Indian facing headwinds

mikesim

mikesim

Site Supporter
Joined
Jun 7, 2011
Messages
2,770
Age
76
Location
Union, MO
Bike
NT700, Red, #989,
Polaris just announced that they are divesting themselves of the majority of shares in Indian Motorcycles. The majority of ther shares are being acquired by Carolwood LP of Los Angeles a private equity firm. Carolwood's principals Andrew Shanfeld and Adam Rubin empahsized that they are interested in preserving Indian's legacy while accelerating it's growth in the industry. They have appointed Mike Kennedy, a former Harley/Vance & Hines exec as CEO. They are retaining 900 Inidian employees and their manufacturing plants in Minnesota and Iowa. As a point of reference, Indian's 2024 sales were 25792 units vs HD's 151,000 with both firms experiencing decling sales since 2022.

After Polaris abandonment of Victory and now Indian, I am not too optimistic about their future prospects. I think any dealer would be chary of the marque due to it's past history of leaving it's dealers and customers hanging. Their existing bikes have not been selling well as evidenced by their 2024 sales and their market niche (along with Harley) has been moribund at best. I doubt that Carolwood has deep enough pockets or the inclination to gamble on significant new product development in the hope that Indian can hit paydirt with new product.

I hope my initial gut feeling is wrong as I had high hopes for Victory and then Indian and would like to see a viable market for bikes produced here in the US.

Mike
 
mikesim said:
Polaris just announced that they are divesting themselves of the majority of shares in Indian Motorcycles. The majority of ther shares are being acquired by Carolwood LP of Los Angeles a private equity firm. Carolwood's principals Andrew Shanfeld and Adam Rubin empahsized that they are interested in preserving Indian's legacy while accelerating it's growth in the industry. They have appointed Mike Kennedy, a former Harley/Vance & Hines exec as CEO. They are retaining 900 Inidian employees and their manufacturing plants in Minnesota and Iowa. As a point of reference, Indian's 2024 sales were 25792 units vs HD's 151,000 with both firms experiencing decling sales since 2022.

After Polaris abandonment of Victory and now Indian, I am not too optimistic about their future prospects. I think any dealer would be chary of the marque due to it's past history of leaving it's dealers and customers hanging. Their existing bikes have not been selling well as evidenced by their 2024 sales and their market niche (along with Harley) has been moribund at best. I doubt that Carolwood has deep enough pockets or the inclination to gamble on significant new product development in the hope that Indian can hit paydirt with new product.

I hope my initial gut feeling is wrong as I had high hopes for Victory and then Indian and would like to see a viable market for bikes produced here in the US.

Mike
Click to expand...
Saw this story in the WSJ. I agree with your assessment.
 
Big part of Indian's heritage is how frequently the brand has changed hands. So when they say they want to "keep the heritage", I'm assuming this new group will be selling it not too long from now.
 
I believe that motorcycles are on the way out regardless of brand. Young people have little interest in them and the cost of new bikes is very high. I also believe the manufactures are not very interested in making smaller bikes and affordable bikes. How many riders out there my age or around my age have given up their bikes due the the worry about riding a heavy bike.
 
My son has had an Indian for a couple of years. I have ridden bikes since 1966. Have I ridden his In Indian? Nope. It weighs almost as much as my RAV4.

I'll stick to my SlingShot. I have to wonder how long Polaris will keep them going.
 
cliffh said:
I believe that motorcycles are on the way out regardless of brand. Young people have little interest in them and the cost of new bikes is very high. I also believe the manufactures are not very interested in making smaller bikes and affordable bikes. How many riders out there my age or around my age have given up their bikes due the the worry about riding a heavy bike.
Click to expand...
I felt the same way. Even though Honda set record global motorcycle sales in 2024 (increases in India/other places), American sales are declining (I think).
I stumbled into looking at a Grom for hanging off the back of my class C motorhome. What I found was the minmoto class of motorcycles has quite a following.
These small bikes have many affordable modifications and parts are inexpensive. I was looking at the Grom as it is the lightest of the group and has a traditional drive train with clutch and transmission. I don't know if there is a surge in young people buying these, but there are all sorts of groups.
You meet the nicest people ...
 
suvcw04 said:
My son has had an Indian for a couple of years. I have ridden bikes since 1966. Have I ridden his In Indian? Nope. It weighs almost as much as my RAV4.

I'll stick to my SlingShot. I have to wonder how long Polaris will keep them going.
Click to expand...
I believe Polaris is doing quite well in the ATV and the Snowmobile business.
 
coaster said:
I believe Polaris is doing quite well in the ATV and the Snowmobile business.
Click to expand...
My musing was about how long Polaris will keep the SlingShot around. I'm sure that Polaris itself will be around for a long time.
 
In my neck of the woods, I see more Slingshots than Indians.

Mike
 
mikesim said:
In my neck of the woods, I see more Slingshots than Indians.

Mike
Click to expand...
Missouri is a great state for SlingShot rides. So is Northeast Iowa from Decorah north to Minnesota or east to the Mississippi, then into Wisconsin. Every year, the ride from Lansing IA to Prairie du Chien WI to the apple orchards of Gays Mills calls us. Can't cross at Lansing anymore. The old iron bridge is being blown up today to make way for a new bridge which won't open for at least two years. So, it's either Prairie or up to Lacrosse.
 
Yesterday, Indian officially changed hands and is now under the custody of Carolwood LP. I am not optimistic about Indian's future prospects. It remains to be seen how deep Carolwood's pockets are and how loyal Indian's dealers remain. I think the answers to those questions are, not deep and not very. I hope I am wrong but I forsee Indian fading off into the sunset in less than three years.

Mike
 
It looks like a rough road or no road ahead for Indian. Trying to make a go of business with a niche market would be tough in today's world. So much changes so fast you better have your act together or you will likely not last all that long.

Arknt
 
mikesim said:
Yesterday, Indian officially changed hands and is now under the custody of Carolwood LP. I am not optimistic about Indian's future prospects. It remains to be seen how deep Carolwood's pockets are and how loyal Indian's dealers remain. I think the answers to those questions are, not deep and not very. I hope I am wrong but I forsee Indian fading off into the sunset in less than three years.

Mike
Click to expand...
The entire motorcycle scene has changed with the society. Saw quite a few crotch rockets when I camp out in San Diego at the Best Western Yatch Harbor..even a few Harley Davison Hardtoglides. But that is the exception.
But the bottom line is kids dont want to drive, let alone ride. Way too expensive and way too dangerous. The days of Mayberry RFD are gone. Now we have traffic everywhere and half the people are on their phones. Wa state is the fourth deadliest state in the Union for driving...I almost got his twice today in the fog by "IDIOTS" today . One guy ran a rural stop sign and one guy thought there was a right turn lane where there was only a saftey strip. Agressive driving and low enforcement is everywhere. Cops in WA cant even chase violators. True story. I talked to a reserve officer in Ontario canada. The fine for using a cell phone is $600 ($325 in BC) People dont care in the least. About zero penalty for driving with out insurace, registration and license.

Also ask yourself this. How many kids in high school can adjust chains properly or care to learn? Be glad you saw the hayday of motorcycling......
 
Coyote Chris said:
The entire motorcycle scene has changed with the society. Saw quite a few crotch rockets when I camp out in San Diego at the Best Western Yatch Harbor..even a few Harley Davison Hardtoglides. But that is the exception.
But the bottom line is kids dont want to drive, let alone ride. Way too expensive and way too dangerous. The days of Mayberry RFD are gone. Now we have traffic everywhere and half the people are on their phones. Wa state is the fourth deadliest state in the Union for driving...I almost got his twice today in the fog by "IDIOTS" today . One guy ran a rural stop sign and one guy thought there was a right turn lane where there was only a saftey strip. Agressive driving and low enforcement is everywhere. Cops in WA cant even chase violators. True story. I talked to a reserve officer in Ontario canada. The fine for using a cell phone is $600 ($325 in BC) People dont care in the least. About zero penalty for driving with out insurace, registration and license.

Also ask yourself this. How many kids in high school can adjust chains properly or care to learn? Be glad you saw the hayday of motorcycling....
Click to expand...

How many high school kids can read and write? Answer . . . NONE. They can hardly PRINT. Cursive is extra-planetary to them. I asked our 16 yo step granddaughter what time it was the other day. She could not tell me. We have a half dozen clocks in our house, but they are all ANALOG. It was 6:10 pm. She guessed that it was TWO SOMETHING because the biggest hand was pointed at the TWO.
Take away their cell phones, and they cannot function.
 
suvcw04 said:
How many high school kids can read and write? Answer . . . NONE. They can hardly PRINT. Cursive is extra-planetary to them. I asked our 16 yo step granddaughter what time it was the other day. She could not tell me. We have a half dozen clocks in our house, but they are all ANALOG. It was 6:10 pm. She guessed that it was TWO SOMETHING because the biggest hand was pointed at the TWO.
Take away their cell phones, and they cannot function.
Click to expand...

I have a small notebook with all my passwords written in cursive. I don't even lock it up :rofl1:
 
suvcw04 said:
How many high school kids can read and write? Answer . . . NONE. They can hardly PRINT. Cursive is extra-planetary to them. I asked our 16 yo step granddaughter what time it was the other day. She could not tell me. We have a half dozen clocks in our house, but they are all ANALOG. It was 6:10 pm. She guessed that it was TWO SOMETHING because the biggest hand was pointed at the TWO.
Take away their cell phones, and they cannot function.
Click to expand...
Sad but true. Look at the US math, reading comprehension, science skills compared to the rest of the world.....not to mention geography and physics.
 
Watched this new video expecting HD troubles explained. It was more about the general motorcycle market. What happened and looking forward. The last part is recommendations about buying or selling a motorcycle. Pretty good stuff. Did not know that Kawasaki is now the leading motorcycle seller in US.

 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom