New Riders Wanted

[techspec]

Hi and this is what we need I think. New younger riders in the late 20s to mid 40s. We as an older group (not me of course) need to realize that for Kings Mountain to grow in the future they will have to capture a certain amount of riders from the Japenese group and also the riders that entered the HD group in the near past. You must have a nice ride that can corner great, give a comfortable ride and one that the owner, if wanted, can add customized items to. The accessory market, both from the OEM source and aftermarket companies bring new riders into the OEM market. The days are gone when a large group of older riders can support an OEM manufacturer. Sometimes we as an older group only think about the now or what is good for us but the future must be given the most attention to. No matter what one thinks of HD they do a lot of researching for new riders and try to offer product that brings then in and keeps the younger riders in fold until there finances allow for more comfort and relaxing rides. Lets not forget , us older ones, that we are not the future, we are the now, (I hate the word past). We can look back at what was and make some changes to bikes that will appeal to the younger group.

 

the Japanese have done it just the opposite way of course. They captured the real young riders, gave them new bikes for the mid years and as one now sees they are offering Cruisers for the (eeee-god) ageing riders.

[beebop]

Interesting points.

Is there any sign of KM shifting its business plan towards the mass market?

[uplander]

OLDER? Gee a lot of us are mid 40's or younger tech!

[Doc Loco]

Millions of V Twins with no one to ride 'em. The barns, junkyards and graveyards'll be full up.

[Scottdog]

KM needs to not be so narrow minded as to only produce V-twins.

They need to produce the technology that wins races.

Real races, not flat track races.

[joel3078]

Create an Indian version of the bitch fell off t-shirt and women will start buying their own Indian bike. (kidding) When you only make 450-500 bikes a year, you don't have to market to very many crowds. Seriously, there are a bunch of women riders and I know of nothing that Indian is doing to market the bikes towards the gals. The Scout next year could change that however. Remember Indian is only in their 2nd year. Give those engineers and bean counters time!!!

[Eraserhead]

Create an Indian version of the bitch fell off t-shirt and women will start buying their own Indian bike. (kidding) When you only make 450-500 bikes a year, you don't have to market to very many crowds. Seriously, there are a bunch of women riders and I know of nothing that Indian is doing to market the bikes towards the gals. The Scout next year could change that however. Remember Indian is only in their 2nd year. Give those engineers and bean counters time!!!

Here we go again......

[Scottdog]

Create an Indian version of the bitch fell off t-shirt and women will start buying their own Indian bike. (kidding) When you only make 450-500 bikes a year, you don't have to market to very many crowds. Seriously, there are a bunch of women riders and I know of nothing that Indian is doing to market the bikes towards the gals. The Scout next year could change that however. Remember Indian is only in their 2nd year. Give those engineers and bean counters time!!!

I would recommend a Chief to a woman before I would recommend a Scout.

The Scout is a beast compared to a Chief. Much harder to handle.

 

[hasbin]

They need to get a "full-Bagger" out(with all the creature comforts)& A Scout (with Indian mill) And they need theese out in a hurry. Dealerships will be closing up if this doesn't happen soon. The Chief platform can't keep them afloat much longer. jmho

[greasemonkey]

Im 33 now and i purchased my 2002 new. Its been a real pain in the ass to own and ride but i like it anyway.I must love the damn thing to keep it. But, one thing i know is most of my buddies wouldn't own for two reasons, quality,price. I know someones gonna say the quality is fixed,and maybe it is, but they still cost too damn much. All my buddies bought jap bikes and had no isues,i worked on mine and continue to work on it. The only other thing is indian needs to get their name out. Shirts,gloves jackets, gear just stuff in the public for people to see the name and buy the stuff

[Tahoe Chief]

They need to get a "full-Bagger" out(with all the creature comforts)& A Scout (with Indian mill) And they need theese out in a hurry. Dealerships will be closing up if this doesn't happen soon. The Chief platform can't keep them afloat much longer. jmho

Full dresser is what us,,um aging guys are after. If they made it with all the trick easy to remove stuff so you could do a little sport riding to,,like a cross over,,hmmm ?? I wonder,,naw ,,can they be that clever

[joescout]

I think Gilroy was somewhat on the right track with the 2004 scout with the bigger motor and fatter rear tire. I think that would have appealed to the younger people. Lets face it, not many kids and 20 to 30 year olds cant afford the price of these bikes they are selling now.

[Scottdog]

I don't know. Around here the younger crowd doesn't have any interest in the old V-twinosaurus rex.

That majority prefers their fat tire on a state-of-the-art $10,000 crotch rocket.

Best way into the eye of the younger crowd.

[Micmac]

My 21 year old son wants one,only problem is he wants me to buy it for him. He works at 2 fast food jobs and is a full time student.We got a deal, I pay for school(books, lap-tops, cell-phone, any school related stuff and he pays for his car,insurance and gas, condoms, anything outside the realm of school. I told him I'd get him a used Sportie when he goes to graduate school. Problem is he's 6'3", best I can do. He hates Jap bikes, I ain't quite sure where that comes from.

[indian T]

Hey Pete,

Good thing your son is paying for his own condoms. A college aged young man...that adds up in a hurry!

[dribbling bison]

2 dealers in Europe and the price for any of the KM bikes is way to much well out of my price range,your talking double what you guy's pay in the States,if they could maybe get more dealer's in Europe and bring the price down,I do understand that they only make a certain amount of bikes a year and like anything else made in small amounts you are going to pay dearer for it,thats my é cents worth

[joescout]

I don't know. Around here the younger crowd doesn't have any interest in the old V-twinosaurus rex.

That majority prefers their fat tire on a state-of-the-art $10,000 crotch rocket.

Best way into the eye of the younger crowd.

Good point,im 48 and i still like to take a blast on one once in a while but i think you would have to totally revamp the pp or develope and engineer a new motor which is big bucks

[whadayawant]

KM needs to not be so narrow minded as to only produce V-twins.

They need to produce the technology that wins races.

Real races, not flat track races.

awwwwww, say ya don't mean it.

[Airpirate]

Age 6 --Honda 50

 

Age 10--Honda XL 100

 

Age 13--Suzuki RM 125

 

Age 16 Honda XL 250

 

Age 18 Kawasaki KZ 900

 

Age 24 Honda Intercepter 1000

 

Age 35 Harley Davidson Fat Boy

 

Age 48 Indian Spirit Springfield

 

 

I couldn't afford a Harley until I was in my mid 30's, also at that time I wanted a bigger crusier and didn't care much for riding 100+ mph. Finally had enough extra cash to buy the Indian, I would love to have a new Bomber or Dark Horse, however they are priced out of my range. Most of the younger crowd want a quick, fast crotch rocket for cheap (I did back then). As one of the guys mentioned, maybe a less expensive bike, with a 200 rear tire, a little more rake and some cool paint options may start to tap the 25-35 demographic. Indian also needs to market them selves more, especially with more outlets for apparel, get some dopy celebrities to start wearing the stuff and get their bike exposed more.

 

Hell I haven't riden in Indian (yet), bought my bike on e-Bay 3 weeks ago and it won't show up until probably 2 or 3 weeks from now.

[Scottdog]

Age 6 --Honda 50

 

Age 10--Honda XL 100

 

Age 13--Suzuki RM 125

 

Age 16 Honda XL 250

 

Age 18 Kawasaki KZ 900

 

Age 24 Honda Intercepter 1000

 

Age 35 Harley Davidson Fat Boy

 

Age 48 Indian Spirit Springfield

Fantastic example.

[greasemonkey]

And there ya have it.. Im the age group (barely) mentioned and not one reply. The bikes are to high and not accessible enough and the lack of aparel will ensure indians failure again. I bet Harley makes as much money on shirts and crap as bikes. Hell, i cant tell ya how often i see people who dont own a bike or own jap bikes wearing h-d stuff.

[techspec]

I would recommend a Chief to a woman before I would recommend a Scout.

The Scout is a beast compared to a Chief. Much harder to handle.

 

 

Now. Now, We are talking motorcycles here

[Scottdog]

Now. Now, We are talking motorcycles here

Yes we are and if you look closely in that picture,

that is Stephen Julius on stage and he was talking motorcycles too.

Only the few of us that were there know the significance

of that picture and it's relationship to this thread.

 

Edited March 20, 2010 by Scottdog

[Joehoward]

If you look even closer at that picture, you can see Stephen is talking to Kim (eraserhead) who is standing next to me, Scottdog and Blackdog.

 

Joe

[Last Resort]

That was when Kim stated how happy she was that Indian was looking out for the girls and have plans to make a bike for the fairer sex ... or something like that.