2017 Indian Chieftain Dark Horse review, test ride

The 1,811cc air-cooled Thunder Stroke 111 V-Twin motor is an absolute gem. Even though this isn’t a new engine by any means, it simply steals the show with its refinement. It makes 138.9Nm of torque that is spread over the rev range like smooth waves breaking on the seashore. It’s nearly vibration-free and there’s ample thrust available in each gear. The bike accelerates smoothly off the line, and with the amount of torque on tap, you can pull away easily from speed bumps in as high as third gear. The engine is relaxed, and ambles about effortlessly with a lovely, muffled rumble from its twin exhausts.

As I mentioned earlier, riding the Chieftain Dark Horse is simply a meditative experience. This stems from a well-balanced chassis, steering geometry and suspension setup. Speaking of steering geometry, the Chieftain Dark Horse (just like the Roadmaster) has its forks raked in further to 25 degrees to allow the front end to feel nimble even when it has all the weight of that massive front fairing over it. The bike turns in very easily, precisely and with a lot of confidence.

Even the ride quality is great. The 46mm front forks and air-adjustable monoshock at the back handle big bumps rather well and the ride is very pliant for the most part. The 142mm ground clearance means you don’t have to worry too much about those long, chromed-out silencer tubes scraping over large speed bumps. And for bringing that 377kg mass to a halt, the ABS-equipped twin 300mm front discs and a single 300mm rear disc provide more than sufficient stopping power.

Although this is a cheap bike by no means, Indian has ensured that its high levels of refinement and riding pleasure shine through on the Chieftain Dark Horse. Moreover, the Thunder Black Smoke paint scheme lends the bike a regal yet mildly sinister character. And there’s a mindboggling amount of customisation options available for it. So, if you’re in the market for a high-end, long-distance cruiser, you should definitely consider this as your next motorcycle.