Indian’s most powerful twin yet
Firm’s Challenger bagger impresses at world launch
‘Those kilos flatten out every bump in the road’
Indian’s new-from-the-groundup Challenger isn’t just the slickest, most formidable bigcube V-twin mile-muncher they’ve ever produced, its new liquid-cooled motor packs the most punch, too. Conceived to transport rider, pillion and luggage big distances in supreme comfort, the ‘bagger’-shaped Challenger is an evocative mix of traditional designmeets-modern tech.
Prices will be announced at the NEC but expect the base Challenger to start at £23,599 with the higher spec Dark Horse to be £24,699 and the Limited, which we’re testing here at its launch in California, £24,999.
Power talk
Refined and perfectly fuelled, Indian’s new 1769cc PowerPlus motor is built to waft. In top gear it’ll purr along at 70mph with the gentle tremor of its super-sized, shortstroke pistons lolloping away beneath you at just 2800rpm. Cruising the Pacific Coast Highway from LA; ocean on the left, classic rock blasting out Pearl Jam and Van Halen from its meaty stereo (volume maxed-out at 11), it’s the American dream with two wheels and pearlescent paint.
It might be born to cruise and it has noticeably more instant grunt than Indian’s air-cooled Thunder Stroke-engined machines, but drop it down out of its tall, overdrive sixth gear and it gets a serious shift on, not just for a 361kg (dry) behemoth
- it accelerates like a wild thing, especially in the sportiest of its three modes. Indian claim 0-60mph in 3.9 seconds, 30-60mph in 2.2 and it’ll hammer the standing quarter-mile in just 12.2. Off the line they say it’ll pull five bike lengths on the bike it has set squarely in its sights: Harley’s new £23,895 Road Glide. Top speed is restricted to an indicated 112mph.
Perfect poise
Flick the cruise control on, sit back and let the Challenger hoover up the miles. With its barber’s chair riding position, day-long riding is an ache-free pleasure, although the bars could be placed closer to the rider for less arm-stretch.
There’s always a feeling of immense bulk beneath you, especially at paddling speeds, but it quickly melts away and those kilos are an advantage for a bagger on the move; flattening every bump in its path and putting so much pressure down through the tyres in corners, the grip it generates makes it feel almost uncrashable.
You wouldn’t expect it to handle for such a monster, but Indian have always excelled in producing big bruisers that are accurate and light on their feet in corners. Cast aluminium chassis, upside-down forks, single Fox shock and the sticky Mezteler Cruisetecs (Indian say they’re also superb in the wet), all work together in perfect harmony. Only the rear shock is adjustable (for preload) and ramping it up a couple of turns to suit the Californian canyons, the Challenger steers with precision and stability. Footboards graze tarmac if you’re lazy with your riding position, but even then, ground clearance is generous. Brembos that wouldn’t look out of place on a superbike, do a decent job of hauling-up the Challenger, but lack the brutality you’d expect from monoblocs. On a bike this long, low and heavy, it’s always the back brake that’s the most effective and it does its job beautifully. Lean sensitive traction control and ABS fitted to this top-spec model are never troubled never during our two-day ride, but it’s nice knowing they’re there.
Annoying niggles
Switchgear is the Challenger’s only real let down with just about every button, big and very small, out of finger reach unless you take your hands fully, or part way off the bars and having the cruise control switch on the right bar is just plain daft. Keeping the electric screen in its low position for an uncluttered view of twisty roads, town riding and filtering is a must, but its top edge is always in your eye-line and it creates ear-bashing buffeting at speed. Fully raised it’s quieter, but not by much.
Equipment
The base model comes with Indian’s ‘Ride Command Infotainment’ system with a seven-inch colour touch screen, USB charger, 100Watt stereo, cruise control, keyless ignition, adjustable air vents and electric screen and 68 litres of storage. The blacked-out Dark Horse has cornering ABS and traction control, satnav, tyre pressure monitors and the Limited has Highway bars and more chrome than you can squeeze an Autosol tube at.
Is it worth it?
The Challenger is in the ballpark of its bagger-styled competition such as the six-cylinder £19,140 BMW K1600 B, but the Indian lacks certain kit, like fully-adjustable suspension and a quickshifter/blipper. It isn’t cheap, but the Challenger is Indian’s smoothest cruiser yet, so if you like the idea of the great American bagger and you’ve got deep enough pockets, you won’t be disappointed. ‘The Challenger accelerates like a wild thing’