If you thought the Indian Chief range was just too darned pretty and wanted something tougher and meaner looking, then check out the Indian Chief Dark Horse.
Not only is it all black and very macho looking, but it will also be the cheapest of the Indian Chief range.
In the US, it’s $2000 cheaper than the base model Classic, which would make put it in the mid $20,000s here.
Indian Motorcycle Australia Country Manager Peter Harvey says there is “still some work to do before Dark Horse is in our market”.
“Whilst it has been announced in the US market, Australia is still a fair way from announcing availability let alone pricing or incremental growth,” he says. “We will have more news to share about Dark Horse once we have more clarity from our colleagues in the US.”
This year, Indian made the Chief range even prettier with traditional two-tone pastel paint. It looks great, but it doesn’t turn everyone on.
Brands such as Harley and Ducati have had a lot of success in the past with “dark” models with matte black paint and some riders love no other colour than black.
So Indian has listened and produced the Indian Chief Dark Horse with the same Thunder Stroke 111-cubic-inch engine, running gear and standard features such as keyless ignition, ABS, and dual exhaust.
But gone is any hint of pastel paint or chrome which saves about 10kg in weight.
Indian has also announced it will have about 40 dark accessories for the Dark Horse including ape hanger handlebars, air cleaners, fender struts, slip-on exhaust with black heat shields and exhaust tips, and black fender trim.
The original Dark Horse was built from 2010 to 2013, but this is the first Dark Horse under the new stewardship of Polaris Industries, owner of Indian Motorcycle.
Marketing director Scott Meek describes the new Dark Horse as the “toughest Indian Motorcycle on the market”.
“The Dark Horse is a bike that will separate its riders from the rest of the pack, and we think the Dark Horse Challenge will do the same,” he says.
Indian is also rumoured to be releasing a “Springfield” model in August at the 75th annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. The name is a reference to the company’s original home in Springfield, Massachusetts.
