Great write up . I just bought the RoadMaster March 14 and I can not get off it. It has been in the 40s and 50s with the sun out and have put a thousand miles on it already. This has got to be the best cruiser I have ever owned. I road the harley, Honda, and both victory and choice the ROADMASTER. Buy one you won't be disappointed !
I live in Texas, and I agree with everything you stated in your review. One thing: no one is talking about if the different riding styles depending on where you live. Here in Texas, that 111 engine will cook you! I purchased a heat shield which helps tremendously. My wife has gone Indian CRAZY! She has hats, shirts, and pins. We previously owned a Kawasaki Vulcan, which I liked. But my wife and I loved the style of the Indian. She'll make me come home to ride her somewhere; anywhere. Thanks again for a great video.
regrcm Glad you enjoyed the video, thanks! I agree, of course the riding conditions make a difference. I know that there are a lot of folks that live in Florida and they take the summer off and ride during winter, just the opposite of what we do up here in New England. Bottom like is that these bikes have big engines that give off a good deal of heat. It come with the territory. And it is good that you have a wife that enjoys riding with you...much better than the alternative, plus she will understand when you come home with more chrome :)
The demo truck came to town last weekend so I took the 2017 for a jaunt. Fantastic bike. Smooth, well balanced, and that 111 is all business. Polaris has done a great job. If a quality tour bike is what you're after, don't ignore the Roadmaster.
Tried 1 out in Edmonton, Canada last fall. I liked the bike a lot. Everything you said was what I found out. But the sound system was superior to the Gold Wing. It would read all the songs off of my USB drive, which are in a wave lossless format. The Gold Wing radio did not. The Honda salesman said well your going down the highway and sound isn't an issue. Well for $30,000 it should read it. My $100 Pioneer reads the info. Good video
there's a great following, enchantment and romanticism with v twin motorcycle engines, they seem to have the greatest interest among riders. even though other configurations are more powerful, smoother,practical and economical they aren't the most popular and that will definitely impact your following
Craig: I am considering trading my 10 HD Limited for a Roadmaster. Your review was very informative. I have narrowed my choices to a Victory Cross Country Tour and the Indian Roadmaster. Thanks Craig. This was very helpful.
Hi Craig! Thanks for the vid - very informative and helpful. In March I´ll be doing a coast to coast tour Orlando - Los Angeles either with an Indian Roadmaster or an Indian Scout.
Very cool! The Scout would be a challenge for me to ride coast to coast. I am getting older so I am afraid my back would not be happy with me after a few days. But the Roadmaster would be a breeze! If you are going to going to blog about your trip, let us know. I am sure there are a few of us that would like to follow along. Be safe and have a great time!
Craig Ripley You´re probably right! Taking the Roadmaster for that long trip could be way more comfortable. But since I´m used to ride my beloved VMAX1700 in Germany in the alps I´m pretty used to not having a wind screen or loads of storage capacity. For storage I´m taking my other bike - the FJR 1300 ES. Doing a coast to coast tour in the U.S. for the first time I definately would like to ride the tale of the dragon - hope it´s not snowing end of March. And of course a bit of Route66 plus Canyonland. Thanks for your kind tip with doing a blog - I think I´ll post it on one of my websites www.vmax1700.de. It would be great if some fellow bikers from the U.S. could accompany me on some miles along the road! I´d highly appreciate it!
slinilo Sounds like you have a great trip planned. The Scout will definitely be more fun on the dragon. Just watched your video from the Dolomites (I believe) beautiful scenery. I have to get over to Europe one of these days to do some riding. Since you are going to be on an Indian, you might try posting in some of the Indian Motorcycle Riders Group (IMRG) forums and see if you can get some folks to join you on the way. I am not sure about the weather in NC and TN at the end of March, but we can still have snow up in New England. I would think the roads should be clear by then. Try to hit the dragon during the week. The weekends can get pretty busy.
another awesome review thx.....i have a question....i am wanting a bike for day rides and maybe 2-7 day rides....i will never have a passenger....so do you think this bike is over kill for me ? should i stick to a Chieftain....would storage be ample for me ???? interested in your thoughts...thank you
Would it be overkill...no. I ride my Vision solo. It really depends on what you want. The Roadmaster has more comfortable saddle and better wind protection along with the extra storage space. However, you could do what you want with a Chieftain. If you need more storage just throw a roll bag on the back. There is obviously a cost difference as well. Ride them both and see which one you like better. Make sure you get out on the Interstate and feel the difference in wind protection.
Craig Ripley thx for your thoughts.....i went with the roadmaster...pick it up next wednesday...stoked....having vance and hines turn down pipes put on and a big sucker performance air intake along with mapping.......soooooo can not wait to hear t and ride some good fun miles with friends...again thx for this review..i took out 14 bikes for rides the last 3 months and the indians were my choice....they fit all my needs and wants...cheers and safe riding
I bought what I can afford, the Road Master was too expensive for me. I'm a working man and can't afford the best of everything. I bought my 17 Heritage when they were closing them out, around 17k the only thing I added was the backrest with storage rack and a small Garmin that fits perfectly on the back of the headlight. I have a large T-bag that holds everything, the saddlebags do keep out the water, I just have to unclasp each lock and I'm ready to go. We even kept some cold beer in for the end of the ride. Thanks for sharing.Gary
Great review! Been looking at the Roadmaster for a couple years now. May pull the trigger next summer, that is, if the test ride with wife goes well. Want to setup a test ride with indian to get her out on it. We will be making a big change - going from a Yamaha FJR to the Roadmaster? Still unsure about that. Thanks for the review!
Thank you, glad you like the video! Going from the FJR to the Roadmaster will be a big change. The Roadmaster will not be as fun to ride in the twisties, but it will probably be more comfortable, especially for your wife. Good luck with your choice.
Great review, thank you. I have a quick question about your Vision. How or what do you use to clean the windshield. I am eyeballing several touring bikes right now and have been on my Harley Heritage Classic for almost 8 years now. My windshield just pops off and then I use hot soapy water and a textured sponge (like the ones at the gas station) along with the garden hose. Then I use the blower feature on my shop vac. Kind of a pain in the ass but it works like a charm and after nearly 60,000 miles, my windshield is nearly scratch free and looks pretty darn good. I see guys at gas stations out on the road cleaning theirs with a micro fiber towel and a can of ammonia free glass cleaner. Just wondering how you clean your Vision.
grayboo212 I use Original Bike Spirits and a micro fiber towel. It works great for removing bugs if you spray it on and let in soak in for a minute or so. I pretty much use it everywhere on the bike.
Just picked up the Roadmaster. Year end deal...Chieftain on steroids. But I'm glad I can take all the bags and leg fairings off for round about riding and save them for the long trips. Only thing I don't like is the tank emblem. The Chieftain war bonnett sticker looks better.
Hey there Craig, i've watched your vid review and your comparisons to the other bikes you mentioned, i've been looking months at differant bikes and the Indian, when you said the HD ultra Limited was the same pretty much at price that is true, but it is missing a heated seat for pilot and passenger so an upgrade would have to bring it to the Roadmaster. btw it is harder to reach the windscreen buttons on the roadmaster but for me it would be harder on your victory moving my thumb to an upward position and my arthrits and i have pretty big hands, but a little closer would be nice. FYI Thanks enjoyed your vid review
Good point on the heated seats, and I admit the windscreen button is a very minor issue. Overall, the Roadmaster is a great bike and you have to look pretty hard to find any substantial issues with it. Thanks!
i just got indian vintage and im considering buy roadmaster diamond blue but i heard that inner faring will be changed 2017 with screen and navigation is that right ?
+drivethrow I have heard the same rumor as you, but Polaris is pretty tight lipped about changes. logic says that they will have to so something like that to keep up with HD, but when it will happen is anyone's guess.
+Jeremiah Heath Sorry, I just found your question. It got stuck in spam for some reason. I did not notice much difference in heat between the two bikes. However it was a typical early fall day when I road both--in the 70's--so my test rides are not a good indication of what they would be like on a hot summer day.
As a long time Vision owner, (currently have 2011) I am curious as to what upgrades (as you stated in video) would be need to bring it up to the level of the Roadmaster? As far as I am aware of mine has all the bells and whistles that the Roadmaster would have, with the exception of LED lighting on the Roadmaster but then my Vision has HID lighting. BTW I really like your approach to making an honest and concise review.
Good question. I love my Vision and will not be trading it anytime soon, however it is lacking in some of the modern electronics that you would expect too find on today's luxury touring bikes. The Roadmaster for example has the LED lighting you mention plus built in running lights, keyless ignition, remote locking bags and trunk, tire pressure monitoring system and a 200 watt stereo with bluetooth integration. Now...none of those things necessarily make it a better motorcycle as far as ride and handling goes. And thanks for the kind words!
Oh Yea, forgot to mention, Sub'd and Thumbs up. Which do you prefer the Roadmaster or the Naked Springfield sort of ride? I rode for 40 years using the best gear money could buy. Went through leathers, Aerostitch... but the best of all was the motoport. With that on and a awesome Shark Helmet, the on-coming wind at even 80 mph did not bother me in the least. I road tested a roadmaster, and I have to say I really liked it. I am truly torn between a Springfield and the Roadmaster.
If I was riding by myself, I would probably go with the simplicity of the Springfield. I could throw on a rack and some soft bags if I need them. But if you want the radio and other electronics, or if you are riding with a passenger, guess you have to go with the Roadmaster. Thanks!
Excessive...I would not call it excessive but the Roadmaster was noticeably hotter than the Chief and Chieftain I have ridden. While moving it was fine, but stopped the lowers do direct the heat to your legs.
if, and it's a BIG "if", i ever decide to retire my '07 Rocket III Classic, THIS is the bike i want. nothing against Harleys and Victorys... i just enjoy torque.... ... a lot!
+Drax68 Your welcome, thanks for watching! I have since trimmed the beard--I was getting tired of getting beat to death on the highway...LOL. While the shorter beard is more comfortable while riding, I have to say I miss it a bit.
+Craig Ripley (Living Off The Slab) right you are... the Rocket III Touring is designed to compete with Harley's Road King, not the full dressers... which is sad. they may lose me to the Indian if and when i'm ready to trade up.... (and it's not like there's a mountain of aftermarket accessories for the Trumpet...) what i like best about my R3 Classic is the torque. the ability to absolutely humiliate V Rods between stoplights is very invigorating! (plus the handling... watching my brother in the mirror drop his road king all over the parking lot during a game of "follow the leader" is amusing, too!)
This is one of your best videos. Are you getting professional help (with the videos I mean...)? Thanks for taking the time and effort to do them. Looking forward to riding together again soon.
It's a nice looking bike, but I would take the Harley over it any day. You can get the 2016 base model Harley Ultra Classic for $23, 500. And it sounds like a motorcycle, at least it does when you put some decent pipes on it. The last thing I want on a bike is a lot of electronic junk. I have no idea why anyone would want a stereo on a bike. It's a motorcycle, not a 2 wheeled car. The sweet rumble of a Harley engine is all the music I need.
America's first motorcycle company. Sorry Polaris you're not America's first motorcycle company. I like to call bullshit when I see it. This is the 4th or incarnation of the company known as Indian.
+pierusofpella How am not letting people ride with they like. If I see something that I believe to be bullshit. I'm going to call them out on it. I'm not stopping anyone from riding what they want. If you want to ride a bike that uses an old Indian man's face, as light bulb on the front fender go for it.
Those bikes look like they were designed by Yamaha or Kawasaki. That, and given the fact that The real Indian motorcycle company went out of business in 1953 or 54, this new company has no association with the original company beside the name. The polaris dealer motorcycle network is still too weak for most people that really tour. With 2 lines of bikes competing against each other, the one that does the worst is a sure bet one will be dropped from production. Where does that leave the riders that bought one?. I guess they can join all the other japanese mfgrs that took on the king , and just didn't last too long. Why don't you do a video about lack of victory resale?.,,,
Your bring up some interesting points... You are correct the original Indian Motorcycle Company went out of business in 1953 and there have been several failed attempts to resurrect the brand over the years (Harley has also gone through at least three different sets of owners). Polaris tried to go head to head with HD and had limited success. They realized that the only way to compete with a "legend" is with another legend, thus they purchased Indian. I do not own an Indian and have no plans to purchase one, however I think that Polaris has done a good job with the brand, and the sales do indicate that. They still have a long way to go to get anywhere near HD, but personally I think it is good for we consumers that there is now competition in the heavy cruiser market. Competition tends to make make better products for us to choose from (note the new HD 107 engine). Will the Victory brand eventually be dropped? I have no idea, but I hope not. Polaris says they are committed to a two brand strategy with the Victory brand offering more "performance" oriented bikes. There are still rumors of new types of bikes coming from Victory, but so far we are not seeing anything. I admit as a Victory owner that I am disappointed in what they have done since purchasing Indian in 2011. I would like to see Victory expand out of the cruiser market; let's see a scrambler, a naked sport bike and an adventure touring bike. Give us stuff we have never seen before from an American manufacturer. As far as the Polaris dealer network; it is growing, but of course it is still much smaller than HD. I have not found that this has limited my ability to tour in any way. I have about 60,000 miles on my Victory and other than routine maintenance, I have not had any issues. I mean no disrespect, but will not be doing a video about Victory resale values, because it is just not important to me. I do not by motorcycles as investments or to turn them over every year or so. I buy them to ride, and I will continue to ride my Vision as long as it continues to do the job. I will probably have so many miles on it and so many scratches that I will have to pay someone to haul it off. Thanks for you input!
Great write up . I just bought the RoadMaster March 14 and I can not get off it. It has been in the 40s and 50s with the sun out and have put a thousand miles on it already. This has got to be the best cruiser I have ever owned. I road the harley, Honda, and both victory and choice the ROADMASTER. Buy one you won't be disappointed !
Thanks Mike. The Roadmaster is a great bike, enjoy!
I live in Texas, and I agree with everything you stated in your review. One thing: no one is talking about if the different riding styles depending on where you live. Here in Texas, that 111 engine will cook you! I purchased a heat shield which helps tremendously.
My wife has gone Indian CRAZY! She has hats, shirts, and pins. We previously owned a Kawasaki Vulcan, which I liked. But my wife and I loved the style of the Indian. She'll make me come home to ride her somewhere; anywhere.
Thanks again for a great video.
regrcm Glad you enjoyed the video, thanks! I agree, of course the riding conditions make a difference. I know that there are a lot of folks that live in Florida and they take the summer off and ride during winter, just the opposite of what we do up here in New England. Bottom like is that these bikes have big engines that give off a good deal of heat. It come with the territory.
And it is good that you have a wife that enjoys riding with you...much better than the alternative, plus she will understand when you come home with more chrome :)
The demo truck came to town last weekend so I took the 2017 for a jaunt. Fantastic bike. Smooth, well balanced, and that 111 is all business. Polaris has done a great job. If a quality tour bike is what you're after, don't ignore the Roadmaster.
I agree, if you are in the market for a full dressed touring bike, the Roadmaster should be on your list of bikes to check out.
Tried 1 out in Edmonton, Canada last fall. I liked the bike a lot. Everything you said was what I found out. But the sound system was superior to the Gold Wing. It would read all the songs off of my USB drive, which are in a wave lossless format. The Gold Wing radio did not. The Honda salesman said well your going down the highway and sound isn't an issue. Well for $30,000 it should read it. My $100 Pioneer reads the info. Good video
there's a great following, enchantment and romanticism with v twin motorcycle engines, they seem to have the greatest interest among riders. even though other configurations are more powerful, smoother,practical and economical they aren't the most popular and that will definitely impact your following
Craig:
I am considering trading my 10 HD Limited for a Roadmaster. Your review was very informative. I have narrowed my choices to a Victory Cross Country Tour and the Indian Roadmaster. Thanks Craig. This was very helpful.
Thank you, glad it was helpful. You cannot go wrong with either of your choices. They are both great bikes.
Great review. I'm picking up a 2015 next week
Great review mate, honest and direct. A1
Hi Craig! Thanks for the vid - very informative and helpful. In March I´ll be doing a coast to coast tour Orlando - Los Angeles either with an Indian Roadmaster or an Indian Scout.
Very cool! The Scout would be a challenge for me to ride coast to coast. I am getting older so I am afraid my back would not be happy with me after a few days. But the Roadmaster would be a breeze! If you are going to going to blog about your trip, let us know. I am sure there are a few of us that would like to follow along.
Be safe and have a great time!
Craig Ripley You´re probably right! Taking the Roadmaster for that long trip could be way more comfortable. But since I´m used to ride my beloved VMAX1700 in Germany in the alps I´m pretty used to not having a wind screen or loads of storage capacity. For storage I´m taking my other bike - the FJR 1300 ES.
Doing a coast to coast tour in the U.S. for the first time I definately would like to ride the tale of the dragon - hope it´s not snowing end of March. And of course a bit of Route66 plus Canyonland.
Thanks for your kind tip with doing a blog - I think I´ll post it on one of my websites www.vmax1700.de.
It would be great if some fellow bikers from the U.S. could accompany me on some miles along the road! I´d highly appreciate it!
slinilo Sounds like you have a great trip planned. The Scout will definitely be more fun on the dragon. Just watched your video from the Dolomites (I believe) beautiful scenery. I have to get over to Europe one of these days to do some riding. Since you are going to be on an Indian, you might try posting in some of the Indian Motorcycle Riders Group (IMRG) forums and see if you can get some folks to join you on the way. I am not sure about the weather in NC and TN at the end of March, but we can still have snow up in New England. I would think the roads should be clear by then. Try to hit the dragon during the week. The weekends can get pretty busy.
Hey Craig, great videos. I am a new subscriber and new to riding. Thanks again...........
Thanks Mike. Welcome to the motorcycle family!
another awesome review thx.....i have a question....i am wanting a bike for day rides and maybe 2-7 day rides....i will never have a passenger....so do you think this bike is over kill for me ? should i stick to a Chieftain....would storage be ample for me ???? interested in your thoughts...thank you
Would it be overkill...no. I ride my Vision solo. It really depends on what you want. The Roadmaster has more comfortable saddle and better wind protection along with the extra storage space. However, you could do what you want with a Chieftain. If you need more storage just throw a roll bag on the back. There is obviously a cost difference as well. Ride them both and see which one you like better. Make sure you get out on the Interstate and feel the difference in wind protection.
Craig Ripley thx for your thoughts.....i went with the roadmaster...pick it up next wednesday...stoked....having vance and hines turn down pipes put on and a big sucker performance air intake along with mapping.......soooooo can not wait to hear t and ride some good fun miles with friends...again thx for this review..i took out 14 bikes for rides the last 3 months and the indians were my choice....they fit all my needs and wants...cheers and safe riding
I bought what I can afford, the Road Master was too expensive for me. I'm a working man and can't afford the best of everything. I bought my 17 Heritage when they were closing them out, around 17k the only thing I added was the backrest with storage rack and a small Garmin that fits perfectly on the back of the headlight. I have a large T-bag that holds everything, the saddlebags do keep out the water, I just have to unclasp each lock and I'm ready to go. We even kept some cold beer in for the end of the ride. Thanks for sharing.Gary
Nothing wrong the Heritage. As long as you are riding and having a good time, that is what counts. Ride safe!
Awesomeness is evident here
Great review! Been looking at the Roadmaster for a couple years now. May pull the trigger next summer, that is, if the test ride with wife goes well. Want to setup a test ride with indian to get her out on it. We will be making a big change - going from a Yamaha FJR to the Roadmaster? Still unsure about that. Thanks for the review!
Thank you, glad you like the video! Going from the FJR to the Roadmaster will be a big change. The Roadmaster will not be as fun to ride in the twisties, but it will probably be more comfortable, especially for your wife. Good luck with your choice.
Great review, thank you. I have a quick question about your Vision. How or what do you use to clean the windshield. I am eyeballing several touring bikes right now and have been on my Harley Heritage Classic for almost 8 years now. My windshield just pops off and then I use hot soapy water and a textured sponge (like the ones at the gas station) along with the garden hose. Then I use the blower feature on my shop vac. Kind of a pain in the ass but it works like a charm and after nearly 60,000 miles, my windshield is nearly scratch free and looks pretty darn good. I see guys at gas stations out on the road cleaning theirs with a micro fiber towel and a can of ammonia free glass cleaner. Just wondering how you clean your Vision.
grayboo212 I use Original Bike Spirits and a micro fiber towel. It works great for removing bugs if you spray it on and let in soak in for a minute or so. I pretty much use it everywhere on the bike.
Just picked up the Roadmaster. Year end deal...Chieftain on steroids. But I'm glad I can take all the bags and leg fairings off for round about riding and save them for the long trips. Only thing I don't like is the tank emblem. The Chieftain war bonnett sticker looks better.
+Marked Man Enjoy and ride safe!
Hey there Craig, i've watched your vid review and your comparisons to the other bikes you mentioned, i've been looking months at differant bikes and the Indian, when you said the HD ultra Limited was the same pretty much at price that is true, but it is missing a heated seat for pilot and passenger so an upgrade would have to bring it to the Roadmaster. btw it is harder to reach the windscreen buttons on the roadmaster but for me it would be harder on your victory moving my thumb to an upward position and my arthrits and i have pretty big hands, but a little closer would be nice. FYI Thanks enjoyed your vid review
Good point on the heated seats, and I admit the windscreen button is a very minor issue. Overall, the Roadmaster is a great bike and you have to look pretty hard to find any substantial issues with it.
Thanks!
Craig Ripley No heated seats on the HD but it does have CB radio which I think the Indian lacks. Nice review Craig.
Great video.. sheds a lot of insight. Thank you!
Ty for the reviews on the Roadmaster and the Limited .... looking for a Tourer and its between those two bikes. Still a tough choice tho.
+bugman916 You are welcome! Both are nice bikes. Basically you just have to ride them both and get the one you like best.Thanks for watching.
i just got indian vintage and im considering buy roadmaster diamond blue but i heard that inner faring will be changed 2017 with screen and navigation is that right ?
+drivethrow I have heard the same rumor as you, but Polaris is pretty tight lipped about changes. logic says that they will have to so something like that to keep up with HD, but when it will happen is anyone's guess.
am off to the bike show at NEC Birmingham UK take a look at The Indian stand . Keeping my Rocket 3 Touring though
+Michael Holmes Have fun!
Really like the video. What are yours thoughts between the ultra limited and roadmaster? Does the ultra limited have much less heat?
+Jeremiah Heath Sorry, I just found your question. It got stuck in spam for some reason. I did not notice much difference in heat between the two bikes. However it was a typical early fall day when I road both--in the 70's--so my test rides are not a good indication of what they would be like on a hot summer day.
Très bon reportage. Il raconte les vrais choses. Merci
+Jacques Bibeau Je vous remercie. Voilà ce que je tente de faire, juste donner mon avis honnête .
As a long time Vision owner, (currently have 2011) I am curious as to what upgrades (as you stated in video) would be need to bring it up to the level of the Roadmaster? As far as I am aware of mine has all the bells and whistles that the Roadmaster would have, with the exception of LED lighting on the Roadmaster but then my Vision has HID lighting. BTW I really like your approach to making an honest and concise review.
Good question.
I love my Vision and will not be trading it anytime soon, however it is lacking in some of the modern electronics that you would expect too find on today's luxury touring bikes. The Roadmaster for example has the LED lighting you mention plus built in running lights, keyless ignition, remote locking bags and trunk, tire pressure monitoring system and a 200 watt stereo with bluetooth integration. Now...none of those things necessarily make it a better motorcycle as far as ride and handling goes.
And thanks for the kind words!
Interesting the woman on the bike at 0:52 is also the 'passenger of choice' in the 2015 yamaha cruiser catalog. Guess she has connections! :)
Oh Yea, forgot to mention, Sub'd and Thumbs up. Which do you prefer the Roadmaster or the Naked Springfield sort of ride? I rode for 40 years using the best gear money could buy. Went through leathers, Aerostitch... but the best of all was the motoport. With that on and a awesome Shark Helmet, the on-coming wind at even 80 mph did not bother me in the least. I road tested a roadmaster, and I have to say I really liked it. I am truly torn between a Springfield and the Roadmaster.
If I was riding by myself, I would probably go with the simplicity of the Springfield. I could throw on a rack and some soft bags if I need them. But if you want the radio and other electronics, or if you are riding with a passenger, guess you have to go with the Roadmaster. Thanks!
Did you notice excessive heat on the legs with the 111 engine? I test rode some Chieftans and to me they all seemed hot to the point of distraction.
Excessive...I would not call it excessive but the Roadmaster was noticeably hotter than the Chief and Chieftain I have ridden. While moving it was fine, but stopped the lowers do direct the heat to your legs.
I usually don't leave a comment, but on this video I'll make an exception.
Thanks!
Good Review!
Thanks!
Outstanding review !!! Haters just got to hate lol
if, and it's a BIG "if", i ever decide to retire my '07 Rocket III Classic, THIS is the bike i want.
nothing against Harleys and Victorys... i just enjoy torque....
... a lot!
Thanks for the good info. Looking a bit like Rev. Billy on this one.
+Drax68 Your welcome, thanks for watching! I have since trimmed the beard--I was getting tired of getting beat to death on the highway...LOL. While the shorter beard is more comfortable while riding, I have to say I miss it a bit.
For 25k navigation is not available, it's on the Harley and others why not on the Indian?
CUFBOOMER I think that is a valid criticism.
That transmission is the best i've ever riden
It is definitely much better than the Victory transmissions. The Scout transmission is even better, IMHO. Thanks!
how come Triumph's Rocket 3 never got a mench ?
I only listed full dressers as direct competitors to the Roadmaster. the Rocket 3 only comes with a windshield and side bags as far as I am aware.
+Craig Ripley (Living Off The Slab) right you are... the Rocket III Touring is designed to compete with Harley's Road King, not the full dressers...
which is sad. they may lose me to the Indian if and when i'm ready to trade up.... (and it's not like there's a mountain of aftermarket accessories for the Trumpet...)
what i like best about my R3 Classic is the torque. the ability to absolutely humiliate V Rods between stoplights is very invigorating! (plus the handling... watching my brother in the mirror drop his road king all over the parking lot during a game of "follow the leader" is amusing, too!)
+myrryxmas The Rocket 3 is a cool bike. Thanks and ride safe!
This is one of your best videos.
Are you getting professional help (with the videos I mean...)?
Thanks for taking the time and effort to do them.
Looking forward to riding together again soon.
Dana Clark Thanks Dana! No it is just me...
Does this bike have Intercom and a cb
No I do not believe those options do are available. But not 100 % sure.
They do not offer that option with the Roadmaster. You would need to purchase a bluetooth system for communication.
You're beard should be incorporated in wind tunnel testing. It's the industry buffeting-detecting canary for motorcycle design.
Yes, I agree. That is why I have actually trimmed it. Got tired of getting whipped every time I rode. Thanks!
through director italian volunteer silent nod
Thanks!
If I ever buy motorcycle with stereo I will know I got old.
Here's to living long enough to want a stereo...
I can drink for that :)
It's a nice looking bike, but I would take the Harley over it any day. You can get the 2016 base model Harley Ultra Classic for $23, 500. And it sounds like a motorcycle, at least it does when you put some decent pipes on it. The last thing I want on a bike is a lot of electronic junk. I have no idea why anyone would want a stereo on a bike. It's a motorcycle, not a 2 wheeled car. The sweet rumble of a Harley engine is all the music I need.
Thanks for your input.
America's first motorcycle company. Sorry Polaris you're not America's first motorcycle company. I like to call bullshit when I see it. This is the 4th or incarnation of the company known as Indian.
+Angel D Thanks for sharing, but I have nothing to do with Indian Motorcycles. I am just a guy having fun riding and making videos. Ride safe!
+pierusofpella More like revisionist history. If you want to believe the lies that your problem
+pierusofpella How am not letting people ride with they like. If I see something that I believe to be bullshit. I'm going to call them out on it. I'm not stopping anyone from riding what they want. If you want to ride a bike that uses an old Indian man's face, as light bulb on the front fender go for it.
You forget Harley was owned by AMF, therefore, I wasn't "Harley-Davidson" anymore until the workers bought it back just before it was going under.
Those bikes look like they were designed by Yamaha or Kawasaki. That, and given the fact that The real Indian motorcycle company went out of business in 1953 or 54, this new company has no association with the original company beside the name. The polaris dealer motorcycle network is still too weak for most people that really tour. With 2 lines of bikes competing against each other, the one that does the worst is a sure bet one will be dropped from production. Where does that leave the riders that bought one?. I guess they can join all the other japanese mfgrs that took on the king , and just didn't last too long. Why don't you do a video about lack of victory resale?.,,,
Your bring up some interesting points...
You are correct the original Indian Motorcycle Company went out of business in 1953 and there have been several failed attempts to resurrect the brand over the years (Harley has also gone through at least three different sets of owners).
Polaris tried to go head to head with HD and had limited success. They realized that the only way to compete with a "legend" is with another legend, thus they purchased Indian. I do not own an Indian and have no plans to purchase one, however I think that Polaris has done a good job with the brand, and the sales do indicate that. They still have a long way to go to get anywhere near HD, but personally I think it is good for we consumers that there is now competition in the heavy cruiser market. Competition tends to make make better products for us to choose from (note the new HD 107 engine).
Will the Victory brand eventually be dropped? I have no idea, but I hope not. Polaris says they are committed to a two brand strategy with the Victory brand offering more "performance" oriented bikes. There are still rumors of new types of bikes coming from Victory, but so far we are not seeing anything. I admit as a Victory owner that I am disappointed in what they have done since purchasing Indian in 2011. I would like to see Victory expand out of the cruiser market; let's see a scrambler, a naked sport bike and an adventure touring bike. Give us stuff we have never seen before from an American manufacturer.
As far as the Polaris dealer network; it is growing, but of course it is still much smaller than HD. I have not found that this has limited my ability to tour in any way. I have about 60,000 miles on my Victory and other than routine maintenance, I have not had any issues.
I mean no disrespect, but will not be doing a video about Victory resale values, because it is just not important to me. I do not by motorcycles as investments or to turn them over every year or so. I buy them to ride, and I will continue to ride my Vision as long as it continues to do the job. I will probably have so many miles on it and so many scratches that I will have to pay someone to haul it off.
Thanks for you input!
This is a wonderful bike! You must be one of those HD lovers I assume. I ride a Kawasaki Concours 14 but. Onsidering to add the Indian too.
Good review, I liked how honest it was.