Iconic American motorcycle company Indian has released images of its first 2012 model to roll off its Iowa production lines after being taken over by power sports company Polaris.
The 2012 Indian Chief, nicknamed the Polaris-Indian Bike #1, was shown on Indian Motorcycle Company's Facebook page, and is essentially a continuation of what the company has been building for the past few years.
Powered by 105ci (1720cc) fuel injected, air-cooled V-twin engine, using pushrods to actuate the valves, the Indian Chief #1 is fitted out with plenty of extras, including leather trimmed seat and saddle bags (with tassles), chrome trim and a pair of driving lights flanking the large headlight.
Only one visible change appears to have been made since Polaris took over, which can been seen in the lower front forks which no longer have chrome covers.
The Indian Motorcycle Company released a press statement saying the first motorcycle to roll off the Spirit Lake production line in Iowa "marked a new chapter in the long history of the Indian Motorcycle brand".
It is the first Polaris-built Indian and the company says it is "...honoured and proud to have hit this milestone, and continues to gear up for full production it the Spirit Lake plant.
"Things are off to a great start," continues the statement, "and the Indian Motorcycle teams in Spirit Lake, Iowa, Osceola, WI, Wyoming, MN, and at the Polaris Headquarters in Medina, MN, are working hard to deliver the best Indian motorcycle yet."
The 'best Indian motorcycle yet' will be an all-new model, the "next generation" Indian that is expected to break cover in 2012, badged as a 2013 model. An image of this all-new bike - believed to leverage Victory technology - was leaked in July 2011 (see third image).
With cashed-up Polaris injecting large amounts of capital back into the Indian brand, we can expect a slew of new models in the next decade, and it will be interesting to see if Polaris allows Indian to return to its roots of power and performance, or whether it's new direction will follow the Victory and Harley-Davidson path of evocative cruisers.
Indian motorcycles are expected to come to Australia in near future, though no official time line has been confirmed.
Read the latest Bikesales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at the Bikesales Network's mobile site. Or download the all-new App.