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The Indian Chief: On The Road Again

16 June 1999

    GILROY, Calif. -- "With the Indian Chief on theroad, we've successfully revived 
one of America's greatest icons."

    These were the words used by Rey Sotelo, President of the Indian Motorcycle Company(TM), 
as the first of the Limited Edition 1999 Indian Chiefs were loaded on the transport 
for delivery across the country.

    The long-awaited debut of the legendary motorcycle comes less than five months after 
the Indian Motorcycle Company(TM) secured the rights to the Indian Motorcycle trademark.  
Prior to this landmark event, the Indian Chief was last seen in 1953.  At that time, 
the legendary cruiser was built in Springfield, MA., site of the company's origins in 1901.  
The 1999 Indian Chief(TM) is being produced at the company's new 150,000-sq. ft. 
facility in Northern California.

    "Putting the first bikes on the truck was an amazing feeling for everyone involved," 
Sotelo added.  "Our team has worked very hard to get the 1999 Chief on the road and 
they deserve a great deal of credit."

    The initial run of motorcycles is destined for seven locations in seven states: Classic 
Motorcycles, Murray, UT; Fast Company, Kirkland, WA.; Iron Lightning Custom Cycles, 
Broken Arrow, OK.; DGY Motorsports, Downers Grove, IL.; Santa Rosa Vee-Twin, Santa Rosa, CA.; 
Staz's Nevada Indian, Henderson, NV.; and Soho Cycle, New York, NY.

    "There's been an enormous amount of interest in the 1999 Chief," said Ed Pacelli of 
Soho Cycle in New York City.  "We're anticipating the bikes won't even get to the 
showroom floor. It's a superb bike with excellent design qualities."

    For those who don't catch a glimpse of the stylish cruisers before they're whisked away 
from showroom floors, the Limited Edition 1999 Indian Chief(TM) will make an appearance at 
two of the year's biggest bike rallies: Laconia Bike Week in Laconia, NH, from June 13 -- 20, 
and the Hollister Independence Day celebrations in Hollister, CA, from July 2 -- 4.  
The Indian Motorcycle Company(TM) is the title sponsor of the latter event, which 
takes place just 40 miles from Indian's factory in Gilroy.

    The Limited Edition 1999 Indian Chief(TM) -- will retail for approximately $24,000 -- 
is unique to the world of motorcycling, a cruiser that combines the finest design 
features of the past with the cutting edge technology of today.

    The 88-cubic inch, 45-degree V-twin engine is a proven design, engineered to offer 
pulling power all through the rev band.  The custom stretched and raked frame has been 
ergonomically designed to suit all types of riders.  And the Showa front suspension and 
Progressive Suspension rear suspension combine to give the Indian Chief(TM) unmatched 
handling characteristics for a machine of this size.

    The low, sleek look of the cruiser is complemented by classic Indian design features: 
the custom fringed leather seat, the war bonnet light on the front fender, the teardrop 
gas tank and Indian's famous deep skirted fenders, front and back.  All told, the Limited 
Edition 1999 Indian Chief(TM) is certain to be a head-turner everywhere it appears.

    "The 1999 Chief is at once a tribute to the legend of the Indian Motorcycle Company 
and at the same time a finely-engineered, modern, heavy cruiser," explained Sotelo, who 
directed the design team.  "When you sit on this bike, open the throttle and hit the road, 
you know you're riding something very special."