thursday 8th March 00:36
I've had mine for nearly 18 months and its been perfect. I'd describe it as a real alternative to a Harley, slightly more refined but still very much a big V twin. Handles, stops and goes very well for a cruiser, marmite styling and you don't see loads on the road. While there are numerous upgrades available they also go very well as standard.
Some fella I met off the internet!!
Some fella I met off the internet!!
bogie said:
I have ridden a Scout and that would make a nice cruiser style bike if I didnt already have a VRod. The Scout has more power than any production Harley and is 50Kg+ lighter than most of its competitors so goes very well.
.
The scout produces 100hp according to indian, your v rod is more than that ..
bimsb6 said:
bogie said:
I have ridden a Scout and that would make a nice cruiser style bike if I didnt already have a VRod. The Scout has more power than any production Harley and is 50Kg+ lighter than most of its competitors so goes very well.
.
The scout produces 100hp according to indian, your v rod is more than that ..
the latest big twin Harleys are making 90 odd bhp apparently
The Scout is light (for a cruiser) 254kg wet...been researching a bit as my other half has her eye on one
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