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[Grizzly]

I wonder how long it will take someone to figure out how to put a batwing fairing on a Chieftain?

Problem solved.
 

[HD4CPA]

The fairing chrome is hideous...

X2

[CVO Brian]

Charlie said it best. I was just in Sturgis for the un vailing. I was very curious because my Dad owned a Chief and Harleys so I wanted to check it out. Bike is just Ugly. They are all over the place. Front Fairing looks like a GoldWing, Saddlebags are Victory and Fenders are just too much period. The engine sounds nice but looks different. They did have a Fatboy / RoadKing Style with Leather Tan bags and Matching seat with some very cool handlebars. In Blue and in Red with Fishtail pipes. Now that bike had potential at 22K a bit steep in my opinion though.
When will other Bike companies realize Round hard bags on a Touring Bike are Ugly. Indian had their shot here, If it were me I would have put Stretched Bags, A variation of the Batwing and some Apes. To each his own. I went, I saw and I was very disappointed.

[VaEagle]

I just got in the mail the September 2013 edition of American Iron Magazine and the cover story is on the Indian. About 5 page story inside that I haven't read yet.....

[Fullsac Performance]

Ok, where's our resident photo shop pros? Please come forward, we need your help.
Maybe with some photo editing for the Chieftain we can save it from certain doom amongst the CVO crowd.

Here's a starting list of changes.
I'm with others, lets loose the chrome on the fairing.
The cat eye turn signals are not working either, maybe they can be smoked or removed, sorta blended?
The top radius on the windshield needs to be flattened, it too vintage.
Flatten the saddlebag lids too? More Harleyish.

Everybody toss in your .02 in and we can get this thing fixed! Lol...

Steve

[Midnight Rider]

The fairing is likely a cross of form and function, since it was wind tunnel tested for maximum efficiency in blocking wind/buffeting, so I wouldn't be too quick to judge based totally on looks.  The bags follow the lines of the fender, are probably very easy to open/close, appear to be easy to remove...again, a function/form thing.

HD is stuck on form taking precedence over function, regardless of the outcome to the rider.  I can remember when the more "rounded" design of cars began...a lot of people did not like them because they were used to seeing angular/straight edges.

The front fender on an Indian has always been a love/hate thing for me, but this bike works for me in terms of how the lines flow from front to rear.  It would look strange to have angular hard bags on this bike's design.  IMO

[Midnight Rider]

I think a nice set of lowers, designed to follow the lines of the fender and bags, would take some of the "weight" off the look of the fairing and balance things out a little better.

[Skipper]

X2

[Midnight Rider]

I don't think they'll be call 'Indian" here in Canada..... probably "First Nation People'.....most of them wont work, but, on the up-side, if you have one the gov't will give it handouts.....

Wow...that's all I'm going to say...

[VaEagle]

I don't think they'll be call 'Indian" here in Canada..... probably "First Nation People'.....most of them wont work, but, on the up-side, if you have one the gov't will give it handouts.....

[Grizzly]

Midnight Rider makes some great points... Except personally I like the vintage looking fenders, after all it IS an Indian.

I think Dwayne went a tad too far with comments regarding Indians in Canada though.  I just hope the new bikes don't smoke as much as our Native Canadians appear to.  Can't believe how many cases are shipped onto reservations each and every week!  But that's a whole other story. 

[Twolanerider]

I'm just waiting for the letter to the Dealers from Mother Harley explaining that the Road Glide's delay will instead be until 2016 rather than 2015; because the new Indian looks just like what Harley had planned so they have to start over .

[North Georgia Hawg]

I'm just waiting for the letter to the Dealers from Mother Harley explaining that the Road Glide's delay will instead be until 2016 rather than 2015; because the new Indian looks just like what Harley had planned so they have to start over .

 

Ken

[Grizzly]

I'm just waiting for the letter to the Dealers from Mother Harley explaining that the Road Glide's delay will instead be until 2016 rather than 2015; because the new Indian looks just like what Harley had planned so they have to start over .

Ah, ha!  Now we just have to figure out who at Indian use to work at Mother Harley or is there possibly a mole???

Interesting thought Twolane.

[North Georgia Hawg]

Ah, ha!  Now we just have to figure out who at Indian use to work at Mother Harley or is there possibly a mole???

Interesting thought Twolane.

The new Indians may be great bikes... But they have a WHOLE LOT TO LEARN about making a fairing that doesn't look like a friggin' ABORTION...

Oh, and saddlebags, too...

I'll be keepin' the Honey Badger for the time bein'...

Ken