Retro only goes so far and I'd say HD's got that market pretty well locked up. The brand doesn't have that much cachet any more, so that's not much help. HQing in CA doesn't help. Venture funding from Boston's usually fickle. The bike doesn't have enough stuff to get the wing nuts off their two-wheel winnabagos and does nothing for the rice rocketeers. This outcome was predictable, especially in hindsight.
Retro only goes so far and I'd say HD's got that market pretty well locked up. The brand doesn't have that much cachet any more, so that's not much help. HQing in CA doesn't help. Venture funding from Boston's usually fickle. The bike doesn't have enough stuff to get the wing nuts off their two-wheel winnabagos and does nothing for the rice rocketeers. This outcome was predictable, especially in hindsight. Also a few other failings: No entry-level bike similar to Harley's 883 Hugger or a single-cylinder off-road or commuter *daily drive* offering.
No realy serious link between the original Chicopee Falls Indians and the California bikes. If Indian does disappear, it'll hardly be noticed by the old Indian Scout/Warrior riders who've virtually undertaken the manufacture of every component needed to keep their old classics going; the pre-1954 Chief is almost as well-supported.
And Indian's hopes for their equivalent of the Harley Owners Group haven't quite caught on either, though this ressurection effort might be just the kick in the pants needed for that sort of rallying to coalesce.
-archy-/-