Harley or Indian
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 24,287
Likes: 4,027
From: Western MN
For all the high-level analysis and risk assessment and risk management, we never really know how a machine or system will behave long-term until it is in sustained actual use over time. IMO That's a point of concern on relatively new clean-sheet (or other) designs ie: Polaris.
Last edited by Northern Glide; Apr 6, 2017 at 03:13 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 7,709
Likes: 7,850
From: New York
Planned obsolescence is done by practically every industry, across entire product lines, with many companies.
The light bulb industry is credited with being the first to employ this tactic.
Part of paying for a premium brand is to pay for somewhat longer intervals between replacement. That said, obsolescence is factored into producing a product.
Some products are manufactured to last a certain amount of time. Others are made to intentionally become obsolete when technology eclipses it.
Unfortunately it's a fact of business.
The light bulb industry is credited with being the first to employ this tactic.
Part of paying for a premium brand is to pay for somewhat longer intervals between replacement. That said, obsolescence is factored into producing a product.
Some products are manufactured to last a certain amount of time. Others are made to intentionally become obsolete when technology eclipses it.
Unfortunately it's a fact of business.
Club Member
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 15,449
Likes: 7,791
From: Alabama
Anyway, we made most of the parts ourselves and assembled the boxes by hand, and we even wen to install them ourselves. And they worked great. And they kept selling, until almost all the machines they would work on were equipped with them. That was a LOT of knitting machines.
And they never, ever broke.
And after two years, we essentially put ourselves out of business- we had cornered the market with a bulletproof product and that was all she wrote.
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 170
Likes: 31
From: Charlotte, NC
RoboCop
Many years ago, my stepfather designed a control box for- of all things- the knitting machines that make socks! It was a simple setup, easy install item that did automatically a few functions that normally would take a machine offline for a few hours.
Anyway, we made most of the parts ourselves and assembled the boxes by hand, and we even wen to install them ourselves. And they worked great. And they kept selling, until almost all the machines they would work on were equipped with them. That was a LOT of knitting machines.
And they never, ever broke.
And after two years, we essentially put ourselves out of business- we had cornered the market with a bulletproof product and that was all she wrote.
Anyway, we made most of the parts ourselves and assembled the boxes by hand, and we even wen to install them ourselves. And they worked great. And they kept selling, until almost all the machines they would work on were equipped with them. That was a LOT of knitting machines.
And they never, ever broke.
And after two years, we essentially put ourselves out of business- we had cornered the market with a bulletproof product and that was all she wrote.
I worked at United Technologies and their plane engine division used to sell the engines at cost or below cost just so they could get the service and part contracts.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,256
Likes: 620
From: Pittsburgh suburb
I considered "strongly" the springfield, nice bike & all the features are meant to out do HD - but that is in looks only, for the price of the Indian springfield I could do up a RK real nice, so they have you paying for the goodies up front, HD just sells them after the fact or you can have them put on for you "expensive".
Indian chromed the front forks, passenger floorboard covers & other little things that they did in stock form - I say give them 5yrs & that will tell where they`re at? are they growing or has word of mouth hurt them to a point of selling the brand once again?
I hope they do well as it has created a competitiveness that has been missing along with a friendly rivalry that just makes it more fun!
Indian chromed the front forks, passenger floorboard covers & other little things that they did in stock form - I say give them 5yrs & that will tell where they`re at? are they growing or has word of mouth hurt them to a point of selling the brand once again?
I hope they do well as it has created a competitiveness that has been missing along with a friendly rivalry that just makes it more fun!
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 188
Likes: 3
From: Phoenix, AZ
There is still a direct lineage starting at the Knucklehead, the Panheads, the Shovelheads, then the Evo and all the others that followed. A direct link.
Plus Harley had family involvement during all of those years.
Irrelevant as that isn't the case. The Indian has zero connection to the company since it's 1953 demise.
Plus Harley had family involvement during all of those years.
Irrelevant as that isn't the case. The Indian has zero connection to the company since it's 1953 demise.
I understand some folks being pissed Polaris for having a bad experience. . .I get it...but they and Indian (with it's pedigree intact) will be around for a long time. . .for those of us who own them, they're beautiful, beautiful, reliable, powerful bikes and if you've not ridden one, then you should check them out. You may have a change of heart.
Last edited by wildcat465; Apr 26, 2017 at 02:59 PM.
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 170
Likes: 31
From: Charlotte, NC
To each their own
Uh, really? Gimme a break. .Have those of you bad mouthing Indian's heritage considered the patents and any intellectual property that Polaris purchased: designs and symbols, names and images? That IS the company's history/heritage and value that goes all the way back. . . .even if it didn't (and it DOES), it still represents a great American name. In terms of heritage, it makes no difference that the company way for decades...what's important to me is that Polaris retained the styling.
I understand some folks being pissed Polaris for having a bad experience. . .I get it...but they and Indian (with it's pedigree intact) will be around for a long time. . .for those of us who own them, they're beautiful, beautiful, reliable, powerful bikes and if you've not ridden one, then you should check them out. You may have a change of heart.
I understand some folks being pissed Polaris for having a bad experience. . .I get it...but they and Indian (with it's pedigree intact) will be around for a long time. . .for those of us who own them, they're beautiful, beautiful, reliable, powerful bikes and if you've not ridden one, then you should check them out. You may have a change of heart.
I think it's false advertising when Indian says "since 1901" or "the oldest American motorcycle company " or whatever they say. I get why they say it and why their fan boys buy into it ....but whatever floats their boat. Let's face it .... Polaris isn't a motorcycle company. They are a manufacturing company that makes power sport equipment. Period. But I don't buy bike brands because of their heritage or their love of the product they make. I buy a bike because I love the product. That's why I now own two Harley 's and zero Indians.
Last edited by Klong4HD; Apr 25, 2017 at 05:56 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 8,852
Likes: 2,494
From: Decatur, Alabama
I've looked at the Indians at the dealership and they look fantastic. If I had the money to buy one and could also afford to throw it away if Indian went belly up like Victory then I would snap one up on a minute.
So for now I"ll just keep on truckin' on my 20 year old EVO.
carl
So for now I"ll just keep on truckin' on my 20 year old EVO.
carl
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Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,610
Likes: 243
From: Oklahoma
Uh, really? Gimme a break. .Have those of you bad mouthing Indian's heritage considered the patents and any intellectual property that Polaris purchased: designs and symbols, names and images? That IS the company's history/heritage and value that goes all the way back. . . .even if it didn't (and it DOES), it still represents a great American name. In terms of heritage, it makes no difference that the company way for decades...what's important to me is that Polaris retained the styling.
I understand some folks being pissed Polaris for having a bad experience. . .I get it...but they and Indian (with it's pedigree intact) will be around for a long time. . .for those of us who own them, they're beautiful, beautiful, reliable, powerful bikes and if you've not ridden one, then you should check them out. You may have a change of heart.
I understand some folks being pissed Polaris for having a bad experience. . .I get it...but they and Indian (with it's pedigree intact) will be around for a long time. . .for those of us who own them, they're beautiful, beautiful, reliable, powerful bikes and if you've not ridden one, then you should check them out. You may have a change of heart.
