Bonneville America Forums Forums General Motorcycle Forums Other Bikes My son found an Indian

My son has found a 2000 Indian Chief. It's a nice bike and priced below blue book value. I'm a bit concerned about spending thousands of dollars for a bike whose manufacturer is out of business. As an owner of a Triumph, I know it that if you don't own a Harley or Japanese bike it's not as easy to find parts and you don't have many people locally who are knowledgeable about your bike. What do you all think? The Indian Chief is sure a nice looking bike.

There isn't anything on that bike that can't be fixed at the local harley dealer or almost any decent motorcycle mechanic. It should be an S&S drivetrain, so all those parts should be readily available. The fact that they're out of biz wouldn't stop me if thats what I wanted.

Are there any online communities like this where you can post your queries?

Is 2000 still the Harley V-Twin or the one that they designed for themselves? (Or was that Victory?)

Indian.........He cant go wrong!

That's before they started making their own awful "Power Plus" motors so it should be a great bike. Lots of S&S drivetrain parts easily replaced when need be, the rest was adapted from aftermarket Harley gear. P&M Powertrain, Blackhawk Motorworks and Jam Consulting do a lot of Indian motor rebuild work and are highly respected and there's a group known as Iron Indian Riders Association that he could talk tech with. Get it!

Thanks for the great positive input gentlemen, It is very helpful. Ride Safe.

Moses

elpaso, I just found an Indian Chief on Craigslist for $2900. I am in Buffalo, Ny. I am in e-mail contact with the seller but it sounds a little fishy. He says he is in the UK but uses moneybookers. He is from Buffalo,though, or so he says. I may be totally off but I just have a bad feeling. Does any of this sound like the bike you found?
By no means do I want to compete with you for it, I don't even need another bike, just thought the deal was too good to pass up at first, just wanted to warn you and let the members advise us both on their thoughts.
jeff

I just went back to Craigslist and can't even find the ad from this bike. It was there last night. weird?
jeff

Jefferson,

That bike does sound to good to be true. It is not the one my son is looking at.

The last I heard was that Chris-Craft Corp. (the old boat makers) obtained the Indian rights and are working on building distribution centers to market the bikes and parts for all prior Indians. They didn't say how long that would take, though.

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Hank

Looks like thay are thinking of starting to sell bikes in the Spring of 2008. They are starting now to take deposits. http://www.indianmotorcycle.com/

Soren

Wonder if they got that out-of-spec oil pump business and rotten crankshaft tolerance thing sorted out with the Power Plus? I've been told they shake "like a dog trying to pass a peach pit" due to poor machine work in the bottom end.

I'm not sure I would throw good money after that era Indian. They went under for a reason.
Maybe better to buy an original Indian or wait for the new ones.
Or if you like that look get a Victory Kingpin.

They went under because later they built their own engines very poorly. This one's just an aftermarket collection of parts with a good motor and tranny; if the price is right I'd get it.

Except for gingerbread that Indian is a Hardley.

Was he drunk?