1948 Indian Chief -

[Chocaholic]

Not something I see listed on CL very often. Probably well worth the money if it's for real. No relation, just an interested observer. Any takers?

Vintage 1948 Indian Chief--restored

[yellowperil]

You can't beat and Indian scout,
or it's cousin, the Indian Chief,
They're built like rocks to take hard knocks,
It's Harleys that cause the grief.

[Jeff Higgins]

Ah yes, a real Indian - not some Polaris looking to capitalize on the name. And a very nice one at that.

That said, anyone up for a 25 horsepower, foot clutch/hand shift bike in today's traffic? This would be a fun occasional machine for someone living out beyond the bounds of suburbia, on a lonely country lane. Just don't expect too much (romance aside) from a 1948 anything, much less a sidevalve motorcycle. The price is pretty darn fair, though, if it really is all original and not mostly assembled from (or restored with) Kiwi Indian parts...

[BeyGon]

Doesn't seem like a bad price. Looks good in these pictures.

[LakeCleElum]

I would love to have the Real Deal.

That said, why do companies like Polaris spend Millions+ to put a modern fake on the market? I'm a pretty hard-core old motorcycle guy, but I'm still too young to remember them or want one....

Why don't they save all that money they spend buying the name and just call them something like the: Sturgis Stripper? Would still bring in the same customer I think?

[GWN7]

I gave the link to my buddy who builds Indians of this vintage. He said lots of questions to determine the value. He will take a look and let me know tomorrow.

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by LakeCleElum

I would love to have the Real Deal.

That said, why do companies like Polaris spend Millions+ to put a modern fake on the market? I'm a pretty hard-core old motorcycle guy, but I'm still too young to remember them or want one....

Why don't they save all that money they spend buying the name and just call them something like the: Sturgis Stripper? Would still bring in the same customer I think?

No kidding. And just think of the compromises made to make this new Polaris look "right". If someone were to honestly set out to build the best V-Twin touring/cruiser motorcycle they could, with today's technology, you can bet it would not be this "Indian". You can bet if the real Indian were still in business, their bikes would be nothing like this Polaris. Very, very sad when a company doesn't think its own new, best effort won't make it without stealing someone else's name. A name they did not help build, a name they had nothing to do with.

The real Indian Motorcycle Company, the one that made the '48 in the ad, went out of business in 1953. There was a reason they did - very poor management, some really questionable new models, and the continuation of this side valve Chief, which even by then was badly outdated.

[dyount]

How about this one instead?

https://www.google.com/search?q=henderson+motorcycle+deco&rlz=1C1KAFA_enUS528US528&espv=210&es_sm=93&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=3_O4Ur7LHvTEsASkq4DIDQ&ved=0CCkQsAQ&biw=1600&bih=774

[Chocaholic]

You could argue that literally hundreds of motorcycle companies have come and gone in the last century. The only reason the Polaris Indian is still around is the Indian name, no? Look at the market from a business perspective. We are not the core of their target market. Rather, the unending line of HOG members wanting the "lifestyle" for weekend use. Most are older and well heeled. I'm sure there are many of them that want to be "individualists" by riding an alternative to the HD masses. So, business-wise, it probably makes sense.

[varmint]

In 2000 I swore I'd never give those douches at Harley Davidson another cent. Bought a Victory. Rode her all over the south west, alaska and several years of daily commuting in Los Angeles. It was an excellent bike. Being bought by Polaris is the best thing to happen to the Indian name in 70 years.

Of course had the decision been mine I would have said "**** the V Twin" and put a 4 cylinder Polaris atv engine in there.

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by Chocaholic

You could argue that literally hundreds of motorcycle companies have come and gone in the last century. The only reason the Polaris Indian is still around is the Indian name, no?

Yes, literally hundreds. Just one problem with your statement, however - there is no "still around" going on here. Indian went out of business in 1953. In the years since then, the Indian name has been passed around like Martha Stewart in San Quentin. There have been at least half a dozen people, or groups of people, who have laid claim to the Indian name since. Not a single one of them has ever had anything to do with the original Indian Motorcycle Company. Polaris have been around for a long time, but they have had absolutely nothing to do with Indian until now. They simply purchased the rights to the name. There is no lineage back to the real Indian Motorcycle Company. None whatsoever. They could just as easily have called it "Brough Superior", "Vincent", or any one of those hundreds of long gone names they had equally little (nothing) to do with.

Originally Posted by Chocaholic

Look at the market from a business perspective. We are not the core of their target market. Rather, the unending line of HOG members wanting the "lifestyle" for weekend use. Most are older and well heeled. I'm sure there are many of them that want to be "individualists" by riding an alternative to the HD masses. So, business-wise, it probably makes sense.

Even if this were true, Bob brought up a very salient point - even the older riders of today are still too young to have been old enough to have ridden real Indians. Sure, there were a few left on the road when I started riding (mid '70's), but they were by then relegated to old POS status, for those unfortunate enough to not be able to ride a more modern machine. There is no nostalgia associated with them for my riding generation. The ones we remember were old crapped out junk by then.

As far as the modern Harley demographic, your stereotype is somewhat outdated. There has been a huge influx of younger riders and women riders into the HD fold. Those are their two fastest growing markets. Try spending some actual time with Harley riders, at Harley dealers, at motorcycle events, and you will soon discover that chanting this from the bleachers is no longer valid, and only serves to announce just how out of touch you have become. Time for guys like to to pick up a newer magazine "explaining" this "lifestyle" you know so little about...

Which leads me to my next point. With the HD market demographic shifting so markedly towards younger riders, dusting off the old Indian name may, at first blush, seem even more odd. I don't think so, though - I think it is brilliant. They are speaking to a new generation of rider who have never seen a "live" Indian. They don't remember them as clapped out POS's you couldn't get parts for anymore. They don't have that history with the name.

In spite of all of that, however, the name is still very pervasive in motorcycling culture, it still carries a lot of weight. Yet us old farts have seen it bandied about, have seen it come and go, and some even got fooled into buying one of the several POS's that falsely wore this once proud name. I don't think many of us will be fooled again. The new generation, however, who have heard the name "Indian" uttered in reverent tones by the old guard, may very well be the ones to see the company through to success. To them, "Harley" and "Indian" seem about the same - ignoring the 60 year gap in "Indian" production, and truly buying into that "since 1903" moniker on the timing cover.

We'll see... once thing is certain, a truly viable competitor would do HD some good. This should, if nothing else, be fun to watch.

[Chocaholic]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

As far as the modern Harley demographic, your stereotype is somewhat outdated. There has been a huge influx of younger riders and women riders into the HD fold.

I suspect there's a geographic influence you're overlooking. Here in the South, your observation regarding the "huge influx of younger riders and women" is just wrong. Sure there are some, but they are the exception, not the rule. It's a well deserved stereotype that is evident every time I make the mistake of stopping by the Anderson, SC dealership on a Saturday.

[GWN7]

The largest growth segment in the HD market up here is women. Has been for the last couple years. The HD dealer probably makes more on women's clothing and accessories than they do selling bikes.

[GG Allin]

Personally, I'd like to get my hands on an old Traub.

[Hard-Deck]

I would buy a new Indian in a heartbeat. I've been a lifelong motorcyclist and I am thankful for Polaris keeping the Indian traditional name alive. They make quality machinery to boot.

[GWN7]

Doing some reading and the new Indian's may in fact be a real Indian.

Polaris just inked a deal with Ariens (snowblowers, lawnmowers, ect) and they have deals with Bobcat Company and Eicher Motors in India.

Eicher is the manufacture of the Royal Enfield motorcycles. EML’s 50:50 strategic joint venture with US based Polaris Industries Inc., Eicher Polaris Pvt Ltd. will design, develop, manufacture and sell a full new range of personal vehicles.

The company's web pages says the engines are built in Wisconsin and the bikes are assembled in Iowa but it makes me wonder.

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by Chocaholic

I suspect there's a geographic influence you're overlooking. Here in the South, your observation regarding the "huge influx of younger riders and women" is just wrong. Sure there are some, but they are the exception, not the rule. It's a well deserved stereotype that is evident every time I make the mistake of stopping by the Anderson, SC dealership on a Saturday.

Oh, don't get me wrong - I see the same stereotype whenever I stop by any dealership here in the Seattle area. And yes, HOG certainly perpetuates the stereotype as well. What I think is happening there, however, is that the old farts hanging out at the dealership and populating the HOG chapters serve, unfortunately, to keep the younger set away. The younger set just doesn't have much in common with the middle aged dealership hang-arounds, nor with the typical HOG member, so they have their own thing going. Away from those environments I see an awful lot of young people on Harleys. HD's own sales figures bear this out as well - their fastest growing markets are young people and women.

[LakeCleElum]

Jeff is right The RUB (Rich Urban Biker) kinda faded when their 401k's used to finance the hobby decreased.

If I was a single guy in my 50's, the first thing I'd do is buy and Harley and join HOG....A lot of hot looking female riders in serious need of a mentor.

Regarding the Indian, I wish Polaris luck. Kenny Dreer tried it with the Norton and couldn't pull if off.....At least Polaris can bankroll this project for awhile.

As a side note regarding Polaris.....I've been involved with them many years on the snowmobile side of things. Since 2008, they have been releasing models with adequate R&D. I've towed many out of the woods. They find cheep suppliers overseas for critical parts like crankshafts, pistons, ECU's, etc. Their assembly/workman ship is shoddy. Prices of parts and accessories have increased 400% in the past few years.....The boardroom is happy, their stock continues to increase.....I finally jumped ship a few years ago.

I'll wait this one out on the sidelines...

[varmint]

Originally Posted by GWN7

Doing some reading and the new Indian's may in fact be a real Indian.

Polaris just inked a deal with Ariens (snowblowers, lawnmowers, ect) and they have deals with Bobcat Company and Eicher Motors in India.

Eicher is the manufacture of the Royal Enfield motorcycles. EML’s 50:50 strategic joint venture with US based Polaris Industries Inc., Eicher Polaris Pvt Ltd. will design, develop, manufacture and sell a full new range of personal vehicles.

The company's web pages says the engines are built in Wisconsin and the bikes are assembled in Iowa but it makes me wonder.

if you want to play that game i can walk around a harley and tell you what parts came from canada, japan and pakistan.

[GWN7]

So I talked to my buddy who builds Indians of this vintage for people and he looked at the link. His first comment was "You would think someone asking that kind of money for a bike could post clearer pictures!"

The motor is from a 47. The frame is a 48. It has a Harley seat. 47 instruments. Wiring is wrong. Kick start is wrong.

His questions were who rebuilt the motor and trans? It seams it matters who did the machine work. Much like vintage Porsches.

His final comment was "it all depends on what someone wants, but there are better examples for less money out there. You just have to look for them"