Questions for Indian

[Blackdog]

OK now that the full story is out that Indian is coming to Branson and prepared for a Tough Q&A.....I thought I had previously posted this on the members site and here - but could not find my thread here so....

 

Please post serious questions - I will have to weed out the crap and quite frankly I don't have much time. I will let this run for about a day - maybe a bit more then forward on to Indian to help them prep for their Q&A with riders in Branson...

 

There are no restrictions on this - but please be serious about the bikes, plant, plans etc... so here it is:

 

What is the ONE QUESTION you would like to ask of Indian if you could be there at the event.

 

This will help Indian decide what to present and what to prepare for. Questions will still be asked in person - but it helps them focus on your interests for Indian.

 

Thanks

[Joehoward]

I would like to know if parts for all Gillroy bikes will be available. My main interest is rear fenders for a 2000 Chief but I know many people including myself would feel better if just about any part would be available for these bikes.

 

Thanks

 

Joe Howard

[Brock]

blackdog i found the thread and forwarded it as appropriate with about 34 questions pulled from it and elsewhere....hope it helps.

[Maldev]

How about: will you not only be providing parts for the Gilroy machines, but will you make improvement upon those parts? If not, will you be licensing the Indian name to vendors willing to make those parts with or without improvements?

[MOE]

what are they looking at for dealer locations??

[RedWazoo]

Competetive $$$$$$$ pricing?

[Maldev]

what are they looking at for dealer locations??

And will they be enforcing any types of standards for service over the standard sales quota when creating the dealerships. In otherwords, on top of money in the bank, parts and geegaws in the shop, make the dealerships guarantee to staff qualified mechanics versus part swappers and one lead mechanic. Qualify those mechanics by number of years working in the field not the months out of MMI. Require yearly training to test and keep the mechanics qualified.

[Blackdog]

blackdog i found the thread and forwarded it as appropriate with about 34 questions pulled from it and elsewhere....hope it helps.

 

 

Thanks brock that will help - I haven't seen it yet though.

[oleyeller]

Will they offer a alternitive engine besides pp maybe an SS 124

[wwcrisp]

Will they offer a alternitive engine besides pp maybe an SS 124

BD, with all the various Vtwins around,would they seriously consider a full skirted inline 4 ?

[Moon Killer]

And will they be enforcing any types of standards for service over the standard sales quota when creating the dealerships. In otherwords, on top of money in the bank, parts and geegaws in the shop, make the dealerships guarantee to staff qualified mechanics versus part swappers and one lead mechanic. Qualify those mechanics by number of years working in the field not the months out of MMI. Require yearly training to test and keep the mechanics qualified.

Unfortunatly bike shops don't pay mechanics enough money to give mechanics incentive to do that. Harley does it to some extent but when the demands reach a certain level the mechanics usually move on. Very high turnover. A large number of HD owners are dissastified with the quality of work from the dealers which comes at a very high premium. Our local dealer, Barnetts, charges $85 per hr. our shop charges $65. Barnetts also sends head work & trans problems to our shop along with customers that can't wait a week. You also realize that HD dealers won't work on anything a few years old or anything that's not Harley (S&S), will Indian shops also follow this mold? A lot of lesser brands use independant shops for service centers.

I'm sure the "New" Indian will want the best for their customers but I wouldn't look for anything special. I will be looking forward to their answer on this..

[Maldev]

I do understand that problem, Moon Killer, which is why I asked it. I don't want the shops to become the HD shops of today with what I call part swappers. They don't attempt to find the source of the problem or they simply don't know how. I had the same thing happen through four Indian dealerships until I ran into my current mech. I burned through starters on the Chief every 3-4 months. The shops were too interested in simply running the warranty work back to IMC than they were in servicing my bike properly. In the end, it turned out to be an alignement issue with the starer and everything else. Tony aligned and shimmed it properly and I' had the same starter in my Chief for four years now. In the end, qualifying employees/mechanics and the work done would better serve Indian now than it would to base a dealership's productiveness on sales and bank accounts. We've all experienced, for better or wrose, the warranty issues with Indian. They pushed and allowed a lot of stuff through the warranty doors that I believe wouldn't have happened if the shops were properly trained. BMW has such a program wherein mecahnics are constantly trained and it shows in their low turnover rate and intelligent workflow through the repair bays.

[POWER STROKE]

Who was training the Indian mechanics?

 

There is no reason (outside of flaterate) for any of the MMI H-D grads to be parts swappers, they are trained how to properly diagnose issues with the entire motorcycle.

 

Before you can even get into any elective there is near a year and a half of basic motorcycle technology that must be learned, and unlike most auto trade schools there is hands on for everyone. Graduating is a must.

 

A lot of attendents are weeded out in this phase. If and when you get to the H-D elective (which I know has changed somewhat since I attended) It is 3 months of intensive training and only the truly commited pass.

I missed 4 days due to the flu, so I recieved only a certificate of completion, I then took 3 months off and went through a second time because I would accept nothing less than a diploma and full certification.

 

In a class of 30, only 3 of us graduated and recieved Harley Davidson Certified Technician status, as well as Certified PHD Technician status.

 

Slackers need not apply!

 

Does this mean you come out of school and know everything? Of course not, and the instructors tell you this repeatedly. The learning never stops.

Which is why MMI facilities are also where all the dealer classes are held, and before you, as a field tech can go to a dealer class you need to take the initiative to train yourself throughout your career, by talking and passsing online training courses, much like the rest of the automotive field.

 

However in my day, I went to work at shops who's shop foreman had nothing more than years as small engine mechanics, HVAC mechanics, refrigeration mechanics, stoners who managed to keep their Pans running, etc. People who definetly were not trained in motorcycle mechanics, much less the new Harley Davidsons, and with fuel injection on the horizon.... HOLY SHIT!

These were the guys that threw out perfectly good electronic ignition systems and replaced them with points, because, "Hey, if it ain't broke, don't fix it" and "It always worked before".

 

Fact is these guys were either to stupid or lazy to learn something new.

 

My personal favorite was the moron who was drilling out the idle mixture screw caps and adjusting them because it made the bike run better throughout the powerband, when asked why he was doing this his reply was because he always had, and it does.

 

Funny, the EPA didn't think so!

 

When I asked him to show me how the circuit works and explain air and fuel flow through the carb I got the "Fuck off punk, you think you know everything just because you went to school" answer.

 

In the end, he got his.

 

Another fav was a boob who swore he had the sweetest and fastest EVO known to man, burst his bubble when he showed me his intake, polished to a mirror like finish.

 

Always got another "Fuck off punk" or "Newbie" insult.

 

No, I think H-D is much better off today then they were 20+ years ago, however I think working flatrate creates issues, and can create parts swappers, but that is something that has been the bane of the automotive industry for years.

 

I believe that Indian is going to have to institute a program at MMI much like H-D, sending experience mechanics for schooling, so they become proficient with the new Indian product line, and as well they will have new and younger guys getting trained to fill the dealer network and eventually replace those that either move on or retire.

 

As well, it will give those fresh skulls full of mush that are interested in the classic american v-twin a choice.

 

This is extremely important to the health and longevity of IMI and it's import can not be overstated.

 

With a quality permium machine, will have to come quality premium service.

 

But hey what the fuck do I know!

[Maldev]

I hate it when single-celled halfwits think they know what they're talking about.

[Last Resort]

But hey what the fuck do I know!

Not much,

You don't even know that Scottdog is a newbie fucktard

[badndn]

EXACTLY what type testing are you doing on the bikes and especially the engines. what are the results? what kind of quality control programs do you have to prevent a repeat of the gilroy fiasco?

[Blackdog]

Hi guys,

 

Thank you for all of your input. I have to shut it down for now and assemble the stuff because time is short - please bring or send someone to Branson to ask any questions you feel might have been neglected. I will post the entire list I submit here once assembled.

 

Here are the questions I am taking the liberty to ask as an inquirer along with the submission.

 

BD's Questions:

 

You have been fairly silent and close to the vest about your business plans – how far out into the future is your current planning horizon? And are you “On Schedule”?

 

Classic looking bikes - like the Gilroy Chief are obviously of interest to us. However, historically, Indian at times has been a “cutting edge” manufacturer and conceptualized innovation to the motorcycle – give us an example of how and when we might see that from the new Indian.

 

We have heard “The Bottlecap Is Back” from your press release – what does that mean? Will all initial bikes be “PowerPlus” Bikes?

 

Will you produce the Scout and Spirit models? Will they be PowerPlus Powered?

 

What has changed in the PowerPlus 100 Power plant for 2008 Indian Motorcycles?

 

What quality controls are going to be in place to ensure that the next generation of PowerPlus Motors will not suffer the quality issues that ended Gilroy?

 

Describe the factory setup currently – are you completely located in King’s Mountain? Are you outsourcing parts? Do you have different locations doing partial assemblies for shipment to King’s Mountain?

 

Will you be assembling bikes - only at King’s Mountain?

 

Will you only be doing assembly at Kings Mountain or actually manufacturing parts as well?

 

Does Indian already have EPA and CARB certification of its new PowerPlus Motors? If not, when is it expected?

 

Since the Chief is the first scheduled model to roll off, what changes can we expect to it overall?

 

Is King’s Mountain Indian or it’s parent now firmly in possession of all intellectual property that will ensure its control over the Indian brand going forward? And what exceptions, if any, to King’s Mountain Indian controlled licensing exist or are being worked out? (We want to support Indian licensed products.)

 

Classically “no rider left behind” is a tradition amongst all motorcyclists. Traveling riders could reasonably expect to be first in line at a factory authorized service rep to keep them traveling. Will King’s Mountain ensure this within their service network? And will the factory support this by over-nighting parts when there is a problem?

 

What parts retro fitting to Gilroy era bikes will Indian support by using parts on its new models that are interchangeable to the Gilroy era bikes?

 

Will Indian develop a parts and service program that will support Gilroy era bikes? Can we take our bikes into new dealerships and get quality parts and service? Will Indian develop and maintain parts cross referencing to assist owners in acquiring parts?

 

When can we as devoted Indian owners begin to see for ourselves your new operations via “factory tours”?

 

When can we see the first bike sold and delivered to an owner ?

[MOE]

Hi guys,

 

Thank you for all of your input. I have to shut it down for now and assemble the stuff because time is short - please bring or send someone to Branson to ask any questions you feel might have been neglected. I will post the entire list I submit here once assembled.

 

Here are the questions I am taking the liberty to ask as an inquirer along with the submission.

 

BD's Questions:

 

You have been fairly silent and close to the vest about your business plans – how far out into the future is your current planning horizon? And are you “On Schedule”?

 

Classic looking bikes - like the Gilroy Chief are obviously of interest to us. However, historically, Indian at times has been a “cutting edge” manufacturer and conceptualized innovation to the motorcycle – give us an example of how and when we might see that from the new Indian.

 

We have heard “The Bottlecap Is Back” from your press release – what does that mean? Will all initial bikes be “PowerPlus” Bikes?

 

Will you produce the Scout and Spirit models? Will they be PowerPlus Powered?

 

What has changed in the PowerPlus 100 Power plant for 2008 Indian Motorcycles?

 

What quality controls are going to be in place to ensure that the next generation of PowerPlus Motors will not suffer the quality issues that ended Gilroy?

 

Describe the factory setup currently – are you completely located in King’s Mountain? Are you outsourcing parts? Do you have different locations doing partial assemblies for shipment to King’s Mountain?

 

Will you be assembling bikes - only at King’s Mountain?

 

Will you only be doing assembly at Kings Mountain or actually manufacturing parts as well?

 

Does Indian already have EPA and CARB certification of its new PowerPlus Motors? If not, when is it expected?

 

Since the Chief is the first scheduled model to roll off, what changes can we expect to it overall?

 

Is King’s Mountain Indian or it’s parent now firmly in possession of all intellectual property that will ensure its control over the Indian brand going forward? And what exceptions, if any, to King’s Mountain Indian controlled licensing exist or are being worked out? (We want to support Indian licensed products.)

 

Classically “no rider left behind” is a tradition amongst all motorcyclists. Traveling riders could reasonably expect to be first in line at a factory authorized service rep to keep them traveling. Will King’s Mountain ensure this within their service network? And will the factory support this by over-nighting parts when there is a problem?

 

What parts retro fitting to Gilroy era bikes will Indian support by using parts on its new models that are interchangeable to the Gilroy era bikes?

 

Will Indian develop a parts and service program that will support Gilroy era bikes? Can we take our bikes into new dealerships and get quality parts and service? Will Indian develop and maintain parts cross referencing to assist owners in acquiring parts?

 

When can we as devoted Indian owners begin to see for ourselves your new operations via “factory tours”?

 

When can we see the first bike sold and delivered to an owner ?

blackdog, dammit you know indian is not going to produce a motorcycle. how many times you gotta here it for it to sink in????

[Maldev]

Hi guys,

 

Thank you for all of your input. I have to shut it down for now and assemble the stuff because time is short - please bring or send someone to Branson to ask any questions you feel might have been neglected. I will post the entire list I submit here once assembled.

 

Here are the questions I am taking the liberty to ask as an inquirer along with the submission.

You might also want to ask if they'll be making 4XL jackets for Hasbin...his 3XL was looking a little tight the last time I saw him.

[Blackdog]

Here is a link to the combined questions document from IIRA and the Public Forum

 

2007 IMC Branson Questions

[Maldev]

Fine just ignore my question about the 4XL jackets for Hasbin. When he gets back from Branson, I'll let you him know you kept him from getting a jacket that fits right.

[aikenscout]

Same as always.......................

 

Fuck the Chief, where's the Scout?

 

eh?

[Blackdog]

Fine just ignore my question about the 4XL jackets for Hasbin. When he gets back from Branson, I'll let you him know you kept him from getting a jacket that fits right.

 

 

Tell him to come see me when he want my 5XL -