A little Birdie Told Me....

[Chiefharlock]

Had an interesting conversation with a gentleman who owns/runs a near by motorcycle shop.  Apparently Polaris has brought into RE's parent company.  Anyone heard anything about this?

[ace.cafe]

Yes, but it's more like a "joint venture" with a lot of money involved.
I don't think it is an actual "buy in" into the RE company.

I haven't read exactly what they plan to do, but I would surmise that Polaris wish to work with RE in getting the Victory motorcycles distributed in India, and perhaps even be made there.

I suppose it's possible that there could even be some name-swapping between these brands, or even some joint bikes being made. Part Victory and part Royal Enfield.
Who knows?

I did read one unsubstantiated comment on the web that RE has abandoned their twin-cylinder effort, and perhaps if that is correct, this joint venture might have something to do with that. Maybe they want to make a V-Twin Royal Enfield with a Victory V-Twin engine in it?
We'll have to wait until more info is available to know for sure what's going on.

[GreenMachine]

I read something similar in a mag although they didn't mention the Victory engine speculation...I actually like the extensive victory line up...Everything is in the 13 to 30k market..Could they fit a freedom  106/6stage vtwin in a enfield type frame for around 10k .....Nah, they'RE not thinking anything that radical.... :oGM

[Leonard]

Along this same line but with H-D:  http://blogs.motorcyclistonline.com/harley-davidson-to-build-entry-level-v-twin-in-india-31621.html#axzz2FhxGxsVX

[Kevin Mahoney]

It's with the parent company and is about ATV's not bikes.

[Chiefharlock]

That's what Tim kinda indicated when we were talking, but he said that he still has hopes that it might trickle over to RE.  He's a Victory dealer, but he has a real soft spot for Royal Enfields and other Brit bikes.  He really hopes that it might open up things a bit more for the US market as well.  Who knows what will happen.