The Indian Roadmaster Elite has been launched in India. It faces direct competition from another American luxury touring motorcycle, the Harley Davidson CVO Limited. Who wins the battle of plush on paper? We find out in this competition check-
Design
The Indian Roadmaster Elite is built on the underpinnings of the standard Roadmaster which is available in India. The limited edition, luxury-touring motorcycle gets flowing lines all over its body and a unique, two-tone blue and black paint scheme. To boost its exclusivity, the Roadmaster Elite also features a 23K gold leaf badge on the fuel tank.
On the other hand, the Harley Davidson CVO sports a slightly edgier styling and unlike the Roadmaster Elite it is mass produced. Both bikes are adorned with chrome and sport a similar ‘batwing-fairing’ that houses the electronically adjustable visor and headlamp with auxiliary lights on either side; all LED units. While the Roadmaster Elite has its turn signals integrated in the fairing, the CVO sports conventionally mounted units.
Features
The bikes come equipped with panniers and a top-box as standard. While the Roadmaster Elite gets a 140-litre luggage space, the CVO makes do with a smaller 132-litre capacity.
The electronics package on the Roadmaster Elite is similar to the standard Roadmaster. It includes keyless ignition, ABS, tyre-pressure sensors, remote central locking for luggage cases and adjustable floorboards. It also gets heated leather seats handgrips with 10 individual settings for the rider as well as the pillion. However, the Elite additionally sports a seven-inch touchscreen display that is paired with the Ride Command infotainment system, navigation system and 300-watt audio system. It also gets passenger armrests, billet aluminium passenger and rider floorboards and pinnacle mirrors.
The Harley-Davidson CVO Limited also sports an exhaustive list of features. This includes a cruise control system, a comparatively smaller, 6.5 inch display infotainment system with a 75watt audio system, ABS, dual-climate heated hand grips and a security system. The bike also offers two wireless headsets to use for communication with the pillion or fellow riders.
Engine
The Roadmaster Elite shares its 1811cc ‘Thunder-Stroke’ V-twin engine with the standard bike. This engine produces 150Nm of torque and is mated to six-speed gearbox and final belt-drive. The bike sports a 20.8-litre fuel tank capacity and a kerb weight of 433kg.
Powering the CVO Limited is a 1923cc, ‘Milwaukee-Eight 117’ V-Twin engine. This engine is more powerful producing 167Nm of torque through a six-speed transmission and final chain drive. The CVO also sports a larger 22.7 litre fuel tank and is lighter with a kerb weight of 428kg.
Pricing
The Indian Roadmaster Elite is limited to 300 units worldwide and only 2 units have been allotted for India. It is priced at Rs 48 lakhs (ex-showroom, India), a premium of Rs 4 lakhs from the standard variant. Meanwhile, the Harley-Davidson CVO Limited carries a Rs 49.99 lakh price tag (ex-showroom, Delhi)
