Did Harley Do The Unthinkable This Year?

Did Harley copy Indian this year? I'm going to look at the tech, style and character of each bike and tell you if I believe Harley copied Indian.
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[@MattLaidlaw]

1980 tour Glide is released (Indian Bankrupt) 1997 road glide released (Indian Bankrupt) 2011 Polaris buys Indian 2015 Rushmore Roadglide fairing released (no Indian challenger) 2019 Indian Challenger released (copied HDs sharknose stationary fairing) 2023 CVO Road Glide is released. People say HD copied Indian. 😂

[@geo.037]

The Gilroy Indian had many financial issues and DID NOT close because of Harley Davidson. The same can be said for the Kings Mountain Indian. Polaris is an established company and therefore I suggest that the Indian Brand name will be around for sometime. The argument that this idea or that idea was "copied" is such a childish approach. If no copyright laws are broken what really is your issue Matt? Did Honda do this much complaining about having the inline 4 appear on other brands. Anyway I could go on but you won't agree and will continue your rant about style rather than function. Look out Honda BMW is coming after you for using a shaft drive, you copy cat's.

[@Bikerbug2020]

I use the windscreen all of the time, adjusting it depending on the speed and temperature when I am traveling. The RoadGlide doesn’t have that sadly.

[@six.....]

I had a bmw with an adjustable windshield I found I set it and never moved it again

[@robertopod1968]

Adjustable windscreen is awesome. Remote locking bags are awesome. 4.5 inches of electronically adjustable rear suspension is awesome. A stock radio you can hear easily at 80mph is awesome.

[@TyDan53]

It's funny to read adults arguing about who is better. Im sure you spent your money on what you like. That's the most important thing. Everyone is different. But the competition between the 2 companies to get your money is good. It makes them get better. Now that Harley has shown their hand, now we will see what Indian responds with.

[@petercumming9992]

I would definitely buy the remote locking saddlebag and Tourpack add-on if only HD would sell it as an accessory!

[@neildewitt2869]

Not sure if I'd like it or not. I pack my bags fuller than I should and I figure it wouldn't lock if it has pressure on it!

[@six.....]

​@@neildewitt2869oh it does I over pack mine all the time

[@shoomapadoo1141]

I love the content it's really a step above many others and I've watched a ton of them. Your videos I would rank third overall for the individual bike assessment but I'll give you first on the comparison of brand. You touch on everything important and aren't afraid to share the truth even when it's not good for the other guys. Lol thank you very much for posting!

[@scottspiron1451]

I just bought a road glide 2024 two weeks ago. last week when riding to work on 415 in deltona, Florida I had a a car pull out in front of me. If I was driving my car, I would have t- boned the vehical infront of me and potentionally killing the driver. I would have been in the clear, but that would be hard to love through. I was on my 2024 Road Glide and was able to easily roll right, down shift and roll left and accelerate to clear the car infront of me. Normally I was trained to maintain and slowly decelerate as I made this maneuver, but I had traffic ro rhe right of me accellerating and I had to be aggressive and it paid off. thank you Harley for not allowing me to kill someone and live through that

[@MicahBell_1860]

I love my Evo Road King & my Flathead chopper. They're Skynet proof. Everything you need, nothing you don't

[@richardsmith5738]

My take is, Polaris in general is responsible for lighting a fire under Harley starting way back in 2008 with Victory's performance. I have both brands and I like them both for their individual strengths. They both just keep getting better. I love it when brands compete.

[@fifthgearfoodie5272]

Where Harley copied Indian: 1. Integrated LED headlight and signal lights. 2. Larger fairing design that integrates the LED headlight, signal lights. 3. Inverted forks (on the CVO only). 4. Larger infotainment module. 5. Ride modes.

[@andromedach]

ignoring the fact many other brands had some if not all these features before either. the Indian infotainment module hasn't changed in size for years. plus Harley had inverted forks on a Sportster ages ago... very little we think it copied between brands hasn't be done by another brand before

[@fifthgearfoodie5272]

@@andromedach When it comes to automotive and motorcycle technology the United States has always been behind the curve relative to their foreign counterparts, so what's your point? You don't have one. What you're ignoring is the fact that there are only 2 major American motorcycle manufacturers out there: Indian and Harley. Out of all the motorcycle manufacturers on earth the ONLY people who fall all over themselves trying to point fingers and blame someone else for copying their coveted manufacturer are Harley Davidson owners. Now that you're faced with having to deal with the fact that HD has no other choice than to follow Indian as the more innovative American motorcycle manufacturer now you want to deflect and play the what aboutisms game. Don't worry. HD is still behind the curve. They still have antiquated dual rear shocks on their touring motorcycles that you have to adjust by hand. Indian has had a Fox rear mono that is electronically adjustable through their Ride Command System for years. I guess that's going to be the next innovation Harley is going to copy from Indian.

[@mickrom4382]

Been going on since 1901 !

[@YingYangStang]

Stop it - you know you’re really making a reputation for BS on KZbin, take a break man, Regroup… plus the fact that you bought one tells the real story.

[@shoomapadoo1141]

Yes of course they look more like the challenger but the Indian is water cooled and has many other creature comfort features that kinda mesh together well. The digital screen is BMW and the fairing is Indian and if they don't modify the motor they're going to feel the reality of equilibria in supply and demand consumer model. Every Harley I see is got a white haired guy riding it. That's not good. The young people want the new technology and a bullet proof water cooled engine.

[@Blackczar911]

I had a 2020 Indian challenger, and I just sold my 23 Indian challenger elite for a 24 Harley Davidson road glide CVO ST in Raven black. Ride and handling of the ST is unmatched. You don’t feel the weight on the St the way you do with the elite. I wasn’t looking to get a new bike, then Harley released this and I’m sold. What kind of dog do you have? You might have to do a dog channel talk.

[@vinnymac1]

Test drove the 24 road glide st. Then test drove the 23 pursuit. Stock was no comp! Indian felt better just as fast and torque. Except the Indian had way better options included. Harley had to install all upgrades on the 24 just to keep up with indian good job on harley. But almost 10 k more with all the stock options indian comes with. I won't but a motorcycle just for it's name. Clear winner for me was the Indian.

[@keithdabear1334]

The reason I will never consider buying an Indian Motorcycle is because what Polaris did to the victory owners

[@stuwhyte479]

There is still plenty of parts for Victory that Polaris have in stock.They dropped Victory to so they could totally put their efforts into Indian.And believe it or not Indian are totally independent from Polaris. MERRY CHRISTMAS.

[@bradlozano2571]

EXACTLY!.....I was one of those Victory Owner....I switched to Harley....And i have NEVER looked back👍😎🏍️.....

[@johnnywishbone6082]

This is a GREAT point. My son has a Victory Cross Country. He has issues even finding a place to work on it. He used to take it directly to Arlen Ness, until Arlen Ness sold out and was no longer there. His bike is now at the 10 year old mark, so his battle will obviously get worse as time goes on. The Victory Cross Country is hands down one of the most comfortable, stock from the factory bikes I’ve ever ridden. Not to mention the factory custom paint.

[@Superglide96899]

Old cross country owner here there customer service was horrible went right back to harley.

[@Wheelgauge-bt7ox]

@@stuwhyte479it’s a tribute bike and it is what it is! They are nice bikes but still a Tribute Bike.

[@Drgn1987]

Well put! Indian definitely rattled HD!

[@Cpt-Night-ajg]

I actually like having the two important hard gouges on the Indian over thr Harley display. Can we really say the Harley display is "larger when it still has to include the information that the hard gauges would give you? Also thr indian may seem cluttered ut I like that it brings thr display closer to you to make it usable instead of having to reach out so far in order to reach it.

[@mickeygaines007]

Indian does give you an adjustable windscreen but that also gives you an extra motor and extra weight and a motor that makes the fairing have to be ridiculously big

[@kc0lif]

I do like harley cvo. honda goldwings & Indian pursuit seem good because they don't need cvo level.

[@freebehindbars8654]

Be honest, you don’t have any of those mentioned above. At least a recent year when HD started trying (M8 years)

[@dennismims2999]

I had a 2003 Suzuki Volusia (2000-2005), and later, it became C50 (2006-present). A 50 c.i. 805 c.c., liquid cooled, shaft drive, indestructible cruiser. After 19 years of uninterrupted service, I finally traded it for a 2022 Pursuit Limited (Crimson and Maroon). There was a lot of research on my part, between the Pursuit and the Road Glide, but ultimately, the complete liquid cooled engine is probably the biggest factor for my decision to buy the Pursuit. I did wait, however, for Indian to get a couple of years on the Challenger and work the bugs out, then to commit and start production on the Pursuit, a fully dressed touring bike. Changing out the bars was job one, from the standard Indian bars to the KST 4" pullback bars that have made all of the difference for me. Now, I'm able to let my backrest go further back, relax my shoulders, and get off of the tank. So far, that's the only change I've made, but I'm still trying to decide on highway pegs. Innovation and competition is always going to drive competitors to do more and hopefully better.

[@HDR20]

The electric windshield is a gimmick. Set it and forget no one wants buffering and the their glasses bouncing all over the face

[@aarondeere]

I have adjustable windscreen on my bmw and love it. In town drop it down or on back roads going slow. Highway put it up or on cold days. No gimmick. On my heritage it's fixed and at times wish I could drop it

[@vinnymac1]

Definitely not a gimmick!

[@robertopod1968]

You just explained exactly why it isn’t a gimmick. You can put this windshield where YOU want it. Around town and hot? Lower it. Highway speeds and too much wind? Raise it. If one size fit all there would be no aftermarket for screens. There’s really no negatives to an adjustable screen.

[@HDR20]

@robertopod1968 and you just explained the opposite. You are exactly right about the aftermarket you get the right one there is no need to lower or raise it lol

[@HDR20]

@robertopod1968 and you just explained the opposite. You are exactly right about the aftermarket you get the right one there is no need to lower or raise it lol

[@youcanthide004]

Pros and cons to both machines. Indian came out of the gate absolutely storm the market and caused Harley Davidson to level up and the consumer benefited from this as we see with the new iteration across-the-board with HD. They have leveled up the game for me as an Indian owner, I would certainly purchase a Harley Davidson with this new iteration.

[@joshuarogers9086]

The Indian and Harley feud is good for the consumer. Hopefully they both keep raising the bar

[@AhkadamaMashiach]

the Road Glide new design really shows just how sloppy the Indian Challenger was put together and had us all thinking it was innovative and ahead. It's a mixture of old and new concepts stuck together, like Lego pieces that you make work or something. It was only different, but not refined or better in any fashion. Harley Davidson is untouched right now, they shown up and shown out to say we actually do know just WTF we're doing.

[@neildewitt2869]

Does YES sound correct? Will Harley ever get a rise/lower windscreen like Indian has? That would really be nice!

[@maconmiles2057]

No I don't want a windscreen that has issues. And yes Indian built the Challenger to compete with the road glide.

[@freebehindbars8654]

As someone that’s owned a few bikes with electric windscreens, you only adjust them to your spot and never move them again. Rather replace the screen to suit my needs for buffeting.

[@shano81]

thankyou for presenting this difficult topic in a measured presentation and inviting discourse.

[@davedoucette1256]

And at 1 minute in I can already hear this dude say. “I definitely feel Indian copied Harley. “

[@derekyoung9692]

I'm an HD guy for sure with two of my own plus my wifes Sportster and kids Sportster in the garage but I bought a Roadmaster instead of an Ultra Limited primarily for the features the HD doesn't have like lockable bags with the fob and adjustable windshield. North of $30K for a bike I want at least an adjustable windshield for a highway cruiser. I love HD but if they want to be a premium brand them they gotta offer premium stuff.

[@neildewitt2869]

I could agree!

[@donwilliford8422]

Yep. Its time to compete and offer the newer features. Or not....their choice

[@sjrues]

Harley offered RDRS on the touring models in 2020.

[@robkamman4578]

what brand is your green helmet?

[@shoomapadoo1141]

Yes competition is fantastic for us lol. You are absolutely right about that! Fo sho 😂

[@neildewitt2869]

Only a few up from here someone said that Harley doesn't offer anything fir $30k. Indian has a windshield that goes up and down as needed!

[@andromedach]

No. You can see the lack of sophistication in Indian's design which required large ugly black rubber guards on the sides of the fairing. This is what has always set Harley and Indian apart, design, fit, and finish. The key to remember is Indian made a similar looking fairing to Harley so any variation Harley makes is not a copy. What will be interesting is too which styling cues Indian copies from Harley when they update the Chieftain and Challenger and they are both in desperate need of one. What disappointed some of my Indian friends is that the Chieftain was never offered the six axis ABS. Only feature I want on Harley's current Road Glide and Street Glide are remote locking, Harley is the only brand at this price point without it, and of course adjustable windscreens. Look as for six axis ABS you can get that on a KTM less than half the price. Adjustable windscreens have been a BMW staple since 1996... and advanced ABS has been on their bikes nearly a decade. So its not like Indian originated any of this. Harley had ride modes on the Pan America and announced that feature when they revealed it in 2018

[@BryanC-h1j]

Can anyone tell me why Harley went back to a cable clutch after using a hydraulic clutch for a couple of years on the big baggers?

[@larryyudin1895]

My 2020 Road King Police came with RDRS. Awesome to have but I also remember the human factor.

[@sandmage1950]

Interesting that if we compare features for features you would find similarities between many different motorcycles. So is that copying? Is it wrong?

[@kclarkeadventures]

I bought a 2020 rgs which had rdrs.

[@rainkaru1946]

Is HD so bad bike that it needs to give discount bikes to vbloggers and give them tuning parts for them to talk how good HD is?

[@Wicked_RotF30]

I want the old style stretched HD bags, wonder if they will fit on new Harley or even better fit on the Indian

[@louisgiardina8918]

First off the road glide was well before the challenger so Polaris technically copied Harley. The road glides new fairing is way more sleeker then the clunky challenger so no Harley didn’t copy Polaris .

[@michaelroy925]

Great review, I think You're right on the Money! 😎👍

[@jimpoulos2272]

I had the rdrs as an option on my 2020 road glide special

[@lpd1snipe]

I've been riding Harleys on the street now since 1970. You're young, so you're probably new to Harley copying others. In 1949 Harley came out with the "Hydra-Glide" Panhead. They replaced the springer front end with a modified copy of the "Vard" front end. Vard made suspensions for aircraft during WWII in Pasadena California. They sold their front ends to the aftermarket. In 1952 Harley came out with the "rachet-top" transmission to eliminate the foot clutch-hand shift which was a copy of another's design. In late 1967 someone came up with a design to eliminate the "mousetrap clutch" operator for big twin clutches and guess what showed up on new models in 1968? The "Mousetrap eliminator." It mounted on the frame post by the oil tank. In 1974 Harley introduced the "through the primary shifter" on the FX models....which was a copy of another's design. In the late 1970's Bill Davis created the Softail frame and sold the design to Harley. He used to advertise his frame design in the back of Easyriders magazines in the late 1970's. My "OG" short Harley history lesson over. Enjoy the ride.😊

[@caiomg496]

Try a B18 Transcontinental. All that and more.

[@seethingsclearlyawaken3424]

I would never buy a Hardly Davisin, since they are like riding a pile of trash. I would buy an Indian.

[@brandoncarter7053]

LOL Harley has been copying Polaris since 2014 with the Rushmore Series.

[@Jeff82556]

5:09 "INDAIN"?

[@papichulo7757]

Just can't do it, harley, for life

[@shoomapadoo1141]

Indian does a better job EVERYWHERE on their motorcycles. There engines are FAR superior to Harley. If Harley would get rid of the belt and tension timing (EVO) this one thing would be a game changer.

[@patrickhollis5332]

It’s not about being superior it’s how they move the product and We’ll get ready because by the time the EPA get done with all of them want recognize any

[@chrlselmb]

Strongly disagree! Indian is not that good. The assembly feels just as cheap as Tesla interior.

[@charlesmccurry3602]

Except for resale and changing owners every few years

[@jims.3987]

Have you ever seen the inside of an Indian engine? Didn't think so

[@doughuntley2974]

I just hope they don't put that hideous new fairing on the Ultra Limited next year. No offense, I know you bought the new RG, but that new fairing is FUGLY!

[@ChrisYVRVANcruiser]

Not at all!

[@codyrinehart5479]

I need that shirt

[@maconmiles2057]

I happy that an American company that does contract work with the military building vehicles bought the rights to Indian and started producing them again. While Indian was the first american made motorcycle I think it is crazy that people think HD copied Indian. Indian built the Challenger to compete with HD road glide. Indian has its problems with electronics and the fit and finish of the Indian is not even close to HD.

[@shoomapadoo1141]

You're crazy if you don't see the stark similarities in the fairing 😮

[@chrlselmb]

I don’t see it

[@jed-uq4yz]

Copied yeap theyre both pushrod engines...

[@fighttechnician8676]

They all copy Karl von Drais.

[@fighttechnician8676]

It's a motorcycle who cares if someone copied someone else, just ride the thing. Petty

[@BillKocik]

Worth noting that the Road Glide Limited does *not* have RDRS as standard. Other than ABS and ELB, it's all still optional on that trim level. It also didn't get the 117 engine or the digital dash with Skyline OS. I guess this year "Limited" means limited in features.

[@six.....]

Harley can never copy indian because the indian is a copy

[@jimtomstimpson1477]

When I think "unthinkable" I think about how Harley limited their new models to 100mph because they couldn't or were too lazy to engineer the death wobble out of the new models. Indian would never do that for ANY reason.

[@davesaunders5247]

Who Cares?

[@robertharris4034]

Yuuuup

[@BPBailey85]

No they copied them in 2023 but most of you HD paid influencers seem to forget about that bike..

[@rainkaru1946]

"They wanted to cut weight on RG ST".......which is even after that carbon heavier than standard Challenger 😂

[@harlanweisser2332]

Look cool. But too expensive to maintain..

[@harlanweisser2332]

Harley makes junk now!

[@solacegrove9752]

Is unfortunate that you have issues with your road glide, but now the whole video sounds like butt hurt talk.🥲

[@patrickhollis5332]

Not sure if they did are didn’t but there’s only so much you can really do are make different in a motorcycle to begin with

[@Taxevader-gk9ms]

does the challenger look similar to the road glide Answer yes it's the freaking competition of course it'll have similar styling it's going for the same guy

[@Bikerbug2020]

Heg the Indian gives you more of everything vs the Harley… I have both, the only thing I found that the Harley has vs the Indian is Hill Hold.