That's not a Real Indian

I've touched on this subject before, but that was referencing the various generations of Indian Motorcycles and how our own riders, don't know the differences  / history / background of the Indian Motorcycle.  But there is one version that really perplexes me.  When you hear or read, someone saying "that's not a REAL Indian".  Usually followed by it's a Polaris, or it's a clone, or some other variation of bullshit.

Now,  I sort of understand the mindset if the person saying this is a hard core rider of antiques.  You know, rides a "Springfield Indian"  ..a first generation... an Indian motorcycle built between 1901-1953.   I might even cut them slack if they ride old Harleys.... you know...   same time frame.. or an old Pan head.   These guys are locked in a time capsule and push back on most modern motorcycles.  I've got a good friend that builds and restores the old ones.  That is all he rides given the choice.  I get it.  I've got nothing but respect for his opinions. It's when I hear it from others;  usually isn't the  case.

Now in all fairness, not all Indian Owners 'get it'.  I've blog'd about this.  They don't know their bike's history.  They simply are new owners to the brand, are affectionately over the top on the bikes, and share off their love of their new ride unaware off the shit-storm that is about to prevail. And these shit storms, are what got me to thinking about this subject again.   I mean if you only ride  with other Indian Riders (ex: IOA) that only accept members that ride a specific brand, you get some hard core Indian only hug fests that create a mindset (you know..  like .. all other brands suck).   If you only participate in Indian based forums and groups, then we can all brag about the brand and have pro Indian discussions.    But where the friction occurs is when the Indian rider with blinders on rolls into a group of say .. HDs ... and struts around with his new Vest with the word "Indian" on it .. (front, huge headdress back-patch, and another dozen smaller Indian patches elsewhere ) and jokes with the first guy at the bar with a line like "Which one is yours?  The black one?" , the remarks come out of the woodwork (assuming the rider didn't get his ass kicked).   Okay, I was pushing the edge on that one but I've seen nauseating stuff to a lesser degree.   More often than not, on Social Media or Forums that are generic to specific brands, the new guy excited about the brand posts a pic/video that pertains to a new Indian Motorcycle, and the jerks come out of the woodwork.  And these jerks, are the ones that get me to thinking.   The vast majority of them, don't ride anything special.  Once in awhile, you can connect the dots that tie back to their logic, their thought processes, but more often than not you find yourself looking at a plain jane EVO bike.  A Twin Cam bike.  A rice burner.  But these guys hate the Indians; or the fact that they aren't ...'real' Indians.

I get that someone may not be a fan of the 'big fenders" that they go on and on about.  I get that some folks may not be fans of a lot of brown leather on a bike.  I get they may not like the fairings on the bikes.  But, most of these naysayers come off the rails with this hate.  So you have to ask yourself "why?"   I don't get it... I don't have the answers.   But what is it about the average HD guy that talks shit about Indians that it drives them to go on and on and on.. .like " Its' not an Indian.. it's a Polaris!"   Or there's the angle that they aren't Indians, they are Victory's that were changed up and now Indians.   Before Polaris bought the company from the Stellican's (think Kings Mountain Indians), the folks were equally hateful saying similar shit but they were HD motors (no, the PP105s aren't, but are based on EVO technology). That they were clones.  And before that when they were built out of Gilroy, we heard that shit even more so.   BUT, my question is .... what drives the need for these guys to go out of their way to ramble this shit?

I believe for the vast majority it's an inferiority complex.  I've said this dozens of times.  If  you park a basic, bare bones Indian motorcycle in a mix of HDs, they tend to get more attention than the HDs.   Same as with other brands, but lets be honest.   When the average person is talking about big cruiser bikes ... ..  they are ( or were ) talking about HDs.   So I tend to compare them to this main player in the market.  And this is the group I see spewing the most hate.   Back to the subject.   Now, park a Vintage model or Darkhorse model in the mix, and things really get interesting.   I've sat back and watched the emotional reactions of a lot of folks.  Hell, grab a seat a bar near the bikes where they are parked and take notes.   The reactions are all over the map.  Usually positive.  But the negative reactions are just as telling. Two boys on their HDs pull up next to the Indian(s) and you can see one of them looking over.... shaking their head .. turn to their buddy(s) and .. they both look over.. .. with a condescending look..  say a few words....   and into the bar they come.  Now, what just happened?  Why, did that just happen.  They didn't do that when they parked near the Honda Goldwings.  Or the Kawasaki Nomads.  I believe they see the Indians as competition.  I believe it makes them question their own choice.   And so they attempt to discredit the bike that just got their attention. Now, one might think I'm overthinking this.  But, I see this ALL the time and after awhile it becomes so prevalent you can't help but wonder WTF is going on here.

 

Now lets take this over to the virtual side.   Someone ( an Indian Owner ) posts info on a new model in a FB group that is generic to a specific brand, but .. .I'm guessing 51+% ride HDs.  Now, I personally wouldn't have posted it because I know what's about to happen.  And the guilty poster apparently didnt' know what was about to happen.  But, it' makes for an interesting overview of "biker psychology".   Once the guy posted the video on the new Elite model, hundreds of comments followed.  There were many I expected to see.  Not everyone is a fan of the paint job.  I know Indian Riders that aren't fans of it.   It's an over the top scheme that 300 new owners are going to love.  Also, the new elite model has a trimmed down fender to make it appealing to a larger group of riders that may not prefer the valenced fender.  However, the valenced fender ( as well an trunk, etc) is offered as a optional upgraded..  Maybe even.. the cost being a notch higher is a fair discussion point.   But you get the 'haters' coming out of the woodwork attempting to discredit it by calling it " a Polaris".  Then the 'fugly' comments come out.   Then the haters of the fairing.   But the ones that really get me are the 'it's not a real Indian'.   And these are the ones that get my attention.   Forget the fact that this bike blows away 99% of the rides that the morons commenting own.   But some of these guys go on and on and on.... it's not a real Indian.   What drives the behavior of these guys?

I'll be the first to admit, the original Indian Motorcycle Company ( wait.. it wasn't actually Indian .. it was Hendee) covered 01-53. And yes, things got pretty weird for a few decades.  Gilroys were the first modern rendition of the bikes and they set the stage for what we see today (with KMs in the mix of course).  When Polaris Industries purchased the company ( the IP .. the rights .. etc) to Indian Motorcycles in the Spring  of 2011, they began the process of bringing us the new generation of bikes designed from the ground up as new bikes.    Are these the original bikes?  Of course not; no one is that stupid to believe that.  Are they real Indians?  Of course they are;     Let me explain....  what we know as Indian Motorcycle is actually Indian Motorcycle International, LLC ( a subsidiary of Polaris Industries)  The bikes delivered have Indian on their titles.  They have Indian logos on them.   The rights to the bike roll into a single company.   They aren't kit bikes.  They aren't reproductions.   So yes, they are 'real' Indians.  Now... yes.. I get the play on words.  Yes, I realize this is not the exact same company that built them out of Springfield Massachusetts. Yes, i realize they have not been in continuous production since 1901.  Yes I realize there is a muddy history filled with a few failed attempts.   But make no mistake, they are back.  They are here to stay. They are enjoying a resurgence and sales that Victory wished they'd had a fraction of.

Indian Motorcycles. Yes, they are the real deal.  If someone is questioning it... chances are...  they are simply wishing they were on one