Indian Motorcycles, purchased by Polaris Industries in 2011, introduces an all new engine.

Founded in 1901, the Indian Motorcycle company closed its doors in 1953 and has since then experienced more revivals than one cares to count. None of those comebacks held. With ownership now under Polaris Industries the company has both the financial backing and engineering resources to make a serious comeback.

The product of these renewed resources is an all-new engine. Called the Thunder Stroke 111, the 49-degree V-twin is air cooled, has three cams, two pushrod-actuated valves per cylinder, and displaces 1,811 cc (111 cu. in.). Claimed peak torque is more than 115 lb-ft.

The unit-construction engine uses a six-speed gearbox and has styling influences from Indian V-twins of the 1940s, with large cooling fins, parallel pushrod tubes and downward-pointing exhaust pipes. The engine uses a gear primary drive and final drive will be via belt.

The engine is manufactured at Polaris’ Osceola, Wisconsin engine plant, and a future motorcycle will be built at a plant in Spirit Lake, Iowa.

You can find out more at indianmotorcycle.com.