Complaint Review: Indian Motorcycle - Gilroy CA And Bergen County Chopper - Hackensack NJ - Gilroy CA And Hackensack NJ Nationwide

On March 28th of 2003, I took delivery of an Indian Chief Springfield edition motorcycle. The bike was purchased in Bordentown NJ.

Three weeks after taking delivery of the motorcycle, a dealership opened up within 6 miles of my house in Hackensack NJ.

Since the day I picked this bike up, it was nothing but problems. Wouldn't run right -- constantly spitting and coughing etc. Alarm didn't work. Waited ridiculous periods of time for services that weren't performed correctly.

A headbolt fell out of the motor. The clutch went. The frame cracked. The monoshock broke. The forks leaked oil just to mention a few.

The first service was performed in the Bordentown NJ dealership and I was unhappy with the service. Since Indian Motorcycle set up shop 5 minutes from my house, I decided to get an "OK" from the manufacturer AND the Bordentown dealership to let the new Hackensack Dealership take responsibility for services and warranty work to be rendered.

All parties involved, Manufacturer, Bordentown and Hackensack all concured.

When the headbolt fell out of the bike, the Hackensack dealership advised me to get a replacement from "Harley-Davidson". I replaced the bolt and it didn't fit. The Hackensack dealership told me that I would be responsible for damage done to the bike because of this.

I assured them that I would NOT be responsible for ANYTHING. After a few e-mails and written letters to the manufacturer, this was taken care of. But not without missing several rallies that I always go to every year.

The bike was in the shop for more than a month for a headbolt!

As a matter of fact, the bike was in the shop for a total of four months in the 6 months that I owned it.

Finally, I sent an e-mail to George Nobile, Senior VP of Operations at Indian Motorcycle Gilroy California stating that I demanded a FULL PURCHASE PRICE refund under the lemon-law.

He replied with, and I quote, "As you demand we will give you a "Full purchase price refund for the motorcycle". They asked me for all the pertinent information and advised me to NOT get an attorney and that this would be taken care of out of court to avoid aggravation for BOTH of us.

Well, let me tell you -- "Aggravation" isn't the word.

They waited approximately two weeks to have the Hackensack dealership pick the bike up where it last broke down in my girlfriends driveway in West Paterson NJ. It was not ride-able since the clutch went nearly killing me and my girlfriend in 5th gear on a backroad in Northern NJ area.

Finally, after picking the bike up I started sending e-mails and letters to the whereabouts of my refund. I kept getting ignored inbetween lame excuses as to why they couldn't just send the check out.

Everything from "We need to inspect the bike" to "There's certain procedures that need to be followed before we can pay you".

In the meantime, this bike was just sitting at the Hackensack dealership waiting to be picked up by the manufacturer in Gilroy.

Well, needless to say, three months had passed and Indian Motorcycle closed the doors to thier business -- screwing a LOT of people in the process. Not to mention all the dealers that had purchased bikes to sell.

Here's where the nightmare gets even worse. I call the Hackensack dealership to see if the bike was ever picked up by the Manufactuerer and I was told that it was. I still have this recording on my aswering machine, THANK GOD!

I, feverishly, tried contacting the people in Gilroy as to the whereabouts of my bike but to no avail. I left a threatening message on one of the Secretary's voice mails claiming White collar fraud and theft. Two months passed and I recieve a voice mail from the secretary stating that I would have to take my bike back and that they were not authorized to pay me now.

Still unable to find out the whereabouts of my bike, I GO to the Hackensack dealership and they, again, tell me that the bike was picked up.

It wasn't until three weeks later that I recieved that call stating that they were sorry and that they indeed, DID have my bike there.

I told them that I was coming to pick it up because a lemon bike is still better than no bike at all. They replied with this: "You can have the bike but there are storage fees exceeding $3000.00.

I'm currently working with a lawyer who won't get back to me regarding this matter after paying him $500.00 retainer fee. With this retainer fee I stipulated that not only am I getting my bike back, but THEY'RE PAYING ALL ATTORNEYS FEES. This was a month ago and even after registered letters to the attorney, Robert G. Rosenberg, I still have heard nothing from him.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is just the tip of the iceberg. If I were to go into detail about the issues surrounding this event, you'd be sick to your stomach.

One way or the other, I will prevail. I'm sure it's just a matter of time but there's one thing you can count on.....I don't care WHO purchases the rights to the once famous "Indian Motorycle" corporation, I will NEVER purchase one again and I will make sure that EVERYONE I know stays as far away from Indian Motorcycle as possible.

This has been a nightmare beyond all nightmares. Please keep in mind, that I have documentation to prove everything I'm saying. Either in writing or in recorded telephone conversations or voice messages left on my answering machine.

If anyone reading this is in the same boat or similar situation as me, please contact me via E-mail ane we could discuss a group action/class action lawsuit.

Daniel

Wayne, New Jersey
U.S.A.