2000 Indian Motorcycle reviews

If you're looking to get lost in the Harley crowd, take it from a long time HD rider...don't buy a Chief! If you're looking for style, a proven and powerful engine, and fit and finish without dropping $5,000 on top of the purchase price, then buy a Chief. I've owned the bike for several months now and just love it. I've read numerous reviews (most from non-owners) who criticize the Indian for being a Harley clone. First, most Harley owners make so many engine and aesthetic modifications that I can't quite figure out when a Harley ceases to be a Harley. Second, this S&S 88 is a bulletproof piece of machinery. In fact, I don't have enough fingers and toes to count the number of Harley owners that have swapped out their Evos for S&S (whole or in part). Third, as far as Indian not making their own engine...one might argue that if the Hanlons had not soaked so many development dollars into their product so early on in the marketing process, they might be looking at a long, successful future rather than the inside of a bankruptcy court. Anyway, I love the bike. I also believe that the majority of cloning in motorcycling is cloning of people and not bikes. Be your own dog. Show less

The bike from a distance is graceful, powerful looking, and elegant. But, I am disappointed when I see other bike others with full floating calipers and better detailing (most of our bikes have a lot hidden by the distraction the large fenders create). I don't know whether I would buy another one of not. This bike needs to price out at no more than $20,000. The Chief is a model that should price out at no more than $14,500. I bought my Chief on impulse, but should have taken a closer look. Time will tell it is was a mistake, I like the bike, but I don't love it. I am also tried of getting crap from H-D riders who complain about our having an S&S engine. Show less

They have a long way to go. THEY should have designed the bike and engine from the ground up and made it an indian instead of a S&S powered clone. Show less

I have had my Indian for a year now and had a few problems, but just as with any new production model or make (ie. car or bike) there are going to be problems that have to be worked out. As far as the price, there are many H-D's out there that just don't compair to the Indian just check out the resale value at www.kbb.com I am proud to be a owner of this beautiful machine. I was looking to buy a H-D but for the price they just can't touch what Indian has to offer. Every H-D owner up grades their ride (chrome, enginge up grades and so on) but with the Indian there is very little that has to be done. Get one and thumb your nose at the H-D riders just as they do to me when I am riding my other play toy a 1984 Honda Sabre 700. What a difference in attiude when I do ride my Indian. #505 Show less

I get told old Iindian stories, from a lot of old men,I'm 54. Most think it is a restoration. Ihad a problem with "smog device" that was fixed at dealer. starts and runs fne, now. Rear shocks need to be adjusted, bottoms out a lot. The biggest thing that Indian needs to do,is advertise. Not mny people know that there being made. A friend, at work, bought a HD Heritage at the same time, all he dose is complain that he will have to spend several thousand dollars to up grade his HD to the crome and aftermarket parts that have standard. IE: grips, pegs, braided cables, crome oil tank etc. I haven't gotten used to turning wit out scraping floor boards, my other bike is a 1978 650 special Yamaha. Show less

I completely agree on the looks and motor performance as beautiful. But this is where it ends for myself, I have owned and road motorcycles for 30 plus years, and never have I had such a bad experience as I have had with Indian. My new 1999 Chief has a problem with ill handling which finally sent me to the highway at about 70 mph, needless to say I didn't look very good after this experience and my Indian is not much better. Indian Motorcycle Company has refused to do anything about this and claims no warranty is to apply. This bike was back into dealer and with many repeated calls about this problem will offer no assistance in fixing the problem or repairing the bike. I would love to hear from anyone else with similar problems or complaints. Show less

This bike is awesome! The styling can't be beat, the S&S powerplant is rock solid and it rides like a dream! I've had my bike for 9 months and already put over 13,000 miles on it (and enjoyed every minute). It has plenty of power to turn it up when you need it but is most fun to just putt like there is no clock to worry about. Those who want to claim it's a clone could say that about just about any bikes built today. (FYI - Indian stopped manufacturing its own engine in the 1920's) And if you want to even try to compare with the Drifter, you're insane. The fit and finish alone puts this bike in a class of its own. The closest H-D is a Heritage Classic (Springer or otherwise) and if you have about $8,000 more to spend on engine, chrome, braided lines and the like you could start to hold them on par. If you want to turn heads and enjoy the ride while your doing it, this is the bike for you. Show less

I have been riding for over 20 years and have tried the Orient express and the brit bikes. I have made several trips of 800 or 1000 miles in a day. This is bike number nine and when I went looking I started with Harley only to find out they had none new on the showroom floor. I have heard that the original engine molds CMC bought were destroyed in a warehouse fire. If you look around the bike it has several parts from top name manufacturers. S&S superstock, Revtech five speed, Thunderheart controls, Corbin seats, tunable exhaust, stretched and raked frame, powder coated and chromed. They do not have a service manual yet and only a few options, I have the leather bags and backrest and they are really made nicely. CMC did a great job and they have been quick to fix problems, many minor changes have been seen on the 2000 and the 100 yr anniversary model in 2001 should really have most of the bugs sorted out. If you get one have the rear shocks set so only about six threads are showing. Mine were so low at about 15 threads that I was bottoming out riding two up and a right hand turn at anything over 20 had me dragging the right rear floorboard mounting bracket bolt attached to the frame. The old folks in the cage behind me were just itching to run me over. A special tool (spanner wrench) is needed to adjust the shocks, it looks easy and the shop has said that many owners bring it in after they screw it up. The newer frames have a better setup for this with no rear frame tab. I have also heard that in the heat the chrome piping on the fenders which appears to be plastic door guard stuff will peel because the adhesive will go away, on a two tone bike it will be more noticeable. This is a quite bike that really turns heads and has people asking if it is a restored 1948. Many have stayed away because of the engine being an aftermarket Harley Part. Even Vincent and Brough superior used J.A.P. engines. To me, my father and older friends have all owned Indians and I could have spent the same money to buy an old Chief. I think if Indian had not gone under this bike would be fairly close to the updated Chief. I certainly enjoy having disc brakes an extra 40 H.P. better lighting and a five speed. Show less

If the bike is to make it Indian needs to step up to the plate and stand behind their bike has Indian showed up to promote their bike? Or fix the problems since they opened dealers the wrong way and pricing all over the board Harley is the best at marketing their bikes Indian needs to learn from that to remove their clone image and bad press Great looks, but too high priced Show less

This bike is nice to look at, but terrible to own. If you own one, it soon becomes a piece of yard art. It's not put together very well at all. To the man who got one for his birthday, you're right the Indian and the Drifter can not be compared. The Drifter is a much better bike. It rides better, is more reliable, and is more comfortable. Show less