30 | MARCH 2026 QUARTERLY SUPPLEMENT
waiting for us. From a distance and up close, the bike looks sharp. Apart from silver on the pushrod tubes, cylinder heads, wheel spokes, and a few badges and fasteners, everything is finished in gloss or matte black. The frame, fork and shocks, exhaust pipes, headlight bucket, handlebar, seat, and even the fender tips, headdress ornament, and Indian badges on the tank are black, black, black.
Discreetly hidden on the bikes were the electronic key fobs. All we had to do was tap the power button, which brought to life the round 4- inch color touchscreen display. Hiding in plain sight are modern features and conveniences today’ s riders want: ride modes( Sport, Standard, and Tour), antilock brakes, infotainment, and a charging port.
Pressing the ignition button fired up the Thunderstroke 116, an air- cooled 49- degree V- Twin that churns out 120 lb- ft of torque at 2,900 rpm. Refined and enlarged over the past 13 years, this engine has just the right amount of rumble and a distinctive but reasonable exhaust note. With the engines warm and our caffeine kicking into high gear, we rolled out onto the freeway to slice and dice among daily commuters on our way to the canyon roads of Malibu. In top gear at highway speeds, the Thunderstroke 116 chugs along nicely, and there’ s always extra grunt on tap for a quick pass.
Our butts sat upon what Indian calls the Vintage Floating Solo Seat. Perched at a very reasonable 27 inches above the asphalt, the thinly padded seat is more comfortable than it appears at first glance. Stenegärd said that, like the fenders, his team burned the midnight oil to get the seat right. Its sculpted shape is based on that of classic tractor seats, like those farmers spent long days in while working the fields. The seat is held in place by a bracket that flexes, allowing it to move slightly to help isolate the rider from impacts. The seat doesn’ t allow the rider to move around much, but I never felt the need to do so. And if your riding plans include a companion, a passenger seat and footpegs are available as accessories.( Other accessories include a quick- release windshield, highway bars, saddlebags, a Pathfinder adaptive LED headlight, a Stage 1 slip- on exhaust, and a Stage 1 high- flow air intake.)
Malibu Canyon Road took us into the Santa Monica Mountains that hug the Pacific coast, and Piuma Road took us from the canyon’ s floor to its upper rim. Morning rains had left the road slick and even a little muddy in places. The Metzeler Cruisetec tires offered confident grip, and I appreciated that the narrow rear tire reduced steering effort. In the Standard ride mode, throttle response was smooth and predictable, allowing me to gradually roll
Below top: A round 4-inch color touchscreen display includes Ride Command with GPS navigation, Bluetooth connectivity, and more. Bottom left: Grace notes. Bottom right: The solo saddle is inspired by a classic tractor seat.
2026 INDIAN CHIEF VINTAGE
Base Price: $ 19,999 Price As Tested: $ 20,499( Indian Motorcycle Red) Website: IndianMotorcycle. com Warranty: 2 yrs., unltd. miles Engine Type: Air-cooled, transverse 49-degree V-Twin, OHV w / 2 valves per cyl. Displacement: 116ci / 1,890cc Bore x Stroke: 4.063 x 4.449 in. / 103.2 x 113.0mm Horsepower: 96 @ 4,200 rpm( estimated) Torque: 120 lb-ft @ 2,900 rpm( factory claim) Transmission: 6-speed, cable-actuated wet assist clutch Final Drive: Belt Wheelbase: 64 in. Rake / Trail: 29 degrees / 5.2 in. Seat Height: 27 in. Wet Weight: 721 lb( factory claim) Fuel Capacity: 4 gal.