There's nothing quite like the open road in the summertime -- the wind blowing through your hair and bugs getting lodged in your teeth.
And while Harley-Davidson
The heyday of Indian Motorcycle may be long gone, but in an industry where distinctive style and an old-school brands are still meaningful, Polaris may be on to something. Its Victory motorcycles have never made a major dent in the hold that Harley has on the market, but Indian is another story. Indian Motorcycle has a long history that can be appreciated by riders, who appear to be coming back in force. Ducati made a similar comeback in sport bikes, and I think the odds of another comeback are strong.
Indian Motorcycle was held by a private equity firm, and the announcement was short on details -- so we don't know exactly how the company is doing -- but we take cues from at least one press release. In August last year, the company announced that sales were up 80% year over year as it added more dealers worldwide. With the network of Polaris dealers now in the mix, I would think that kind of success could continue.
Recreation is back
The economy may not be back to full strength, but those with disposable income for big-boy toys are back to spending. That means Harley, Polaris, and recreational vehicle manufacturer Thor Industries are back in style again. Polaris has a head start, but if Harley can get its supply issues figured out, it should be back up and running just in time for Sturgis.