Post a picture of your motorcycle

these are all great bikes

how are bike modifications treated in the states ?

can’t get better than that

2008 Victory Vision Tour Premium. It’s loaded everything and has 20k flawless miles with a bullet proof V twin.

Skilbirdillo wrote

how are bike modifications treated in the states ?

Not normally a problem. Do as you wish, for the most part.

R.

Feels so good to need to clean off dead bugs from my glasses again.

This unofficially kicks off the biking season in GB from Matlock Bath, lots of interesting bikes congregating in the famous town showing what some bikers are riding over here.
Not a pic of my bike as OP suggests but dozens of others

All the motorcycles I've owned in the past 20+ years.

Efthreeoh wrote

This is one of my favorite pics of my Valkyrie. To set this up, this was the first ride after a long hiatus from August 2003 to April 2004 when the Valk was land-locked. The bridge was new and just finished in April 2004 after the flood of August 2003 that took out our whole front yard and the Corps of Engineers decided to "move" the river, which necessitated the new bridge.

We had just got back after a few hours out only to find this grand 'ole snapper touring the freshly rebuilt grounds. We let the pups out of the house and this was their first encounter with a snapping turtle (they were 6 months old). The pic prior to this one was of them smelling the turtle's butt. The turtle moved and the pups flinched.

Same bridge, 22 years and many floods later...

(Almost to the day)

Vin0770 wrote

2008 Victory Vision Tour Premium. It’s loaded everything and has 20k flawless miles with a bullet proof V twin.

It was sad to see Polaris scuttle the Victory brand. Looks like Indian may once again go into the trash bin of history too...

Efthreeoh wrote

Looks like Indian may once again go into the trash bin of history too...

Huminawha?

I thought they were making pretty good bikes.

Reference?

TIA--

R.

A whole selection of bikes on display from this quiet day trip to Southend beach on Easter Bank Holiday weekend with pro biker Isaac. The scooter guys understandably stayed away from this one

flybigjet wrote

Huminawha?

I thought they were making pretty good bikes.

Reference?

TIA--

R.

Just reading the tea leaves. Motorcycle sales are way down across the industry. Even Harley is closing dealerships.

Reference: Polaris spun off Indian as a new independent corporation late in 2025. Indian was bought by a private equity company. Polaris' press release said Indian was just 7% of its overall corporate revenue, which prompted the sale. If Indian was making a profit for Polaris, why dump the brand? Why was 7% not enough to keep interest in a powersports brand? Polaris created Victory from the ground up, which made great bikes that were competitive with the Metrics, only to kill it after it resurrected Indian. I get that, not enough buyers to keep two American motorcycle brands. But the original Indian company was defunct by the mid 1950's and barely any riders by the mid 2000's (2011) were old enough to really appreciate the nostalgia of the Indian brand. It never made sense to me that Polaris resurrected Indian when Victory in the mid-2000's was doing well and making competitive bikes against the Metrics and Harely. At least Harley has been in continuous operation since its inception, but its customers are aging out now as well.

If Indian wasn't generating profit for Polaris how will a private equity company make it profitable? Logic would pose that keeping a powersports motorcycle company within the corporate umbrella of a powersports company as large as Polaris to share management, engineering, manufacturing and supply chain resources makes financial sense.

In the mid to late 2010's if my then 15-year-old Valkyrie wasn't still competitive within the market, I would have bought a Victory touring bike, I liked many of their models. They were fresh and different from Harley.

In my view, spinning off Indian is not a good sign. IMO of course.

For those bike enthusiasts, I live on the Isle of Man, yes really and the TT is coming up. If anyone is visiting and needs more info from a 'local' (I've only lived here for 3 years), feel free to message me.

Efthreeoh wrote

Just reading the tea leaves. Motorcycle sales are way down across the industry. Even Harley is closing dealerships.

Reference: Polaris spun off Indian as a new independent corporation late in 2025. Indian was bought by a private equity company. Polaris' press release said Indian was just 7% of its overall corporate revenue, which prompted the sale. If Indian was making a profit for Polaris, why dump the brand? Why was 7% not enough to keep interest in a powersports brand? Polaris created Victory from the ground up, which made great bikes that were competitive with the Metrics, only to kill it after it resurrected Indian. I get that, not enough buyers to keep two American motorcycle brands. But the original Indian company was defunct by the mid 1950's and barely any riders by the mid 2000's (2011) were old enough to really appreciate the nostalgia of the Indian brand. It never made sense to me that Polaris resurrected Indian when Victory in the mid-2000's was doing well and making competitive bikes against the Metrics and Harely. At least Harley has been in continuous operation since its inception, but its customers are aging out now as well.

If Indian wasn't generating profit for Polaris how will a private equity company make it profitable? Logic would pose that keeping a powersports motorcycle company within the corporate umbrella of a powersports company as large as Polaris to share management, engineering, manufacturing and supply chain resources makes financial sense.

In the mid to late 2010's if my then 15-year-old Valkyrie wasn't still competitive within the market, I would have bought a Victory touring bike, I liked many of their models. They were fresh and different from Harley.

In my view, spinning off Indian is not a good sign. IMO of course.

Good points.

I did a few test rides with a buddy who was in the market for a new bike last year. Both of us felt that the Indian's generally blew the doors of the Harleys in an "apples to apples" comparison.

He ended up getting a (very) lightly-used BMW K-Bike.

I could expand about what I dislike about Harley, but I do hope Indian makes it if for no other reason to provide additional choices in the marketplace-- they're making a nice bike, so it would be a shame to see them get punted.

R.

Efthreeoh wrote

Just reading the tea leaves. Motorcycle sales are way down across the industry. Even Harley is closing dealerships.

Reference: Polaris spun off Indian as a new independent corporation late in 2025. Indian was bought by a private equity company. Polaris' press release said Indian was just 7% of its overall corporate revenue, which prompted the sale. If Indian was making a profit for Polaris, why dump the brand? Why was 7% not enough to keep interest in a powersports brand? Polaris created Victory from the ground up, which made great bikes that were competitive with the Metrics, only to kill it after it resurrected Indian. I get that, not enough buyers to keep two American motorcycle brands. But the original Indian company was defunct by the mid 1950's and barely any riders by the mid 2000's (2011) were old enough to really appreciate the nostalgia of the Indian brand. It never made sense to me that Polaris resurrected Indian when Victory in the mid-2000's was doing well and making competitive bikes against the Metrics and Harely. At least Harley has been in continuous operation since its inception, but its customers are aging out now as well.

If Indian wasn't generating profit for Polaris how will a private equity company make it profitable? Logic would pose that keeping a powersports motorcycle company within the corporate umbrella of a powersports company as large as Polaris to share management, engineering, manufacturing and supply chain resources makes financial sense.

In the mid to late 2010's if my then 15-year-old Valkyrie wasn't still competitive within the market, I would have bought a Victory touring bike, I liked many of their models. They were fresh and different from Harley.

In my view, spinning off Indian is not a good sign. IMO of course.

Carolwood LP is now the private equity owner of Indian. Carolwood has a number of portfolio companies that have nothing to do with motorcycles, vehicles or industrial machinery. To them it's just business. Strip Indian expenses down, engineer cost out of the product, shut off capital investment, reduce the workforce with emphasis on white collar reductions, and try to make a go of it. Private equity 101 for a manufacturing investment.

If Indian doesn't work out for Carolwood, they will sell what remains of the company, which is usually the brand (trademarks) and intellectual property (engineering drawings). Factories and real estate often get sold-leased back shortly after an ownership change to generate liquidity (cash), so post-Polaris, fixed assets like these would likely be worth close to zero.

Production machinery is not special in most industries and much of the componentry is outsourced to third parties anyway. Car, truck and motorcycle companies are simply bolting bits together and putting a few decals on. Frame welding and painting is kindergarten-level technology and anyone can do it, and can be outsourced.

A new buyer, likely Asian, will buy it and pump in new capital investment and the story continues.

Separately - what a poor strategy and marketing decision of Polaris to engage in the waste of shareholder resources to support two overlapping motorcycle brands. Especially when they did one "the hard [expensive] way" which was the ground-up genesis of Victory. I have some special knowledge of PII and it is not flattering from a business point of view.

Efthreeoh wrote

At least Harley has been in continuous operation since its inception, but its customers are aging out now as well.

There is a never ending supply of septegenarians who will become eventual Harley motorcycle, and increasingly trike, owners.

Harley's demise because "their customers are dying" has been second page headlines for 20 years.

The Pan America is admission that the old product is not sufficient for the company's future. Wait until Harley offers a product to compete head-on with the Slingshot and Can-Am.

chassis wrote

Carolwood LP is now the private equity owner of Indian. Carolwood has a number of portfolio companies that have nothing to do with motorcycles, vehicles or industrial machinery. To them it's just business. Strip Indian expenses down, engineer cost out of the product, shut off capital investment, reduce the workforce with emphasis on white collar reductions, and try to make a go of it. Private equity 101 for a manufacturing investment.

If Indian doesn't work out for Carolwood, they will sell what remains of the company, which is usually the brand (trademarks) and intellectual property (engineering drawings). Factories and real estate often get sold-leased back shortly after an ownership change to generate liquidity (cash), so post-Polaris, fixed assets like these would likely be worth close to zero.

Production machinery is not special in most industries and much of the componentry is outsourced to third parties anyway. Car, truck and motorcycle companies are simply bolting bits together and putting a few decals on. Frame welding and painting is kindergarten-level technology and anyone can do it, and can be outsourced.

A new buyer, likely Asian, will buy it and pump in new capital investment and the story continues.

Separately - what a poor strategy and marketing decision of Polaris to engage in the waste of shareholder resources to support two overlapping motorcycle brands. Especially when they did one "the hard [expensive] way" which was the ground-up genesis of Victory. I have some special knowledge of PII and it is not flattering from a business point of view.

Exactly my point. In a consolidating market Polaris obviously sees Indian not surviving, so it sold off the company to get out. For a PE company there is no pride of brand equity, just business (i.e. profit). When the profits stop, the company goes away. I don't see an Asian buyer since why would they be interested in an American-made motorcycle. If they take the brand to Asia, the American market (buyer) for it collapses.

Toast.

chassis wrote

There is a never ending supply of septegenarians who will become eventual Harley motorcycle, and increasingly trike, owners.

Harley's demise because "their customers are dying" has been second page headlines for 20 years.

The Pan America is admission that the old product is not sufficient for the company's future. Wait until Harley offers a product to compete head-on with the Slingshot and Can-Am.

I'll counter with the Street Rod, Buell, and Live Wire. None captured the real interests of the traditional Harley buyer nor his offspring and his offspring's offspring. I will concede the ADV Pan America seems to be a hit.

Two years ago, I was all set to buy the Street Glide. I thought it would be a neat change to go with a big twin and ride with my brother with his Chieftain 112 Super Chief 116. But as we all now know, the K1600B won the day.

Efthreeoh wrote

I'll counter with the Street Rod, Buell, and Live Wire. None captured the real interests of the traditional Harley buyer nor his offspring and his offspring's offspring. I will concede the ADV Pan America seems to be a hit.

Two years ago, I was all set to buy the Street Glide. I thought it would be a neat change to go with a big twin and ride with my brother with his Chieftain 112. But as we all now know, the K1600B won the day.

K bike was and is a far better choice!

chassis wrote

K bike was and is a far better choice!

Indeed! A few weeks ago I installed the original equipment K1600B Grand America (taller) windshield and that fixed my only real issue with The B. It's just about perfect now.

flybigjet wrote

Good points.

I did a few test rides with a buddy who was in the market for a new bike last year. Both of us felt that the Indian's generally blew the doors of the Harleys in an "apples to apples" comparison.

He ended up getting a (very) lightly-used BMW K-Bike.

I could expand about what I dislike about Harley, but I do hope Indian makes it if for no other reason to provide additional choices in the marketplace-- they're making a nice bike, so it would be a shame to see them get punted.

R.

I have yet to sample my brother's Super Chief 116 (I earlier incorrectly thought it was a Chietain 112). We've ridden together just once two years ago. It was a quick ride to a family gig, so I didn't have time to ride it. We plan on a few rides soon, so I'll sample it then, if I can tolerate him riding the K - LOL. He likes the Super Chief quite a bit and chose it over a Harley as well. It was able to keep up with my then 24-year-old Valkyrie...

Good news for the Valk, my other brother has now decided he wants to ride it, so a full refurb is underway! It just needs a good scrubbin', brake pads all around, and replacement of the clutch slave cylinder.