 Indian Motorcycles has a new owner
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Adjunct
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Press Release:
Polaris brings world-class engineering, manufacturing and distribution to Indian’s rich American heritage and historic brand
MINNEAPOLIS (April 19, 2011) — Polaris Industries Inc. (NYSE: PII) today announced the acquisition of Indian Motorcycle. The business was acquired from Indian Motorcycle Limited (“IML”), a company advised by Stellican Limited and Novator Partners LLP, U.K. Private Equity firms. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
“We are excited to be part of the revitalization of a quintessentially American brand,” said Scott Wine, CEO of Polaris Industries Inc. “Indian built America’s first motorcycle. With our technology and vision, we are confident we will deliver the classic Indian motorcycle, enhanced by the quality and performance for which Polaris and Victory are known.”
With this acquisition, Polaris adds one of motorcycling’s legendary brands to its strong stable of Victory cruiser and touring bikes. Indian will operate as an autonomous business unit, building upon the potent combination of Polaris’ engineering acumen and innovative technology with Indian’s premium brand, iconic design and rich American heritage.
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Re: Indian Motorcycles has a new owner
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Saddle Sore
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Saddle Sore
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That is very interesting given what Polaris has built with the Victory line in such a short time.
If anyone can keep the brand alive I believe Polaris can.
Give the bike more power, better suspension and drop the price about 5k.
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Re: Indian Motorcycles has a new owner
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Jan 2005
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Wow! I didnt know the last owners were having problems.
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Re: Indian Motorcycles has a new owner
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Joined: Mar 2005
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Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
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Quote:
Wow! I didnt know the last owners were having problems.
Can't see how they wouldn't at about $30,000 in this economy. I wonder what Polaris's business prospective is for this company. I am glad to see the company stay alive, it does look like they have a decent product this time around but it's hard to tell with such small production #s.
Strangler
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Re: Indian Motorcycles has a new owner
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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Victory builds a good bike it is definitely my choice IF I were to buy an American V twin I've test ridden a few.(like the smooth running V as opposed to that other brand) A drop in price would definitely keep Indian in the market. Sticking with the Speedmaster for now parallel twins have their own cache.
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Re: Indian Motorcycles has a new owner
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 5,720
Check Pants
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Check Pants
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Posts: 5,720 |
We do ride V-Twins, Vertical Twins 
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Re: Indian Motorcycles has a new owner
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Jan 2005
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I prefer to call them Parallel Twins.
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Re: Indian Motorcycles has a new owner
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Joined: Mar 2009
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Stickman Yogi
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Stickman Yogi
Joined: Mar 2009
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Well, this news is rather fascinating. I've kinda been following the Indian story as it struggles to rise from the ashes... even rode a 2010 Chief last year (man, did that thing shake). It will be interesting to see how this plays out in the foreseeable future.
Live to love, love to live.
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Re: Indian Motorcycles has a new owner
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Joined: Feb 2005
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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Deeper pockets = better chance of survival for this heritage brand, and so it's good to hear this news.
(...and now all Polaris has to do is put a friggin' balance shaft inside that Power Plus engine and then they might have a winner, IF that is they can keep the price of their Indians at the level of their Victory brand)
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: Indian Motorcycles has a new owner
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Joined: Mar 2009
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Stickman Yogi
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Stickman Yogi
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Agreed, Dwight. Most people on an Indian forum I frequent seem to think this is a good thing for the brand. I think that PP engine will run more smoothly in newer Polaris inspired Indians (it HAS to... the existing Power Plus engine is a jackhammer on wheels).
Live to love, love to live.
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Re: Indian Motorcycles has a new owner
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
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Man maybe someone could Rescue the EH bikes again! The hanlons had a good thing going,, then they built a big pretty building, forgot teh bike and went bank rupt. The EH was a monster of a bike but VERY Cool.
Mal: "Y'all see the man hanging out of the spaceship with the really big gun?{ref, Jayne} Man's lookin' to kill some folk. So really, it's his will y'all should worry about thwarting."
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Re: Indian Motorcycles has a new owner
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Joined: Sep 2010
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Second Wind
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Second Wind
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If Victory can keep from uglying the bike up. They shure make some hideous beasts. They seem to run great though. Never heard an owner complain about the reliability or comfortability. We shall see. Not all change is good, but not all is bad either.
I have no faith in human perfectability. I think that human exertion will have no appreciable effect upon humanity. Man is now only more active - not more happy - nor more wise, than he was 6000 years ago.
Edgar Allan Poe
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Re: Indian Motorcycles has a new owner
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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I love it.  The Indians are fantastic bikes. Not as good as Victory, but they cater to a different buyer.  The FIRST American motorcycle meets the NEW American motorcycle. 
Kevin - Luceo Non Uro
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Re: Indian Motorcycles has a new owner
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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Well , they should be able to sort Indian out as to date it has run on its heritage and lacked on any practicality ( yes, what bike is practical but yall know what I mean) If so, I do see a nice Indian in the stable...
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Re: Indian Motorcycles has a new owner
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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Most of us said it at the onset of the new Indian venture, they didn't have a lower priced cash cow such as the Sportster is for HD.With only the top dollar bikes and no entry level bikes they miss a whole market and source of income to stay afloat. I also feel people might be more confident that they will be around for a while this time now to back up the bikes with support and parts. Thus boosting sales.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: Indian Motorcycles has a new owner
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Saddle Sore
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Saddle Sore
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Quote:
Most of us said it at the onset of the new Indian venture, they didn't have a lower priced cash cow such as the Sportster is for HD.With only the top dollar bikes and no entry level bikes they miss a whole market and source of income to stay afloat. I also feel people might be more confident that they will be around for a while this time now to back up the bikes with support and parts. Thus boosting sales.
Agreed Ian, maybe they need to add a "squaw" or "papoose" to the lineup.
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Re: Indian Motorcycles has a new owner
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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Quote:
I also feel people might be more confident that they will be around for a while this time now to back up the bikes with support and parts. Thus boosting sales.
I dunno, HD seemed to have quickly dumped MV Agusta (they should never have put their filthy paws on those works of art).
Regarding the "boosting sales" part, again, I think that Polaris should concentrate on their Victory line which seems to have shrunk by over half in the last five years, before playing around with niche products (unless they have a spectacular strategy in mind ... something I would be inclined to doubt).
Bedouin.
Blessed are those eyes that have seen more roads than any man! (Homer).
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Re: Indian Motorcycles has a new owner
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Joined: Feb 2007
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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I think with Polaris the quad and snowmobile sales are the meat to their business. They have been huge in the snowmobile market for a very long time.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: Indian Motorcycles has a new owner
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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True, which possibly sustains the bike division.
Bedouin.
Blessed are those eyes that have seen more roads than any man! (Homer).
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Re: Indian Motorcycles has a new owner
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Joined: Apr 2006
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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Quote:
Regarding the "boosting sales" part, again, I think that Polaris should concentrate on their Victory line which seems to have shrunk by over half in the last five years, before playing around with niche products (unless they have a spectacular strategy in mind ... something I would be inclined to doubt).
Let's see... Polaris stock was selling for around $25/share 2 years ago. It closed around $91 yesterday. As of this writing it is around $106. Not bad in a global recession!
Victory sales are way up. Here are some financial highlights from PII.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS . Symbol Value ($)
Sales* 1.99 Bil
Income* 147.14 Mil
Sales Growth* +27.20%
Income Growth* +45.70%
Net Profit Margin 7.39%
Polaris is a smart, progressive, successful company. The acquisition of Indian was not done on a whim.
Kevin - Luceo Non Uro
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Re: Indian Motorcycles has a new owner
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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Quote:
Victory sales are way up.
From their peak (around 10.000) ... or their valley (around 3-4.000)? 
And c'mon, don't also throw in the Polaris share price and sales figures (they don't look like Victory numbers to me) ... it's the bike division we are talking about.
Bedouin.
Blessed are those eyes that have seen more roads than any man! (Homer).
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Re: Indian Motorcycles has a new owner
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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Where do you get those sales figures from?
Kevin - Luceo Non Uro
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Re: Indian Motorcycles has a new owner
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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That's how I remember them from '07 and '09 respectively (or perhaps '06 and '08).
Since you're the resident Victory expert, please feel free to correct me (i.e. give us the peak and valley).
Bedouin.
Blessed are those eyes that have seen more roads than any man! (Homer).
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Re: Indian Motorcycles has a new owner
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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Quote:
That's how I remember them from '07 and '09 respectively (or perhaps '06 and '08).
Since you're the resident Victory expert, please feel free to correct me (i.e. give us the peak and valley).
If you're going to quote sales numbers cite your source. Otherwise it's just BS.
Kevin - Luceo Non Uro
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Re: Indian Motorcycles has a new owner
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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Quote:
Quote:
That's how I remember them from '07 and '09 respectively (or perhaps '06 and '08).
Since you're the resident Victory expert, please feel free to correct me (i.e. give us the peak and valley).
If you're going to quote sales numbers cite your source. Otherwise it's just BS.
What, no figures to counter mine?
and
Bedouin.
Blessed are those eyes that have seen more roads than any man! (Homer).
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Re: Indian Motorcycles has a new owner
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3/4 Throttle
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3/4 Throttle
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First off our Victory dealer has gotten rid of all their Indian stock,I dont think many would pay the 35k for their bikes.
Hopefully they can get the price down some and maybe just maybe sell some.
Last edited by Donny; 04/20/2011 10:13 AM.
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Re: Indian Motorcycles has a new owner
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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Actually Thanassis, I have to side with Kevin here, at least from my recent observations. Ya see, while I also can't quote you any exact sales figures here either, I have to say I'm seein' more and more Victory motorcycles around these here parts cruisin' around.
And, whenever I stop in at my local Victory dealership in Prescott Valley AZ, the owner of that establishment (who I also bug each and every time I talk to him about gettin' a Triumph franchise too) tells me his business is growing quite nicely.
(...though as I said, my observation here is anecdotal at best)
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: Indian Motorcycles has a new owner
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Adjunct
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Adjunct
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The last Indian motorcycle was built in 1953. Whatever Polaris comes up with will be a disguised Victory. I give them credit for trying though. Purest Indian owners will shutter though.
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Re: Indian Motorcycles has a new owner
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Joined: Feb 2007
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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I agree that there will never be a replacement for the vintage Indian. I really hope they don't make Indian a disguised Victory and keep it with a different power train and frame and tins. I also hope they improve the power train while keeping it unique.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: Indian Motorcycles has a new owner
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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Dwight, of course you'll see Victories accumulating year in - year out. If sales are up, they will be based on the recent massive slump they suffered, NOT their peak (that's all I said - do you disagree?). Here's what Kevin said amongst other things ... ""Victory sales are way up. Here are some financial highlights from PII. FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS . Symbol Value ($) Sales* 1.99 Bil "" That's 2 Billion dollars ... or roughly 100.000 bikes (even at 20 grand each). Please, please, please, do the math. Please, please, please, SPARE ME!!! The way it's presented, it's misleading, at least.  a/ Where I come from that's called Bull$hit Artistry. Other than to call them BS, he's also not countering my figures on peaks and valleys either. b/ Where I come from that's called Malakies . Quote:
Actually Thanassis, I have to side with Kevin here
Which part ... a/ or b/ ?.
Last edited by Bedouin; 04/20/2011 1:10 PM.
Bedouin.
Blessed are those eyes that have seen more roads than any man! (Homer).
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Re: Indian Motorcycles has a new owner
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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It's easy for most people to research the financial information for Victory's parent company Polaris (PII) on the web.
You can read it all yourself, or have your attendant read it for you.
I'm still waiting to see the source for the numbers you quoted.
Kevin - Luceo Non Uro
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Re: Indian Motorcycles has a new owner
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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Quote:
It's easy for most people to research the financial information for Victory's parent company Polaris (PII) on the web.
You can read it all yourself, or have your attendant read it for you.
I'm still waiting to see the source for the numbers you quoted.
If you don't like my numbers, which as I told you is how I remember them (do you really think I collect links of everything I read?  ) ... get your own and counter them.
Since you always sound like a Victory dealer giving us a Victory sales pitch ... that shouldn't be too difficult.
I fail to see why you insist to avoid this (actually I don't) and keep giving my testicles a headache about my "sources".
Not too sure what the "attendant" crack was about either.
Bedouin.
Blessed are those eyes that have seen more roads than any man! (Homer).
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Re: Indian Motorcycles has a new owner
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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To answer your question...Part C!!!  Ya see T-man, according to the following link, after a downturn in sales in 2009(a year which most m/c manufacturers reported a downturn in sales), Victory reported a 48% increase in sales during 2010 from the previous year. http://www.motorcycle.com/news/victory-q2-2010-results-89796.htmlAnd so, even though you mentioned in your original about the last 5 years of Victory sales slumping(a claim of which I still haven't seen any hard figured or even 2nd party reports delivered by you in this thread in order to substantiate such a claim), I'd say a 48% increase in sales would seem a promising aspect for the future of any company...wouldn't you say?! And so, maybe with this "promising aspect" which Polaris Industries might presently feel they're in, well, maybe they're feelin' their Indian Motorcycles purchase might be a correct move for 'em. (...though time will time, eh?!)
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: Indian Motorcycles has a new owner
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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Dwight. I really begged you to do the maths but it seems it isn't your favorite subject . Using YOUR presented numbers (part C  ) here's the deal ... 15.5 million (2nd quarter) divided by say $20.000 per bike makes 775 bikes per quarter. Multiply that by 4 and you will get a tad over 3000 bikes per year (3.100 to be exact). That's 3.100 bikes per year according to your figures. That's EVEN LESS than than the lowest figure I EVER quoted (I said 3-4000.). You didn't like my figures eh?
Bedouin.
Blessed are those eyes that have seen more roads than any man! (Homer).
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Re: Indian Motorcycles has a new owner
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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"You can't believe everything you read on the internet" : William Shakespeare
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Re: Indian Motorcycles has a new owner
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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Well, don't forget my very first response in this thread was "Deeper pockets = better chance of survival for this heritage brand...". And thus, while I concede your above "cocktail napkin calculations" might be close to the truth(or not ), I still say I like the idea that Polaris(with the aforementioned "deep pockets") will be attempting to keep viable a hallowed American motorcycle marque.
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: Indian Motorcycles has a new owner
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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I know we are talking about the bikes but I think we need to figure in the utility vehicles and the snowmobiles and the quads when talking of the financial state of polaris since Victory is just part of the companies sales.I have no numbers to add but I bet if you figure all that in too then Polaris probably has pretty deep pockets to try and make a go of Indian.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: Indian Motorcycles has a new owner
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Joined: Feb 2005
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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Yep Ian! (...or in other words, that "deep pockets" thing again!)
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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