Game of Thrones: Harley-Indian Rivalry Forges a Comeback
By Bruce Montcombroux

Indian Motorcycle is set to grab a piece of the action from Harley-Davidson. But HD isn't going to let this go without a fight.

 

This is the best time for a new motorcycle purchase. Healthy competition creates a better product for the end user, me. Time to roll up the sleeves and show the consumer what you are made of. New models, new engines, new frames, better customer service. Don't like what you see in one showroom, cross the street and check out the other side.

 

I agree. They will take some of the bike sales - but not all.

 

Looking at the Indian it appears they have a better cam chest.
It looks like one cam under each valve, .which would be way better than how HD is doing it.
Their geometry is so screwed up

 

True. But it has been working all this time- so why change a good thing?

 

 

I truth it works, but is a problem .

 

Maybe they merge and come out with a Hindian?

 

The 111 has better bottom end torque than the Freedom 106, but I could of used a few more in the horsepower department...

 

I own and ride both a 2018 Indian Scout Sixty and a 1981 Harley-Davidson Shovelhead. I love both bikes, I love both brands, and I plan to support both brands into the future. I have ridden 4 Indian and 11 Harley-Davidson models in the last year. I am a 25 year old "Millennial".

The things that I love about both brands are precisely what divides them. I love the modern Polaris resurrection of Indian firstly because I like the way their bikes ride and look. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly when discussing the future of these companies, the creative team behind the modern Indian resurrection (Rich Christoph, Ola Stenegard, Gary Gray, Roland Sands) is a genuine source of inspiration to me, I trust them, their talents are proven (especially when working together) and their vision for the future of the Indian brand is exciting, they exude the same optimism and excitement toward the future of motorcycling that I feel personally. I love the modern Harley-Davidsons because they haven't forgotten what made the Harley-Davidsons of yore exciting to ride and compelling to own. I know many of you older Harley-Davidson riders are likely to disagree with that but the things that draw me toward Harleys today are probably the same things that drew you yesterday. Even if the modern lineup has indeed been neutered by emissions and noise regulations, Harley-Davidsons are still a more visceral and aggressive ride than any other motorcycles on the market. They still sound the meanest, they still look the meanest, they still exude the same spirit of freedom and rock & roll, they still ride like tanks, just to a lesser degree than they did in the past (this is precisely why I prefer a 1981 Shovelhead over a 2018 Street Bob). Polaris' vision for the future of Indian and their understanding of what makes modern motorcycles great is why I love Indian, Harley's understanding of the past and what makes the primal motorcycles of the past great is why I love Harley. I can appreciate both, we can all appreciate both.

There is a ton of misconception out there surrounding the present day identity and future of the Indian brand. The nostalgia parade is over and the more you read in interviews with both Polaris executives and Indian's design team the closer you will come to this same conclusion, it was necessary to establish the resurrection and to demonstrate a commitment to original brand but that stage is being wrapped up as we speak. The Harley-Davidson vs. Indian Wars will no doubt continue in American Flat Track but they are coming to a close in the showrooms. Going forward it's Indian vs. The World and Harley-Davidson vs. The World. Both brands no longer have their sights set squarely on one another, they have turned their attention to the European manufacturers and to the general desires of my generation who may or may not have the majority of the purchasing power in the near future (that's another discussion entirely).