Being one of likely many that don't like the handling of the pre 2020 Indian vintage I was looking at spare parts for the 2020 and noted the front frame member and neck can be purchased.
Does anyone know if this would fit the earlier model?
Just way to expensive to trade the bike to get the newer frame and I hate riding the bike as is.
To be honest I think Indian should be doing something for Vintage owners as the original frame was a huge design error proven by the change to the frame for 2020.
Looks should never trump function in my opinion.
There are positives and negatives to all the bikes. Your bike has more leg room and is more stretched out with the longer rake, which makes it much more stable in a cross wind at 80-90 mph.
The difference is only 4 degrees and the trail difference is .9.
It's a lot of work to do what you suggest. You should just trade it in on a new one.
Some love the longer rake and trail. Especially taller guys. Hell, the Gilroy models had a 34 degree rake, beach bars, and were really hard to turn in slow conditions, but guys loved them. The Scouts and Spirits from that era had a 32 degree rake and everyone thought that was a revelation.
So your Vintage is still a really well handling bike.
And BTW, there is nothing wrong with your pre 2020 frame or front end. It is an old school style ride and feels like one in the wind. I find them to be quite awesome running 100 mph on the slab.
And you don't need a new frame. You get a neck and triple trees. And there was no design error in the frame. It was designed to be what it is. And the only reason they changed the neck part in 2020 had nothing to do with design. It had to do with cost savings and less diversity in parts on the assembly line. A common manufactured part in all bikes creates less errors and quicker assembly. It is the motorcycle platform mentality.
The design issue really was the Springfield with the weird 46 psi in the front and 41 in the rear. Read those threads. I have a Springfield and love it, but I too, originally, was one of the guys that thought the published tire pressure in the owners manual was a typo. We all know now it was not!