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Stick it to Harley, I went ahead and got myself an Indian

9K views 59 replies 35 participants last post by  jlp168 
#1 ·
Eight years ago, I was driving a truck on I -40 through New Mecico and I stopped for the night at one of the Indian casinos, no pun intended. In front of the main entrance there were 4 bikes parked outside with big signs saying they will be offered to some lucky winners of their promotions. One of the bikes got my attention, it was a HarleyDavidson Sportster Nighster in orange and black. It really moved me, open my mind to a whole lot of possibilities and dreams and fantasies, I never owned a bike before, I didn't even considered an option. I just had to get one.
Long story short, when I got back to Chicago I went straight to the HarleyDavidson dealer down the street from where I was living to get one. Well, I didn't happened, the out the door price they gave me was almost 3 grand over the MSRP and they didn't want to haggle a bit, on top of that the sales person was rude and impatient with me. I left the dealership disappointed and determined to buy a bike that day, any bike, just not a HarleyDavidson.
I got a Suzuki m50 from a different dealer, my sales person, a Harley rider was one of the best in the business and got a huge discount too.
Fast forward 7 years and 4 bikes later, I was laying on the ground, bloodied and in pain, my right shoulder in a very awkward position, no skin on my palms and belly despite the fact I had summer gloves and jacket on and some horrible looking road rash on my knees. The driver that hit me didn't even stopped to check to see if I'm alright or dead or anything. He knew he was going the wrong way on a one way street and maybe he just had other things on his mind, after all it was Father's Day.
I whole lot of people told me I should stopped riding, I listen. I sold the bike I had the wreck on, my wounds have since long healed and I thought that's it, I would never ride again until I saw the new Scout. I was like having an epiphany, the bike just talked to me. It wasn't even an American motorcycle magazine that broke the news to the world, it was a British one. I was hoping the picture of the Silver Smoke scout is really real. It was. From that moment I begin the real mind game, how could I put my mints on one without sacrificing any of the comfort and security I knew I had to provide my family. It wasn't an easy task but fast forward another 9 months and I had my scout. I enjoyed it so much I completely forgot about how it all started, with me gazing upon a 2007 HarleyDavidson Nightster. Bye bye Harley, say hello to Indian.
 
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#22 ·
Excellent story. And I like that you weren't bashing Harley, only relating the facts.
Welcome and congrats!

View attachment 25621
Well, it's not my style to bash anybody. HarleyDavidson will always gonna have a special place in my heart but truth be told it's the bike I always admired but rode the least.
Despite the fact it's the number one selling cruiser in US, sometimes Harley feels like the high schools football team quarterback who's secretly a bully and myself I always appreciated a good underdog and Indian is my underdog.
 
#8 ·
There is a Harley dealer less than 5 miles from my house.I purchased four new Harleys but never from this dealer.

Same arrogant attitude as original poster met.Last time they wanted me to make an appointment to "discuss" my purchase!

I went 60 miles and bought a new Ultra that same day

Things have changed,they now at least act like they want to sell bikes.Doesn't matter,I got a Chieftain and I'm not going back.
 
#10 ·
There is a Harley dealer less than 5 miles from my house.I purchased four new Harleys but never from this dealer.

Same arrogant attitude as original poster met.Last time they wanted me to make an appointment to "discuss" my purchase!

I went 60 miles and bought a new Ultra that same day

Things have changed,they now at least act like they want to sell bikes.Doesn't matter,I got a Chieftain and I'm not going back.
Interesting article on Brand Arrogance: Avoid the Leading Brand Image Killer - Brand Arrogance

Not specific to any one brand or industry.
 
#9 ·
Welcome to the tribe! I started riding again after 20 years.. started on a Yamaha Bolt and got the 2015 Chieftain this September. Love the bike. I am sure you will have a fantastic time with your new Scout! Congratulations on your new Scout!
 
#15 ·
Eight years ago, I was driving a truck on I -40 through New Mecico and I stopped for the night at one of the Indian casinos, no pun intended. In front of the main entrance there were 4 bikes parked outside with big signs saying they will be offered to some lucky winners of their promotions. One of the bikes got my attention, it was a HarleyDavidson Sportster Nighster in orange and black. It really moved me, open my mind to a whole lot of possibilities and dreams and fantasies, I never owned a bike before, I didn't even considered an option. I just had to get one.
Long story short, when I got back to Chicago I went straight to the HarleyDavidson dealer down the street from where I was living to get one. Well, I didn't happened, the out the door price they gave me was almost 3 grand over the MSRP and they didn't want to haggle a bit, on top of that the sales person was rude and impatient with me. I left the dealership disappointed and determined to buy a bike that day, any bike, just not a HarleyDavidson.
I got a Suzuki m50 from a different dealer, my sales person, a Harley rider was one of the best in the business and got a huge discount too.
Fast forward 7 years and 4 bikes later, I was laying on the ground, bloodied and in pain, my right shoulder in a very awkward position, no skin on my palms and belly despite the fact I had summer gloves and jacket on and some horrible looking road rash on my knees. The driver that hit me didn't even stopped to check to see if I'm alright or dead or anything. He knew he was going the wrong way on a one way street and maybe he just had other things on his mind, after all it was Father's Day.
I whole lot of people told me I should stopped riding, I listen. I sold the bike I had the wreck on, my wounds have since long healed and I thought that's it, I would never ride again until I saw the new Scout. I was like having an epiphany, the bike just talked to me. It wasn't even an American motorcycle magazine that broke the news to the world, it was a British one. I was hoping the picture of the Silver Smoke scout is really real. It was. From that moment I begin the real mind game, how could I put my mints on one without sacrificing any of the comfort and security I knew I had to provide my family. It wasn't an easy task but fast forward another 9 months and I had my scout. I enjoyed it so much I completely forgot about how it all started, with me gazing upon a 2007 HarleyDavidson Nightster. Bye bye Harley, say hello to Indian.
Good on you, @SilverMike. Good to hear you're back around. Where about in Chicago are you?
 
#23 ·
Great story and good to see you back on two wheels. Arrogance on the part of some dealers is very unbecoming. I see no new Harleys in my future.
 
#26 · (Edited)
True story this… A couple of weeks or so ago, me and a couple of my hoodlum friends went down to the Harley shop ( to look at the new Triumph Bonnevilles actually) & on the way out we wandered over to the Harley section, where an energetic salesman tried to sell us a Hog. He was pushing the new Fat Boy S which to be fair, was a very nice looking machine. At any rate he was touting the “ new “ technology (for Harley at least) of ABS. We all stared at him like he was the devil himself and then hunching over like a pack of neanderthals, started pointing at him shouting: ABS! Witch! Witch! Burn Him! Burn Him! Which I thought, accurately reflected Harley’s core customer base. We then shuffled out like a pack of Gorillas’s throwing looks over our shoulders while he stood there transfixed with his mouth open. I know…. but I just can’t help myself sometimes.
 
#27 ·
I found my 2014 Vintage on line at a local Indian dealer. The bike had low mileage & was priced well. It was a small place, one mechanic and a small sales floor. In the process of buying they tried to get me to upgrade to a new bike, I told them I didn't want to spend anymore $, They said well it's only $3K more, You & I know $3K really ends up to be $5K out the door. As we were going through the paper work they asked if I wanted to extend the warranty, no was my response, I have always thought extended warranties were a waste of a lot of $$$. I asked if they had any wiggle room on the price, no. I asked if they were willing to throw in any accessories, no.I never got that warm fuzzy feeling there. I closed the deal and rode to another Indian dealership. They were happy to see me, I had a list of must have items, they helped me out, even gave me a deep discount on a used riders back rest & gave me a leather treatment kit, for the bags & seat, no charge! What a difference 20 miles make, sometimes it pays to shop!!
 
#28 ·
Eight years ago, I was driving a truck on I -40 through New Mecico and I stopped for the night at one of the Indian casinos, no pun intended. In front of the main entrance there were 4 bikes parked outside with big signs saying they will be offered to some lucky winners of their promotions. One of the bikes got my attention, it was a HarleyDavidson Sportster Nighster in orange and black. It really moved me, open my mind to a whole lot of possibilities and dreams and fantasies, I never owned a bike before, I didn't even considered an option. I just had to get one.
Long story short, when I got back to Chicago I went straight to the HarleyDavidson dealer down the street from where I was living to get one. Well, I didn't happened, the out the door price they gave me was almost 3 grand over the MSRP and they didn't want to haggle a bit, on top of that the sales person was rude and impatient with me. I left the dealership disappointed and determined to buy a bike that day, any bike, just not a HarleyDavidson.
I got a Suzuki m50 from a different dealer, my sales person, a Harley rider was one of the best in the business and got a huge discount too.
Fast forward 7 years and 4 bikes later, I was laying on the ground, bloodied and in pain, my right shoulder in a very awkward position, no skin on my palms and belly despite the fact I had summer gloves and jacket on and some horrible looking road rash on my knees. The driver that hit me didn't even stopped to check to see if I'm alright or dead or anything. He knew he was going the wrong way on a one way street and maybe he just had other things on his mind, after all it was Father's Day.
I whole lot of people told me I should stopped riding, I listen. I sold the bike I had the wreck on, my wounds have since long healed and I thought that's it, I would never ride again until I saw the new Scout. I was like having an epiphany, the bike just talked to me. It wasn't even an American motorcycle magazine that broke the news to the world, it was a British one. I was hoping the picture of the Silver Smoke scout is really real. It was. From that moment I begin the real mind game, how could I put my mints on one without sacrificing any of the comfort and security I knew I had to provide my family. It wasn't an easy task but fast forward another 9 months and I had my scout. I enjoyed it so much I completely forgot about how it all started, with me gazing upon a 2007 HarleyDavidson Nightster. Bye bye Harley, say hello to Indian.
 
#30 ·
The 3K over days are done with HD. Now its just 1K over for certain models and even the Low Rider S has come down just 1K over.............LOL
The ONE THING that Polaris/Indian/Victory corporate warns dealers is NOT to sell over retail. They come down like the Hammer of Thor on that issue but for oil leaks, browning tires, out of control dealer service prices............thats OK. Harley just the opposite.
 
#31 ·
One of the reasons I have not yet joined the tribe is because I have a great dealer. Knowledgable parts folks. Service department has always treated me right. And, they are 5 miles from my house. The nearest Indian dealer is 90 miles away.

I still hang around this forum because I think the bikes are gorgeous and I really liked the two I have test ridden. But I have so much time, effort and money tied up in a 2015 Ultra Limited with only 13,000 miles, that it just doesn't make $$$ sense to trade.
 
#32 ·
I sold the bike I had the wreck on, my wounds have since long healed and I thought that's it, I would never ride again until I saw the new Scout. I was like having an epiphany, the bike just talked to me. It wasn't even an American motorcycle magazine that broke the news to the world, it was a British one. I was hoping the picture of the Silver Smoke scout is really real. It was. From that moment I begin the real mind game, how could I put my mints on one without sacrificing any of the comfort and security I knew I had to provide my family. It wasn't an easy task but fast forward another 9 months and I had my scout. I enjoyed it so much I completely forgot about how it all started, with me gazing upon a 2007 HarleyDavidson Nightster. Bye bye Harley, say hello to Indian.
There's something about an Indian Motorcycle that stirs the soul... and FWIW SilverMike, my buddy who bought the same day as me, hadn't ridden a bike in 20 years after his motorcycle accident. He never thought to get one until he saw the photos of the Scout I was looking at... then he was hooked. You two must have gone to different schools together...
 
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