2017 Indian Chieftain Dark Horse review, test ride

There’s a certain charm that baggers exude that really tugs at your heartstrings, the same heartstrings that are so readily seduced by the call of the open highway. This is a genre of motorcycle that instantly makes you want to throw on a leather jacket and hit the open road. Wishful daydreams aside, Indian has added yet another model to its bagger series, the Chieftain Dark Horse, which makes wanderlust so real. Having ridden the other Indians before, we can safely say the experience is a rather meditative one, and we expect this one to be no different.

Spotting the Chieftain Dark Horse in the distance may make you question why there’s a land boat approaching you. It sits almost 8.5 feet long and weighs a behemoth 377kg! Starting at the front, you get this sleek, flowing and solid-looking front mudguard with the signature illuminated Native American Indian chief’s head. Atop the front wheel sits a positively bulbous fairing that ensures your upper body is completely free of any stray windblast. To ensure even further wind protection, there is a height-adjustable, electronically controlled windscreen.

The simple, elegant tank gets a central strip that has a large start-stop power button. It gets a supremely comfortable single seat, with the backrest and pillion seat available as add-ons. The solid rear fender is exquisitely chiselled; it flows towards the floor, into a swooping tip that gives the whole motorcycle a sort of regality.

The seating geometry is authoritative and relaxed at the same time. You have what appears to be a dashboard in front of you. Although this Chieftain Dark Horse version misses out on the 7.0-inch TFT screen found on the 2017 Chieftain and Roadmaster, you get a fair amount of goodies to keep you well engaged, such as the two 100W fairing speakers and a Bluetooth and smartphone-compatible music system that also picks up FM/AM radio stations. You also get cruise control for those endless highway runs.