Indian Motorcycle have confirmed that they will double down on their roots for the foreseeable future, focusing solely on cruiser, bagger, and touring models after being acquired by private equity firm Carolwood LP for an undisclosed sum.
Following the split from former parent company Polaris, newly appointed CEO Mike Kennedy told MCN the brand is refocussing after becoming fully independent on February 2, moving away from what he described as recent “distractions”.
In practical terms, that means no plans to bring back the recently discontinued FTR1200, or delve into cheaper small-capacity machines, and they certainly won’t be dipping a toe into the world of electric bikes.
“I think it’s an exciting time,” said Kennedy. “We’re going from being part of a $12bn, 10,000-employee organisation with a highly diversified product line – boats, motorcycles, off-road vehicles, ATVs, UTVs – to a 900-person standalone company that is singularly focused on the motorcycle business.
“That concept is underappreciated. While Polaris is a great organisation, our team now has one thing to worry about: motorcycles, the dealers that sell them, and making sure we’re taking care of our riders.”
The new CEO went on to add that while electric bikes have their place in the wider industry, they certainly do not in Indian’s line-up.
“We’re going to be laser-focused,” he said. “People ask me, ‘Are you going to get into electric? What about small bikes? What about adventure bikes?’ All that is fair game down the road, but our product strategy out of the gate is cruisers, baggers and touring.
“When we put all our product development, sales and marketing efforts into those categories, we’re going to outperform even more than we already are. If we’re successful, you’ll see the brand as it is now, but on a larger scale.”
“Our market share is growing,” Kennedy added. “We’re [already] performing extremely well in areas like Mexico and Germany; Europe as a whole is very important to us.”
Pressed on whether that leaves the door open for future leftfield projects, Kennedy added: “I don’t like the word ‘never’, but our product strategy is anchored in cruiser and touring. If we’re distracted with other ‘exciting’ projects, that’s going to take away from our resources.
“We won’t be closed-minded about how our product plan needs to shift over time,” he added. “But when you look at the global cruiser, bagger and touring segments, the upside potential for us is significant.
“Quite frankly, there have been distractions over the last five or six years with this brand trying to do too much. I’m absolutely convinced that when we focus on those segments, we’ll accelerate the leverage we already have.”
Despite an explosion in popularity for smaller-capacity machines for many main players in the market, including Triumph, Honda, and Royal Enfield, aiming for the cheaper end of the spectrum is equally not on the radar.
To do so would put the marque in the firing line of the influx of cut-price metal flooding the market from parts of Asia, and that’s not a fight Kennedy intends to take on.
“There are incredible competitors emerging globally,” the CEO said. “We have to be conscious of that dynamic. For me, the strategy is as much about the lanes we choose to be in as it is about what we choose not to be. We’re going to make sure we play our game.”
Indian’s current entry point remains the Scout Sixty Bobber which had previously been removed from sale in Europe due to emissions regulations, priced at $9,999 in the US, while UK customers pay £10,995 for the same model.
Alongside their product focus, Indian are also placing renewed emphasis on strengthening their global dealer network, with Kennedy pledging to deliver what he believes should be the “strongest dealer relationship on the planet”.
The latest example of this expansion comes with the appointment of family-owned North West franchise Oakmere Motorcycles as Indian Motorcycle Cheshire, adding to Indian’s already 600-strong global dealer network.
As part of the transition to new ownership, Indian will continue to base all manufacturing out of existing facilities in Spirit Lake, Iowa, and Monticello, Minnesota.
The design, technology, and product development will also continue in the existing research and development centres in Burgdorf, Switzerland and Wyoming, Minnesota.
This year marks 125 years of Indian, making it the oldest motorcycle manufacturer in the US, narrowly piping Harley-Davidson to the accolade by three years.
To celebrate their one-and-a-quarter century lineage, Indian have promised a series of special builds throughout 2026, kicking off with their recently launched Chief Vintage cruiser.
Bagger racing here to stay
Indian have confirmed a multi-year factory commitment to MotoAmerica’s King of the Baggers (KOTB) championship, announcing a new partnership with Vance & Hines Motorsports for the 2026 season, which kicks off on March 5-7.
Since the inaugural season in 2020, Indian machines have won three of the six available KOTB titles, achieved in partnership with S&S Cycle.
The factory team will contest the championship with a three-rider line-up: 2024 Baggers champion Troy Herfoss, 2023 title winner Hayden Gillim, and Rocco Landers.
All three riders will compete aboard all-new Vance & Hines-built Challenger race bikes powered by Indian’s 112 cubic-inch PowerPlus V-Twin motor – a platform that grew to 1834cc last year from its previous 1768cc (108 cubic-inch) after development during the 2023 and 2024 KOTB series, before being debuted for the brand’s road bikes last year.
The MCN take
It is a shame to hear that small-capacity bikes and flat track-inspired outliers like the FTR are currently off the menu, but Kennedy’s comments about staying in one’s lane certainly sound like a reasonable stance to take right now – especially in a market that is increasingly uncertain and crowded to the brim with new and impressively priced machines from brands you may not have heard of until yesterday.
Indian have been in the business longer than many countries have existed, so it’s fair to say they’ve got their cruiser formula nailed – no doubts about that. Perhaps sticking with what they’re best at, and trimming the fat elsewhere, will bring America’s oldest motorcycle maker another 125 years.
