Not all images were able to load for printing. Please close the print window and try again. The Indian Chief Vintage Celebrates the Company’s 125th Anniversary In Style
Inspired by the iconic Chief from the 1940s, this new Chief Vintage is a retro-cool piece of true Americana!
“A striking tribute to an American classic from the heart of the golden age of motorcycling”, is the way Indian describes its all-new Chief Vintage. It not only represents the very best of what Indian has to offer, but it also celebrates the company’s 125th anniversary. With a legacy dating back to 1901 and styling cues in honour of the Chief from the 1940s, arguably one of Indian’s greatest machines, it combines retro looks with modern tech. In tribute to 125 years of the Indian Motorcycle Company, this all-around American Cruiser looks the part, probably sounds the part, and beckons for the open road.
About two years ago, I had the chance to spend a couple of days with an Indian Sport Chief in stealth black, in relation to the brand’s Benelux importer’s partnership with Lebois & Co. And although I hadn’t ridden anything like that before, it was an absolute joy and a thrilling experience altogether. This new Chief Vintage looks a bit more toned-down, perhaps, but is built around the same Thunderstroke 116 engine. So on paper, it should still rip whenever you want it!
While the Indian might have first appeared back in 1901, the roots of the company actually go back to 1897, when industrial engineer George M. Hendee founded the Hendee Manufacturing Company. Having success at building bicycles from very early on, it transitioned to motorcycles when Carl Oscar Hedstrom entered the picture just four years later. Within a decade, they became the largest motorcycle manufacturer, and by 1923, they were officially renamed the Indian Motorcycle Company. Shortly before, the Scout and Chief were introduced, which became cornerstone models for the brand, right up to its unfortunate bankruptcy in 1953.
Iconic names like the Chief and Scout have been reintroduced since the brand’s revival in 2006 and offer that same free-spirited V-Twin experience the originals were revered for. The brand’s current portfolio is split between Cruiser, Bagger (with saddlebags and large fairings, for those not into motorcycles), Touring and Elite. The company also offers a wide range of options to style your bike, so it’s probably rare to see one exactly alike on the road. Until very recently, it was owned by the Polaris Group and looked healthier than it had been in the years before, but it’s now a standalone company again under the wings of Carolwood LP.
Available in Black Metallic or Indian Motorcycle Red, the Chief Vintage is a big and heavy machine. It has a slightly longer wheelbase than the Sport Chief I rode, but it comes with the same Thunderstroke 116 V-Twin engine. This meaty engine has a 116 cubic inch capacity (as its name suggests), which comes down to 1.89 litres for those on the Metric system. It pumps out about 90 horsepower, but more importantly, 156Nm of torque, which is to be expected with such a massive engine. It’s not so much a top-speed machine, but it will be quick off the line! The engine block is painted black with silver heads to reflect the era that inspired it.
But the best part about the Chief Vintage is its styling. Since it’s modelled after the Chief from the 1940s, it has that very typical American Cruiser look made famous in countless movies and TV shows. Flowing valanced fenders, a wide and comfy solo seat and vintage handlebars take you back eighty years without too much imagination. Up front, an illuminated headdress ornament proudly guides you along your journeys, with a large, single LED headlight above it to light your path. The touchscreen instrument binnacle shows you all you need, thanks to the RIDE COMMAND technology, with built-in GPS navigation, Bluetooth connectivity, various driving modes and so on.
Finishing touches include the vintage Indian logo on the side of the tank and the classical wire wheels, in black with polished spokes. Stopping is done thanks to disc brakes front and rear with ABS, and the Chief Vintage rides on Metzeler Cruisetec tyres. At 327 kg, including fluids, this is not a lightweight machine, but the first reports state it’s still easy to manage and comfortable to ride. The wide handlebars and forward controls with floorboards will ensure you can ride this thing for hours on end and shift through the six-speed gearbox with ease.
The new Indian Chief Vintage in metallic black has a starting price of EUR 24,690, including VAT (21% for the Netherlands). If you want it finished in this very cool Indian Motorcycle Red, and I think you should, the price makes a small jump to EUR 25,290, also with taxes. As ever with Indian, there are plenty of personalisation options to make it even more your own machine, which admittedly does affect the final price. Nevertheless, I doubt there ever will be two of the same machines hitting the road!
For more information, please visit IndianMotorcycle.com or IndianMotorcycleBenelux.com.
Editorial Note: The information used and images portrayed in this article are sourced from and used with permission of Indian Motorcycle and Indian Motorcycle Benelux unless stated otherwise.
