American bikemaker Indian Motorcycle is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year, and it has kicked things off by revealing a new cruiser called the Chief Vintage. Unlike other Chief models in the line-up today, the Vintage’s design harks back to India Chief bikes of yesteryear and also pre-2021, with swooping valanced fenders, a floating solo seat, a relaxed swept-back handlebar and the signature illuminated Indian headdress on the front fender.
- Same engine and similar underpinnings as other Chief models
- Weighs 327kg, 24 kilos more than Chief Dark Horse
- Dual-channel ABS, cruise control and keyless ignition is standard
Indian Chief Vintage looks old but is thoroughly modern
Has 3 riding modes and a touchscreen colour TFT dash
In recent years, the latest Chief models have become minimalist and stripped back, leaving you with no option but to spring for the bigger touring models if you want a cruiser that looks typically Indian. However, the new Vintage is a return to form for the Chief models, with its textbook ‘Indian’ styling philosophy.
The Vintage also gets big floorboards, which are found on the ‘higher’ Chief models, unlike the base Chief Dark Horse and Bobber variants. While you do get a healthy dose of style, it comes at the expense of added weight. Compared to the Chief Dark Horse – the entry-level Chief, so to speak – the Vintage weighs 24 kilos more, tipping the scales at a portly (but not unheard of in the cruiser space) 327kg.
Underneath that vintage-looking bodywork of the Chief Vintage, you’ll find the same Thunderstroke 116CI (1,890cc in metric speak) V-Twin, air-cooled motor making the same 156Nm of peak torque at the same 3,300rpm. The main frame and suspension units, too, are shared with the other Chief models. To keep its period-correct looks, the Vintage rolls on a set of fat ‘balloon’ tyres on smaller 16-inch wire-spoke rims.
While its aesthetics might shout retro from a mile away, the Vintage is a thoroughly modern machine with a round, 4-inch colour TFT touchscreen displaying information to the rider. You have 3 riding modes – Standard, Tour, Sport – along with keyless ignition, cruise control and dual-channel ABS all as standard. Furthermore, Indian’s accessory catalogue allows you to customise your bike to your heart’s content, although none of this is going to come cheap.
You’ve got two colours to choose from here – signature Indian red and a stealthy black. Considering that Indian Motorcycle retails nearly its entire portfolio in our market through its limited dealer network, you can expect the Chief Vintage to come to India sometime during the year.
Ved Janve
Azaman Chothia
Vishal Venugopal
