INDIAN ROADMASTER
Indian Motorcycle’s biggest cruiser, the Roadmaster, is truly a splendid piece of Americana
THE WORLD IS FULL OF PEOPLE WHO claim that their motorcycles are the best. Some state that having the best ride quality makes a motorcycle great, while for some it’s all about handling and then there are those for whom styling is greater than anything else. But the Americans often look at things that lie beyond these attributes. They look for character in a motorcycle, for that wind-in-the-hair factor and the motorcycle that puts a smile on their face. That is the reason why most Americans have a soft corner for cruisers, as this genre of motorcycling has everything they look for. No wonder American motorcycle manufacturers churn out some of the most wonderful cruisers in the world.
The recently resurrected Indian Motorcycle, one of the oldest motorcycle marques in the world, is one such company that focuses on providing smiles on two wheels, and their Roadmaster is the latest to join the happy wagon. We recently spent a day with this beauty from America to find out how big a smile it can put on our face.
‘Stunning’, ‘splendid’, ‘marvellous’, and ‘massive’ best describe the styling of the Roadmaster. Launched last year in the developed world, this motorcycle, according to me, is probably one of the best-looking luxury cruisers out there. The styling department at Indian has nailed that 1950s look perfectly. I wasn’t born back then but it really doesn’t matter as this motorcycle successfully offers me a glimpse of that era.
I love the way the bike looks; those huge sheet-metal fenders look royal. The Indian war bonnet is immaculately finished. The fit-and-finish levels are among the best in the business and the attention to detail is mind-boggling. The exterior of that V-twin engine oozes ultra-sophisticated style; in fact, I wouldn’t mind putting that engine as the centre-piece in my living room. The massive proportions of the Roadmaster make it quite a sight on the road and, believe me, whenever I stopped by the side of the road there was a throng with curious minds around me, asking utterly out-of-the-world questions about the bike. Now, when a bike becomes a rock star based on the way it looks, that certainly will put a massive smile on the owner’s face.
The story with the Roadmaster is a little different, though. Apart from making you a celebrity, it also rocks some of the best features in the industry. Starting with that electronically controlled windscreen which even its competitor in India, the Harley-Davidson Street Glide Special, doesn’t have. Another feature is the 200W audio system with Bluetooth connectivity that allows you to pair your phone with the music system and stream your playlist.
Apart from that you get two massive hard-case panniers and a top-box, which together provide 142 litres of storage, plus there are two small storage boxes on the lower fairing, in case you want more than 142 litres. That’s massive storage for a motorcycle. You can also lock these boxes remotely www.bikeindia.in
using the key fob, which has a proximity sensor that also allows you to fire up the bike by switching on the ignition and then thumbing the starter button. Other features include cruise control, which works flawlessly, and heated grips, though, given the weather in India, cooled grips would have made more sense.
The Indian Roadmaster is loaded with up-to-date features and a lot of kit but the true beauty of this American lies in the way it is engineered. Despite being based on the Chief series, the Roadmaster feels pretty unique, especially when it comes to weight, which is the first thing that hits you hard. At 421 kilograms, it is probably the heaviest cruiser in the country. The engineering behind all this, however, is remarkable. The weight distribution is spot-on and that aluminium chassis is brilliant. Being a cruiser, the front end is raked out but not like a chopper. Of course, there is no way you can escape that bulk but once you get used to it, the weight becomes more manageable.
Another thing that impresses is that ThunderStroke 111 V-twin engine. The ‘111’ stands for 111 cubic inches which translates into 1,811 cc of pure American V-twin muscle. The company does not divulge power output but the estimated figure seems to hover around 75 PS. However, it is the torque that sets things in motion and the Roadmaster has 138.9 Nm of it, which is available from as low as 2,600 revolutions per minute. There is a sixspeed transmission that transfers that torque to the rear wheel via a belt final drive.
Old-world charm still seems predominant on this V-twin as it is still an air-cooled engine and uses push-rods to actuate the intake and exhaust valves. Bits such as the rideby-wire throttle and fuel-injection add a bit of modernity to the whole package.
After reading what the white paper said, it was time to experience the ride. As I www.bikeindia.in
THE ROADMASTER IS A WONDERFUL MOTORCYCLE IF YOU WISH TO MUNCH MILES IN EXTRAORDINARY COMFORT
mentioned earlier, the bulk could be felt instantly and I found out by almost tipping the bike over. The moment I got in the saddle and picked up the bike, it gave me the goosebumps for it wanted to tip over to the right. Luckily, my timing was perfect as I managed not to drop her. As I thumbed the starter and slotted into first, which, by the way, was a bit clunky, I was surprised to hear a smooth and undeniably subtle exhaust note; very unlike big American V-twins. Riding through the traffic of Gurgaon, or Gurugram, whatever that city is called, I could imagine why the Indian Motorcycle rider hesitated to ride the bike through the city. It is a massive beast and to navigate it through stop-and-go traffic was like living a nightmare. Apart from the sheer size, there was hardly anything to complaint about, though. The ride-by-wire throttle was super smooth without being overly enthusiastic in its response. It was the refinement and smoothness of that ThunderStroke motor that caught my attention.
I was looking forward to a ride filled with vibrations but it seemed like vibrations were holidaying somewhere far away. The refinement levels were incredible. Once I hit the highway, it was time to open up the throttle and experience true bliss. The torque delivery was amazing; I was in fifth gear with the engine running at just over 1,500 RPM, speedo indicating 60 km/h, and when I opened the throttle suddenly, the Roadmaster charge ahead with gusto. The torque flow was smooth and civilised and the throttle response was equally impressive. Hitting triple-digit speeds was child’s play and staying there was even easier. The weight of the bike seemed to have disappeared and the main reason for that was the low centre of gravity. The engine is placed lower in the aluminium frame and that, combined with the weight, make the Roadmaster highly stable.
As for handling, I wasn’t really expecting much but the bike surprised me there as well. The air-suspension at the back is set up on the softer side to absorb most of the undulations you find on Indian roads, thus making the ride highly enjoyable. The good part is that this soft suspension doesn’t hurt the