They bring in the Harley's to bring customers in, marketing plan.

 

Head Motor Co? I stopped by there recently for the first time, I had stopped at Mid Am HD and thought I would check out the Indians while I was in town.

 

Seems to be a common ploy. The auto dealers in Reno will usually have a really nice vehicle of a competitors on prominent display out front. Such as the Chevy Dealer putting a flashy Challenger on an elevated display stand right at the main entrance. Are they trying to drag Moparheads into the dealership so they can sell them an Impala? Yeah right.
kk

 

From what I have read he also owns a HD dealership and sends trade ins to the Indian store, especially during the rally in case someone wants a HD.

And yes, Indian dealers do buy Harleys at auctions. The Indian dealer in OKC (Sooner Indian) also owns Action PowerSports in Tulsa a multi brand dealership and APS has more used Harleys than any dealer in Oklahoma. He told me he buys them at auctions when I talked to him and he also buys them from people who want to sell their bikes.

And there is a forum member who works at an Indian dealership and he also confirmed they bought Harleys at auctions.

It makes sense to have Harleys for sale at an Indian dealership as they are selling to the same demographic as Harley, which still sells better than Indian, so any sale can help them keep the doors open.

 

I can take or leave the larger Indian motorcycles. They're just "OK", some things I like, some things I don't. But, that Indian Scout is one butt-ugly motorcycle. My neighbor owns one, and looking the thing over really well, it's hideous. I can't comprehend how a design department drew that up and said..."yea, that looks good!". Has a "cheap metric" look all over it.

 

It was originally designed to be a Victory and after the Scout was released they released the Victory Octane. I think the Octane looks better.

 

I think you nailed it with "cheap metric looking"

and its the small things too after having owned a Harley, nobody else's hand controls feel and look as nice. everything else just looks like cheap clicky crap buttons.

 

Indian shop is a good place to look for used Harleys.


Wait, what was the question?

 

Bought my wife a "custom" at an Indian dealer in 99' (is that right? were there Indian dealers then :-)

I don't like the looks of a LOT of Harleys. Have been riding them since 83'. Also had a couple Ducatis and a 99 X1 Buell that got me
"the most miles in a year".

I LIKE that Scout and also the Victory.
My 85 Softail (first new bike) went from (bolt-on chrome crap from the dealer" to stripped down "Pro Street" style.
Harley guys thought it was a Sportster or FXR. Non Harley people did not recognize it being HD?

You might not like my style and I probably don't like yours. That is what is so cool about HD's. They mostly look a little or a lot different.

JM

 

I doubt that. if they were truly 'Harley guys', they could easily tell a sportster from a softail.