Indian Motorcycle responds to Harley-Davidson influencer campaign allegations
Indian Motorcycle has denied helping orchestrate an anti-Harley-Davidson influencer campaign, insisting riders have every right to question Harley's decisions.
Indian Motorcycle has responded to allegations linking it to a coordinated anti-Harley-Davidson influencer campaign, insisting it did not create or direct the criticism that recently exploded across social media.
The statement has been provided to US motorcycle publication RideApart, which, according to the US website, comes from an Indian Motorcycle spokesperson. It arrives days after reports suggested a network of right-wing influencers had simultaneously criticised Harley-Davidson's past DEI initiatives and business decisions, while simultaneously promoting Indian as the more authentic American motorcycle brand.
In its response, Indian said:
"The claim that Indian Motorcycle manufactured the recent criticism of Harley-Davidson is false. We did not create the story, script the voices, or direct the people who brought these issues back into public view."
The company went on to name both UFC fighter Sean Strickland and political commentator Robby Starbuck directly, stating that "Sean Strickland speaks for Sean Strickland. Robby Starbuck speaks for Robby Starbuck."
It's a carefully worded response which rejects claims that Indian orchestrated the criticism, but stops short of addressing some of the broader questions raised in the original reporting.
Rather than distancing itself from the criticism entirely, Indian instead appears to embrace much of the substance behind it.
"We did not create Harley-Davidson's record. Harley-Davidson did," the statement continues, before arguing that American motorcycles have “never been only about specs. They are identity, loyalty, culture, freedom, and trust."
That tone becomes even more combative later in the statement, where Indian references Harley-Davidson's past "Indian Conquest" sales programme, which targeted Indian owners with trade-in offers following the brand's revival under Polaris ownership.
"Harley-Davidson understood competition when it launched its own 'Indian Conquest' program," the statement reads. "When Indian competes back, it should not suddenly be treated as bad for motorcycling."
Perhaps the most revealing part of the response is that Indian does not attempt to de-escalate the situation. If anything, it twists the knife further still.
"A stronger Indian is better for riders, dealers, builders, mechanics, racers, and the future of American motorcycling," the statement says, before concluding with the line: "We respect Harley-Davidson's history. We respect Harley riders. But respect is not surrender."
The response follows a week of increasingly political exchanges surrounding the two American brands, including an Indian-produced attack-style advert which criticised Harley's handling of DEI policies (seen below), overseas manufacturing and broader business strategy. RideApart, quite rightly, argued that the advert effectively reinforced many of the concerns raised in its earlier reporting.
Given the tone of the statement seen by RideApart, it’s unlikely Indian is looking to draw a line under the controversy. That might not be the best decision in the long run, and judging by reactions from both Harley and Indian owners online, many seem to be less interested in culture-war marketing than they are in motorcycles. Looking at comments and reactions from riders online and on social media, the common thread seems to be that both brands would be better served letting their bikes do the talking.
Not their PR teams.
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Simon (AKA Toad) has been working within the motorcycle industry for more than twelve years, and a member of the motorcyclist family since birth. Growing up around British-built single and twins, it was inevitable that a life on two wheels was on the cards, from a very early age!
