07 - New Indian Motor I can’t think of a more exciting month to be publishing a motorcycle magazine! 09 - New H-D Breakout First but in no particular order, there’s the new Indian motor! A new Indian... just saying that makes me shudder, for good reasons and not so good - if you’ve 11 - star bolt followed every iteration of Indian, your heart has soared, then been crushed, and 13 - ride & event calendar soared again. Lately you’ve been cautiously optimistic, but if you attended the IMS in December, you got to at least hear the new powerplant from parent company, 18 - roadtest: h-d fat boy Polaris, makers of Victory. Everyone felt that they had at least the design prowess 21 - florence prison run and deep pockets to make Indian work this time, but some feared they’d miss the mark on getting the “Chief ” just right. Well, if the new motor (recently launched 23 - a-team custom cat at Daytona Bike Week) is any indication of the rest of the bike, we don’t have to 24 - weekly events worry. Look for the story in this issue, and see the pretty pictures. It is flat out 25 - benefit run gorgeous, and has the specs to boot. Not to be outdone, or miss a mid-season bike years, and when I don’t do a good cover, boy do I 26 - riding to river run introduction, is Harley-Davidson, with it’s new hear about it. But I hope you indulge us each year Softail Breakout. They’d launched the CVO when we take a minute to reflect on where we’ve 32 - laughlin river run guide Breakout previously, but it’s now part of the come from, because man it seems like more than regular line up, and with it’s chopper-esque lines 12 years!! There have certainly been some highs 37 - trading rides and 240 rear, it should please young and old riders and lows. Economically, physically, emotionally. alike. If you like your Harley with a few more No doubt you’ve been there too. But hopefully 38 - machine gun preacher accoutrements, then check out our Roadtest this you’ve learned as we have, that truly, what doesn’t month on the H-D Fatboy Lo. The attention to kill you makes you stronger. Sick to death of being 45 - junior, lifestyle cycles detail on this 110th Anniversary ride will impress tested though? I hear ya man. But you can’t buy even the most discriminating enthusiast among character, ya got to earn it. build on it. And your 48 - lee’s indians us. Even the Terminator. The 1997 Fatboy was my path, no matter how rocky, makes you who you first Harley, and though I’ve ridden many since are. Enjoy the furnace bro! You’re coming out the then, it’s still one of my favorites. other side with an iron will. riding weather has been so unbelievably nice, I’ve seen some riders out there who ride with, well, just That reminds me - I’ve sold my Big Dog Chopper. Whoa, sorry about the heavy subject matter. a bit more “juice” than maybe they should. No I was sorry to let it go, and had many good miles I gotta eat something during deadlines or I’m I’m not talking about the sport bike riders, they’re on her (well, not as many as you touring guys gonna start hallucinating again! And speaking always crazy. I’m talking about the guy who just and gals), but since my lovely bride Lisa wants to of which, did somebody say party?? AZ BIKE got the bike outta storage, and maybe got a new ride with me more often (thank you, God) I have WEEK and LAUGHLIN are the highlights of tattoo, and he’s feeling the wind in his hair and to get something a little more two-up friendly. April, and for many of us riders, the biggest events the power at his right hand. So maybe he’s cutting My front-runners are The H-D Street Glide, the of the year! In fact, many of you may be seeing cagers off more than he should, or forgetting that Victory Cross Country, and coming up fast is the Quick Throttle Magazine for the very first time, we’re not exactly welcome to park at the front 2014 Indian Chief. I have made the argument that because we’ve delivered thousands of extra copies door (literally) of the Starbuck’s whenever we feel as a motorcycle magazine publisher I need more to dozens of spots all around CycleFest, the pre- like it. Listen, we can blame the cagers for a lot, than one horse in the stable, but she thinks this is rally days, Laughlin and Bullhead City, etc. We’re and sadly we’ll have plenty to bitch about. But a sexual reference and the discussion goes all to also giving away some QT swag at both events, so let’s not give anyone a reason to open their doors hell. Listen, happy wife, happy life, so I’ll narrow get out there and listen for the drunks on the PA to when we’re lane-splitting, or more likely, to close it down soon. And if I wear earplugs while we mention our name! You might just catch a T-shirt a gap you’re trying to merge in to. Let’s be the ride together, it’s because of the wind. Sure it is. or something else cool. scary guy who winks at kids (and moms) but nods But wait - we’re not done with introductions - Star to dad too. Motorcycle intro’d the Bolt, a low-priced cruiser And if you are just finding us for the first time, aimed squarely at the Sportster buyer. Now don’t we hope you like it. You can get one free each Ok, enough pontificating. I’m no sage. All I am 51 - hearts to heroes go gittin’ your dander up - some folks won’t have month, at over 900 locations across 6 western is an incredibly grateful guy who loves what metric, and some folks will, and maybe never states (in addition to our Northwest edition), he’s doing, loves his family and still, still, loves 58 - paul teutel the twain shall meet. But at QT we’ve always and in virtually any place Bikers are seen. We’re motorcycles. We’re looking forward to a great supported any mfgr. who tries to build a heavy in the Harley shops, Victory dealers, the metric year here at QT, and next month I’ll introduce you V-Twin. And Star has made some good ones. shops, independents and little shops, the Biker to some new staff, and I’ll remember to thank the We’ll wait and see how she rides, but for now you Friendlies, and many more. And NO other old ones. I’ll also tell you about the many things can read all about it. motorcycle magazine can say that. we’re doing beyond the print pub realm, where OH I almost forgot - by now you’ve noticed our techies live but angels fear to tread....but for now cover, the big “12” with the year’s covers inside Oh and maybe no other motorcycle magazine will ride safe, ride free, live and love hard. And we’ll it. Hope you like it. People tell us time and again say this - don’t be a Jackass. Whoa, what? Honesty see ya out there, CD how they love our cover art and collect them for in print? Is that legal?? Well listen, now that the 4 APRIL 2013 APRIL 2013 5 APRIL 2013 7 Back in the spring of 2011, Polaris Industries, parent company of Victory Motorcycles announced that it had purchased the iconic Indian brand from an offshore investment group and would immediately move all production to its manufacturing facility in Spirit Lake, IA., closing the old facility in Kings Mountain, NC. The reaction from Indian die hards and enthusiasts was one of universal relief and the fervent hope that Indian had finally found the perfect company to guarantee the continued rebirth and survival of the oldest motorcycle company in the country. Then the second guessing began. 115 foot lbs of torque. No horsepower rating has yet been provided. The new motor will be matched up to a six speed overdrive, constant mesh, helical gearbox. The clutch is a low effort, multi plate wet clutch with an aluminum basket and an integrated torsional damper. Before introduction, the motor built at the Polaris Industries Osceola, WI. engine assembly plant (the actual motorcycles will be produced at Spirit Lake, IA.) was put thru over a million miles of testing including dyno testing, and several hundred Would Polaris simply stuff a tried and true Victory Bike Week by introducing a completely new thousand miles of real world, on road testing powerplant into an Indian frame? Would that really powerplant, the Thunderstroke 111, that will power as well. The motor is currently being used in a be an Indian? Not to the true believers it wouldn’t. the all new 2014 Indian Chief when it is introduced special custom built steamliner called the “Spirit of Speculation became rumors, rumors became later this summer, probably at the Sturgis Rally. Munro” in a tribute to Burt Munro, who built and theories, and so on. Indian says that the TS 111 is the first all new, clean created the ‘’World’s fastest Indian” as shown in Meanwhile Polaris moved quickly to set up a sheet motor for Indian in over 70 years.