Indian Motorcycle Adds Third Dealer In CT

VERNON, CT – Connecticut now has a third Indian dealer with the addition of Indian Motorcycle of Hartford. It’s located a dozen miles northeast of the capitol city in Vernon.

The franchise was granted to the owner of Scranton Powersports in mid-June, but new models didn’t begin arriving until two weeks ago.

Indian Motorcycle of Hartford joins Brookfield Indian Motorcycle/Brookfield Powersports in Brookfield, CT and Indian Motorcycle of Norwich/Street Stuff Cycle in Norwich, CT in selling the American-made brand.

Only about a dozen Indian models are currently in stock at Indian Motorcycle of Hartford, a visit by RIDE-CT revealed today. Outdoor signage was lacking and showroom racks for gear and logo-wear were limited, making the new store a work in progress.

It will likely look a good bit different on Sept. 6 and 7 when a grand opening event is planned, which includes a two-day visit by a factory demo truck.

Details on how the new Indian dealership came about aren’t yet known. Dealer principal Phil Wilson and general manager Josh Strube were reportedly traveling and couldn’t be reached for comment.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Wilson has owned Scranton Powersports since September 2016. He previously spent nearly 11 years as chief financial officer of Scranton Motors, a Buick-Cadillac-GMC dealership in Vernon.

The expansion of Indian in the state gives the brand half the number of dealers of rival Harley-Davidson, which has six outlets in Connecticut.

About Bud Wilkinson

Bud Wilkinson writes the "RIDE-CT" motorcycle column and the "My Ride" classic car feature in the "Republican-American" newspaper in Waterbury, CT. A graduate of Vermont Academy, he received a B.A. degree journalism from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1975. He is the recipient of a Scripps Howard Foundation National Journalism Award in 1992 and a 1991-92 regional Emmy Award for commentary. He currently rides a 1987 BMW R 80 RT and a 2014 Triumph Bonneville and drives a 2010 Mazda MX-5 Miata.

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