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FReeper Motorcycle Hooligan  |
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Posted on 08/03/2004 4:36:39 PM PDT by chemicalman
The company that owns and revived Chris-Craft boats and Outboard Motor Corporation has purchased the remains of the Indian Motorcycle Company, which shut its doors in September 2003. The new owner is Stellican Limited, a private equity firm headquartered in the UK that specializes in reviving ailing recreational product companies with strong brand names and also owns firms in unrelated industries like soft drinks and cash registers. It has a U.S. office in Florida. Because its principals supply their own capital, it is less likely to encounter the problems other would-be motorcycle makers have when more capital was required.
(Excerpt) Read more at motorcyclecruiser.com ...
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FReeper Motorcycle Hooligan |
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Yes, it will be good. I only hope that the new ones are cheaper than the last ones.
those clowns in SF really drove that Indian into the ground...what a waste.
Their first official action will be to rename the company "Indigenous Peoples Motorcycles".
I don't remember the exact details but a friend lamented their failure to deploy the better engine design and went for a cheaper model just to get into the market. The shop in Amarillo was open for about six months. It is surely a beautiful sight.
Hey, maybe the Checker will come back?
YES!!!
Stellican Limited, I wish you the best.
May Indian become a Phoenix.
Again.
With a good marketing team, the sky's the limit.
But as what just happened with S&S motors when they tried to market their own twin cam S&S motor, HD came along and 'patent lawyer'd' them completely out of the picture and off the market.
If this current crop of Indian owners can redesign everything but keep it looking retro the way Harley does, and the way the previous owners tried, but with a little more dedication to company rather than personal expense accounts, it's chances really rock!
It took 6+ years to come up a 100% HD patented V-Rod, and when they were done, the result was a beautiful replica of a metric.
And corporate dirty tricks from HD inticing or sidetracking Indian wouldn't surprise or disappoint me.
I would probably break a leg opening and racing through the door to look at a newly designed Indian V-twin heavy touring bike with 100+ HP, cruise control and a 'Steppenwolf' ready sound system!
So far the last few reincarnations of Indian prayed a lot and retained the big front fender as a selling point-retro look, the new Indian V-twin was a small start.
A Research & Development team needs to be working full time to catch the HD baby-boomer wave while it's hot. Power, styling and a couple of bells and whistles doesn't mean a paint job, a fat fender, a picture of Geronimo, a redesigned 1984 HD EVO and leather fringe.
As you see I'm jumping around more than usual as I really hope Indian comes back strong. I want one! But not an albatross. It's nice riding with 10 bikes that are the same as yours. We can share parts based on producion years!! <|:-)~~
The Brits already got that name taken.
Someone make a real car again, not likely. They were UGLY, they were a pain to work on, but they were a real car.
I wish someone would revive the old Triumph Spitfire. I owned an MG myself, and it was a great car to drive, although the saying is true, "Every part that falls off of this car is of the finest British craftmanship." I'd love to get a RELIABLE MG Midget or Triumph Spitfire.
Marketing people tend to believe that hyping an "established" brand name is all that is necessary to sell cheap junk to the dumbed-down mass market. There are even pinheads who still think that there is "value" in the Huffy Bicycle brand name. (Huffy bike fans worry as company hits bumps in the road)
All hype, no substance.
We see the same thing in politics: hyping party labels that no longer have anything to do with principles.
Now THAT guy could dream! BTW, click on the photo to go to his web site. It opens in a new window, so you won't leave FR.
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