[Hatt]

Not around here in SE Wisconsin. Things are going like gangbusters. I’m sure it’s a regional thing and some areas are depressed while others are booming. In our state the big haves and have nots are in the dairy industry. The mega fairies are doing good while mom and pop are finding it hard to stay alive. The small ones are turning to specialized organic for artisan cheese production.

INDIAN actually located their engine plant in Oceola, WI. That area in the state is dotted with small farms. I notice that a lot of business development occurs around a medical center that are very few and far between outside our major population centers.

IDK if it's true, but my County according to the morning radio said we had the lowest unemployment rate in the nation at just over 1%.
Business Expansion, new houses and apartments going up everywhere, new schools being built.. it's crazy.. in all honesty, haven't seen as much hustle and prosperity around here in all my life time..

 

[Moubee]

Not around here in SE Wisconsin. Things are going like gangbusters. I’m sure it’s a regional thing and some areas are depressed while others are booming. In our state the big haves and have nots are in the dairy industry. The mega fairies are doing good while mom and pop are finding it hard to stay alive. The small ones are turning to specialized organic for artisan cheese production.

INDIAN actually located their engine plant in Oceola, WI. That area in the state is dotted with small farms. I notice that a lot of business development occurs around a medical center that are very few and far between outside our major population centers.

Truth, my brother is a mega fairy and he is doing quite well.

 

[.3578]

Truth, my brother is a mega fairy and he is doing quite well.

Lol, I just went back and fixed that.

 

[Demolition Man]

@Hatt and @3littleindians :

Okay, that explains that white crap on the photo.

Temps here in germany, where I live are around 30°F during the night and about 40°F during the day. Still way too cold for me. Last to weeks in Florida was way more my kind of temps I live.

Cu,
Sven

 

[pablo94]

INDIAN reached a consumer saturation point with both the Chief and Scout platform and sales stagnated, or may have even dropped. To progress in the market and sell more units they introduced the FTR line and now the Challenger line. While the FTR is a great bike, it’s not a versatile bike. The Challenger on the other hand is an extremely versatile platform and will evolve into everything from a Street Rod all the way to mega tourer over the next couple years, if even that long.

I would disagree with your comments on the Scout platform. That's the only bike my dealer moves consistently off the floor these days. To the tune of 15-20 or so per month. The bigger bikes 7-8 per month right now if they are lucky...

 

[freezeland]

Well sales were down this year and they were hoping to move out a lot of 2019 models before the 2020 and Challenger, but that didn't work out so well.

Because they wouldn’t discount the 2019’s enough to incentivize people. Now they are stuck with em.

 

[reinie]

Well somebody will buy them eventually at an even bigger discount.

 

[J Backlund]

my son is 31 he's looking at now this is his words "the first tourer that isn't an old mans bike".... so take it for what it's worth...

If I made a list of all the touring motorcycles that are not "an old man's bike", we would be here all day. Of course, that list would include all of the non-Harley, non-Indian machines that exist outside of 'big twin' world, and are ridden by millions of non-geriatric riders worldwide. Admittedly, some of those non-geriatric tourers may consist of a 250cc Vespa with a plastic milk crate serving as a tour trunk, but adventurous riders have utilized all manner of motorized two-wheelers as cross-continental 'touring rigs'.

 

[Hatt]

If I made a list of all the touring motorcycles that are not "an old man's bike", we would be here all day. Of course, that list would include all of the non-Harley, non-Indian machines that exist outside if 'big twin' world, and are ridden by millions of non-geriatric riders worldwide. Admittedly, some of those non-geriatric tourers may consist of a 250cc Vespa with a plastic milk crate serving as a tour trunk, but adventurous riders have utilized all manner of motorized two-wheelers as cross-continental 'touring rigs'.

While I agree completely I must say that while all the other non old man tourers aren't old man style,, they ALL are like "dad jeans"..
Which, also isn't "cool". The challenger isn't either old man bike, nor dad jeans.. it's like a pair of Chuck Taylor's. A style that old men and dads grew up with, but still cool enough that the kids still wear them..

 

[KnS]

Apparently the Challenger was Indians new head designer Ola Stenegards brain child and that the engine was not a victory left over but was designed by a 30 year old youngin' who never clocked in to a Victory punch clock...

What a statement about the aging cruiser market and moto-journalists that keep throwing 30 year old out there as a "kid"...it kills me. Just about every article mentions it so it must've been in the press packet. If he were in his 20's, maybe, but 30's? C'mon LOL

 

[high plains rider]

What a statement about the aging cruiser market and moto-journalists that keep throwing 30 year old out there as a "kid"...it kills me. Just about every article mentions it so it must've been in the press packet. If he were in his 20's, maybe, but 30's? C'mon LOL

I get why they call him a "kid"... hell I do it every now and then and I mean up to 40... but I know and in reality everyone knows.... they are not kids... but I do go to the nursing home for a pick me up... they still call me a kid...

 

[Kitulu]

@Hatt and @3littleindians :

Okay, that explains that white crap on the photo.

Temps here in germany, where I live are around 30°F during the night and about 40°F during the day. Still way too cold for me. Last to weeks in Florida was way more my kind of temps I live.

Cu,
Sven

It's still warm enough to ride...I usually only park the bike when they start putting salt down, and then it stays parked until the first big rainstorm to wash the salt away.

 

[Demolition Man]

It's still warm enough to ride...I usually only park the bike when they start putting salt down, and then it stays parked until the first big rainstorm to wash the salt away.

Maybe, but regarding temps, I AM A PUSSY ! I like it hot (and humid). Everything below 50°F/10°C is way tooooo cold for me !




Cu,
Sven

 

[New York Mike]

I wish I could find the drawings of what victory released In 2016 as the 2018 upcoming victory CCT motor. Which they said was a full water-cooled v-twin. Because I’m telling you it was a dead ringer for this motor. And I’m gonna keep looking for it. Almost identical to the T

 

[New York Mike]

Maybe, but regarding temps, I AM A PUSSY ! I like it hot (and humid). Everything below 50°F/10°C is way tooooo cold for me !




Cu,
Sven

I’m with you below 50 just takes the enjoyment right out of it. I do a 100 much easier and enjoy it !

 

[Scott_in_TX]

While I agree completely I must say that while all the other non old man tourers aren't old man style,, they ALL are like "dad jeans"..
Which, also isn't "cool". The challenger isn't either old man bike, nor dad jeans.. it's like a pair of Chuck Taylor's. A style that old men and dads grew up with, but still cool enough that the kids still wear them..

Don't see how a 800lb, 100rwhp, foot forward, V-twin, priced above $20k could be considered a young mans bike by any stretch.

We might call the TS111s & M108s "Geezer Glides" and expect the Challenger to attract a slightly younger buyer.
But, the market segment these are aimed at have more disposable income, more (no kids) vacation time and they value comfort over adrenaline. Making the Challenger very "dad jeans".

I mean the bike is cool; but not "cool" cool.

 

[reinie]

I arbitrarily set 50 degrees Farenheit as my minimum riding temperature when I turned fifty. I had previously arbitrarily set it at 40 degrees when I turned forty. I'm 66 going on 67 and I am pondering if I will raise that thresh-hold to 55 degrees once I hit seventy.

 

[Hatt]

What a statement about the aging cruiser market and moto-journalists that keep throwing 30 year old out there as a "kid"...it kills me. Just about every article mentions it so it must've been in the press packet. If he were in his 20's, maybe, but 30's? C'mon LOL

Maybe,, however, when I look at and meet 30 years old dudes, and my self at 30, even at "only" 42, they/I seem like kids.. we learn and change a lot in our 30s....I'd say more than any other era of life, At least so far...

 

[Ingle51]

I remember doing a survey for Polaris/Victory about what I thought would look good for a V-Twin motor. The Scout and now the Challenger both bear striking similarities to the drawings used in that survey. I can't blame Polaris for shutting down Victory and they should be able to recoup design costs by using them for Indian. My first American bike was a 2002 TCD and from there I moved to a Vision. Once the Indians became available I bought a numbered bike #1137 a Red Vintage. Since then I've bought a 2016 Roadmaster and now my 2019 Springfield. I'm very happy with the way the bikes handle and I think they all look good. Keep up the great work Polaris.

 

[Hatt]

Don't see how a 800lb, 100rwhp, foot forward, V-twin, priced above $20k could be considered a young mans bike by any stretch.

We might call the TS111s & M108s "Geezer Glides" and expect the Challenger to attract a slightly younger buyer.
But, the market segment these are aimed at have more disposable income, more (no kids) vacation time and they value comfort over adrenaline. Making the Challenger very "dad jeans".

I mean the bike is cool; but not "cool" cool.

Performance baggers are the current trend for the 30-40 year olds. This will fit that perfectly. Where the even more powerful K1600 will not.. because dad jeans, are not as "cool" as Chuck's...