I ride a Harley. The grass isn't Greener over here. My buddy has a Kawasaki. He's had problems too. I'm at the point where I like riding an older, low-tech, low price bike I can fix myself. There's a lot less stress when you take the dealer out of the equation and you're not paying so much money that it makes you resent every imperfection.
My last bike was a Triumph Thunderbird and that bike was rock solid and reliable. I wish Triumph still made touring baggers.. I'd go back to them in a heartbeat.
Have a sportster 1200 had bugs but once you get the bugs out it runs great. And electronics have problems rain age but new bikes will have electrical problems. And now they can see how you ride and where you ride , bikes will stop selling cus the freedom is gone. Sorry but true. You are watching the demise of biking.
I have a Harley and a Kawasaki. 1989 FXRS Low Rider, and a 2002 Vulcan 750. No problems with the Harley, had a stator failure on the Kawasaki, which requires the engine to come out to replace it. But in 118,000 miles on the Kawasaki, that is the only serious failure I've had.
If you want an Harley do not get the new ones, get the Evolution engine. I have a 1994 Dyna Wide Glide for over 18 years, just oil change and put petrol. The only issue I had in 18 years was just the spark cables and nothing else more
I can see why you’re so pissed. Obviously you care about this bike immensely. I can tell you are meticulous. Gluing a “nub” is not your M.O. @@randomstuffwithjoe
Indian is just a name that Polaris bought the rights to. It's really a Polaris. Even though Victory was also made by Polaris (pretty obvious how they stood behind Victory) they came up with the name themselves, they didn't buy the name of a company that went out of business in 1953.
@@randomstuffwithjoeIndian went out of business decades ago. Harley has been bought and sold but has continuously made motorcycles in the same plant. It’s a bit of a difference. Polaris makes fine motorcycles and bought the right to call them Indians; other than legal mumbo jumbo their connection with the original doesn’t exist. So yes they can legally be called Indian motorcycles but to imply they have any real historical connection with the original is just advertising hype.
That's a dealer problem.... If they are a stand-up dealer, they should take care of it, but, if not, call Indian customer service & don't stop until they take care of it
The first time I sat on an Indian motorcycle 4 years ago I realized right away the quality of the fit & finish was sub par and never walked into an Indian dealership ever again since !
Ya. I was mostly venting in this video. I've calmed down now that a few days have passed. I'm not really a huge HD fan.. so I probably wouldn't go that route anyway, but it sure was good for stirring things up in the comments... 🤣
Personally mate, I think you're just being a whinger. It's a motorcycle. A machine built by humans. If you look hard enough of course you'll find some imperfections. Get out and ride the bloody thing and stop being so pedantic. Cheers from downunder!
@@daviddining5192 It's not BS at all mate. This bloke obviously had his magnifying glass out for the entire warranty period looking for faults. He managed to find some very minor paint imperfections on his fender tips, inner primary, and an exhaust tip. Indian fixed all his issues under warranty. Now he's all butthurt over his broken side cover which was clearly not the fault of Indian Motorcycle Company, but was done by a third party. Mate he would have paid about 24k for his mass produced Motorcycle. If he expects perfection he needs to consider spending five or six times that. "Oh I feel like throwing it off a cliff!" Really? The bloke's a bloody sook and needs a jolly good slap up the side of the head!
Here in the States, we hold people accountable. He's not being whatever ridiculous word you used. Apparently, overseas, you guys are accustomed to settling for crap work and crap service.
I’ve laughed at Harleys for decades and after working on my neighbors several times, I have to wonder about people that buy them and if they have ever ridden anything else.
@@brphillips3 nope not in my case. I escalated it myself all the way to the top with the Motor company and all they said was, “thats just the way it is and I am inline till they can ship the parts”. I have an amazing dealer, to bad they sell HD’s BS.
@grootsgracemission now that makes more sense, I got the 110 kit November of 2023, and HD was waiting on the heads to be made. Didn't get the kit until February 2024. Depending on the part that is needed, like in my case, the heads, HD has them made to order. Don't know what part was replaced on your build, but that is probably why it took so long. HD didn't tell me this. The dealership actually escalated it because they were angry at how long it was taking.
This is why a bought the best 1999 HD FXDL I could find for £7½k and expected to put £3k into it just to get it acceptable. I wouldn't buy new because I would want it to be spot on and I already know it wouldn't be. Hope you get lucky but I sure wouldn't buy new. Entropy is where things go downhill and there's nothing you can realistically do about it.
Problem with HD is that I never really liked the way they ride. But I haven't test ridden one in about 5 years.. so maybe the newer street and road glides are a better fit for me. I'll have to go test ride one sometime soon.
As much as new bikes like this one cost, I think you might be better off getting a nice used Harley. I know the electronics can save ur butt, but, I like bikes I can work on and understand. So, EFI, maybe, the electronic brake stuff, I don’t know. I look for ones owned by someone who “didn’t ride it as much as they thought they would”. And, buy from ones located by owners in the nicer parts of town. And, as little customization as possible. I’d stay away from bikes that have any kind of internal engine work/customization, no matter who did it. Just a thought…
They didn't stop building victories. What they did was stop putting the victory name on the victory. They put the Indian name on the victory and they stopped making Indians. If someone doesn't know what I'm talking about? You look at the last year were built. That year the victory and Indian were two different bikes. The following year Indian was the same bike as victory. They stopped building Indians they put the name on victory. My local Indian/ Victory dealer showed me this on 3 bikes he had.
Polaris did not intend to stop building Victory so abruptly, but the Indian models were selling so much better that they did for sound business reasons. Do your research the facts are out there. Also did you know that HD keeps buying back their own stocks to support their value? Did you know that Black Rock and Van Guard are two of the Biggest Investors in both HD & Polaris?
⚠️ STOP!! When you run into these situations, you don't call the service center. You look up the main E-MAIL or phone number for the service center (the main business) and communicate with them. Go over their heads, and you'll see results.
Better to back to the bikes from the past! Simpler means better! What they produce today are so full of electronics and other BS that when something goes wrong, EVERYTHIG falls apart! I used to own a HD Electra Glide, shovel head, and I could easy fix any thing that went wrong,,,,and of course it did since it was a 1974 AMF bike...lol!
I had an AMF Harley too (1979) and must admit mechanically it was flawed (fouled plugs, leaked oil everytime you parked, etc.) but one thing, it looked beautiful. They did the paint right with the 2 tone paint, gold pin striping, gold lettering, etc. back then. I had a love/hate relationship with that bike since you were never 100% sure it would make it home. (That is why you always rode with a group of Harley's incase one broke down, and one usually did. 🙂)
I've always wanted an Indian Scout after listening to my late stepdad's wonderful stories about his Indian Scouts in the 40s and 50s. I still think I'll end my riding career on one someday. Meanwhile I'm 73 and have been riding a 2011 Honda CBR for over a dozen years without even the hint of a problem. It's hard to give up reliability for nostalgia.
Plastic "nubs" break off of plastic "panels" on all kinds of vehicles and consumer items. The dealer probably can't get replacement panels to exactly match your bike's paint . It looks like a problem with no easy solution other than gluing, if glue will hold with vibration, heat, and cold. My old '48 Indian Chief didn't have any plastic parts and very few electrical/electronic gadgets to go wrong.
Having total strangers work on my bike has always freaked me out. Nice, older, used bikes with low miles and low prices is the answer. 20 year old Road Kings with low miles go for $5-6K these days. Invest in a service manual and some tools and you KNOW the job was done right. Every motorcycle maintenance job is covered ad nauseam right here on YT. A study in the science of motorcycle maintenance is a study of reality and logic itself.
I agree with everyone that's saying don't get a new Harley. 09-13 were really good years, I have had zero issues with my 2010. If you can find a low mileage one that's the way I would go. But I'm not a fan of the infotainment system either. I like gauges.
I agree, I’ve owned a 2009 and currently own and ride a 2011 Nightster with zero issues with cosmetics and mechanics. I also have owned a 2010 Street Bob that was also perfect.
I’ve owned a ‘94 FXRP, 00’ FatBoy, ‘20 Road glide special, ‘21 RGL; currently a ‘23 Heritage ANV. Road glides were great, too heavy for me now. Never had a paint issue on any of them. I’ve looked at Indians, I prefer the HD styling, nothing else. :)
Hey Joe, that was a scumbag move by the dealership not Indian. Once you get that fixed, you’ll be all right. About the paint, that’s quality control issue. That should’ve never went out to the dealership, but somehow it went through. Enjoy the bike ride safe.
Ya. But at least Indian was good about replacing the painted parts. No questions asked. New front and rear fender and new primary cover. So at least they are standing behind their product.
I feel your pain, but you are lucky that they are small issues. In that any issue is a concern but here in the UK if you buy an Indian there is no service at all, I have a 2020 Indian Roadmaster and have had issues since 2021. I bought it new in 2020 and we had the 5 year warranty on it, the finish is not 100%. I had paint peeling from the main engine casing, its a darkhorse. They did change it under warranty, I have had the starter solenoid corrode not covered, I have had two starter motors covered, multiple amounts of sensors most covered under warranty not all. Polaris Britain don't care about the rider so there is no customer service. We only have main dealers no approved service dealers so from one dealer to the next you may have to travel over 3 hour's. Unfortunately I have a very poor dealer who damaged my bike by not being able to service it correctly and misaligning the axle which lead to all sorts of damage over a 4 month period cost me thousands. I have paperwork to prove they did wrong and Polaris do not care! Being trying to fight it legally but here in the UK if you have not got £10,000 to spare taking them to court you lose out. The stress put me in hospital. Spent all my life working to be able to afford something special and then let down by a corporate company that does not care about its customers!! I think they will end up dropping it as they did Victory as they don't have a management team in place with the passion for the brand. After all this I still love my bike, Polaris not so much and would never recommend my local dealer to my worst enemy!!
Those seriously dont sound like reasons to push the bike off a cliff lol. I started this video thinking you were having some serious engine or electrical issues and literally chuckled to myself when i saw that it was little minor issues like that. As for the side panel just stick it back on there like it was(unless the dealer is willing to replace it for you). You had no idea it was a problem until you took it off. no one else will know.
I'll be reaching out to my dealer today to see what they say about that side cover. It's been 3 months since it happened and I doubt they're gonna admit to it. But I'll try anyway. The issue now is that the one of the nubs is missing.
Same here. I thought it was gonna be something mechanical. If someone knows of the perfect vehicle, that has no issues, please let me know. And before some of you start of proclaiming the joys of owning Japanese or German. I know quite a few people who have owned Japanese and German cars, and motorcycles. And they too have had issues.
Dealer problem. It's gotten harder and harder for dealers to employ good mechanics. They can make more money at a car dealership so they cross over leaving the bike shops with the leftovers. Anyway..... Goldwing.
@@Coldwarrior7781 the dealer of course denied this mishap and kept hinting that I broke and glued the piece myself. That pissed me off even more. But then they offered to replace it at a discount ($380). I ended up getting some JB Weld and it looks like it’s gonna work. As for the Goldwing.. I hear once you ride one.. you’ll never want another bike. But damn they’re ugly. 😂
What you’re pointing out is what I noticed looking at Indian and seeing repair videos. You could see little details that were sub par. The best fit and finish on a cruiser is on my BMW R18. My 2024 Road Glide has descent fit and finish with only minor components that I find kinda cheap. But I think they were designed that way to reduce weight.
If you think HD doesn't have problems, you may need to do some research. Even though these bikes are expensive, they can still have problems. In most cases, the ones that do have issues, end up being fine once the bugs are worked out. I believe they have lemon laws in most states but if paint is your problem, you don't have a lemon. Hope your issues are resolved and you can start enjoying your ride, Generally, Indians are pretty awesome bikes.
I feel your pain. Years ago, (2011) I was all set to buy a new Indian Chief - 111 inch motor, full fenders, the whole 9. Then I drove one at my local dealer. What a pig!! This thing could not get out of its own way. Immediately went to H-D dealer and bought a new Road King. Man, did I love that bike! Of all the bikes I have owned, that’s the one I wish I had back. I now own 5 Harleys but still miss that Road King…
Dry paint does not Drip. Sounds like it bubbled. I use to Sand blast Trucks and Loaders to bare metal and prime them with Vari Prime self etching Primer then paint them with Imron Polyethylene paint made by Dupont. It was good paint, you can't even buy good paint like that anymore, thanks EPA . I had a Deer Jump out in front of me at 55 MPH .. I slid 40 yards down the road. I have Boken tabs & panels all over the place. It's all scratched up. My bike is a Yamaha FZ-07 the parts to repair it cost about 1/3 what HD & Indian parts cost though their prices have almost doubled since 2019 with Bidenflation. I paid $600.00 for enough PPG paint , Primer Catalyst and clear coat to paint my scuffed up black bike Yamaha Racing Yellow.
@@mikeskidmore6754 on the rear fender there were drips from the factory. They were subtle do I ignored it. In time, it started to corrode so I’m guessing it wasn’t prepped properly before paint. On the front fender it looks more like rippling not drips but still the end result is some corrosion. On the exhaust tips.. it’s straight up bubbling. Not sure how or why that happened but a local powder coater says he can refinish the tips for about $100 so I may do that at some point.
@@randomstuffwithjoe In 2022 I paid $4,500.00 for a 2008 Buell Ulyesses with 15,000 miles on it. It was rather dull and drab. I waxed all of the red plastic parts and all of the grey and black parts I rubbed hard with armor all. My bike looked knight and day better after I did that. A Previous owner painted parts of my top and side cases red, that part looks pretty good. I never heard of powder coating part of a painted fender, maybe it's normal, I have no clue. I have a friend who used to work in a powder coat shop I could ask her. You should find out who painted Carey Hart's Indian Challenger in the Vegas area. th-cam.com/video/Q4ew-_rSL-s/w-d-xo.html
I like Harleys but don't like trying to buy a new one when the dealers are charging well over MSRP for them. (One dealer wouldn't even tell me the cash price but only "how much a month" payments would be, but I wanted to buy cash.)
You won't have any trouble trading it for a Harley. Most of my Harley Buddies are wanting to get rid of their H-D's in favor of an Indian. My 1946 Chief doesn't have these issues. :)
The Problem with Indian is they were Family owned for only one Generation. HD was Family owned for 3 Generations and they survived a couple more Decades before AMF bailed them out. Then even President Regan put a huge tariff on Jap bikes over 750 CC's
The Springfield has that plastic crome on the fenders. And it was bubbling on that bike after 2000 miles! I agree about the fit and finish is lacking on the Indian. And the harleys ride rough!
It sounds more like the problem is your dealership's service center with less than well trained technicians that damaged your bike, then tried to cover it up. I doubt that you will get satisfaction from the service center unless you go to the dealer himself and show him what was done. The sad thing is that Indian doesn't have the dealer network like Harley so you're limited on where you can take it for repairs.
Ya. I went to the dealer yesterday and the tech denied doing it. I didn't do it.. so he had to have done it. But that still doesn't negate the blistering paint I've had on both my rear and front fender as well as the exhaust tips. Poor paint prep and/or quality. But to Indian's credit.. they replaced the rear fender completely under warranty and this morning my dealer informed me that they are going to replace the front fender as well - even tho I'm 3 weeks outside of the warranty period.
I did an update to this video recently. Indian has been good about correcting the issues. But its still disappointing to pay a premium for an Icon paint and to discover so many defects. But I do still enjoy the bike. Thx for watching.
I can understand your anger. This is unacceptable for a bike at that price. On a Harley the side panels are in good old metal and secured with screws. The engines on HD are much easier to work on because they are from a simpler design.
If you like the Indian keep it... Get with the service manager be nice to him have them repair it.. if they don't tell them you're going to take them to court
IMHO, the service tech who worked on your bike was a clod, and broke the posts off. They should cover it. Second, fragile side-cover posts have been a long standing problem with many Hondas as well. All you can do to mitigate it is to periodically wipe down the rubber grommets with some type of light, inert grease. Like a silicone or teflon. And obviously be careful in removing the covers.
well known fact that indian doesn't put a lasting paint job on their bikes. They have the better everything else than harley- harley does do a great paint job and they sound and look good but that is about it.
I will say, Indian has been responsive to the poor paint issue and they have replaced both the front and rear fender as well as the primary cover. Now that the tins are new again, I may look into either a ceramic coat or paint protection film to keep it from having issues again.
You'll have issues no matter the brand. Most of your problems are caused by the dealer. All brands have some bum dealers. Most dealers have some bum mechanics. My Indian Springfield was bought new in 2017. Now has 47K miles. It had 2 recalls, but I never found any issues for warranty claims. I hate to see someone so disappointed in a bike. I hope your next bike isn't built or serviced by mere mortals. Good luck.
I owned a 2018 Chieftain Elite. Nice bike and has better suspension than my previous Harleys. I had ghost electrical issues and went back to Harley. Harley suspension is catching up, but still sub par to Indian. Fit and finish is better on a Harley. My Indian had way more plastic parts than my Harley. 😊 They all have issues of some sort. Pick your poison and just ride.
@@randomstuffwithjoe well I hear the new M8 are smoother. I’m not sure if that’s what you want. I have the last year of the twin cam. I love the twin cam.
I had an Indian Challenger and it was my FAVORITE bike, I had the first year, well it had a few recalls, and some flash recalls, I COULD NEVER FIND GOOD SERVICE, I adored that bike, but the horrible dealerships, and parts support pushed me to Harley, and Indian bikes are so much better, so thats saying something, sorry to hear about your troubles as well!
I don't think it's a good idea to leave a modern bike, with plastic stuff, outside in the sun, rain, hot and cold. Keep it in the garage with a nice cover, and no rats and mice. You can expect a few scratches and rust spots with use and aging on any motorcycle.
Hmm problems you mentioned aren't really problems, side panels with numb mounts are considered to break, thing that they didnt replace em is the problem. Glue you cut off from tank down panel is silicon glue for rubber, you shouldnt clean it up, you will tear silicon structure which will lead to moisture add up below which in long term can unseal your speedemeter.
I've been riding an Indian FTR Champion Edition for 28,000 kilometers without any problems. I am very satisfied with Indian. But I've also been riding a Low Rider ST for 18,000 kilometers and I'm very happy with it too. I enjoy american motorcycles very much. O.k., both not baggers end level vehicles but riding them is so much fun. Best wishes🤘
Sorry I’m late…I might feel the same way if I had experienced something similar. I’m a new rider, I was going to buy a Harley back in 15, then life happened, then Covid. I woke up and said I need a bike, I bought the 22 Chief Bobber DH, 3 yrs 7k miles currently I can’t complain. If that’s the bike for you right now stick with them, if not go to Harley or whoever just as long as you’re on 2 wheels 🤙🏾
I'm in a bit of a love/hate relationship with this bike. I love the bike.. it rides awesome. Mechanically its solid. Its comfortable. The paint flaws are annoying at a minimum, but I will acknowledge that Indian did replace both fenders and the primary cover with no hesitation, so at least I can say that they stand behind their products. I suspect my issues are not the norm as I've talked to a lot of other Indian owners and they've never had issues like this.
ALWAYS check those panels in the presence of the service writer. Once you take it home, they can and will blame you for breaking it. It's definitely a weak point, I don't know why Indian doesn't do it, but adding a little lithium grease to the nibs will reduce the chance of this happening. The biggest problem is a lot of these dealers have sub standard mechanics working on multiple brands and they don't comprehend there is a very specific way of taking certain parts off the bikes. Try using a good epoxy, superglue will not hold. And always, make sure to have the service writer note that NOTHING is broken on the panels before they wheel it to the shop
I guess I didn't think to check them. It has been several months since it happened and I just now discovered the issue. I was able to repair it with JB Weld epoxy. Hopefully it holds long term. Otherwise.. a new cover will cost about $380. 😐
I hear ya. And we shouldn't have to double check the dealer. Unfortunately, shoddy work has become too common place. Also, not sure why glue was put on your tank. I have had 2 different Chieftains and neither one had glue there, that black piece is just a rubber/plastic gasket to mostly protect the paint from hard plastic. Good luck getting the dealership to do the right thing.
I got mine in 2022. That was the year inventory was scarce and people were waiting 6-12 months for orders to arrive. It was the height of the Covid shortage. I can't help but wonder if that has something to do with the quality control issues - as many other have not had the same issues I've had.
Don’t blame you I have some friends is having mechanical problems and if they are out of town the dealer will sell them parts put won’t work on the bike
Luckily I haven't had any mechanical issues. Mine have been all fit and finish issues. But that in some ways frustrates me even more because fit and finish should not be an issue on a $30k motorcycle.
I've owned 0:23 both of those Indian and Harley . What you should be saying it's time to buy a Honda forget about working on this crap and do more riding
I think you just got an unlucky bike. Ive had 4 and been happy each time and still have 2 off them. 1 of which i would never sell. I will say if good paint is what you're after, Harley is definitely better in that department. The rest of the bike i think is 2nd to Indian. I own both brands and my Indians just ride so much better. Id say don't give up because of 1 bike. I know it sucks but not every bike out of thousands can be perfect
The fit and finish on a Harley is just better, you are looking at higher dollar of course but the M8 is a Hell of a motor, best advice is to ride a new Harley and the CVOs are absolutely next level
I haven't ridden a 2024 model, but I prefer the ride of the Indian over the prior year models. My Indian rides great.. handles great.. and is mechanically fantastic. I'm just disappointed in the fit and finish (paint) quality.
@@randomstuffwithjoe I understand, we are paying a lot of money for these bikes and any company regardless should stand behind their product and produce a quality product, best of luck
You should see the aircraft ive fixed over the last 20 years. They still fly like champs but they all look like shit. If its mechanically sound then aesthetics are just a marketing ploy. Id go with quality mechanical over aesthetics any day. Personally i pass on the unicorn bs and go with we live in reality of constant degradation. Overall, all companies are illegally owned by Blackrock and Vanguard. So figure that out.
I ride a harley-davidson rg 73000 mile no problems. Father n law rides a indian. He's several issues with Indian, controls on handlebars, on his 3rd cylanoied and now starter
Thankfully, my Indian has been rock solid reliable when it comes to mechanics. My issues have all been fit/finish issues. Mostly paint imperfections which may seem petty, but when you pay $30k for a machine, the paint should be perfect.
I believe your going to find, those things will come from your pocket,not theirs. As long as it runs like it should and everything actually works like advertised, it'd be a miracle if they do anything for you, get some rubbing compound and take the white paint off.
I watched a lot of videos of people removing the side panels, and thought it would be no effort to do it. The damn things do feel like they can break every time you pull them off, and there always seems to be one nub that won't engage when reinstalling. Now I worry that I will break one the next time they need to be removed. I have not encountered paint problems, but still early in ownership.
I never really had a problem with the side panels. Thats why I was so surprised when I removed it and saw it was broken and glued back together. The dealer had to have done it - even tho the tech denied it. If you're concerned.. you could reinforce them with JB Weld before they actually break. I used it yesterday to re-attach the broken nub and its really strong. As for paint.. I've had a bunch of issues. Its disappointing. Maybe its not a common issue, but its been a disappointment for my bike. But I will say... Indian has been good about standing behind the issues and replacing the painted parts.
If you reached the end of the warrantied miles without any real mechanical problems the bike can't be all bad. They owe you a side panel. I don't care for the Indian's wannabe-a-flathead engine styling, but that's just me. All your concerns are cosmetic. I'd say tweak em for the panel and ride the son of a gun.
Ya, it’s been mostly mechanically sound. No real issues. It’s all been paint / quality issues. The dealer denied breaking the side cover and only offered to discount a replacement but it’ll still cost $380. I was able to repair it with JB Weld so I’ll see how long that lasts. Hopefully I won’t have to buy another panel. They did get Indian to replace the front fender tho. So I suppose that’s good.
I have a Harley, it’s a good bike but Im certainly not die hard faithful to the bar and shield. Frankly almost everything that I’ve owned that isn’t a Honda seems to have weirdness to it, my advice. Keep it in good condition and go ride the wheels off the thing. Bikes are made to be ridden, not stored.
Oh I agree. But when you pay a premium for what should be top notch quality, it’s frustrating to find flaws. Especially paint flaws as that should not happen on a $30k machine. But in Indians defense, they replaced both fenders and the primary cover with no resistance. So at least they stand behind their machine.
Write a letter to Polaris..especially about the grommet. Just don't get to the point, where you're Bitching too much, you're on the Fence to sounding like a Karen about simple cosmetic shit, that you can improvise and fix yourself.
Oh I agree. And had my dealer told me about the mishap instead of gluing it back together and hoping I didn't notice.. I probably wouldn't have been so upset. But the defects in the paint are another issue.. but Indian has been good about making it right on that issue.
This was done during a warranty repair. Indian had to replace the rear fender due to paint imperfections and therefore the dealer had to complete the work. So your comment is pretty much useless. lol
I'd say the old saying "it's better to be pissed off, than pissed on" but levity wouldn't help. I can understand your disappointment when you expect top quality from a motorcycle you paid big bucks for. Some of the issues may be "cover-ups" by an employee at the dealership since they broke your side panels and didn't want to get fired so "mickey moused" a fix, so those are issues the dealership itself isn't aware of. I hope you get some satisfaction from the dealership or Indian with your issues once they become aware. (Let us know the dealership's name once they are aware off the issues and their actions, to paise them for their customer service or disappointment of their lack of it.) Good luck.
So far, Indian has been responsive and has repaired all of the issues under warranty, but that expired 3 weeks ago so I'm not sure they'll do anything now. But I'll call the dealer tomorrow morning when they open and see what they say/do. The paint issues really disappoint me tho. I purchased this bike during Covid when there was no inventory and new bike orders were taking 6-8 months to deliver.. so I can't help but wonder if that has anything to do with the lack of quality control on this particular bike. I haven't seen many other paint complaints from Indian owners...
@@randomstuffwithjoe Could be. Quality Control suffered with anything there was a demand for during Covid, especially RVs and other items that people could do solo activities with without too much social interaction with others. Let's just hope they do the "right thing".
I'm going to wait and see what the dealer has to say. I almost bought a Chieftain and a lot of that was based on your's and a few other's videos. I ended up on a slightly used Street Glide on a deal I couldn't pass up. I spent a lot of time comparing the two brands and although I liked the ride of the Indians more, (the Challenger is an incredible machine,) I couldn't quite pull the trigger because of perceived lesser quality and I wasn't getting the best vibe from the dealer network. To be fair, have 2 HD dealers within 20 minutes of me, but I take my bike to a dealer that is an hour away. Go figure.
Stuff like that could happen on any brands dealership. I have a Harley and never had issues, but I have friends that had issues. Just make that bike yours. Chill out. Its nothing critical. Get an independent mechanic to take care of the nickels and dimes. Just ride! Good luck!
I've calmed down a bit today.. but I was pissed off yesterday when I discovered these most recent issues. Paint should not blister on a $30k motorcycle. This is definitely a paint defect.
I’ve been riding Harley’s for a long time. Recently rode some Indians on a demo day. I was surprised by how cheap they were - lower quality paint jobs, cheap feeling shift levers, clutch and brakes, slower even though it supposedly has a bigger engine, plastics were very cheap. No thanks.
I've never really enjoyed HD - tho my last one was in the 90s. But I test rode a few over the years and they just never felt good to me. I loved the Indian way better than every HD I've ever been on.. and when it comes to the ride.. I still do. But the fit and finish has been disappointing (specifically the paint). I haven't ridden the new 24 models, but I've sat on them and they still don't feel right to me. But I may take some test rides anyway.. just to confirm it.
I ain’t never seen a Harley with paint and corrosion issues.. but I think you should keep the bike it’s annoying any kinda weird those panels break so easily but it’s a good motorcycle those things can be fixed sometimes there’s just headaches there’s headaches with Harley’s too
I had one of those break off on my Chieftain as well...sounds like the dealership...not Indian motorcycle itself. You will have the same kind of issues with any brand.
Just making excuses to get a Harley, go for it, grass is not always greener on the other side. Had my Challenger a couple of years with no issues and I love it.
@@CurtisShaw-k7s so because your Challenger has been without issue, you think I’m making this stuff up? My Indian has had a lot of quality issues. Be happy yours hasn’t.
I ride a Harley. The grass isn't Greener over here. My buddy has a Kawasaki. He's had problems too.
I'm at the point where I like riding an older, low-tech, low price bike I can fix myself. There's a lot less stress when you take the dealer out of the equation and you're not paying so much money that it makes you resent every imperfection.
My last bike was a Triumph Thunderbird and that bike was rock solid and reliable. I wish Triumph still made touring baggers.. I'd go back to them in a heartbeat.
Have a sportster 1200 had bugs but once you get the bugs out it runs great. And electronics have problems rain age but new bikes will have electrical problems. And now they can see how you ride and where you ride , bikes will stop selling cus the freedom is gone. Sorry but true. You are watching the demise of biking.
Agree 100%. Done with dealer BS, sold my 2022 and picked up a 99 Dyna project bike. Loved doing my own work and love the ride.
Newest bike is '02, oldest one is '77. Do all my own work. Screw the dealers
I have a Harley and a Kawasaki. 1989 FXRS Low Rider, and a 2002 Vulcan 750. No problems with the Harley, had a stator failure on the Kawasaki, which requires the engine to come out to replace it. But in 118,000 miles on the Kawasaki, that is the only serious failure I've had.
If you want an Harley do not get the new ones, get the Evolution engine.
I have a 1994 Dyna Wide Glide for over 18 years, just oil change and put petrol.
The only issue I had in 18 years was just the spark cables and nothing else more
My 95 softail runs like a Swiss watch!
The new m8’s are great motors as well. All the kinks have been worked out now
Indian motorcycle's quality in fit & finish has always been their weakest point .
It’s your dealer. What a jerk thinking he could just glue that connector and you not notice
And the tech denied doing it and tried to make it sound as if I did it and I was lying about it. Wtf.
I can see why you’re so pissed. Obviously you care about this bike immensely. I can tell you are meticulous. Gluing a “nub” is not your M.O. @@randomstuffwithjoe
No it's not Indian it's the dealership.
Those should never break.
Indian is just a name that Polaris bought the rights to. It's really a Polaris. Even though Victory was also made by Polaris (pretty obvious how they stood behind Victory) they came up with the name themselves, they didn't buy the name of a company that went out of business in 1953.
@@geraldscott4302 You do realize HD was also bought out several times over the years..? Its an Indian.. get over yourself.. lol
No Indian painted the bike and had rust issues in the past, which forced them to build a better paint shop in their factory.
@@randomstuffwithjoeIndian went out of business decades ago. Harley has been bought and sold but has continuously made motorcycles in the same plant. It’s a bit of a difference. Polaris makes fine motorcycles and bought the right to call them Indians; other than legal mumbo jumbo their connection with the original doesn’t exist. So yes they can legally be called Indian motorcycles but to imply they have any real historical connection with the original is just advertising hype.
2018 FXBB bought brand new, 19K miles and zero problems.
That's a dealer problem....
If they are a stand-up dealer, they should take care of it, but, if not, call Indian customer service & don't stop until they take care of it
All motorcycles have issues. I've been riding the same HD for 20 years. It has all kinds of little problems. I just change the oil and go.
Same here my SG is 14 years old little problems here and there but I can do 90% of the work on my bike myself
The first time I sat on an Indian motorcycle 4 years ago I realized right away the quality of the fit & finish was sub par and never walked into an Indian dealership ever again since !
😂😂😂😂 ok. Sure
I ride a Harley and in my opinion . Stay with Indian .
Ya. I was mostly venting in this video. I've calmed down now that a few days have passed. I'm not really a huge HD fan.. so I probably wouldn't go that route anyway, but it sure was good for stirring things up in the comments... 🤣
I've owned both and still do.like them both.both good and bad points.much are dealer problems
Personally mate, I think you're just being a whinger. It's a motorcycle. A machine built by humans. If you look hard enough of course you'll find some imperfections. Get out and ride the bloody thing and stop being so pedantic. Cheers from downunder!
Thanks Mate I was going to call him a Male “ KAREN” it’s just 🥵 too hot I had to come inside and finish this😂🤣😂
It's a road-going vehicle subject to wear and tear, unless it's a garage queen.
Bs you pay good money for something you expect quality
@@daviddining5192 It's not BS at all mate. This bloke obviously had his magnifying glass out for the entire warranty period looking for faults. He managed to find some very minor paint imperfections on his fender tips, inner primary, and an exhaust tip. Indian fixed all his issues under warranty. Now he's all butthurt over his broken side cover which was clearly not the fault of Indian Motorcycle Company, but was done by a third party. Mate he would have paid about 24k for his mass produced Motorcycle. If he expects perfection he needs to consider spending five or six times that. "Oh I feel like throwing it off a cliff!" Really? The bloke's a bloody sook and needs a jolly good slap up the side of the head!
Here in the States, we hold people accountable. He's not being whatever ridiculous word you used. Apparently, overseas, you guys are accustomed to settling for crap work and crap service.
I’ve laughed at Harleys for decades and after working on my neighbors several times, I have to wonder about people that buy them and if they have ever ridden anything else.
Mine is reliable and ready every time for a ride since 2009
Except one time battery went tits up one morning
Can’t blame HD for that
I wanted to buy a challenger but then saw the new roadglide
Good choice
Harley Motor company sucks as bad or worse. It takes them 12-16 weeks to repair a motor under warranty.
That is a dealer issue, not a company issue. Had my motor rebuilt under warranty late last month, I got the bike back less than a week later.
@@brphillips3 nope not in my case. I escalated it myself all the way to the top with the Motor company and all they said was, “thats just the way it is and I am inline till they can ship the parts”. I have an amazing dealer, to bad they sell HD’s BS.
@grootsgracemission now that makes more sense, I got the 110 kit November of 2023, and HD was waiting on the heads to be made. Didn't get the kit until February 2024. Depending on the part that is needed, like in my case, the heads, HD has them made to order. Don't know what part was replaced on your build, but that is probably why it took so long. HD didn't tell me this. The dealership actually escalated it because they were angry at how long it was taking.
This is why a bought the best 1999 HD FXDL I could find for £7½k and expected to put £3k into it just to get it acceptable.
I wouldn't buy new because I would want it to be spot on and I already know it wouldn't be.
Hope you get lucky but I sure wouldn't buy new.
Entropy is where things go downhill and there's nothing you can realistically do about it.
You absolutely need a Harley. Ride with pride!
Problem with HD is that I never really liked the way they ride. But I haven't test ridden one in about 5 years.. so maybe the newer street and road glides are a better fit for me. I'll have to go test ride one sometime soon.
Lol
You can pretty much make a Harley feel the way you want it to. Granted,it can get pricey
As much as new bikes like this one cost, I think you might be better off getting a nice used Harley. I know the electronics can save ur butt, but, I like bikes I can work on and understand. So, EFI, maybe, the electronic brake stuff, I don’t know.
I look for ones owned by someone who “didn’t ride it as much as they thought they would”. And, buy from ones located by owners in the nicer parts of town. And, as little customization as possible. I’d stay away from bikes that have any kind of internal engine work/customization, no matter who did it. Just a thought…
Indian is now built by Polaris . Who also use to build victory. The stopped making victory. Wonder why . Maybe same issues.
They didn't stop building victories. What they did was stop putting the victory name on the victory. They put the Indian name on the victory and they stopped making Indians. If someone doesn't know what I'm talking about? You look at the last year were built. That year the victory and Indian were two different bikes. The following year Indian was the same bike as victory. They stopped building Indians they put the name on victory. My local Indian/ Victory dealer showed me this on 3 bikes he had.
Polaris did not intend to stop building Victory so abruptly, but the Indian models were selling so much better that they did for sound business reasons. Do your research the facts are out there.
Also did you know that HD keeps buying back their own stocks to support their value? Did you know that Black Rock and Van Guard are two of the Biggest Investors in both HD & Polaris?
Victory never made a thunder stroke engine! Your storry is incorrect, and the name Indian is more of a selling point rather than Victory.
⚠️ STOP!! When you run into these situations, you don't call the service center. You look up the main E-MAIL or phone number for the service center (the main business) and communicate with them. Go over their heads, and you'll see results.
Better to back to the bikes from the past! Simpler means better! What they produce today are so full of electronics and other BS that when something goes wrong, EVERYTHIG falls apart! I used to own a HD Electra Glide, shovel head, and I could easy fix any thing that went wrong,,,,and of course it did since it was a 1974 AMF bike...lol!
I had an AMF Harley too (1979) and must admit mechanically it was flawed (fouled plugs, leaked oil everytime you parked, etc.) but one thing, it looked beautiful. They did the paint right with the 2 tone paint, gold pin striping, gold lettering, etc. back then. I had a love/hate relationship with that bike since you were never 100% sure it would make it home. (That is why you always rode with a group of Harley's incase one broke down, and one usually did. 🙂)
The new Harley’s are good bikes, you just need spend 3 grand on Ohlins suspension to make them handle great
I've always wanted an Indian Scout after listening to my late stepdad's wonderful stories about his Indian Scouts in the 40s and 50s. I still think I'll end my riding career on one someday.
Meanwhile I'm 73 and have been riding a 2011 Honda CBR for over a dozen years without even the hint of a problem. It's hard to give up reliability for nostalgia.
Plastic "nubs" break off of plastic "panels" on all kinds of vehicles and consumer items. The dealer probably can't get replacement panels to exactly match your bike's paint . It looks like a problem with no easy solution other than gluing, if glue will hold with vibration, heat, and cold.
My old '48 Indian Chief didn't have any plastic parts and very few electrical/electronic gadgets to go wrong.
Don’t buy a pride glide from Harley.
Trmps lawyer was happy. You still support Trump?
Having total strangers work on my bike has always freaked me out. Nice, older, used bikes with low miles and low prices is the answer. 20 year old Road Kings with low miles go for $5-6K these days. Invest in a service manual and some tools and you KNOW the job was done right. Every motorcycle maintenance job is covered ad nauseam right here on YT. A study in the science of motorcycle maintenance is a study of reality and logic itself.
I’ve had no problems at all with my Indian.
I agree with everyone that's saying don't get a new Harley. 09-13 were really good years, I have had zero issues with my 2010. If you can find a low mileage one that's the way I would go. But I'm not a fan of the infotainment system either. I like gauges.
I agree, I’ve owned a 2009 and currently own and ride a 2011 Nightster with zero issues with cosmetics and mechanics. I also have owned a 2010 Street Bob that was also perfect.
I’ve owned a ‘94 FXRP,
00’ FatBoy, ‘20 Road glide special, ‘21 RGL; currently a ‘23 Heritage ANV. Road glides were great, too heavy for me now. Never had a paint issue on any of them. I’ve looked at Indians, I prefer the HD styling, nothing else. :)
Hey Joe, that was a scumbag move by the dealership not Indian. Once you get that fixed, you’ll be all right. About the paint, that’s quality control issue. That should’ve never went out to the dealership, but somehow it went through. Enjoy the bike ride safe.
Ya. But at least Indian was good about replacing the painted parts. No questions asked. New front and rear fender and new primary cover. So at least they are standing behind their product.
I feel your pain, but you are lucky that they are small issues. In that any issue is a concern but here in the UK if you buy an Indian there is no service at all, I have a 2020 Indian Roadmaster and have had issues since 2021. I bought it new in 2020 and we had the 5 year warranty on it, the finish is not 100%. I had paint peeling from the main engine casing, its a darkhorse. They did change it under warranty, I have had the starter solenoid corrode not covered, I have had two starter motors covered, multiple amounts of sensors most covered under warranty not all. Polaris Britain don't care about the rider so there is no customer service. We only have main dealers no approved service dealers so from one dealer to the next you may have to travel over 3 hour's. Unfortunately I have a very poor dealer who damaged my bike by not being able to service it correctly and misaligning the axle which lead to all sorts of damage over a 4 month period cost me thousands. I have paperwork to prove they did wrong and Polaris do not care! Being trying to fight it legally but here in the UK if you have not got £10,000 to spare taking them to court you lose out. The stress put me in hospital. Spent all my life working to be able to afford something special and then let down by a corporate company that does not care about its customers!! I think they will end up dropping it as they did Victory as they don't have a management team in place with the passion for the brand. After all this I still love my bike, Polaris not so much and would never recommend my local dealer to my worst enemy!!
Those seriously dont sound like reasons to push the bike off a cliff lol. I started this video thinking you were having some serious engine or electrical issues and literally chuckled to myself when i saw that it was little minor issues like that. As for the side panel just stick it back on there like it was(unless the dealer is willing to replace it for you). You had no idea it was a problem until you took it off. no one else will know.
I'll be reaching out to my dealer today to see what they say about that side cover. It's been 3 months since it happened and I doubt they're gonna admit to it. But I'll try anyway. The issue now is that the one of the nubs is missing.
Same here. I thought it was gonna be something mechanical.
If someone knows of the perfect vehicle, that has no issues, please let me know.
And before some of you start of proclaiming the joys of owning Japanese or German. I know quite a few people who have owned Japanese and German cars, and motorcycles. And they too have had issues.
I can understand why you´re so upset, but just maybe you bought a Monday´s bike? I own a 2022 Indian Roadmaster, and have as of yet no issues.
Could be a Friday bike 😎
Quality and finish is why i went with harley. The indian rode a little nicer but not by much. It was a hard choice.
Dealer problem. It's gotten harder and harder for dealers to employ good mechanics. They can make more money at a car dealership so they cross over leaving the bike shops with the leftovers.
Anyway..... Goldwing.
@@Coldwarrior7781 the dealer of course denied this mishap and kept hinting that I broke and glued the piece myself. That pissed me off even more. But then they offered to replace it at a discount ($380). I ended up getting some JB Weld and it looks like it’s gonna work.
As for the Goldwing.. I hear once you ride one.. you’ll never want another bike. But damn they’re ugly. 😂
@@randomstuffwithjoe Mine is 18 years.
that was one of the reasons,i found quality is not up to par,harleys too are losing there touch on quality and paint
What you’re pointing out is what I noticed looking at Indian and seeing repair videos. You could see little details that were sub par.
The best fit and finish on a cruiser is on my BMW R18. My 2024 Road Glide has descent fit and finish with only minor components that I find kinda cheap. But I think they were designed that way to reduce weight.
I've looked at the BMWs. Those are super nice looking.. but I can't get past the jugs sticking out so far to the sides. Kinda limits leg room.
That's the dealership. They break on a lot of vehicles.
If you think HD doesn't have problems, you may need to do some research. Even though these bikes are expensive, they can still have problems. In most cases, the ones that do have issues, end up being fine once the bugs are worked out. I believe they have lemon laws in most states but if paint is your problem, you don't have a lemon. Hope your issues are resolved and you can start enjoying your ride, Generally, Indians are pretty awesome bikes.
I feel your pain. Years ago, (2011) I was all set to buy a new Indian Chief - 111 inch motor, full fenders, the whole 9. Then I drove one at my local dealer. What a pig!! This thing could not get out of its own way. Immediately went to H-D dealer and bought a new Road King. Man, did I love that bike! Of all the bikes I have owned, that’s the one I wish I had back. I now own 5 Harleys but still miss that Road King…
Dry paint does not Drip. Sounds like it bubbled. I use to Sand blast Trucks and Loaders to bare metal and prime them with Vari Prime self etching Primer then paint them with Imron Polyethylene paint made by Dupont. It was good paint, you can't even buy good paint like that anymore, thanks EPA .
I had a Deer Jump out in front of me at 55 MPH .. I slid 40 yards down the road. I have Boken tabs & panels all over the place. It's all scratched up. My bike is a Yamaha FZ-07 the parts to repair it cost about 1/3 what HD & Indian parts cost though their prices have almost doubled since 2019 with Bidenflation.
I paid $600.00 for enough PPG paint , Primer Catalyst and clear coat to paint my scuffed up black bike Yamaha Racing Yellow.
@@mikeskidmore6754 on the rear fender there were drips from the factory. They were subtle do I ignored it. In time, it started to corrode so I’m guessing it wasn’t prepped properly before paint. On the front fender it looks more like rippling not drips but still the end result is some corrosion.
On the exhaust tips.. it’s straight up bubbling. Not sure how or why that happened but a local powder coater says he can refinish the tips for about $100 so I may do that at some point.
@@randomstuffwithjoe In 2022 I paid $4,500.00 for a 2008 Buell Ulyesses with 15,000 miles on it. It was rather dull and drab. I waxed all of the red plastic parts and all of the grey and black parts I rubbed hard with armor all. My bike looked knight and day better after I did that. A Previous owner painted parts of my top and side cases red, that part looks pretty good.
I never heard of powder coating part of a painted fender, maybe it's normal, I have no clue. I have a friend who used to work in a powder coat shop I could ask her. You should find out who painted Carey Hart's Indian Challenger in the Vegas area.
th-cam.com/video/Q4ew-_rSL-s/w-d-xo.html
It doesn’t matter what bike you get you can have problems with any bike regardless of brand
I went from Indian to Harley and never went back. Must admit everything Harley is more expensive but they are way more appealing
I like Harleys but don't like trying to buy a new one when the dealers are charging well over MSRP for them. (One dealer wouldn't even tell me the cash price but only "how much a month" payments would be, but I wanted to buy cash.)
You won't have any trouble trading it for a Harley. Most of my Harley Buddies are wanting to get rid of their H-D's in favor of an Indian. My 1946 Chief doesn't have these issues. :)
The Problem with Indian is they were Family owned for only one Generation. HD was Family owned for 3 Generations and they survived a couple more Decades before AMF bailed them out. Then even President Regan put a huge tariff on Jap bikes over 750 CC's
The Springfield has that plastic crome on the fenders. And it was bubbling on that bike after 2000 miles! I agree about the fit and finish is lacking on the Indian. And the harleys ride rough!
It sounds more like the problem is your dealership's service center with less than well trained technicians that damaged your bike, then tried to cover it up. I doubt that you will get satisfaction from the service center unless you go to the dealer himself and show him what was done. The sad thing is that Indian doesn't have the dealer network like Harley so you're limited on where you can take it for repairs.
Ya. I went to the dealer yesterday and the tech denied doing it. I didn't do it.. so he had to have done it. But that still doesn't negate the blistering paint I've had on both my rear and front fender as well as the exhaust tips. Poor paint prep and/or quality. But to Indian's credit.. they replaced the rear fender completely under warranty and this morning my dealer informed me that they are going to replace the front fender as well - even tho I'm 3 weeks outside of the warranty period.
I have the Indian Pursuit. I have zero issues with my bike. Best bike I’ve ever had.
I did an update to this video recently. Indian has been good about correcting the issues. But its still disappointing to pay a premium for an Icon paint and to discover so many defects. But I do still enjoy the bike. Thx for watching.
A lot of dealers care more about money then customer service/ i used to build bikes if i made a mistake i would fix it for free
I can understand your anger. This is unacceptable for a bike at that price. On a Harley the side panels are in good old metal and secured with screws. The engines on HD are much easier to work on because they are from a simpler design.
If you like the Indian keep it... Get with the service manager be nice to him have them repair it.. if they don't tell them you're going to take them to court
IMHO, the service tech who worked on your bike was a clod, and broke the posts off. They should cover it.
Second, fragile side-cover posts have been a long standing problem with many Hondas as well. All you can do to mitigate it is to periodically wipe down the rubber grommets with some type of light, inert grease. Like a silicone or teflon. And obviously be careful in removing the covers.
It's Polaris, it's junk. You can compare it to whatever you want, that's a moot point. Polaris is junk.
well known fact that indian doesn't put a lasting paint job on their bikes. They have the better everything else than harley- harley does do a great paint job and they sound and look good but that is about it.
I will say, Indian has been responsive to the poor paint issue and they have replaced both the front and rear fender as well as the primary cover. Now that the tins are new again, I may look into either a ceramic coat or paint protection film to keep it from having issues again.
You'll have issues no matter the brand. Most of your problems are caused by the dealer. All brands have some bum dealers. Most dealers have some bum mechanics. My Indian Springfield was bought new in 2017. Now has 47K miles. It had 2 recalls, but I never found any issues for warranty claims. I hate to see someone so disappointed in a bike. I hope your next bike isn't built or serviced by mere mortals. Good luck.
I owned a 2018 Chieftain Elite. Nice bike and has better suspension than my previous Harleys. I had ghost electrical issues and went back to Harley. Harley suspension is catching up, but still sub par to Indian. Fit and finish is better on a Harley. My Indian had way more plastic parts than my Harley. 😊
They all have issues of some sort. Pick your poison and just ride.
Harley-Davidson all day, Indian basically ripped off the entire Harley-Davidson lineup.
@@cjsmith yawn 🙄
Harley has been doing over 120 years. You’re better to buy a Harley. I never had a problem with Harley.
I've just never liked HD's ride.
@@randomstuffwithjoe well I hear the new M8 are smoother. I’m not sure if that’s what you want. I have the last year of the twin cam. I love the twin cam.
Sorry this happened to you, it’s gotta be frustrating. Hope it all works out.
Appreciate the honesty in your videos.
I had an Indian Challenger and it was my FAVORITE bike, I had the first year, well it had a few recalls, and some flash recalls, I COULD NEVER FIND GOOD SERVICE, I adored that bike, but the horrible dealerships, and parts support pushed me to Harley, and Indian bikes are so much better, so thats saying something, sorry to hear about your troubles as well!
I don't think it's a good idea to leave a modern bike, with plastic stuff, outside in the sun, rain, hot and cold. Keep it in the garage with a nice cover, and no rats and mice. You can expect a few scratches and rust spots with use and aging on any motorcycle.
Unless I'm riding, its always garaged.
Dealership dude. I’ve had mine for over 10 years. Nothing major. Yep maybe you need to get rid of your Indian. You weren’t ready to own a real bike.
Hmm problems you mentioned aren't really problems, side panels with numb mounts are considered to break, thing that they didnt replace em is the problem. Glue you cut off from tank down panel is silicon glue for rubber, you shouldnt clean it up, you will tear silicon structure which will lead to moisture add up below which in long term can unseal your speedemeter.
Name the dealer let people know.
I've been riding an Indian FTR Champion Edition for 28,000 kilometers without any problems. I am very satisfied with Indian. But I've also been riding a Low Rider ST for 18,000 kilometers and I'm very happy with it too. I enjoy american motorcycles very much. O.k., both not baggers end level vehicles but riding them is so much fun. Best wishes🤘
Sorry I’m late…I might feel the same way if I had experienced something similar. I’m a new rider, I was going to buy a Harley back in 15, then life happened, then Covid. I woke up and said I need a bike, I bought the 22 Chief Bobber DH, 3 yrs 7k miles currently I can’t complain. If that’s the bike for you right now stick with them, if not go to Harley or whoever just as long as you’re on 2 wheels 🤙🏾
I'm in a bit of a love/hate relationship with this bike. I love the bike.. it rides awesome. Mechanically its solid. Its comfortable. The paint flaws are annoying at a minimum, but I will acknowledge that Indian did replace both fenders and the primary cover with no hesitation, so at least I can say that they stand behind their products. I suspect my issues are not the norm as I've talked to a lot of other Indian owners and they've never had issues like this.
Sold my 2000 dyna and bought a Yamaha fjr 1300! Those that know, know!
A fjr is on my list of bikes i would like to own.
ALWAYS check those panels in the presence of the service writer. Once you take it home, they can and will blame you for breaking it. It's definitely a weak point, I don't know why Indian doesn't do it, but adding a little lithium grease to the nibs will reduce the chance of this happening. The biggest problem is a lot of these dealers have sub standard mechanics working on multiple brands and they don't comprehend there is a very specific way of taking certain parts off the bikes. Try using a good epoxy, superglue will not hold. And always, make sure to have the service writer note that NOTHING is broken on the panels before they wheel it to the shop
I guess I didn't think to check them. It has been several months since it happened and I just now discovered the issue. I was able to repair it with JB Weld epoxy. Hopefully it holds long term. Otherwise.. a new cover will cost about $380. 😐
I hear ya. And we shouldn't have to double check the dealer. Unfortunately, shoddy work has become too common place. Also, not sure why glue was put on your tank. I have had 2 different Chieftains and neither one had glue there, that black piece is just a rubber/plastic gasket to mostly protect the paint from hard plastic. Good luck getting the dealership to do the right thing.
I've got a 2021 springfield darkhorse done 30.000km no issues best bike I've ever owned.
I got mine in 2022. That was the year inventory was scarce and people were waiting 6-12 months for orders to arrive. It was the height of the Covid shortage. I can't help but wonder if that has something to do with the quality control issues - as many other have not had the same issues I've had.
Don’t blame you I have some friends is having mechanical problems and if they are out of town the dealer will sell them parts put won’t work on the bike
Luckily I haven't had any mechanical issues. Mine have been all fit and finish issues. But that in some ways frustrates me even more because fit and finish should not be an issue on a $30k motorcycle.
Yea I'd say! I've got a 09 road king and paint and finish looks like new!
My last bike was a 2012 Triumph Thunderbird. It got stolen in 2020. It still looked brand new after 8 years and 35k miles.
I've owned 0:23 both of those Indian and Harley . What you should be saying it's time to buy a Honda forget about working on this crap and do more riding
I think you just got an unlucky bike. Ive had 4 and been happy each time and still have 2 off them. 1 of which i would never sell. I will say if good paint is what you're after, Harley is definitely better in that department. The rest of the bike i think is 2nd to Indian. I own both brands and my Indians just ride so much better. Id say don't give up because of 1 bike. I know it sucks but not every bike out of thousands can be perfect
The fit and finish on a Harley is just better, you are looking at higher dollar of course but the M8 is a Hell of a motor, best advice is to ride a new Harley and the CVOs are absolutely next level
I haven't ridden a 2024 model, but I prefer the ride of the Indian over the prior year models. My Indian rides great.. handles great.. and is mechanically fantastic. I'm just disappointed in the fit and finish (paint) quality.
@@randomstuffwithjoe I understand, we are paying a lot of money for these bikes and any company regardless should stand behind their product and produce a quality product, best of luck
We would like to support you with Harley gears!🙌
Yes, please send me money! Thx. 😂
I understand. I get like that myself.
You should see the aircraft ive fixed over the last 20 years. They still fly like champs but they all look like shit. If its mechanically sound then aesthetics are just a marketing ploy. Id go with quality mechanical over aesthetics any day. Personally i pass on the unicorn bs and go with we live in reality of constant degradation.
Overall, all companies are illegally owned by Blackrock and Vanguard. So figure that out.
Get a Harley and put some risers on for the bars. You’ll never look back 👌
I ride a harley-davidson rg 73000 mile no problems. Father n law rides a indian. He's several issues with Indian, controls on handlebars, on his 3rd cylanoied and now starter
Thankfully, my Indian has been rock solid reliable when it comes to mechanics. My issues have all been fit/finish issues. Mostly paint imperfections which may seem petty, but when you pay $30k for a machine, the paint should be perfect.
Harley s paint isn't much better. I have had issues with bubbling paint on both fenders . Front fender is doing it again a year later
I believe your going to find, those things will come from your pocket,not theirs. As long as it runs like it should and everything actually works like advertised, it'd be a miracle if they do anything for you, get some rubbing compound and take the white paint off.
I watched a lot of videos of people removing the side panels, and thought it would be no effort to do it. The damn things do feel like they can break every time you pull them off, and there always seems to be one nub that won't engage when reinstalling. Now I worry that I will break one the next time they need to be removed. I have not encountered paint problems, but still early in ownership.
I never really had a problem with the side panels. Thats why I was so surprised when I removed it and saw it was broken and glued back together. The dealer had to have done it - even tho the tech denied it. If you're concerned.. you could reinforce them with JB Weld before they actually break. I used it yesterday to re-attach the broken nub and its really strong.
As for paint.. I've had a bunch of issues. Its disappointing. Maybe its not a common issue, but its been a disappointment for my bike. But I will say... Indian has been good about standing behind the issues and replacing the painted parts.
Sounds like you need a new dealership. Or your dealership has a bad mechanic.
If you reached the end of the warrantied miles without any real mechanical problems the bike can't be all bad. They owe you a side panel. I don't care for the Indian's wannabe-a-flathead engine styling, but that's just me. All your concerns are cosmetic.
I'd say tweak em for the panel and ride the son of a gun.
Ya, it’s been mostly mechanically sound. No real issues. It’s all been paint / quality issues. The dealer denied breaking the side cover and only offered to discount a replacement but it’ll still cost $380. I was able to repair it with JB Weld so I’ll see how long that lasts. Hopefully I won’t have to buy another panel. They did get Indian to replace the front fender tho. So I suppose that’s good.
i think the dealership needs to fire a mechanic and stand behind their work. i love my 01 yamaha vstar 650....but hey ,im an old guy.😅😅😅😅
I prefer to think of it as being "wise" not "old". lol. We're all gonna be "wise" one day. 🤣
I have a Harley, it’s a good bike but Im certainly not die hard faithful to the bar and shield. Frankly almost everything that I’ve owned that isn’t a Honda seems to have weirdness to it, my advice. Keep it in good condition and go ride the wheels off the thing. Bikes are made to be ridden, not stored.
Oh I agree. But when you pay a premium for what should be top notch quality, it’s frustrating to find flaws. Especially paint flaws as that should not happen on a $30k machine. But in Indians defense, they replaced both fenders and the primary cover with no resistance. So at least they stand behind their machine.
I have Harley street glide 2019 not 100 percent happy bubbling paint on back fender not happy on this side of the fence
Write a letter to Polaris..especially about the grommet. Just don't get to the point, where you're Bitching too much, you're on the Fence to sounding like a Karen about simple cosmetic shit, that you can improvise and fix yourself.
It’s not that something is broken. Sometimes shit breaks. It’s the integrity of half azz fixing it. Parts can be replaced. Integrity cannot.
Oh I agree. And had my dealer told me about the mishap instead of gluing it back together and hoping I didn't notice.. I probably wouldn't have been so upset. But the defects in the paint are another issue.. but Indian has been good about making it right on that issue.
Do your own maintenance. If you are not capable, how would you expect someone else to? The only person that cares about your bike is you.
This was done during a warranty repair. Indian had to replace the rear fender due to paint imperfections and therefore the dealer had to complete the work. So your comment is pretty much useless. lol
Not everybody is capable of doing their own work bro
I'd say the old saying "it's better to be pissed off, than pissed on" but levity wouldn't help. I can understand your disappointment when you expect top quality from a motorcycle you paid big bucks for. Some of the issues may be "cover-ups" by an employee at the dealership since they broke your side panels and didn't want to get fired so "mickey moused" a fix, so those are issues the dealership itself isn't aware of. I hope you get some satisfaction from the dealership or Indian with your issues once they become aware. (Let us know the dealership's name once they are aware off the issues and their actions, to paise them for their customer service or disappointment of their lack of it.) Good luck.
So far, Indian has been responsive and has repaired all of the issues under warranty, but that expired 3 weeks ago so I'm not sure they'll do anything now. But I'll call the dealer tomorrow morning when they open and see what they say/do. The paint issues really disappoint me tho. I purchased this bike during Covid when there was no inventory and new bike orders were taking 6-8 months to deliver.. so I can't help but wonder if that has anything to do with the lack of quality control on this particular bike. I haven't seen many other paint complaints from Indian owners...
@@randomstuffwithjoe Could be. Quality Control suffered with anything there was a demand for during Covid, especially RVs and other items that people could do solo activities with without too much social interaction with others. Let's just hope they do the "right thing".
I'm going to wait and see what the dealer has to say. I almost bought a Chieftain and a lot of that was based on your's and a few other's videos. I ended up on a slightly used Street Glide on a deal I couldn't pass up. I spent a lot of time comparing the two brands and although I liked the ride of the Indians more, (the Challenger is an incredible machine,) I couldn't quite pull the trigger because of perceived lesser quality and I wasn't getting the best vibe from the dealer network. To be fair, have 2 HD dealers within 20 minutes of me, but I take my bike to a dealer that is an hour away. Go figure.
Mine had that glue blobbed in from the factory....
Stuff like that could happen on any brands dealership. I have a Harley and never had issues, but I have friends that had issues. Just make that bike yours. Chill out. Its nothing critical. Get an independent mechanic to take care of the nickels and dimes. Just ride! Good luck!
I've calmed down a bit today.. but I was pissed off yesterday when I discovered these most recent issues. Paint should not blister on a $30k motorcycle. This is definitely a paint defect.
@@randomstuffwithjoe I don’t blame you.
I’ve been riding Harley’s for a long time. Recently rode some Indians on a demo day. I was surprised by how cheap they were - lower quality paint jobs, cheap feeling shift levers, clutch and brakes, slower even though it supposedly has a bigger engine, plastics were very cheap. No thanks.
I've never really enjoyed HD - tho my last one was in the 90s. But I test rode a few over the years and they just never felt good to me. I loved the Indian way better than every HD I've ever been on.. and when it comes to the ride.. I still do. But the fit and finish has been disappointing (specifically the paint). I haven't ridden the new 24 models, but I've sat on them and they still don't feel right to me. But I may take some test rides anyway.. just to confirm it.
I ain’t never seen a Harley with paint and corrosion issues.. but I think you should keep the bike it’s annoying any kinda weird those panels break so easily but it’s a good motorcycle those things can be fixed sometimes there’s just headaches there’s headaches with Harley’s too
Don’t worry you’ll jump from the frying pan into the fire….. and you’ll still grip….!
Fit and finish doesn’t come close to harley
I had one of those break off on my Chieftain as well...sounds like the dealership...not Indian motorcycle itself. You will have the same kind of issues with any brand.
More riding , less complaining. Life is short.Enjoy the ride.
Just making excuses to get a Harley, go for it, grass is not always greener on the other side. Had my Challenger a couple of years with no issues and I love it.
@@CurtisShaw-k7s so because your Challenger has been without issue, you think I’m making this stuff up? My Indian has had a lot of quality issues. Be happy yours hasn’t.