Indian Motorcycle unveils 2009 Chief

With cruiser sales in the toilet and the U.S. economy going from bad to worse, 2008 might not be the best time to re-launch the legendary Indian brand, but that’s exactly what’s happening. Will the third try be a charm? Only time will tell if the new Indian Motorcycle company, in Kings Mountain, N.C., will be able to succeed where the original Indian (1901-53) and its follow-up California Motorcycle Company (1999-2003) failed.

On Friday, the new manufacturer of the old marque unveiled pictures of its pre-production Chief.

The new Indian, which is owned by the London-based private equity firm Stellican, is in its last phase of testing for the new Chief, which will be made in four different versions -- Standard, Deluxe, Roadmaster and Vintage -- and range in price from $30,999 to $35,499. Indian plans to show the new Chief live at the Sturgis Rally in early August, and hopes to launch production in late summer or early fall of 2008. Just 750 motorcycles are planned for the first year, and only one dealership is currently set up -- the company flagship in North Carolina -- but Indian hopes to have 30 dealers established by the end of 2008, one of which will be in L.A.