3 rides. 2 days. 1 sucked.

[..]

The traveling Indian demo show arrived at my local dealer.

Who doesn't like to ride someone elses bikes?

I arrived at the dealer at about 10 after putting mine back together after putzing around with the rear brake.

Quickly got registered. That was easy because there were very few other riders there.

I chose to ride the red Indian Chieftain . Saddlebags, no trunk, small fairing. What's not to like?

Apart from the price of about $25,000 

http://www.indianmotorcycle.com/en-us/chieftain-red-black/specs

It sucked. Sorry to be so brutal but it's not since I rode a Rocket at Sturgis in 2005 that I've had the urge to just get off a bike and say take it I'll walk.

Well there was that one time on a Buell but a Buell is a Buell.

Vibrate, hunting for a steady throttle setting. It kept lurching like a drunk Parkinson's sufferer on St. Paddys day.

Horrible ergonomics in general and did I say vibrate. Vibrate isn't strong enough. It shuddered.

It's red not orange



Paint not as good as HD which have some really good colors and application of the same.

Adjustable windscreen will be good for those about 5ft 8 in or shorter.

Feet forward in a baby delivery posture.

Given the choice between this Indian and a new 1500 Valkyrie tourer it would be an easy choice.









I could have stayed to ride more but if the experience of driving one of the top of the line was not pleasant why submit myself to any more.

Anywho when I cranked up the Valkyrie the truck stacks got everyone's attention 

So on with the day.

North to the rolling southern Appalchian mountains of north Georgia.

Zip, zap, zoom and I'm at the lunch destination.

Jims Smokin Cue

http://www.jimssmokinque.com/

Just north of Blood Mountain one of N GA's favored 2 wheel sections of road. Many zip splats use this section of road as a race way.

Open 3 days a week this has become a very popular eaterie in N GA. Voted 6th best in the nation a couple of years ago.

Always a line to order but they are efficient at order taking and meal delivery.

[..]

Oh and Jim's has motorcycle parking right at the front door for 5 to 7 bikes.

Parked next to me was a V twin I would buy. I test rode one of these "clown" bikes a couple, of years ago and was really impressed by the whole package.

Lurking behind my Valkyrie



In it's full glory in a subtle white pearl paint.

[..]

Pork sandwich and sweet potato fries demolished. Burp. Back on the bike to visit a store I've ridden past at least 100 times. Today I was going to stop and take a look.

http://alexandersstore.com/

The store front looks like an old department store. Separate windows with old fashioned store mannequins dressed and in a domestic setting.

Motorcycle parking out front and a few wooden benches for men waiting for the shoppers they've accompanied. 

THIS PLACE IS HUGE

The front aspect of the building is very deceptive. This place is 52,000 sq ft.

THIS PLACE IS HUGE

Lotsa stuff from clothing to appliances to furniture to ammo and guns. Very eclectic.

I buy some ammo for my 380 and back on the back and home

[Reb]

What a load of "Bollocks"

 

[..]

Sunday and the weather is too good to not ride.

Another day of mid 70's, low humidity and clear blue skies.

So no grasscuttingleafblowingweedspraying for me.

There's a small country road near to a friends house that I've driven a couple of times but today it's going to be 2 wheels. Ye-Ha. It has no painted lines and is a squeeze for 2 SUV's.

A couple of whoop de doos, tight bends and short straights through rolling agricultural and horse farms.

Much better on2 wheels than 4.

More exploring brings me to this and a U turn. Bonus is the road to the closure is good both ways



Then on to a contrast in roads. 4 lane, quiet business area with 4 roundabouts. Hee-Hee.



I use the left lane here to give me a tad more deer avoidance room  

Champiro grips well even when I do a few complete circuits of a roundabout at slow maximum lean.

I zip up and down the road/roundabouts for about 15 minutes and only see 2 vehicles.

Now for lunch at Two Wheels of Suches.





They are still chip sealing parts of Hwy 60 in between Suches and Morganton.

[DDT (12)]

Riding a Valk and dining on BBQ sounds like a worthwhile enterprise to this simple guy... Riding V twins, not so much... shopping even less... Glad you had a good outing overall, though...

DDT

P.S. Can you really smell their butts for miles?

[..]

TWO is busy which is great. The new owner Bill Johnson has put a lot of effort and money into rebuilding the business.

http://twowheelsofsuches.com/

https://www.facebook.com/TwoWheelsofSuches

Best burger in N GA.

On the way home I hit the big 50.

[..]

What a load of "Bollocks"

 

Indeed the Indian was. The BBQ etc was the "dogs bollocks.

[..]

Riding a Valk and dining on BBQ sounds like a worthwhile enterprise to this simple guy... Riding V twins, not so much... shopping even less... Glad you had a good outing overall, though...

DDT

P.S. Can you really smell their butts for miles?

The do a lot of take away so I'm sure you can. 

3 BBQ sauces. Sweet, mustard and HOT. Of course all made in house and the hot is hot.

[Savago]

@Britman: interesting how liking or disliking a motorcycle is really an individual experience.

I test rode 3 indians last November (https://goo.gl/photos/pAU5jeRwC1eXKC5a8): Roadmaster, Chieftain, Springfield.

You are absolutely right: it vibrates ... a lot... but on the other hand, it is a V2 and I guess the main market is HD owners.

AFAICT, there is no other engine that is as smooth as the Honda Flat 6 (maybe the BMW K1600GT inline six?).

What I liked about the bikes: torquey engine (at least compared to HDs), electric windshield, integrated GPS/radio/mp3 system (with bluetooth connectivity). It brakes well and handles well too (no frame flex like a HD).

Plus, unlike a Valkyrie, you can buy them new (the newest Interstate is going to be a 2001, thus 16 years old).

*But* is it worthy 25K to 30K dollars? Hell no!

After the test ride I jumped into my I/S and rode it for 100 miles and it was good. I felt even better knowing that I could have a similar/better experience as riding an Indian but paying just a fraction of the price.
:-)

[..]

Bringing it into the present.

I'd take an F6B before an Indian.

[Savago]

+1 in a F6B!

[msb]

Thanks for.posting the ride report and pics. Your description of the riding position on the Indian is apt...I've seen several riders about my height at 6'0 on this model on the road and thought they looked awkward...

[Hook#3287]

That Victory is nice.    Your Valk is nicer

I like the blue pinstriping.

That 4 lane with the 4 roundabouts?  Looks familiar.  That in Canton?

[..]

That Victory is nice.    Your Valk is nicer

I like the blue pinstriping.

That 4 lane with the 4 roundabouts?  Looks familiar.  That in Canton?

Canton. Yes. On a Sunday morning it's good fun at even legal speeds because of the roundabouts.

[rocketray]

on my wife's Chieftain I got my $25k worth in the first 100 yards as the anti-lock and interlocked brakes kicked in and kept me from rear ending a pickup truck at  the 20 mph as the Valk would have done---the high forward floorboards give a lean angle the Valk can only dream of--yes that is a poor color on that bike--the richness of the chrome/paint/styling make her bike a show stopper everywhere we take hers....yes she can push the windshield up all the way/flip on the cruise/hit the stereo and have a ride the valkyrie with it's slammed rear suspension can only dream of...I am sure it will top out at a speed the same as a Valk w/the windscreen dropped down--true it doesn't have the pop of the Valkyrie on the top but at a high gear low speed roll-on it will pull the Valk....the balancers work well and it doesn't a lot of vibration at any rev's...it is a premium bike at a premium price...I love my Standard Valkyrie running an open Viking header but to be fair they are just different bikes...I love them both but if I were to go cross country..or to the Country Club...the Indian would be a far better choice

[Bighead]

25k in 100 yds? 2500$ a yd my advice look where you are going.

[Hook#3287]

That Victory is nice.    Your Valk is nicer

I like the blue pinstriping.

That 4 lane with the 4 roundabouts?  Looks familiar.  That in Canton?

Canton. Yes. On a Sunday morning it's good fun at even legal speeds because of the roundabouts.

Thought so, my brother lives in one of the developments at the end of that road.  My nephew is starting school at the college on that road also.  Been down that strip many a time, fun ride.