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Guest
Lost money for last 3 years. Will concentrate on Indian motorcycles instead.
Seen this in a marketing news letter yesterday. It appears that absolutely no one seen this coming. The information was held very tightly by Polaris Ind. prior to the official announcement. Spirit Lake, Ia officials, nor the dealer there knew of nothing coming like this. It said that the Victory brand sold cheaper than the Indian brand, but the Indian brand out sells the Victory by 11 times over. $$$$$$$$$$$$ As said, Okoboji Motorsports, the Spirit Lake dealer was stunned by the news. If you want a Victory bike, you had better get it now.
Right on Pete! It's all about the $$$$$$$$$$$ always. And the dealers get the hurt.
bearrassler
Well-known member
That is not suprising to hear. I was a Polaris dealer when they dropped the PWC line and was one of the original Victory dealers. These big companies don't care about the dealers or the large investment they have in their stores, only the company's bottom line
SledTL
Active member
I personally like the victory better than the Indian design, more performance/sporty look to them. Most people in my age group don't even know what Indians are. I'm surprised because in terms of the future I can't see it. Target market of 45-60 year olds is gonna start slimming soon. Seems powersports are so concerned on the now profits versus what lies ahead. Can't honestly tell me I can afford a 12k sled, ~20k bike, 15k rzr, 50k truck, etc., etc. Maybe my rant is off, just my .02
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Guest
All the 'good old boys' at Pol are pretty much gone. Either retired or dead. I remember riding with Jim Bernat and having me ride one of the proto exhaust valved 700's. He rode my new at the time Zr 800 and he told me how slow it was because it would barely stay ahead of that 700. Good times. Doesn't work like that anymore at Pol. Very much a big corp. Not much local input allowed.
journeyman
Member
Kind of reminds me of how they closed the Osceola snowmobile engine plant. That took the locals off guard.
Who else had the grit to call their cycles 8 Ball and Vegas; sounds like a good combination.
Bear
I have had a victory and sold it for building a house and lost good money cus them buying Indian so the market dropped on em. I loved the bike looked so clean and not crappy looking motor like Harley's have. I'm very upset about it cus me being 28 was planning on a new victory at 30 after my house was complete. Been a Polaris die hard all my life but view this as a really bad deal cus not one Indian other than a scout is worth anything to me and that's a small motored bike. Very upset for my dealer who was on board with victory since the start
true
fusionfool
New member
Yes, saw this last week. Sad thing is I was very close to purchasing an Indian. Now with this news, I have no desire to get any bike from them in fear it will be the next to be obsolete. Indian production has come and gone a few times over the years. I did not have a strong feeling to begin with about if they would last. Now seeing that Polaris can dump Victory, I have zero confidence they wont do the same with Indian in a year, or two.
Well, the good news is you'll be able to buy a new one at 29 for about 70% of what you'd need at 28 (or 30, if they kept making them).
I bought a new Buell after they closed, so wouldn't hesitate a bit buying a new Victory at a steal of a price.
I certainly would not buy an Indian, but not because I'm certain they'll face the same fate, but because they're hideous.
They are a ugly bike forsure other than maybe a scout but that's a smaller bike who knows what I will wind up with when can again