Topic: Indian Demo Days

[Kevin D]

I’m always happy when a motorcycle manufacturer throws an open party, brings a quarter million dollars of new motorcycles and invites me to ride them all. I wouldn’t say that Indian is at the top of my list of desired rides but their bikes are deluxe, strong, solid etc etc.  I have missed a couple years of demo rides since they absorbed Victory, I dont know the lineup at all, and I was surprised to see lots of flat paint and blacked out engines instead of bright colors, creamy chrome, luscious leather. These are the Dark Horse models across the lineup.
 Another new (newer?) model is the FTR. It resembles a Ducati, maybe it’s a racing platform for their flat track efforts. The one I rode must have been in sport mode and I inadvertently lifted the front wheel on a couple of occasions without trying. Another rider on the performance model FTR-s commented that his was a dog, it must have been in touring mode.
 Anyway, I rode three bikes:
 - Dark Horse, Springfield? Flat olive green, medium rise bars about shoulder level, higher than what I prefer. Inclined floorboards, shifter and brake pedals at the front end of the boards, I was searching for the pedals a bit. The 116 engine runs well, easy start and idle. It pulls away smartly. I hit the rev limiter a couple times. There is rear cylinder deactivation, I guess to keep you from frying your leg.
 - FTR Low rise narrow bars, sport riding inclined forward position, foot pegs about like a CB. Hold on tight.
 - Dark Horse, Chieftain? Flat titanium smoke paint, bar mounted fairing, adjustable windshield, touchscreen.
At 800lbs, the front end was very easy to handle. There wasn’t time to rifle through the touchscreen, but if this was your bike you would Bluetooth in your own music instead of the radio. I didn’t know that the windshield was adjustable, I suffered nasty buffeting at 50mph with the windshield low. The Indian advisor said it was my helmet.
 I’m happy for the opportunity to ride these nice bikes and think that anybody laying out $20000 or more ought to get a 20 mile ride before purchase. I think they are a departure from the previous Indian lineup and the styling (dark horse) maybe more in line with Victory. The FTR was the least chosen bike for the demo riders but most notable amongst the cruisers and tourers that Indian, and Victory, are famous for.

[Desert-SOHC]

I've found the Indians to have a bit to much plastic and poor fit and finish, for the price.  But I haven't looked at them for over a year, I did like the engines though.

[754]

I rode a Scout that was a 2019 i think. Was surprised how quick it was and how light it felt. Rather liked  it.
 The touring ones , I don't like the look of at all.

[mrbreeze]

Back in the 80's I got a card in the mail for a drawing to win a Harley or various pieces of cycle gear. It also said bring the coupon in to enter the giveaway and test ride a new Harley. I decided it was a good way to burn a lunch break at work. I was driving big rigs at the time so one day I was in the area of the dealership I just pulled up right at the noon bell. They let me take a brand new wide glide out so I had  about a good half hour to ride it . It was a blast even though I knew it was too rich for my blood at the time.

[Kevin D]

There were 3 bikes in used line up that caught my eye:
 - a low mile 2018 Gold Wing 3600 mi, $17500
 - a 77k mile Yamaha FJR 77k mi, $11000
 - a 2014 Kawasaki Concours 12k mi, $10000
Probably any of these 3 bikes are more to my taste than the Indians. Maybe I need to ride a few more/different Indians to find a better one for me. I tried to get to the watercooled Challenger but couldn’t manage it.

[Stev-o]

It's fun to ride different bikes!  Just saw a good TV ad for Indian, they are pushing them.

I'll stick to my vintage bikes though.

[Kevin D]

Here is a link to the upcoming demo ride schedule:

https://www.indianmotorcycle.com/en-us/events/demo-events/

[ekpent]

 There's one on the 24th 35 miles away from Kazoo.  Was there a large turnout for the one you went to Kevin ? Anybody tip one over. A friend of mine was an instructor and when my son went to take the one day course with him called 'returning riders' to officially get his endorsement they had a guy out on the riding course who came back from a riding exercise, pulled up and when he went to get off the bike forgot to put the kickstand down and dumped it over on the pavement right in front of all his classmates    He got his ass chewed out big time but they eventually passed him.

[Kevin D]

I went at noon on Friday and there wasn’t a huge turnout, don’t know about Saturday. I arrived just after the riders departed and the 2 FTRs were left in the parking lot. I would say that Indian riders generally are not sport bike riders. Study the lineup a bit and If there is a particular bike you want to ride make that sign up first then fill in with others. After 3 rides I was cooked and didn’t want to wait an hour to ride the Challenger. They turn the bikes over quickly, no riders meeting, no instruction unless you ask, so I didn’t find the adjustable windshield. I was next to a gal who tried three times to put her bike in first gear with the brake pedal.... Clutch action is nice and smooth, I saw only one stall and no dumps. The kickstand is visible when folded just behind the floorboard. One guy stalled trying to ride out with the stand down, I think there is a permissive switch that killed the engine. The ride leaders here are not as lenient as other demo rides I have been on, one which included a ton run, but nobody got scolded or kicked out.

Once upon a time, I was demo riding a Kawasaki Vulcan, 750lbs? Returning to the marshaling area, I planted my left foot..... and it didn’t bite.... it skidded..... thought for sure I’m dropping this beast right here and now in front of everybody. My foot skidded 18 inches before it bit solidly and I am grateful to this day that I wasn’t leaning too far left to keep the Vulcan upright. No marbles, no sand, no oil visible.