- Takes design inspiration from the 1940s Indian Chief
- Same performance and underpinnings as other variants in the Chief lineup
Indian Motorcycle has unveiled the Chief Vintage, its newest variant, as part of the bikemaker’s 125th anniversary celebrations. What sets it apart is its design, which is reminiscent of the Indian Chief model from the post world-war 2 era.
From the front, we can see a valenced fender combined with a headdress ornament, something unique to Indian’s bikes. The tear-drop shaped tank looks properly retro, and the Indian logo in black goes well with the red colour scheme. Lastly, there’s also a free-floating seat that fits well with the massive rear fender. The new variant manages to get the styling right, and at first glance, it’s not easy to see the differences compared to the original from the 1940s.
Aside from the design changes, the bike remains mechanically similar to the other variants in the Chief lineup. It is powered by the same Thunderstroke 116CI engine, which is a 1,890cc, air-cooled, V-twin motor producing 156Nm at 3,300rpm.
The bike rolls on 16-inch cross-spoke wheels with balloon tyres for that authentic retro look. Features-wise, the Indian Chief Vintage gets a 4-inch round TFT console with turn-by-turn navigation, three riding modes (Sport, Tour, and Standard), along with a cruise control system. Overall, this new Chief variant looks like the perfect homage to America's golden era of motorcycling.
