Indian Motorcycle to launch riders group

Indian Motorcycle is preparing to launch the ‘Indian Motorcycle Riders Group’ (IMRG).

The announcement was made during the media launch of the all-new Scout cruiser in New Zealand this afternoon, with full details of the new venture to be made public at the upcoming Moto Expo in Melbourne from November 28-30.

We do know that membership will be free in the first 12 months to all people who purchase a new Indian Motorcycle, and that a national rally is being planned for 2015, with state-based events likely to follow in due course as the group develops a critical mass.

IMRG will be established in both Australia and New Zealand, with a structure that “follows the same tenants as the US model”. IMRG will be co-ordinated internally at Indian Motorcycle.

Of course, all new buyers of the Scout will be eligible to join IMRG and, based on the fact that the first two shipments of the bike for Australia have already been sold out, there’s going to be quite a few of them.

Indian Motorcycle personnel wouldn’t divulge exact numbers, but that equates to more than 100 pre-sold Scouts, for a bike which, according to Polaris’ head of motorcycles for Asia-Pacific, Ross Clifford, “bridges a lot of gaps” in its appeal to a wide cross-section of motorcyclists.

As well as establishing the riders’ group, in 2015 Indian Motorcycle also has plans to continue expanding its dealer network in Australia, which will include filling one gaping hole – Perth. Peter Nochar, the former boss of Harley-Davidson Australia, has been tasked with that job in his new role as director of sales/network, while Indian Motorcycle will continue to develop its accessories lines, which has huge growth potential.

The Scout, which will go on sale in Australia for $17,995 rideaway, is powered by a 1133cc water-cooled engine, and produces 100hp and 98Nm (at 5900rpm) – so it obviously does like to rev. It also has a wet weight of 253kg, which for a cruiser is impressive.

We’ll put its sporting bona-fides to the test on a 190km loop tomorrow, but at sub 20K the Scout has already changed the dynamics for Indian Motorcycle in Australia. If the new Scout manages to give a nod to its heritage and also produce the goods in a contemporary, functional sense, then we’re onto a winner.

The Scout will be officially launched to the public at Moto Expo.