Indians, Yes, But Which Tribe?
INDIANS, YES, BUT WHICH TRIBE?
ROUNDUP
HAVE YOU GROW AS tired of the wrangling surrounding a rebirth of the Indian motorcycle as you have of the O.J. trial? Too bad. The Indian wars undoubtedly will outlast the courtroom antics of Cochran, Shapiro, Bailey, et al.
Here's what's new:
Disputes over the rights to the Indian trademark apparent ly remain unresolved. Harvey Rosenberg says he is (`hO of a recently formed group called the Indian Motor Company. whose board members include Maurits Hayim-Langridge, the Australian investor said to have acquired rights to the In dian name from Phillip Zanghi `s defunct Indian effort.
Rosenberg told Ce/c U'~rld that a number of investors, ap parently including Ilayim-Lan gridge, two years ago acquired companies that owned the rights to the Indian name. He said they put those companies into bankruptcy, where they came under the protection of attorney and bankruptcy trustee David Noonan.
Rosenberg explained, "The people who have the right to the title formed Indian Motor Com pany to separate ourselves from the companies being protected under David Noonan.' F-Ic went on to say that the new company is attempting to build a machine similar to the 1941 Chief.
Noonan told CW, through a secretary, that he was too busy to discuss the Indian matter.
Rosenberg also claimed that assets of Wayne Baughman's IMMI have been seized. The New Mexico-based company showed its retro-style Century V-~1win (`hid prototype last summer, but bankruptcy ru mors have swirled around the firm ever since.
Contacted by (li'clt' World, IMMI's Baughrnan said only, "We have no comment. Many things are taking place at this moment. The company is not closed, it is not bankrupt."
Confused? Wait, there's more. Hayim-Langridge, who has hired none other than New Zealander John Britten to design Indians to be built in the U.S., told CIV that Rosenberg had spoken out of turn in regards to Indian Motor's new models.
"Harvey means well in what he's trying to say, but he hasn't discussed it with me. I don't believe we'll be entertaining the idea of building a `41 Chief." he said.
Hayim-Langridge added. "We're progressing down the road with John Britten. We be lieve the Superbike' (a street version of Britten's V-l000 racer) is something the market is ready for. We're not just gonna build the Superbike, we'll re lease heavyweight touring ma chines, as well. They'll all look like Indians-a blind man will be able to tell they're Indians."
He concluded, "We've got a long way to go and a lot can go wrong. This costs a great deal of money. There wont be any change out ofSlOO million."
Timetable? Hayim-Lan gridge said prototypes will be complete in 1996, with pro dUCtiOfl bikes ready in 1998.
Meanwhile, there's a new player in the American V-Twin sweepstakes. Apache Motorworks, a private group of in vestors. wants to put into production a variation of the fu turistic design study done three years ago by Ohio-based Next World [)esign. Called the Apache Warrior, it will be pow ered by a fuel-injected, I 10cubic-inch (I 800cc) motor and ride on a springless system of adjustable air bladders lbr sus pension. The search for an en gine vendor is ongoing, but apparently a pre-production pr totype is up and running, using an F-1-D motor. Projected price for the limited-edition machinc is S65,000.
Jon F. Thompson
