Game of Thrones: Harley-Indian Rivalry Forges a Comeback
Daily Slideshow: As Harley's biggest rival in the American-made motorcycle market, Indian Motorcycle would love to grab a piece of the action from Harley-Davidson, but we say good luck trying.
It's Good to Have a Rival
The Lakers vs the Celtics. Ali vs Frazier. Marvel vs DC. Pressure bursts pipes but it can also present ample opportunities for consumers to reap the benefits of healthy competition. Enter two motorcycle companies who are as American as apple pie and baseball; HD and Indian. Woven into the fabric of American culture, Indian Motorcycle is one of the few, if not the only motorcycle company that rivals the iconic lore of Harley-Davidson. Once defunct, now revived, the Indian Motorcycle company is on a path to capture a segment of the lucrative cruiser and touring market dominated by Harley-Davidson. [Images: Indian Motorcycle]
Formative Years
Indian Motorcycle was founded in 1901, two years before Harley-Davidson. The two companies built groundbreaking motorcycles that won races, set land-speed records, served in both world wars and provided alternate transportation for millions. However, unlike Harley-Davidson, Indian Motorcycle did not manage to ride the post-war economic wave and declared bankruptcy in 1953.
Dust off the Bonnet
Over the decades there have been multiple attempts to revive the Indian brand and restart production. The most recent, and successful endeavor, was by leisure and off-road vehicle giant, Polaris Industries, who acquired Indian Motorcycle in 2011. Under the guidance of its parent company, Indian Motorcycle has since experienced a rise in sales, and a dramatic growth in popularity.
Chief Ride
Starting in 2013, the Polaris-backed Indian Motorcycle launched its contemporary line-up that featured the Chief Classic, Chief Vintage, and Chieftain. These next generation 'Chiefs' were powered by a newly designed, 111 cubic-inch, flat-head-styled Thunder Stroke motor, cradled in an innovative aluminum frame. Without modesty, Indian's intention was to “reclaim its position at the front of the pack.”
Forward Looking
Relying heavily on the style of the 1950s 'Chiefs,' all Indian big-twins from 2013 onward are clad in the iconic full-valance tins and sport the trademark fender-mounted war bonnet. Blending classic styling with a modern drivetrain has proved so successful that in 2017, Polaris dropped the much-vaunted Victory line-up in favor of focusing on Indian Motorcycle. The move effectively eliminated Indian's own competition from within.
Scouting Party
In line with its past pedigree, Indian Motorcycle introduced its smaller Scout model during the 2014 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. First developed in 1920 by engineer Charles B. Franklin, the new Scout echoes the ethos of its initial design of a lighter and more manageable cruiser. Indian's nimble Scout features a 69 cubic-inch “liquid-cooled, double overhead camshaft V-twin engine and a frame formed by multiple aluminum alloy castings.”
Streetable Racer
Keeping pace with the new offerings from Harley-Davidson, Indian Motorcycle introduced the 2019 Scout FTR 1200 at this year's Wheels & Waves festival in France. Following along with the current trend of 'street tracker' machines, the FTR 1200 is a touted as a Flat Track racing inspired bike with “customizable features to perfectly match the bike to your personal riding style.
Dirt Track Date
Introduced in 2016, the purpose-built Flat Track Indian Scout FTR750 reignites the century-old rivalry between Harley-Davidson and Indian Motorcycle. Challenging the venerable Harley-Davidson XR750, the new FTR750 is powered by a 750cc, fuel injected, 53-degree V-Twin with dual overhead cams and four valves per cylinder. After a sixty-year hiatus, Indian Motorcycle Racing dominated the 2017 American Flat Track Championships.
Provenance Counts
Indian Motorcycle is set to capture part of the hard-pressed motorcycle market. While Indian might be free from dyed-in-the-wool devotee scrutiny, it is important to remember that Indian's achievements come at the cost of the Victory, and unlike Harley-Davidson who got rid of their parent company thirty-seven years ago, Indian's revival is because of Polaris. It begs the question, who is FREE[ER] now? Either way, consumer choice is good, and it is nice to see the rivalry back in full swing.
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