Who here is buying a new Indian?

[Gerhardberger]

I was planning to buy the first Polaris Indian Chief to be imported into Spain, a couple of months ago.

But then...when I saw them live I was dissapointed. Not by the bike itself, but by the bike/cost relation.

In Spain the Chieftain costs 27.000eur...that's 37.260USD !!!!!!!!!! That's lots of money.

Therefore I decided to wait a couple of years, and in the meanwhile I bought a used Victory Vision:

[Troll]

Personally, the bar fairing looks like crap. I don't care for ANY bar fairings. If you're going to do it, you need a frame mount. Not only do they look better, but they don't screw up handling like all that weight on the fork will. Victory had to design a different frame and fork to help mitigate the effect of the fairing on the new "Indian"...I'm not a big fan of windshields, either, for the same reason, but they have less of a detrimental effect than a fairing.

[CDNRatMan]

  Sorry does nothing for me really.

[Troll]

There was one at the Ride this last weekend. It belongs to a local Clubber in the Madison area...

[Ricardo]

Do I want one? Absolutely! Will I get one? Probably not. I'd rather get another Drifter 800 with lower mileage on it or maybe even a 1500 and save the extra cash.

If I really wanted to put out that kind of money, I'd get a Ducati Diavel instead (please dont slap me) and save my Drifter.

[DC]

I love using the heel for upshifting and toe for downshifting on my Drifter.  I guess I'm spoiled, as I can't imagine having a bike without a heel shifter now.

[pcarrell]

Myself, I'm a big fan of the heel part of the heel & toe shifter.  I guess I've never noticed it taking any longer as I'm a pretty laid back rider.

[Reveen]

Every once and a while I'll try the heel shifter but it seems to take too long shuffling between the two.

That is exactly how I feel. I seem to get more precise shifting if I just use my toe. It seems more "fun" to me for whatever reason too. Maybe that is because its just more what I'm used to.

Is there an Indian demo in your area soon? I'd recommend it. I always do all the HD demos as well, just because I love trying all sorts of different bikes.

[jmbo]

I guess it depends on what you are used to. I've never warmed up to the heel shifter.  All my previous bikes were Brit bikes (including my right hand shift Tiger)  Every once and a while I'll try the heel shifter but it seems to take too long shuffling between the two.  Being used to riding a lower torque bike, I find that I use my gears upshifting and down shifting more than other v Twin guys I ride with. I know the bike has enough torque to pull stumps but I like to keep the revs up a bit and listen to that engine hit that sweet spot so tickling the shifter up and down with my toe works for me.

Plan to try out an Indian in a couple of weeks.

[CDNRatMan]

  this is the second bike with a heel and toe shifter, and I really like this one, because you can adjust each one to were it is to your specific liking......

[Drifter1500]

You can adjust the toe shifter and still leave the heel shifter in place, use the heel shifter if you want to.

I find more positive shifts going up in gears with heel shifter. But I have been using this setup for along time.

If it is adjusted proper you might feel different about it as well.

[Reveen]

That's my criticism - the heal shifter can easily be removed if you don't want it.   I would want one.

I'm thinking of removing my heel shifter and raising the toe shifter so I can actually fit my foot under it without having to force it in there. I think I just like using my toe better . . . for some reason I feel like my shifting is more accurate when just using the toe. I'm assuming it isn't very difficult to adjust . . . I haven't looked at it very closely yet.

[Troll]

Coming from the strange land of the past, I didn't own a motorcycle with a foot shift until.....1971. Since i learned to ride with a foot clutch and hand shift, I really like the way the rocker shift works. Reminds me of the first machines I owned, except for my '65 BSA...which had a foot shift on the "wrong side"...but since I didn't know any better, it was the right side for me!   I had to adapt to the "normal" foot shift configuration, when I bought my '68 E-Glide...

[greenbarn]

I have never used the heel shifter on my bikes until recently; used to take them off to allow more room on the floorboard for my big feet. 

That's my criticism - the heal shifter can easily be removed if you don't want it.   I would want one.

[Reveen]

I forgot to add that during the demo ride (group of about ten riders) one of the guys dumped the bike at a stop sign. I cringed watching the $18,000 beauty fall to the pavement. I don't think the guy had been riding very long... I'm not even sure how he managed to tip it over as he could easily sit with both feet flat on the pavement.

[49Reo]

It's probably an option....

I have never used the heel shifter on my bikes until recently; used to take them off to allow more room on the floorboard for my big feet. 

[Drift1]

Reveen I can relate with the cheaply made feeling as well . Can't quit describe it , but numerous people in the crowd were saying the same .

Chief with that sweet 1500 of yours , I'll guarantee  once you have a chance to ride these NEW Indians , you'll keep that extra cash in your pocket  .So many disappointed potential buyers that day , it was heart braking what Polaris did to the Indian name .

Troll I too have to read up on the history lesson . Never realized that was no "R " ... Man I wish I would of known this info before going to the preview . I would of had a field day with questions .

[chief]

I missed the demo rides this weekend... wish I coulda ridden one. If it rides as others have indicated that might get it off my radar for a while!

[Troll]

I just can't get past the headlight/fork crown assy...If you're going to do it that way, it's going to have to be better than H-D's 1949 design, and I don't really think it is.    I like the saddlebags on the heritage, or what ever it's called, but that chieftain just turns me off completely.

[Reveen]

I got the opportunity to ride a Chief Vintage (black) last weekend during the Polaris Demo Day at the local dealership. Upon first sitting on the bike, I immediately thought "this feels tiny!" I dont know what it was, but it seemed so much smaller and lightweight than my 99. I felt like I was straddling a 750cc bike. I felt a little cramped on it, so hopefully there are several adjustments that can be made for taller riders.

The bike accelerated well enough, but didn't feel that much more powerful than my Drifter. The stock exhaust was so quiet, I could hardly believe it. I loved having a 6th gear, that was really nice. The bike seemed to handle well, and the shifting was ultra smooth. For whatever reason, the bike felt a little "cheap"  to me. I think I have a natural stereotype in my head that "heavy = quality and lightweight = cheap". I know its stupid, but I just couldn't get over how small the bike felt. Maybe it has a much lower center of gravity than the Drifter?

All in all, it was a great bike, I just dont think I could ever justify shelling out that type of cash for a motorcycle unless I was very wealthy.

[greenbarn]

The lack of a heel shifter is a common complaint among new Indian owners and prospective customers.

It's probably an option....

[DC]

The lack of a heel shifter is a common complaint among new Indian owners and prospective customers.

[pcarrell]

HD is definitely the king of the cruiser world in your neck of the woods!

[jmbo]

"Who here is buying a new Indian?" I guess no one in this area at least no one who bothered to show up yesterday at this year's Road Runner Bike Blessing.  Road my '99er and received a few compliments but as you can see from the photo, I was clearly in the minority not just because I road a Drifter but because I road anything other than a HD. I have a feeling that it will be quite some time before I see a new Indian among the brethren.

[Drift1]

Here's a few pictures of todays show