2012 Indian Motorcycle Preview

For Indian, 2012 represents 110 years since the first motorcycle bearing the namesake rolled off whatever sufficed for production line at the Hendee Co. in 1901. To celebrate, Polaris Industries, owner of the Indian brand since April of this year, is celebrating the occasion with special badging on all 2012 models. The twenty-twelve bikes will be the first produced under the auspice of Polaris.  According to company spokesman, Robert Pandya, the Polaris-built Indians are endowed with minor technical changes and a few new colors.

There are three Indian Chief models for 2012, Vintage, Dark Horse and Classic ranging in price from $26,500 to $36,700. The hand-built Indians are powered by a 105 cu. in., fuel-injected, air-cooled, 45-degree Powerplus V-Twin. Power reaches the rear wheel via a belt drive attached to a six-speed transmission. Hauling the 800-pound machines to a stop is a trio of Brembo braking components.

The $26,500 Indian Chief Classic is available in solid Indian Red with gold script and solid Thunder Black with silver script with a black leather seat, chrome wheels and black wall tires. The $28,000 Dark Horse is painted Thunder Black Smoke with a black leather seat, black wheels tires. The Vintage Chief is available in both solid colors, Thunder Black and Indian Red for $35,600 and two-tone schemes, Indian Red and Ivory Cream, Arizona Turquois and Winter White, and Willow Green and Ivory Cream for $36,900.

By Tom Roderick