Since I ride a Chieftain I can say its awesome. I like the entire package. Fenders and all.
It is interesting they changed this one up a bit. It will be more acceptable to those that despise the deco look they have on the Indians, which I like. A more traditional style?Definitely it does not look like every other cruiser roaring down the road.

Jaybo wrote:
It looks pretty damned nice, and they ditched the ugly front fender and spoke wheels for Cast. Sure see the Victory roots.

Here is the cover shot:




The Polaris Indians have always had cast wheels, at least the Chietains have. For the record I like the fairing always have looks like a 50's train.

This was good move for Indian. I went for the complete Vintage look-fenders, leather bags with fringe, war head on the fender, chrome spoke wheels. If it wasn't for that look I would still have my Roadie. But a lot of people don't like the big fender and such. So this was a good way to go. I do like it a lot. They seem to be taking this Indian resurrection very seriously.
I'm really dead if they come out with an inline 4.

Although, if Yamaha would have come out with a Venture with the Roadliner engine..............

thebru wrote:
This was good move for Indian. I went for the complete Vintage look-fenders, leather bags with fringe, war head on the fender, chrome spoke wheels. If it wasn't for that look I would still have my Roadie. But a lot of people don't like the big fender and such. So this was a good way to go. I do like it a lot. They seem to be taking this Indian resurrection very seriously.
I'm really dead if they come out with an inline 4.

Although, if Yamaha would have come out with a Venture with the Roadliner engine..............

if the fairing didnt look like it ran into a wall i might have gotten one of those instead of a harley

Looks fantastic
but lose the sofa cushion pillion
and bring back the fat front fender

On one hand, I think, they just took the most identified part on the bike (full fenders), off the bike. Now it just looks like a Victory. On the other hand, I think, well, those old style fenders didn't do much for Kawasaki. The Drifter sales were dismal, and in the end, they had to give them away. So I'm not sure what to think. Certainly they'll retain the big fenders on at least one of their models. Still not crazy about all that scooter-like bodywork under the seat, but on the black ones it is less pronounced.

Father_Pobasturd wrote:
On one hand, I think, they just took the most identified part on the bike (full fenders), off the bike. Now it just looks like a Victory. On the other hand, I think, well, those old style fenders didn't do much for Kawasaki. The Drifter sales were dismal, and in the end, they had to give them away. So I'm not sure what to think. Certainly they'll retain the big fenders on at least one of their models. Still not crazy about all that scooter-like bodywork under the seat, but on the black ones it is less pronounced.

Can't believe I'm saying this... but I agree with PB. But seriously. Despise the front fender??? Don't like the front fender??? That front fender is what has *defined* the Indian look for more than 70 years! Otherwise it was just a Harley... Or an S&S motor on a Harley frame... Or now? A Victory.

You don't buy an Indian for it's performance. You want performance you buy an S&S motor or a Victory... You buy an Indian for it's styling... for THAT fender!

The Kawasaki didn't sell well because it was ahead of it's time. Just like the W650; a gorgeous bike with the styling of a 1960'S Norton/Triumph and the performance, reliability and value of a Japanese bike. They're still in production in Europe as the W800 for Pete sake!

If you don't like the damn fender buy a Victory!

P.S. I've never been a fan of the 80's Flash Gordon fairing. Nor the bags that look like some guy made them in his garage using sculpting foam and fiberglass. They just seem unfinished.

Good point Doc brings up about the Kawasaki W 650. How about the Honda GB 500? Both these bikes were beautifully executed homages to the Euro bikes they emulate. But, neither were big sellers. Maybe, at least in the Good ol' US of A, we don't need no stinking Euro clones. Maybe a Vincent Black Shadow clone would do better. There's more than meets the eye when it come this retro thing.

Doc_V wrote:


If you don't like the damn fender buy a Victory!

They went belly up, It WAS on my shortlist of piss my wife off, spur of the moment purchases.


That's why I originally posted the limited, it was going for the Victory look under the Indian nameplate, which made a ton of sense so they could sell to people like me who liked the Victory look.