Indian Chiefs to Roll Again
20. Aug, 2008 
5 Comments
Visitors to Sturgis were surprised to find a display of the “new” Indian Motorcycle Company’s 2009 bikes and accompanying apparel. Production of the new Indians began the first week of July at the company’s Kings Mountain, North Carolina facility. The current Chief line, which will have a two year warranty, consists of the Standard, Deluxe, Roadmaster and Vintage models. Other models are under development at the present time. The Chiefs’ 105 ci. motor featuring closed loop EFI is also being produced at the Kings Mountain.
Prospective buyers will find about 14 dealerships opening around the country and selling bikes by the end of the year. Look for the Indian trailers at various events for a demo ride on a new Chief. For more info contact www.indianmotorcycle.com
This resurrection of the iconic motorcycle marque is being undertaken by Stellican, headed by Stephen Julius and Steve Heese. Stellican is no novice in the recreational field as it also owns Chris Craft boats. Lets hope they are more successful than the last couple of attempts at bringing Indian Motorcycles back were.
I have two questions, Are any of the models going to have a girder front end with flaired fenders and a sprung seat like the old, old Indians; and are there any plans for an inline four cylinder motor?
Sam,
I think that your thoughts are mirroring mine. Back before CMC won the rights to the Indian trade mark one of their competitors had a great looking motor on tap for their own version. It looked for all the world to be a 45 degree flathead twin just like the motor that last left the Springfield line in 1953. Under the finned cylinder heads lay ( I believe ) an overhead cam and completely modern internals. It would seem to me that cloned versions of the latest Motor Company motors are a cheap shot at resurrecting a once proud marque. The current trade mark owners could make prospective owners much more likely to purchase if they were to offer a traditional line in addition to the billet bombs that I have seen in the preview literature. It recall seeing a four cylinder “Indian” being offered for sale in the UK. ( I believe that the trade mark was in the public domain over there) Mr.Julius and Mr. Heese are you listening ?
John K. Endrizzi
Here is a link to Cow Creek Indian band’s effort at launching a new Indian. http://www.indiantrademark.net/NewFiles/protocycle/index.html
And a little history from 1998:
November 10, 1998
Copyright 1998, Detroit Free Press
by Charlotte W. Craig
Retired Chrysler Vice Chairman Bob Lutz, along with a Colorado corporation and an Oregon Indian tribe, is trying to resurrect Indian Motorcycle Co., the fabled company that died in 1953.
But the effort has suffered a blow that may or may not prove fatal.
Lutz was scheduled to appear Monday with a prototype of the all-new Indian at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Dearborn. Lutz was there. So were executives from Eller Industries Inc., the Colorado firm that plans to make the bike. But the prototype was missing — held captive by a court order preventing its display.
Parties battling Eller over ownership of Indian Motorcycle Co. and its trademark took the court action late last week. Among the legal contenders are a Canadian consortium and a Japanese manufacturer.
Eller executives and their backers say they want to make the Indian an all-American product — indeed, an American Indian product: A major investor is the Cow Creek Band of the Umpqua Tribe in Myrtle Creek, Ore. The tribe has already put $3 million into the project and would get the company’s first manufacturing plant.
Eller has spent $1.5 million to develop the prototype, designed by veteran Livonia motorcycle engineer James Parker and produced by Livonia-based Roush Industries Inc., which has a long list of credits in motor racing.
Lutz is not an investor and joined Eller as a consultant in late September. But he is a longtime motorcycle rider, helped develop motorcycles for BMW early in his career, and has deferred payment of his consulting salary until Eller gets the Indian up and running. He said he has put Eller in touch with a Colorado law firm that handles some of Chrysler Corp.’s affairs.
“From the standpoint of my reputation, it would have been easier for me to say ‘come back when you’ve got everything worked out.’ But I believe in what these people are doing and I believe in right and wrong,” Lutz said.
I wish them lots of luck — and deep pockets!
There’s a niche market for this bike, based on the success the earlier Indian group had, before they ran out of dough. Building their own motor will make a difference.
I expect Kiwi Mike will contribute to this thread, and he probably has a good perspective on this new venture…
I’ve always liked the look of an Indian myself. If I had the dough to drop on a bike right now—I’d be tempted. Best wishes to the new guys running the show, hope they land a cash-cow and the Indian keeps riding for many years to come!
We all hope they fair better than the last crew. Best of luck to the new Indian Chief!