33K, yeah right!

[Miralcos]

Holy smokes! I guess they know what they're doin' but it seems as if they priced themselves into a corner. I like them, but that price is stout!

[lh4x4]

The only difference this time around is they are making their own motor instead of using an S&S. They should have went with the S&S X wedge motor. Now, if the belly up again, where will the parts come from?

[dinoSnake]

Well, the motor's development was started almost 6 years ago, way before the X-Wedge existed. I would think putting the X-Wedge in would still give it too much of a "Harley clone" mystique.

I wonder what E-H owners are doing for spares?

[RichLockyer]

Originally Posted by Michael600r

They're going to have to have first class service if this batch of Indians are anything like the last batch.

Should be better... they aren't using the S&S 110.

[W-P Bill]

Still looks like a rebadged Harley clone (anyone remember the California Motorcycle Company?) to me. This "proprietary" engine just reworked the heads so the intake is on the other side, and reshaped the cylinders. Everything else from the bottom end, frame, and all the way out to the wheels is stuff you can bolt onto a Harley. Heck, even the trademark teardrop shaped headlight was available as an aftermarket accessory for Harleys before this new "Indian" adopted it.

I guess most of my angst is because I really really wanted Eller and his outfit to win the court case, not the Canadian (I believe) outfit that won the court case instead by buying CMC, slapping an Indian logo on a CMC made Harley clone and showing it to the judge.

For 33K, they should have at least gone for the S&S Wedge engine. That way even I couldn't claim they were a Harley clone.

[RichLockyer]

Originally Posted by W-P Bill

Heck, even the trademark teardrop shaped headlight was available as an aftermarket accessory for Harleys before this new "Indian" adopted it.

The teardrop headlight has been used on Indians for a while.
This is a 2000: eBay Motors: Indian : Chief (item 200221379680 end time May-18-08 15:00:00 PDT)
It appears that it was used from '99 to '03.

I've never seen one on a Harley, and I've seen a top of heavily customized Harleys.

[crazydave]

My Sister-In Law back in I believe 02 or 03? I could be wrong, For her first bike she buys a limited edition Silver Chief.

30K I believe it was. Then when she realized she didn't ride it much she went to try to sell it. She still has it since no one would give her even 15K for it. Collectible? I think not.

[SpeedCostsMoney]

My Sister-In Law back in I believe 02 or 03? I could be wrong, For her first bike she buys a limited edition Silver Chief.

30K I believe it was. Then when she realized she didn't ride it much she went to try to sell it. She still has it since no one would give her even 15K for it. Collectible? I think not.

Oh it's collectible alright! You will be collecting it for a long time.

[crazydave]

Originally Posted by Michael600r

They're going to have to have first class service if this batch of Indians are anything like the last batch.

Yes, Their overall reliability has never been a high point. As well their design on certain components is downright stupid. As an example on my Sister In Laws Silver Chief, the design to hold on the entire rear turn signal lense is a miniature single screw.

Well you can all guess how often these lenses just fell off, poorly thought out in my opinion.

[W-P Bill]

Originally Posted by RichLockyer

The teardrop headlight has been used on Indians for a while.
This is a 2000: eBay Motors: Indian : Chief (item 200221379680 end time May-18-08 15:00:00 PDT)
It appears that it was used from '99 to '03.

I've never seen one on a Harley, and I've seen a top of heavily customized Harleys.

I've been poring over JP Cycles catalogs (better than porno!) since about 1995, first noticed them there as aftermarket headlights for HD's, then Indian/CMC started putting them on their bike to differentiate. JP Cycles still carries them as a HD accessory made by Doss:
J&P Cycles® Doss Custom Teardrop Headlight and Spotlamp Kits 1986-2007

For a brief history of the whole Eller vs Indian/CMC debacle, this is a good link:
Indian Wars of 1999

[dinoSnake]

Originally Posted by W-P Bill

I've been poring over JP Cycles catalogs (better than porno!) since about 1995, first noticed them there as aftermarket headlights for HD's, then Indian/CMC started putting them on their bike to differentiate. JP Cycles still carries them as a HD accessory made by Doss:
J&P Cycles® Doss Custom Teardrop Headlight and Spotlamp Kits 1986-2007

For a brief history of the whole Eller vs Indian/CMC debacle, this is a good link:
Indian Wars of 1999

Yep, that's the article I remember reading that put me "in touch" with the huge Indian debacle.

But it doesn't cover the securities fraud of the then Indian Motorcycles president, Philip S. Zanghi, II

Former president of Indian Motocycle indicted for securities fraud and tax evasion | Business Wire | Find Articles at BNET.com

and his conviction!

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Appellee,v.PHILIP S. ZANGHI, II, Defendant, Appellant - 189 F.3d 71 - Justia US Court of Appeals Cases and Opinions

Motorcycle Product News Magazine


Recent Indian Motorcycle history SOOOOooo interesting - it's like watching the Andrea Doria in slow motion!

[W-P Bill]

The Indian that should've been. The fact it was to be manufactured by real Native American "Indians" was icing on the cake. I thought that was way better than building another casino. Anyway, here's some pics of the Eller/Cow Creek tribe version:




To give proper credit, the website I found these pics at is:
The New Eller Indian

By the way, as much as I think the teardrop headlight is fugly as a stand alone item, I must admit it works very well with the other styling cues of the Indian/CMC bike.

[RichLockyer]

Very nice.
Interesting springer design... retains the classy look of a springer but has the better handling of a conventional fork system.

Too bad they didn't go into production.

[dinoSnake]

Originally Posted by RichLockyer

Very nice.
Interesting springer design... retains the classy look of a springer but has the better handling of a conventional fork system.

Too bad they didn't go into production.

Too bad they didn't even have an engine - it's a resin mold. They never got further than this.

[W-P Bill]

Originally Posted by dinoSnake

Too bad they didn't even have an engine - it's a resin mold. They never got further than this.

That's what's SO sad about the whole Eller deal. The engine was being developed by Rousch Industries! These guys were/are into NHRA, SCCA, NASCAR, the works. Can you imagine what kind of engine Roush could've shoehorned into this bike? Especially to match the other stuff like the front suspension and the great brakes? All that stuff was for real, at the time the courts took over, only the engine was in model form. Pretty much everything else was ready to roll.

My knees go weak just thinking about it.