Indian Motorcycle's Thunder Stroke V-Twin

Ever since the Indian motorcycle company expired in 1953, it's been like a movie franchise that keeps running long after it's gone stale, producing a worse sequel with each iteration.  Many have tried to resurrect Indian.  All have failed. 

In 2011, international motor sport giant, Polaris, acquired Indian.  At the time, I considered it a mistake.  Polaris already builds the Victory line of cruiser motorcycles, and adding Indian to the mix seemed to me like adding more of the same.  I thought (and still think) Polaris needed to diversify and venture into areas of the motorcycle market Victory does not cover.

Indian just released the first images of their new "Thunder Stroke" 111 cubic inch (1,819 cc) V-Twin engine.  Paul Crowe of "The Kneeslider" writes,

Although it's a brand new engine, they drew heavily from classic Indian engine designs. The 49 degree, 111 cubic inch V-Twin has 3 cams, parallel pushrods and down firing exhausts. The intake is on the left. It's unit construction providing direct drive between the crankshaft and clutch. The 6 speed overdrive transmission handles the 115+ foot pounds of torque.

My first impression is that this engine's internals may have been designed by an engineer, but externally it looks designed by an artist.  Engineers don't build things this pretty.  This looks like an Art Deco sculpture, or something out of a Steam Punk comic book.  It's beautiful.  I can't wait to see the rest of the bike.

I'm not a fan of cruisers, but the reality is that cruisers dominate the American motorcycle market.  Therefore, with few exceptions, manufacturers need strong cruiser lines to perform well in the US, and Polaris seems to be doing very good things with Indian, unlike previous owners. 

I'd love it if Polaris proves me wrong.  An increase in motorcycle manufacturing in the US is a good thing, no matter what style of motorcycles they manufacture.  Besides, if they're successful enough, they'll eventually have to venture out into motorcycle styles I prefer.

That's my hope, anyway.

UPDATE: Motorcycle USA has a lot more information, specifications and photos.  Here's my favorite.

But Indian Motorcycle wasn’t content to solely treat the crowd to the sight and sound of the new V-Twin. They also debuted a custom-built streamliner named the “Spirit of Munro” built to house the Thunder Stroke 111. Named in honor of Burt Munro’s, “Munro Special,” a 1920 Indian Scout that shattered the under-1000cc land-speed record in 1967, this is not a mere replica. Complete with a custom chassis, exhaust, and intake, it features a chain drive conversion for the tall gearing requisite of a streamliner.

If you haven't watched the movie, The World's Fastest Indian, which dramatizes Munro's Bonneville quest, you're missing out big time.