‘Bagger for modern life’

In terms of performance, comfort and even (arguably...) looks the Challenger is a better motorcycle than the Road Glide… especially if you plan on regularly taking a pillion. It is just more refined and with far fewer of the annoying oldschool clunks. The Indian is a bagger that feels built for modern life. Yes, its TFT dash is less impressive than the Harley’s but overall it’s a more polished product. But there’s a battle of head and heart here.

If you buy the Indian you know that every person who comes up to you will say ‘is that a Harley?’ and you will have to explain who Indian are. Thankfully, Indian have a rich heritage (they were founded before Harley) but over here they don’t have the same brand recognition or cachet. And while they have owners groups with organised events to draw you into the community and all the extras that come with that, they don’t have the same scale as Harley. Plus, when you’re paying £28k for a bike, depreciation is also a consideration, which is another are where Harley are strong.

So what’s the answer? If you want the more accomplished ride, buy the Indian. If you want a bike that comes with an entire lifestyle in its back pocket, the Harley delivers that effortlessly.

Personally, I’d buy a lighterweight H-D that feels more suited to the UK’s tight, bumpy and crowded roads, like the Low Rider ST – which is £7k cheaper.