Illinois chain buys Indian Motorcycle of Orlando

An Illinois company is hoping to appeal to younger motorcycle fans as it expands the selection of used, affordable inventory at Indian Motorcycle of Orlando.

Elmhurst-based iMotorsports closed the deal to buy the Orlando dealership from EagleRider Friday, said iMotorsports co-owner Haider Saba. The dealership, 1150 Jetport Drive, is visible from the Beachline Expressway.

“We believe that Indian is the brand for us as opposed to brands that have already seen the peak,” Saba said.

The price of the transaction was not disclosed. The dealership in Orlando includes 17,000-square-feet of showroom and service shops. About 10 employees are staying with the company after the deal, but Saba said that number should expand in the coming weeks.

iMotorsports made the Central Florida purchase despite struggles of the broader motorcycle industry. After sales peaked in the mid-2000s, revenues at industry leader Harley-Davidson have stagnated in recent years, falling 3.6 percent between 2014 and 2016.

Younger consumers, Saba said, are not riding motorcycles, and the industry as a whole has failed to capture the attention of potential buyers.

“The motorcycle industry is tough now,” Saba said. “Young people haven’t gravitated towards motorcycles, so with our used inventory, we want to give them a more affordable entry-level option.”

Indian Motorcycle is a historic motorcycle brand that was resurrected in 2011 by Victory Motorcycles owner Polaris Industries. Polaris said earlier in 2017 it was dropping Victory in favor of Indian.

iMotorsports purchased another Florida dealership, St. Pete Powersports, in Dec. 2016. The flagship dealership near Chicago doesn’t perform as well during the winter months, and the company wanted a southern dealership to balance the seasonality, Saba said.

Harley-Davidson opened the door for the transaction when it made a motorcycle rental deal with EagleRider, the previous owner of Indian Motorcycles of Orlando. EagleRider’s deal with Harley forced it to sell retail sales operations, putting the Orlando dealership on the market.

The Indian Motorcycles of Orlando dealership sells both new and used vehicles. iMotorsports sells both, but specializes in used motorcycles, Saba said.

In the coming months, iMotorsports plans to bulk up the inventory of the Orlando dealership with about 100 used vehicles.

“Between the three stores, we have about 500 used motorcycles, so it really helps us grow,” Saba said.

“Young people haven’t gravitated towards motorcycles, so ... we want to give them a more affordable ... option.” Haider Saba, iMotorsports co-owner