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Polaris Ceo Interviewed In Forbes Article


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A couple of quotes most will like:

 

  • "One thing for certain: They will be cheaper, to better compete with Harley-Davidson’s models"
  • "The new Indian is being engineered from scratch, with new frames and new engines, as well as a handful of classic Indian styling cues, such as the war bonnet, the valanced fender and the engine’s exposed push rods."
  • "none of the components will be borrowed from Victory. “We’re spending a lot of money and time making sure we don’t cross over at all.

 

Here is one that I am not so sure I like. Individual dealerships are more expensive and they'd be catering to a niche market that probably could not sustain enough business to keep the doors open. (I think a lesson learned with many of the KM dealerships.) And if there will be a limited number of boutique dealerships then a list of authorized repair shops in other cities would be helpful. But then, maybe I'm just reading too much into that comment.

 

  • "With only 20 Indian dealers left in the U.S., Polaris also has to build a new distribution network. Victory has some 450 dealers in North America, many of whom also sell Polaris machines, but Indian will have a separate dealer network, "
Edited by Vintage229
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It is rumored the tear drop headlamp, the bottle cap cylinders are both out. The fenders are in and the open engine as well. What else is in or out?

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A couple of quotes most will like:

 

  • "One thing for certain: They will be cheaper, to better compete with Harley-Davidson’s models"
  • "The new Indian is being engineered from scratch, with new frames and new engines, as well as a handful of classic Indian styling cues, such as the war bonnet, the valanced fender and the engine’s exposed push rods."
  • "none of the components will be borrowed from Victory. “We’re spending a lot of money and time making sure we don’t cross over at all.

 

Here is one that I am not so sure I like. Individual dealerships are more expensive and they'd be catering to a niche market that probably could not sustain enough business to keep the doors open. (I think a lesson learned with many of the KM dealerships.) And if there will be a limited number of boutique dealerships then a list of authorized repair shops in other cities would be helpful. But then, maybe I'm just reading too much into that comment.

 

  • "With only 20 Indian dealers left in the U.S., Polaris also has to build a new distribution network. Victory has some 450 dealers in North America, many of whom also sell Polaris machines, but Indian will have a separate dealer network, "

 

Gee.... Does Dr. Mark know they're going to cheaper.... he was sure to let me know they weren't reducing the price... the 12's cost as much as the 11's ... this may break his little heart to know they may will lower the price..... oh well.... he probably knew and will have numerous excuses reasons why I was incorrect in thinking they needed to to compete and stay viable... and that this is actually how he expected knew it was going to go anyway.... :rock:

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Good read, thanks for posting. It did give a number for HDs built but just a financial figure for Victory. Anyone have any idea how many Vic's got built last year?

 

Hork

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It is rumored the tear drop headlamp, the bottle cap cylinders are both out. The fenders are in and the open engine as well. What else is in or out?

 

I am most curious to see the new engine of course. I must say I am hoping they keep the bottlecap. I love the way it looks. Fenders are a no brainer I think. That's what made me fall in love with Indians in the first place,

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Gee.... Does Dr. Mark know they're going to cheaper.... he was sure to let me know they weren't reducing the price... the 12's cost as much as the 11's ... this may break his little heart to know they may will lower the price..... oh well.... he probably knew and will have numerous excuses reasons why I was incorrect in thinking they needed to to compete and stay viable... and that this is actually how he expected knew it was going to go anyway.... :rock:

I know if there are going to be cheaper I won't be buying one.

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Good read, thanks for posting. It did give a number for HDs built but just a financial figure for Victory. Anyone have any idea how many Vic's got built last year?

 

Hork

About 13,000 were built last year. Since all Vic's are the same engine (106), that put them in the number 2 position for sales of large displacement engines above Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha, etc.

Edited by 5th Gear
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Gee.... Does Dr. Mark know they're going to cheaper.... he was sure to let me know they weren't reducing the price... the 12's cost as much as the 11's ... this may break his little heart to know they may will lower the price..... oh well.... he probably knew and will have numerous excuses reasons why I was incorrect in thinking they needed to to compete and stay viable... and that this is actually how he expected knew it was going to go anyway.... :rock:

 

 

Response edited and removed by author.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But damn, it felt good for a couple of minutes.

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13,000 vrs 220,000 and that is the difference between 1st and 2nd in sales?

Those are two pretty amazing numbers in the sense that Polaris stands to gain some major ground and H-D could potentially loose much ground as well. Interesting.

 

Hork

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Response edited and removed by author.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But damn, it felt good for a couple of minutes.

 

Mark, never argue with an idiot. They bring you down to their level, then beat you with experience...

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13,000 vrs 220,000 and that is the difference between 1st and 2nd in sales?

Not going to make that big of a difference, but the comparison was for for engines over 1400 CC's, so you need to exclude all sportsters sales (883 & 1200) from the 220,000.

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What I found interesting was the revenue he was "expecting" Indian to generate in the next 3-5 years: $300-500 Million. At an average of $20k per bike that is sales of 15,000 - 25,000 bikes per year. Sounds like they expect things to be popular pretty quickly. I likee.

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About 13,000 were built last year. Since all Vic's are the same engine (106), that put them in the number 2 position for sales of large displacement engines above Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha, etc.

What I find interesting is.... At pretty much every major rally .. Victory is there in force. Their commecials appear to have as much air time as HD. At large rides, you can pick out the victory's here and there. They are starting to work their way in. For the most part as we all know, Indians are still a rarity at these events . At some level, the tide is shifting away from HD being the only game in town.

 

I'm not sure they'll ever convert the hard core current HD rider. But every year a certain percentage of folks buy into this lifestyle looking for something ( usually for the wrong reasons, but someone has to take their $ ) to express themselves, and many .. especially those that rode Metrics... don't want to become just another " HD Rider"...

 

Though HD is 20+ times the overall sales of motorcycles vs Victory, most of us know this delta will continue to erode with Polaris attacking it from 2 fronts.

 

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Lots of people dont know that Victory is an American made motorcycle....not sure where they think it is from but I have heard that comment more than once...whether they think it is Canadian or Japanese I am not sure....so still some work there for brand recognition as American Made. Maybe that is what Indian give them....that they have still failed to get....that recognition as Made in USA...then again, Toyota Camry I think has more made in USA parts and assembly done than most Fords or Chevy vehicles minus the Corvette and Mustang maybe.

 

Indian will though give options to the hard core HD guy that is fed up with the brand.....I hear just as many disgruntled HD guys as I do Indian or other guys....the only difference is a guy pissed at Honda or Yamaha will go to any other brand and find happiness....but a HD guy usually only wants another American made bike...and Victory either looks too much like European/Asian or they just dont realize it is American made...or both. Indian will give another choice for those guys looking for alternative with immediate brand loyalty and USA DNA......if they can get the advertising, dealers, and bikes to level needed....

 

just two cents of thoughts for nothing i suppose

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'Wine sees similar potential for Indian. He expects the business to generate $300 million to $500 million in revenue within three to five years. Yet he won’t reveal what Polaris is sinking into the relaunch, and given the number of false starts Indian has had, it’s easy to be pessimistic. But Wine has reasons for confidence.'

 

Right....300 to 500 MILL in 3 to 5 years. In that case, THE GRAND OLD MARQUE should have more than enough to pay royalties on the Bomber idea. smokepipe.gif

 

Cautious Optimism would be more appreciated imo. Getting sick of people messing with Indian MC is an understatement at this point. I'll believe it when I see it. Although, as usual, sure hope it works out.

 

Meanwhile, got some nice weather today. Should get in a little ride.

 

 

 

ride um

 

 

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I was told that strokers in Dallas was going to be a Indian dealer they already have the victorys.

 

Then was told over the weekend they may not get Indians because there building isn't big enough or nice enough so wtf if you have a big store that makes you a great dealer I think not. it should be about the sales and service not how nice of a building you have.

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bye bye Bottle cap........Fins are in...

 

 

..Skirts and Fins baby.....Skirts and Fins....

 

indianfinnedrocker_zps357b8ec3.jpg

 

indianmotor_zps3ac111d9.jpg

 

 

indianfins_zps5ca40149.jpg..

 

 

 

Edited by harleynot
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bye bye Bottle cap........Fins are in...

 

 

..Skirts and Fins baby.....Skirts and Fins....

 

indianfinnedrocker_zps357b8ec3.jpg

 

indianmotor_zps3ac111d9.jpg

 

 

indianfins_zps5ca40149.jpg..

 

 

A flat head 4 would be great.

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I would think they put about 30M in development of the new bike. Assembly line, building, stock, material, start-up may be as high as 150M. You don't make that kind of investment without making sure you have a winner. Not this company anyway. They have learned the hardway.

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A couple of quotes most will like: ..

  • "The new Indian is being engineered from scratch, with new frames and new engines, as well as a handful of classic Indian styling cues, such as the war bonnet, the valanced fender and the engine’s exposed push rods."

....

Sorry to burst your bubble but that was NOT a direct quote from Polaris CEO. Read the article, that was written by the author fo the article, Joann Muller and NOT Polaris CEO Scott Wine. The paragraph in question is actually quoting Steve Menneto, vice president of motorcycles at Polaris and I have put HIS exact quotes in red.

 

 

The new Indian is being engineered from scratch, with new frames and new engines, as well as a handful of classic Indian styling cues, such as the war bonnet, the valanced fender and the engine’s exposed push rods. “Think of how Chevrolet took the ’68 Camaro and brought it forward to 2010 when it was relaunched,” said Steve Menneto, vice president of motorcycles at Polaris. “It was a modern car, with all the technology, electronics and quality, without losing the brand heritage.”

Edited by Necron99
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Mark, never argue with an idiot. They bring you down to their level, then beat you with experience...

Rosie... how foolish of me.. only an idiot would think the KM bikes were way too expensive and Polaris would have to reduce the price to stay afloat... Dr. Mark made sure I was aware of just how expensive the KM version of Polaris Indian was when it was released... and made sure I knew they were probably not going to reduce the price... only an idiot would think they would.....

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Response edited and removed by author.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But damn, it felt good for a couple of minutes.

Usually I just say.... I got nothing....saves a lot of useless typing.... :grin:

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