My Darkside...

[virginiajim]

About two months ago we wandered into the Indian Dealer....  Bought a Roadmaster.   The C14 will be going up for sale soon.   Very smooth riding bike albeit somewhat loud.  Got a stage 1 performance kit put on yesterday (intake, pipes, ecu remap)..made a big difference, not that it needed the power but I wanted just a little bit more.

[beegee]

Oooh that is a much different bike...
Dont see those here.  Its an American make?
So its the second best bike probably ?

Take cary anyway !

[virginiajim]

Yep, it's American but I think they sell them over your way as well.

http://www.indianmotorcycle.co.uk/

[O.C.]

available here      


http://www.indianmotorcycle.co.uk   

[Lonewolf]

Yes they definitely sell them here, Freedom Motorcycles in March, main stockist and coincidentally where I bought a German motorcycle from in 2014.

[StickyOne]

That's one hell of a heavy looking bike Jim
Does it have a reverse gear?

[Rusty]

Strangely enough ..... I like it 

[virginiajim]

As do I.  I like Art Deco and this bike definitely has that look.  It does have reverse but it requires feet to implement.

[virginiajim]

You know, the more I ride this bike, the more I like it.   It just feels good.  A tad on the noisy side but as I'm going slowly deaf, that really is not an issue.

[O.C.]

You know, the more I ride this bike, the more I like it.   It just feels good.  A tad on the noisy side but as I'm going slowly deaf, that really is not an issue.

Pardon, what's that you say ?       

[virginiajim]

Update:  Have taken the bike out with the Mrs on a quite a few long trips and I must say that I don't regret our decision (she picked it out actually) to purchase the bike at all.  Will be riding this one, the bike and also the Mrs, for quite some time into the future.  I didn't think I'd like the louder pipes but that sound grows on you.  It's so guttural.  It just makes me feel good.  Having ridden quiet bikes since 1995, it's quite the change up.

Accessories (Indian and aftermarket) are abundant unfortunately for the Indians as my wallet can attest to unlike the GTR.  Polaris Industries (owner of the brand) is doing this iteration of the Indian motorcycle right and is gaining market share over Harley Davidson.

Since the last update have gone to Indian stage 2 which is a cam and ecu update.  Has quite the lope now....even better.  The only nits I have with it is the heat output and it's somewhat heavy debonair.  Makes the GTR heat output (gen 1 bike) feel non-existent.  It's not too bad whilst riding but heaven forbid you sit in a traffic jam in 90 degree plus weather.  It cooks you alive.  Probably will be buying Love Jugs (electrical fans that attach to the two cylinders) next year to cool it down somewhat.  The newer bikes (2019) will cut the ignition to the rear cylinder to manage heat when stopped but running).  The weight without rider is about 940 lbs.  With rider, passenger, and accoutrements it's pushing 3/4 tonne.  Went down with it on our last trip in a parking lot (no speed, just tipped over) and before you could say WTF, the group had us back up within seconds.  No damage except a small boo boo on the front right engine guard.

The only things I've had go wrong with it were the rear TPMS (started to flat line) and replaced a slow starting starter.  The drive belt adjustment can be a bear as I've been dealing with a chirping belt for awhile but it seems that's been taken care of last night by the dealer.  Also, lack of a center stand presents maintenance challenges to the point that most of what I get done is with the dealer.

I've also joined our local IMRG (Indian Motorcycle Riders Group club.  We support ChildHelp which takes care of abused children and raise funds for them year round.  I can't say enough about our IMRGF (Fredericksburg, VA) members and functions as I've never been part of an organised group like this. Always been 'Lone Wolf' for my entire riding career.  Actually makes me teary eye'd on thinking about it.  Can't say enough about our dealer either in Fredericksburg.  They've been good to us and are very pleasant to work with.  I know all of them by their first names.

All in all, I'm glad we made the switch.  The C14/GTR has gone on to a good home and to someone that really likes it and I get parental visits on occasion. 

[O.C.]

Great to hear that you and SWMBO are getting on well with the big Indian (that really is a BIG bike Jim)

Thanks for updating on your progress, one observation I would make is that the chances of sitting in 90 degree heat here is extremely remote  

[virginiajim]

So what you're saying is I should come back to England?  Well, stay tuned for May 2020.

[O.C.]

So what you're saying is I should come back to England?  Well, stay tuned for May 2020.

Oh yeah......do tell Jim     

[virginiajim]

Will be coming over on a 13 day tour with a group from our AAA tours.  Once I get final details I'll let you know where we're going to be staying along the route.  Hopefully we can meet up at some point.