[SubDude]

That MN dealer looks Awesome! WHoever said "mingle among the ATV's and weedwackers", I about crapped my pants! :chairfall1:

 

[SubDude]

The ultimate success or failure of the Scout isn't going to be determined in one year. The fact that Indian is now going to introduced a downsized version indicates to me that there may have been marketing issues (price point to high) that, even with the much better HP/TQ numbers over the mid-range models (Honda Shadow, Iron 883, Yamaha Bolt, etc.) from other manufacturers, has Polaris thinking the future for the bike is in the $7K ~ $8K range versus $11K ~ $12K.

I don't believe it was a marketing issue at all. I think they want people who are looking at $9K price point to consider the Scout sixty. Why ride a 750 street HD when you can have the legend Scout between your thighs. That's what I think.

 

[SubDude]

Well, it's certainly possible! We did just start 2016, so they have plenty of time to roll out some stuff this year. For whatever reason my internal forecasting mechanism is placing more emphasis on 2017. Of course there is always that Grey area where a late 2016 release would in fact be classified as a 2017 model. But that may be considered

LOL!!

Like the 2016 Dark Horse being released March of 2015 right? They could unveil a 2017 at any moment!

 

[SubDude]

On the on hand you say it's not a marketing issue and in the next sentence raise a major marketing factor, price. The Scout sixty is going to be introduced precisely because there is a marketing issue (price) with respect to the original Scout.

How many Scouts were sold the first year? Beyond that, as mentioned before, one year's worth of sales doesn't equate to a model being a success. That's true of the Scout or any other bike made by any other manufacturer including Harley.

As for why someone would spend $9K for something other then a Scout, that's a very personal, individual question with a very personal and individual answer. As one of the individuals in video said, "the public gets to say whether or not a bike is legendary" and I think it will take years to determine exactly what the public is saying.

A major point was made during the video regarding the issue of the Indian brand being legendary, and it is. That characteristic (legendary) is a factor in why people buy certain motorcycles and what weight it plays in the buying decision is an individual issue.

I say all of this as a person that likes the Scout and think it's a phenomenal motorcycle but I've seen exactly one on the road in the NYC area so I'm not yet ready to classify it as a legendary motorcycle.

Again, I'll try to explain this for a HD rider so he can understand. Making a Scout Sixty for another segment of the population does not equal a marketing failure of the original release. What it indicates to me is that they want to capture another range of buyers, maybe it's younger riders, maybe it's women riders that feel intimidated by a 1200cc bike or, like I said before, give someone who is looking at a 750 street a better option.

So you have seen one Scout on the road, maybe your Street Bob stays in the garage more than it gets out? Maybe you hang out at the HD dealer for the free hot dogs and camaraderie? I don't see many 2015 Toyota Camry's in Michigan, must be they didn't sell that many. The Ostrich who sticks his head in the sand doesn't see much either.

 

[SubDude]

I won't play your us versus them game (explain this for a HD rider so he can understand) but will try to explain it so you can understand.

First, I didn't use the term "marketing failure". What I said was there was a marketing issue that limited the ability to sell the Scout. That issue was price and Indian is addressing that issue with the Scout Sixty, a less expensive bike. If the original Scout at a 9K price point and the same performance it had a better potential to capture the 8K ~ 12K market.

Second, I'm in the northeast and ride all year round weather permitting (+35°F is my low limit) commuting to work putting about 5K miles per year on my bike. That's no where close to being a high mileage rider but the bike doesn't spend more time in the garage then on the road. In fact, giving the mileage I see on many bikes being sold I ride more than the average rider in my area.

My observation about the Scout is my observation based on my experience. Do you know the number of Scouts that were sold in 2015? Let's hear it and provide a source. Or more likely, do you have your head stuck in the sand and just taking a wild guess?

Well, we are all entitled to our own observations that's for sure. It doesn't make said observations correct or accurate, it just makes them wrong. I have no idea how many Scout's were sold and neither do you. I still don't know why you keep asking that question since you state it has no bearing on whether the bike is a success or not. The fact they release the Scout sixty less than one year after the 1200, tells me they knew they were going to release it all along. That's right, someone at Polaris must have hatched a plan to sell additional product based on a pre-existing platform. What a bunch of failures!

So why didn't they release the sixty first? Maybe that would have fit into YOUR success parameter? How do you ride "all year round" and put 5000 miles on? is the HD dealer just down the block from you?

 

[SubDude]

Forgive me fellow VOG members for getting caught up in a cat herding event with a HD troll. I don't know what came over me.

:chair1: