Indian Motorcycle announced that some legacy generation, Kings Mountain-era Indian motorcycles of model years 2009-2013 have a defect related to motor vehicle safety. The affected motorcycles — produced between December 10, 2008 and November 1, 2012 and designed by the previous owner of Indian Motorcycle, housed in Kings Mountain, North Carolina– may have been assembled using a defective rear wheel rim. The rim may crack and cause a loss of air pressure. This could cause the vehicle operator to lose control, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. The recall does not impact the newly launched 2014 Indian Chief motorcycles unveiled by Polaris Industries Inc. in Sturgis, South Dakota on August 3.
Indian Motorcycle has notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) about this issue and will provide notice to all registered owners of the affected Kings Mountain Indian motorcycles consistent with NHTSA regulations. Indian Motorcycle will also issue a Safety Recall Bulletin to all Indian Motorcycle dealers with instructions required to replace the affected rear wheel assembly. Repairs will be made by any authorized Indian Motorcycle dealer at no cost to owners of the subject motorcycles. The company will notify affected customers when replacement parts are available.
Consumers affected by today's announcement should visually inspect the rear motorcycle rim for cracks and check tire pressure prior to riding the motorcycle. If any cracks are found, the motorcycle should not be ridden until the rim is replaced. Affected consumers are also encouraged to contact their nearest dealer to schedule an appointment for the bulletin repair service when parts become available. Additional information is available by visiting www.indianmotorcycle.com or by contacting Indian Motorcycle Consumer Service Department at (877) 204-3697.
The new Indian Motorcycle company recently announced the availability of its model year 2014 Indian Chief motorcycles, which are assembled in Spirit Lake, Iowa. These all-new 2014 models have been completely redesigned and are wholly unaffected by today's announcement. Indian Motorcycle and parent company Polaris Industries Inc. are fully committed to rider safety and customer satisfaction.
