[Byron Sexton]

Like i said in another thread..Indian wants to produce all of these New and great bikes but cant keep the doors open. Polaris needs to step in what is another option?

 

[endscuoio]

@TigerGA @K9F true and true.
That is why a lot of manufacturer are creating specific models for the asian market.
Given the success that Royal Enfield is having in Italy, I would not be surprised to see some of these models on italian roads as well

 

[K9F]

Royal Enfield ’Good honest bikes at a very affordable cost.’ With existing success over here.

Where else can you buy a brand new 650 displacement motorcycle (apart from the new BSA of course) for a little over £6000 in my money with a three year unlimited mileage warranty. The smaller 410 Himalayan comes in at £4700 and the Meteor 350 at a measly £4100. It also has heritage and soul despite where they are made. Also you’d never lose much money in the resale as they are inexpensive in the first instance.

 

[flfd338]

that sucks. I've stopped there twice when riding through from NJ to western NC. Nice folks, nice facility.

 

[civiclx]

Just got off the phone with someone at Smoky Mountain. It sounds like they are beginning the process of closing, but as of right now, they’re still open. I don’t know if the service department is still open but the sales department is.

 

[Baron58]

Like i said in another thread..Indian wants to produce all of these New and great bikes but cant keep the doors open. Polaris needs to step in what is another option?

Nothing to do with Polaris as much as the individual dealership. In the US, 80% new business fail in the first 5 years.

Indian is a very small company and produces only a small number of bikes compared to others, thus the small dealer network.

Stand Alone Indian dealerships that rely only on Indian sales will fail.

To be a successful dealership, you either are a multi-brand powersports dealer or you have a large used motorcycle sales program. My local dealership has over 200 used motorcycles in inventory of all makes and models. They sell really well. Also, you have to walk through the Indian showroom to get to them. Meaning many customers never make it to the back to see the used bikes, instead they buy new Indians.

Also, many Dealerships are run on shoestring budgets and are self-insured, meaning any disaster and they are done.

 

[PeacePursuit]

Just got off the phone with someone at Smoky Mountain. It sounds like they are beginning g the process of closing, but as of right now, they’re still open. I don’t know if the service department is still open but the sales department is.

The service manager was still there yesterday but the shop was shut down. Too bad we were on our bikes as he was discounting the PP108 oil change kit at a decent price and we could only carry one each.
There was no one in the apparel department, if there was I was in the market for a new mesh summer riding jacket. I would have bought one.

 

[civiclx]

The service manager was still there yesterday but the shop was shut down. Too bad we were on our bikes as he was discounting the PP108 oil change kit at a decent price and we could only carry one each.
There was no one in the apparel department, if there was I was in the market for a new mesh summer riding jacket. I would have bought one.

The gentleman I spoke to made it sound like they’d be open for a couple more months. Again, not sure about the service department but I assume if you stopped in to purchase something, you’d be good.

I mentioned being from California and after a heavy sigh and what I could only imagine was an epic eye roll😄😛, he said if there was anything I needed, they could help and send stuff out.

 

[Big Dawg]

Like several others have mentioned, I will really miss these guys. I attend the Pow Wow every summer and it's been held in Maggie Valley for the last 4-5 years. Many of us have had the opportunity (need) to take advantage of their services over the years. Last summer was my turn. The guys in the Service Dept. were great and went over and above to take care of my lighting problem.

I agree with a lot of what's been said here about the problems of small dealerships, smaller manufacturers, etc. And God knows that areas was devastated by Helene.

Still, those guys will be missed.

 

[Drive2ride]

I think we will see more dealership closures. The auto market, especially trucks, isn’t doing well, just check the lots across the country with massive inventory. There is a huge inventory of 2024 vehicles on dealership lots with no space for the 2025’s. Dealerships are turning away delivery of new 25’s due to flooded lots of last years inventory.

It sucks for people that loose jobs in these closures, but if people aren’t buying cars and trucks they sure won’t fork out big money for a new motorcycle. Indian and Harley have priced out the average blue collar workers.

 

[Pauly Rides]

Like several others have mentioned, I will really miss these guys. I attend the Pow Wow every summer and it's been held in Maggie Valley for the last 4-5 years. Many of us have had the opportunity (need) to take advantage of their services over the years. Last summer was my turn. The guys in the Service Dept. were great and went over and above to take care of my lighting problem.

I agree with a lot of what's been said here about the problems of small dealerships, smaller manufacturers, etc. And God knows that areas was devastated by Helene.

Still, those guys will be missed.

Agreed! Wow,

 

[SlidePicker]

I messaged them and was told their last day will be April 6. Their shop is already closed? Crap! I hate to see them go.

 

[greasemonkey]

Like i said in another thread..Indian wants to produce all of these New and great bikes but cant keep the doors open. Polaris needs to step in what is another option?

As long as they continue to build and design bikes that are more Victory like they will probably eventually continue down the same road as Victory.

 

[Bird Dog]

As long as they continue to build and design bikes that are more Victory like they will probably eventually continue down the same road as Victory.

Maybe, but I sure do like the Indian Challenger that Polaris has been making these past 5 years. I'm on my second one, a 2024 Challenger Limited, and so far it is easily the best motorcycle I have ever owned.

 

[Byron Sexton]

Yeah but with no dealership support and the place to service, love and sell them. Your gorgeous Challenger will be left on an island of irrelevancy as the years go by

 

[Gearhead24]

I hate to hear this. We visited the dealership last fall. It was a nice place, the lady in motor clothes was very friendly and helpful. We would've definitely visited again.

 

[Singletracker]

I did a test ride on a Scout from that dealership in 2016 if my memory serves me correct. Took a quick blast up the Smoky Mtn. Expressway and got off on the BRP exit and rode the parkway for a couple of miles and turned around. I was impressed with how quick the Scout was.

 

[Bird Dog]

Yeah but with no dealership support and the place to service, love and sell them. Your gorgeous Challenger will be left on an island of irrelevancy as the years go by

You may be right. All of that is pretty much up to the people on the top floor over at PIIs headquarters. Will they just eventually discontinue the line? Will they sell it to one some foreign motorcycle maker? It's hard to say. If that happens, I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. I am fortunate enough to live in the state of Wisconsin. 5 of the 6 Indian Motorcycle dealers here in the state are solid. The sixth one I have never visited and i have never read anything overly positive about it. But they are also new.

 

[SlidePicker]

My biggest concern for the long run (I plan to keep my Springfield until I can no longer ride it) is electronic support going away. That's a concern with all modern cars. The US only requires 10 years of parts support, I believe. I wish there was a way of accessing Digital Wrench functionality without having to physically go to a dealer.

 

[Moe1962]

I would like to add driving lights to my RM, but cost too much and I have to get digital wrench to have them turned on. What crap. Yes, I can do aftermarket, but still costly, when I’m not normally out at night, but would like cagers to more easily see me.