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Brookfield Indian Motorcycles will open for business later this week, marking the first dealership in Connecticut for the revived U.S.-made motorcycle brand. Indian motorcycles were made in the U.S. from 1901 to 1953 and started again in 2013.

“This is another great icon in America. It stands for what this country can still conceive and manufacture for U.S. consumers,” Robert V. Gaulin, owner of Brookfield Indian Motorcycle, said. “We need more of that in this country. I wanted to be a part of this. These things are beautifully sculpted. They are spectacular-looking bikes.”

Following the company’s demise in 1953, several attempts were made to revive the brand, but were largely unsuccessful. In 2011, Polaris, of off-road vehicle and snowmobile fame, purchased the brand with the intention of reviving the name and producing top-quality motorcycles in the U.S. again. It introduced new models starting in 2013 and the popularity is gaining steam quickly. The production facility is in Iowa.

Polaris has introduced nine new models of Indian motorcycles since 2013. In addition, Polaris owns the Victory brand of motorcycles, which is also made in America.

Brookfield Indian Motorcycle will also sell Victory motorcycles as well as a selection of used bikes. It will also have parts, accessories and merchandise.

The dealership will be part of a family-owned and operated business under the name Remington Family Cycles — named after Gaulin’s 13-year-old English setter.

The business is located at 20 Federal Road, up a long driveway that climbs above the rest of the retail outlets on the busy road where Route 7 and Interstate 84 converge. Harley Davidson of Danbury is down the road and there is also a BMW motorcycle dealership nearby.

“This is a destination,” Gaulin said. “You’re not going to see a motorcycle dealership that has this kind of privacy, this kind of view, surrounded by mountains on one side, vistas on the other side, big parking lot, lots of room for parties and events.”

“It’s a good spot and I think they’ll do very well there. That section of Federal Road gets an amazing amount of volume,” Dunn said. “The new Indian bikes are beautiful and are one of the best in the world. It’s a new business that will attract people to town.”

Gaulin said Brookfield has been supportive since he first proposed his plans to town officials.

“Brookfield has been incredible, almost like a silent partner in all this,” he said. “They want to see us succeed.”

The dealership is located at the former site of The Dining Furniture Showroom. Gaulin said they gutted the building to prepare for the build-out of Brookfield Indian Motorcycle, with the 12,000-square-foot building to feature a large showroom, service area, club room, parts room, back offices and three unisex bathrooms.

The showroom will feature the Victory, Indian and used motorcycles in their own sections. Each motorcycle will be highlighted by six lights and not crowded by other bikes, Gaulin said.

“This was quite a labor of love. We took this building and gutted it,” Gaulin said. “There was nothing here when we finished. We took down every wall, all the duct work, all the electricity, all the plumbing. We started from scratch.”

Gaulin started the process of becoming an authorized Indian Motorcycle dealer in January 2015. He looked on with keen interest when Polaris purchased the brand in 2011. He said he followed the stock and news articles about Indian Motorcycle carefully.

“Polaris was the game-changer. They made it a viable brand again,” Gaulin said. “I couldn’t ignore this opportunity. I believe they are committed to this brand and I wanted to get in on the ground floor.”

Indian Motorcycle is now going head-to-head with Harley Davidson in Fairfield County as the dealerships are less than a mile away from each other. Harley Davidson is also made in the U.S. and has been around since 1903. The national motorcycle press has covered the rivalry extensively from the time Polaris launched the new models in 2013.

“The brands are competitors, but I don’t consider myself competition with the guys down the street or up the street,” he said. “I firmly believe it is good to have another choice of high-end motorcycles. The consumers of this great state and surrounding New York counties deserve the best options.”

High on a hill overlooking bustling Federal Road in Brookfield, an American icon will rise again.
Brookfield Indian Motorcycle will open for business later this week, marking the first dealership in Connecticut for the revived U.S.-made motorcycle brand. Indian motorcycles were made in the U.S. from 1901 to 1953 and started again in 2013.
“This is another great icon in America. It stands for what this country can still conceive and manufacture for U.S. consumers,” Robert V. Gaulin, owner of Brookfield Indian Motorcycle, said. “We need more of that in this country. I wanted to be a part of this. These things are beautifully sculpted. They are spectacular-looking bikes.”
Following the company’s demise in 1953, several attempts were made to revive the brand, but were largely unsuccessful. In 2011, Polaris, of off-road vehicle and snowmobile fame, purchased the brand with the intention of reviving the name and producing top-quality motorcycles in the U.S. again. It introduced new models starting in 2013 and the popularity is gaining steam quickly. The production facility is in Iowa.
Polaris has introduced nine new models of Indian motorcycles since 2013. In addition, Polaris owns the Victory brand of motorcycles, which is also made in America.

Brookfield Indian Motorcycle will also sell Victory motorcycles as well as a selection of used bikes. It will also have parts, accessories and merchandise.
The dealership will be part of a family-owned and operated business under the name Remington Family Cycles — named after Gaulin’s 13-year-old English setter.
The business is located at 20 Federal Road, up a long driveway that climbs above the rest of the retail outlets on the busy road where Route 7 and Interstate 84 converge. Harley Davidson of Danbury is down the road and there is also a BMW motorcycle dealership nearby.

“This is a destination,” Gaulin said. “You’re not going to see a motorcycle dealership that has this kind of privacy, this kind of view, surrounded by mountains on one side, vistas on the other side, big parking lot, lots of room for parties and events.”
Brookfield First Selectman Steve Dunn said the location is well suited for the business venture.
“It’s a good spot and I think they’ll do very well there. That section of Federal Road gets an amazing amount of volume,” Dunn said. “The new Indian bikes are beautiful and are one of the best in the world. It’s a new business that will attract people to town.”
Gaulin said Brookfield has been supportive since he first proposed his plans to town officials.
“Brookfield has been incredible, almost like a silent partner in all this,” he said. “They want to see us succeed.”
Starting from scratch
The dealership is located at the former site of The Dining Furniture Showroom. Gaulin said they gutted the building to prepare for the build-out of Brookfield Indian Motorcycle, with the 12,000-square-foot building to feature a large showroom, service area, club room, parts room, back offices and three unisex bathrooms.
The showroom will feature the Victory, Indian and used motorcycles in their own sections. Each motorcycle will be highlighted by six lights and not crowded by other bikes, Gaulin said.
“This was quite a labor of love. We took this building and gutted it,” Gaulin said. “There was nothing here when we finished. We took down every wall, all the duct work, all the electricity, all the plumbing. We started from scratch.”
Gaulin started the process of becoming an authorized Indian Motorcycle dealer in January 2015. He looked on with keen interest when Polaris purchased the brand in 2011. He said he followed the stock and news articles about Indian Motorcycle carefully.
“Polaris was the game-changer. They made it a viable brand again,” Gaulin said. “I couldn’t ignore this opportunity. I believe they are committed to this brand and I wanted to get in on the ground floor.”
Indian Motorcycle is now going head-to-head with Harley Davidson in Fairfield County as the dealerships are less than a mile away from each other. Harley Davidson is also made in the U.S. and has been around since 1903. The national motorcycle press has covered the rivalry extensively from the time Polaris launched the new models in 2013.
“The brands are competitors, but I don’t consider myself competition with the guys down the street or up the street,” he said. “I firmly believe it is good to have another choice of high-end motorcycles. The consumers of this great state and surrounding New York counties deserve the best options.”
A new destination
Indian Motorcycle has a long history with Connecticut and New England. According to a timeline on the company’s website, its first motorized pacing bicycle was made in Middletown in 1901. Later that same year, the company’s first factory opened in Springfield, Mass.
Indian made motorcycles for the U.S. military during both World Wars, including 50,000 for the military between 1917 and 1919.
Indian Motorcycle nationally offers incentives and bonuses to military personnel as well as police and fire personnel. Gaulin said he will extend similar offers to educators at his dealership.
He said he will also become involved in the community by sponsoring sports teams and organizing charity rides. A Lyme disease ride is already being planned.
Gaulin said he wants Brookfield Indian Motorcycle to become a destination for riders of all motorcycle brands. He’d like to see the space “become somewhat reminiscent of the old Marcus Dairy days on a smaller scale.”
Marcus Dairy was a dairy bar on Sugar Hollow Road in Danbury that attracted large crowds of motorcycle enthusiasts from all over the country. It was torn down in 2011 to make way for a shopping plaza.