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bigfoot
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Several members of the Zoo Crew rode up to Erie to test ride the Indians Tuesday, and a few more are up there today.
16 Indians on the truck, about equal amounts of each model.
15 to ride and one was on display in the parking lot.
A good mix of colors and options including pipes, different sizes of windscreens, and chrome/fringe goodies were available.
One of the Vintage bikes had a ton of options on it and the price tag was $30,000.
There is a heel-toe shifter in the works, but none were available on the truck's bikes.
That meant that I couldn't ride.
All models are equipped with Dunlops, with the Chieftain the only one clad in E3 tubeless radials.
The Classic and Vintage have tubed tires (with horizontal nozzles which was a nice touch).
The Chieftain has a rear air shock while the other two models have rear shock adjustment available only by using a spanner tool.
The battery is located under the seat.
It takes a little bit of work to get to it.
I discerned ZERO metal-flake in the paint.
The Blue paint did look very nice, but if I was to purchase an Indian, it would have to be red.
The Blue and Red paint options cost $400 extra.
You can buy the Classic and upgrade it later to the Vintage if you choose.
The Classic is set up to accept the windscreen and saddlebags.
I did notice several of the Vintages with loose saddlebags when they were returned from the 25 minute rides.
The truck driver and Rep were checking each of them on returning and remounting those that had come loose.
Problem?
Maybe this is why production was being held up?
The Chieftain has locking saddlebags VIA the Key fob, BUT, the locking mechanism does take up about 2 stacked VCR tapes worth of interior storage volume and are mounted to the top lids.
I'm not sure I'd like losing that amount of storage space just for the remote locking convenience?
Many commented that the Chieftain needs a top box.
My riding buddies comment that the transmission shifted silky smooth, the Indians had plenty of grunt at the lower RPM's and seemed to lose it just past 4,000 RPM's.
A couple Victory riders I talked to felt that their bikes would match or exceed the performance of the Indian's after that point.
The Harley riders that showed up to test ride the Indians were all generally impressed.
They claimed to hear some 'ticking' going on inside the motor.
That's about all I can comment on as I didn't actually ride one.
The Erie dealership had a very good setup for the rides with wrist banding only occurring once (swiped driver's license), and each 1/2 hour ride required a colored ticket which determined what model bike you could ride.
While sitting on the bike you chose, tickets were collected just before leaving the parking lot for ride.
Once you finished a ride you could go inside and get a new ticket for the next half hours ride.
Simple, painless and straightforward.
The dealership was 'under construction' to conform to Indians requirements as to floor space needed.
The owner of the dealership couldn't have been more congenial if he had gone to etiquette classes.
A really nice guy that must have talked to me 4 or 5 times to make sure I was having an enjoyable experience.
I guess I'm spoiled by Ohio's Victory Dealerships as they always have some kind of FREE food/beverage 'spread' for the riders.
At this dealership, a food truck pulled in around lunchtime and 'SOLD' food.
16 Indians on the truck, about equal amounts of each model.
15 to ride and one was on display in the parking lot.
A good mix of colors and options including pipes, different sizes of windscreens, and chrome/fringe goodies were available.
One of the Vintage bikes had a ton of options on it and the price tag was $30,000.
There is a heel-toe shifter in the works, but none were available on the truck's bikes.
That meant that I couldn't ride.

All models are equipped with Dunlops, with the Chieftain the only one clad in E3 tubeless radials.
The Classic and Vintage have tubed tires (with horizontal nozzles which was a nice touch).
The Chieftain has a rear air shock while the other two models have rear shock adjustment available only by using a spanner tool.
The battery is located under the seat.
It takes a little bit of work to get to it.
I discerned ZERO metal-flake in the paint.
The Blue paint did look very nice, but if I was to purchase an Indian, it would have to be red.
The Blue and Red paint options cost $400 extra.
You can buy the Classic and upgrade it later to the Vintage if you choose.
The Classic is set up to accept the windscreen and saddlebags.
I did notice several of the Vintages with loose saddlebags when they were returned from the 25 minute rides.
The truck driver and Rep were checking each of them on returning and remounting those that had come loose.
Problem?
Maybe this is why production was being held up?
The Chieftain has locking saddlebags VIA the Key fob, BUT, the locking mechanism does take up about 2 stacked VCR tapes worth of interior storage volume and are mounted to the top lids.
I'm not sure I'd like losing that amount of storage space just for the remote locking convenience?
Many commented that the Chieftain needs a top box.
My riding buddies comment that the transmission shifted silky smooth, the Indians had plenty of grunt at the lower RPM's and seemed to lose it just past 4,000 RPM's.
A couple Victory riders I talked to felt that their bikes would match or exceed the performance of the Indian's after that point.
The Harley riders that showed up to test ride the Indians were all generally impressed.
They claimed to hear some 'ticking' going on inside the motor.
That's about all I can comment on as I didn't actually ride one.
The Erie dealership had a very good setup for the rides with wrist banding only occurring once (swiped driver's license), and each 1/2 hour ride required a colored ticket which determined what model bike you could ride.
While sitting on the bike you chose, tickets were collected just before leaving the parking lot for ride.
Once you finished a ride you could go inside and get a new ticket for the next half hours ride.
Simple, painless and straightforward.
The dealership was 'under construction' to conform to Indians requirements as to floor space needed.
The owner of the dealership couldn't have been more congenial if he had gone to etiquette classes.

A really nice guy that must have talked to me 4 or 5 times to make sure I was having an enjoyable experience.
I guess I'm spoiled by Ohio's Victory Dealerships as they always have some kind of FREE food/beverage 'spread' for the riders.
At this dealership, a food truck pulled in around lunchtime and 'SOLD' food.

