I've been to the Indian factory assembly plant in Spirit Lake Iowa in the US and you could drop food on the floor and pick it up and eat it, it's that clean. Amazing assembly line that can switch between models in the blink of an eye. Almost everything is manufactured in plants all over the US and many other countries and assembled in Iowa. I love the style of the sport Chief but necessarily a fan of the flat colors (Colours for you in Britain). I had a 2016 Scout and loved the bike. It handled like ( expletive ) untill I got rid of the factory Kenda made tires and put on some Metzler ME33 Marathons and was able to take tight curves at 60% faster than the stock ones.
Beautiful bike, function and form.Well engineerd, well built better bang for ya buck than the tired Harry Davidson clothing company propaganda machine bikes.Great review,you got yourself a new subscriber. Cheers 🍺🍺🍺🇳🇿
I've had two Indians, a Scout and a Springfield Dark Horse. Both were good to ride and had a great sense of presence. The riding position of the Scout shouted 'I own the road'. You can calm down the vibes with reiterative tuning. You need the device to log rides, adjust the tune on your computer, flash it back to the bike, then log again. It gets progressively smoother each time until you've done it 6 or 8 times. The wind on your chest is coming up beside the tank. The low pressure area caused by the windshield draws it in. You can reduce it by adding fork lowers to the forks.
Attempts like this to make US big twins sporty reminds me of Erik Buell's bikes in the 80s 90s and noughties, particularly The Lightening. He was a frustrated HD engineer who wanted to make faster, great-handling bikes and he struck out on his own in 1983. Eventually HD bought the company off him, ran it for a while then closed it down in 2009. If Superbike Factory gets a Buell in its showroom it would make an interesting classic to test for that series you've got going. There were quite common in London for a while although I never owned one. Last I heard Erik was making a comeback. The look and feel of that munter you're on makes me think Indian should have got Erik to design it for them.
This is my favorite channel for all things motorcycles! All other channels just focus on regurgitating specs and marketing speak they picked up at the launch events they were invited to. You give great insights into how it’s actually riding the bikes.
I appreciate that - thank you very much! I try and point out the things that would be important to me if I were buying the bike in question (and I actively turn down invites to bike launches!)…
About five years ago when I left my GSX-R750 in for a service the dealer who are also the sole Indian suppliers in N.I. lent me an Indian scout bobber which really surprised me with the amount of power and decent handling, I'd previously ridden my friends H-D 48 which was meant to be a direct competitor but it was no contest, the Harley was gutless in comparison and handled like a barge.
A hell of a frame to hold that huge V-Twin and obviously not a stressed member, which will be one reason why the bike vibrates. Did you know, the stressed member engine was patented in 1900 by Joah ("John") Carver Phelon and his nephew Harry Rayner, and pioneered by Harley-Davidson!
I'm seeing a lot more love for the Indian motorcycles in the past year, in fact, more than Harley Davidson. I'm not sure if others have noticed, but the new Harley Davidson Pan America looks VERY similar to the Indian range in terms of the fairing/headlights. I like the Super Chief Limited which kind of reminds me of the old American CHIPS bikes from the 80's.
There is an Indian dealership in my town every time I go in there I am overwhelmed by the presence and build quality of these bikes but they are just so expensive my £5k Triumph gives me the cruiser vibe. I have had several cruisers and they have all handled well not sure what people expect, the road surfaces are crap in UK and there's speed restrictions everywhere riding cruisers makes a lot of sense to me 😊
Another great review. If I was in the market for a new bike, and I'm told I'm not lol, this is one I would certainly take a look at. I have been an admirer of the Indian brand for quite a while. Love the display too. Thank you again Mr Flyer.
A good review as ever but why did you not get above 4th gear. I think if you'd used the lower gears less revs and less vibration. I had a Victory and using the torque on low revs was the way to ride. Keep up the good work
Oh Andy, I'm feeling deeply hurt and wounded. My Readers Rides Thunderbird Storm isn't American 😪. Mine is currently for sale, but deep down, I know I'll regret not having a 1700cc muscle cruiser in the garage for those sunny day, laid back rides. Nice review mate.
Hi Andy, I read the disclaimer at 3 seconds and agree 100%. Also grew up in the 70s, (point 7). Currently enjoying the Japan series. Having owned a 2016 R1200GS, regret selling it, I'm also a "GS fan boy". Keep up the good work. Cheers from Australia.
I really like the look of that. I do likes a power cruiser. In a way, I've sort of ruined things for myself by getting a Niken. I don't know if I could go back to a conventional motorcycle.
Coming late to this review but I have to agree, it's a great looking machine. I have a several bikes in my garage and have just ridden a similar machine. I'm very tempted to replace my aging Wide Glide...decisions... Loving the channel. Cheers
My friend has the Indian Challenger Limited. I’ve ridden it a few times it’s a beautiful bike and tons of power for a cruiser. I’ve ridden most of the Harley models and they are overpriced, have good fit and finish but terrible suspension and handling, and unless you throw a bunch of money at them they lack decent passing power. The challenger is in my opinion the best “BIG” cruiser out there right now.
Great review as always Andy, I recently got my hands on a Harley Sportster and having never ridden one before I too love the torquey grunt ,and am also surprised how well it handles. Why can't other manufacturers fit a TFT like that ,needs louder pipes imo 😄
I have ridden a few of the larger touring orientated Indians and like the brand. I feel Harley Davidson are usually better finished and over in New Zealand, a better re-sale. Amongst my bikes I have a 2021 HD Sportglide 107 with stage 2 cam updates. I agree with you, the cruisers are good for the laid back rides and especially in stronger winds as the weight minimises cross wind buffeting. The group of guys I ride with are on Suzuki Hyabushas, BMW, KTMs, Triumph 765 Street Triples & Ducati so I mainly ride my R1200R or the Ducati Multistrada V2S. Like you, I enjoy taking out the 1200 Triumph Speed Twin for shorter rides in the twisties. Keep up the good work.
Did you use any of the rider modes, just been looking at the specs & there's 3 available modes-- sports standard & tour. Needs a performance exhaust methinks 👍
Fork lowers on my Road Star made as much difference as a full windshield, a must have for wind in the chest... Too me all these new bikes are very expensive...
anytime you are riding that route taking a bike out from Krazy Horse, the big roundabout you turn round at has a biker haunt 500 yards up the Brandon road. Walkers Cafe.
Another brilliant video, i do like tge look on the indian sport chief, its definitely a head turner, any more tours coming up butty i really like them videos
Nice review, whilst I have have other bikes in the garage, my Harley softail slim is the one that I’m more often drawn to take out. Cruisers are coming into their own with regards to matching traffic and road conditions we now have in the U.K., especially considering the restrictions on speed
It's a bit heavy for a bike advertising itself as a Sport model, but I'm used to big V-twins so for me it's not an issue, but for some smaller riders who are not used to manhandling a heavy bike it might present a problem, and probably impossible to lift if falls over. Other thing, change gear, they're smoother than the way you're riding it in low gears.
Great video, as always. Made me smile all the way through. That motorcycle will sell in droves around the highways of Suffolk. The top spec parts, cutting edge technology, all for the bargain price of 20K.
I have a Scout which I absolutely love. If you ride it like a cruiser, using the torque rather than the revs, there is no vibration. The gearbox needs to be run-in.
Definitely the way you're riding it. Keep it at 4k revs in 3rd gear and you get vibes, I am almost always around 2.5k revs in top. Use the amazing torque of the engine and its pure bliss, but plenty of grunt and performance when you want to have fun in sport mode.
The inspiration for the Sport Chief is without doubt Harley’s own FXR series….I myself have one, and it handles quite well….Eric Buell hand a hand beefing up the frame when they were designing it. Overall it reflects the club style which Harley and Indian both are exploiting to the extent possible. Personally I like what is on offer. Low revving well handling bikes make more sense than you will ever understand.
Always liked the Scout, but not the bigger ones, too much chromed plastic and not quite a Harley. This one seems to have nailed it though, love the instruments.
As a native American in the midwest, I believe that the absolute oversaturation of Harley Davidsons and even Indian motorcycles in previous years leads me towards the alternative of the R18 Roctane. I do have a riding history of BMWs, including two boxer motorbikes, but I like that they are a little less often seen if at all. Another odd reality is that BMW's R18 Roctane, which directly competes with the Road King Special, is about $6,000 USD less expensive sticker price. I can see if you are in Europe and are cosplaying as a biker dude from America it feels more authentic to go Harley Davidson or Indian, but here in America if I buy a Road or Street Glide I better have my name painted on the tank because I'd find myself accidentally sitting on a stranger's bike.
Sons of Missenden see it now 😮 nice bike,,bet on a wet day your back would be mucky,, nice change and a direct challenge to Harley,,☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️ from northern Ireland
I've got a Yamaharley V Star 1100 Andy. Not an Indian or HD obviously. I'm going hard to make it not look like a V Star but it's a decent bike. Powerful, reliable and cheap as chips. It was only a few grand. The price on the Merican brands is arse puckeringly high.
I noticed the specs for this machine say it has 6 gears but you only used 4 of them and rode it higher in the rev range. Is there a reason for this. Does it vibrate more at lower revs?
The brakes are set up in a manner that American cruiser riders are accustomed to. For many of them, a good strong rear brake is a must, as many Americans shun using the front brake, and with a front brake that does a very good job only when squeezed harder than on sportier bikes. Most Harleys are smoother, with less vibes, but I have always preferred the handling of the big Indians to most of the Harleys, except the Low Rider ST, my personal favorite. I am sure you will enjoy that Indian. Ride safe.
According to my calculations, 116 cubic inches is 1901cc ... co-incidentally the number that matches the first year of Indian. Numbers aside, it looks a great bike. If I had one, I'd be putting Metzeler Cruisetec tyres on it. Why? If you're not ridin' on Metzelers, you're not really ridin' :)
@@jamesschneider3828 That's interesting feedback James. I had a bad run with Michelin Commander IIIs (vibrated, just bad quality control from Michelin, who wouldn't answer my emails), so put a Cruisetec on the front, which was amazing. Then I ordered a Cruisetec for the rear, but during the waiting period (several months), the rear Michelin Commander III wore down to the canvas in one place (this tyre wasn't round from day one!), so I just had to replace it with a Marathon ME888 instead. Whilst I'm sure the Cruisetecs differ from the Marathon and are better, the Marathons are very good anyway and overall I'm very happy with the Metzelers. You're probably right, there's probably not a huge difference between the Cruisetec and Marathons, and price is always going to be an important part of the decision making. Kind regards from the south west coast of the island of Australia.
Hey There! great video, thank you. You mentioned it has a USB charging point, I guess after 8 months you're not going to remember where it is located :)?
Hmmm, 300kg+ is never going feel sporty... Perhaps this explains why you felt the brakes were a bit lacking. I'd love to see you review a fully dressed Indian tourer like the Roadmaster, now that would be awesome! Quite a contrast to your Goldwing I imagine. PS. Maybe fewer vibes if you use higher gears and take advantage of the low-rev engine torque?
I know bikes are getting more and more expensive, ive a 21 1250 GS i bought new but, when you stated the price I did say out loud a phrase i cant write on here. I do like some Indians but not keen on this one, though theyve done great job on the TFT.
Bit of a curates egg, that bike, for me. There's a lot to like - but I don't like the look of that fairing. It looks like it's sucking a lemon. And I couldn't live with that numberplate position - I'd have to devise some way of mounting it centrally, on the back of the mudguard. I'm surprised the brakes are poor. It's a heavy bike but with twin-discs and 4-pot Brembos it should stop OK. And at £20K it's in a very different price bracket to the likes of the Speedmaster, but probably up there with Harleys which I guess will be its main competition in the market. I had a quick look at accessories; putting a pair of saddlebags on it will cost over £1,500! As for the vibes - as you say, it's something one would have to experience to decide if it's a problem or 'just character'. Nice informative review as usual Andy. Ta! Vince
HD, Indian & others. Whatever you like your still a biker, I will acknowledge you. However, the only cruiser i'd consider is Rocket 3. Hey each to their own n enjoy.
Nice one Andy. It’s a looker that’s for sure. I like the front cowl and it looks like you can lean this one a bit more. I found similar vibrations on an 1200FTR I rode. Wouldn’t be able to put up with that for long. I wonder if there are panniers available to use for touring. I guess there are but how many miles out of that tank? 100? Not enough.
Hi Mr Flyer, one of your kids here 🙂. Another lovely review of a beautiful bike but unfortunately slightly outside of my budget. Any chance to see you reviewing Honda Rebel 1100T? Really curious to hear what you'll have to say about it
Very nice review. I have never ridden Indian motorbike but I think it is very similar to Harley. On a different note, are you planning to do a review on the new BMW S1000RR and compare it with the the preview model?
I would like to point out that when Andy says to buy 'the real thing' if you want a cruiser, so buy a Harley or an Indian, and not the BMW R18, that BMW is not copying Harley because the R18 has it's own history, mainly the BMW R5 from around the thirties, in other words, BMW has its own history and doesn't need to 'copy' Harley. If you use this logic then nobody should buy the Pan America, because it is just a copy of the GS, so buy a GS because it is the 'real' thing. ;-)
Morning TMF! Ah, beautiful Suffolk. And on a rather nice looking cruiser. Like you, I’m not into cruisers but I’ll definitely own and run one in the near future, just through curiosity. Liking this one. Was this a one off or have you got this for a bit longer?
@@TheMissendenFlyer Shame! I was thinking about what you said re American cruisers. Might be fun to try an old Yamaha 1300 Royal Star in one of your classic bike reviews?
Ugly at the front (headlights) and end side is the first thing I notice. No passenger or luggage possible. Fuel tank is too small. Not suited for touring. I like it that the satnav is build in. I’m not a fan of those big American bikes. For me it’s all a big too much. Too big, too heavy, too much bling. I want a more practical bike that you can use for commuting, traveling and touring with weather protection and luggage capacity.
@@TheMissendenFlyer Hi Andy, I also watched the Sport Chief review on Blockhead's channel and it appears the seat on both their demo bike and the bike you rode had stock seats on them. The Blockhead guys gave the Sport Chief a big thumbs up in many ways, so I'd be tempted to have a go on one. Best wishes from the south west coast of the island of Australia :)
Was surprised to see you ride past the Three Kings in Fornham All Saints, there at the start of the video; stayed there one time, visiting a mate on a trip to the UK about twenty years back! I rather like the look of the Indian and I'm sure that it'd be fun to ride, particularly with all the torque but, as we currently don't have them here in Australia, I guess I'll never know!
They are here in Australia & have been for a month or more. Take one out for a test ride; I reckon you will LOVE it! If I didn't have my Challenger I would own one of these little beasties in a heartbeat, they are that good.
It’s worrying me how the older you get, the more you’re liking these big boring cruisers 😅😂. There’s only so long you can keep saying ‘I’m not a cruiser man’ but liking half the fleet too. Only joking 😋. If I was forced to I’d take the BMW, but have you reviewed the Triumph rocket?
I've been to the Indian factory assembly plant in Spirit Lake Iowa in the US and you could drop food on the floor and pick it up and eat it, it's that clean. Amazing assembly line that can switch between models in the blink of an eye. Almost everything is manufactured in plants all over the US and many other countries and assembled in Iowa.
I love the style of the sport Chief but necessarily a fan of the flat colors
(Colours for you in Britain). I had a 2016 Scout and loved the bike. It handled like ( expletive ) untill I got rid of the factory Kenda made tires and put on some Metzler ME33 Marathons and was able to take tight curves at 60% faster than the stock ones.
“Built by burley men with spanner’s in a factory somewhere” 😂 that should be the next advertising strap line for Indian motorcycles.
I thought that! 😂
A bit dangerous these days, as they may not see themselves as men lol.
Beautiful bike, function and form.Well engineerd, well built better bang for ya buck than the tired Harry Davidson clothing company propaganda machine bikes.Great review,you got yourself a new subscriber. Cheers 🍺🍺🍺🇳🇿
I've had two Indians, a Scout and a Springfield Dark Horse. Both were good to ride and had a great sense of presence. The riding position of the Scout shouted 'I own the road'.
You can calm down the vibes with reiterative tuning. You need the device to log rides, adjust the tune on your computer, flash it back to the bike, then log again. It gets progressively smoother each time until you've done it 6 or 8 times.
The wind on your chest is coming up beside the tank. The low pressure area caused by the windshield draws it in. You can reduce it by adding fork lowers to the forks.
Attempts like this to make US big twins sporty reminds me of Erik Buell's bikes in the 80s 90s and noughties, particularly The Lightening. He was a frustrated HD engineer who wanted to make faster, great-handling bikes and he struck out on his own in 1983. Eventually HD bought the company off him, ran it for a while then closed it down in 2009. If Superbike Factory gets a Buell in its showroom it would make an interesting classic to test for that series you've got going. There were quite common in London for a while although I never owned one. Last I heard Erik was making a comeback. The look and feel of that munter you're on makes me think Indian should have got Erik to design it for them.
This is my favorite channel for all things motorcycles! All other channels just focus on regurgitating specs and marketing speak they picked up at the launch events they were invited to. You give great insights into how it’s actually riding the bikes.
I appreciate that - thank you very much! I try and point out the things that would be important to me if I were buying the bike in question (and I actively turn down invites to bike launches!)…
I know a lot of bikers love cruisers but not for me but each to their own and variety is the spice of life
I ride a Chieftain limited. Im glad you found the little Indian beautiful! Always nice to hear some perspective from a non cruiser rider.
Might I recommend keeping revs below 3k on your next cruiser ventures ;)
Nice bike. I think this would be a good choice if I was ever in the market for a cruiser to pose on! Great review 👍
About five years ago when I left my GSX-R750 in for a service the dealer who are also the sole Indian suppliers in N.I. lent me an Indian scout bobber which really surprised me with the amount of power and decent handling, I'd previously ridden my friends H-D 48 which was meant to be a direct competitor but it was no contest, the Harley was gutless in comparison and handled like a barge.
A hell of a frame to hold that huge V-Twin and obviously not a stressed member, which will be one reason why the bike vibrates. Did you know, the stressed member engine was patented in 1900 by Joah ("John") Carver Phelon and his nephew Harry Rayner, and pioneered by Harley-Davidson!
I'm seeing a lot more love for the Indian motorcycles in the past year, in fact, more than Harley Davidson. I'm not sure if others have noticed, but the new Harley Davidson Pan America looks VERY similar to the Indian range in terms of the fairing/headlights. I like the Super Chief Limited which kind of reminds me of the old American CHIPS bikes from the 80's.
There is an Indian dealership in my town every time I go in there I am overwhelmed by the presence and build quality of these bikes but they are just so expensive my £5k Triumph gives me the cruiser vibe. I have had several cruisers and they have all handled well not sure what people expect, the road surfaces are crap in UK and there's speed restrictions everywhere riding cruisers makes a lot of sense to me 😊
Fair point!
What Triumph do you ride?
Another great review. If I was in the market for a new bike, and I'm told I'm not lol, this is one I would certainly take a look at. I have been an admirer of the Indian brand for quite a while. Love the display too. Thank you again Mr Flyer.
My pleasure - and thanks for the laugh!
I had a lot of fun on that bike when I test rode it. I’m a Harley guy that loves Indians because they are pushing Harley to make better bikes.
Yes good point!
A good review as ever but why did you not get above 4th gear. I think if you'd used the lower gears less revs and less vibration. I had a Victory and using the torque on low revs was the way to ride.
Keep up the good work
I didn’t get above 4th gear for precisely that reason! I like to use the lower gears for max torque….
Oh Andy, I'm feeling deeply hurt and wounded. My Readers Rides Thunderbird Storm isn't American 😪. Mine is currently for sale, but deep down, I know I'll regret not having a 1700cc muscle cruiser in the garage for those sunny day, laid back rides. Nice review mate.
Ah but there’s a special exception for Triumphs…. Can’t believe you’re selling it - if I had the space I’d be very tempted….
T'bird Storm is an incredible machine!
Morning, Listening to the rain, enjoying a Beautiful part of Jolly Old England.
Good morning!
Hi Andy, I read the disclaimer at 3 seconds and agree 100%. Also grew up in the 70s, (point 7). Currently enjoying the Japan series. Having owned a 2016 R1200GS, regret selling it, I'm also a "GS fan boy".
Keep up the good work. Cheers from Australia.
Well paused!
You don't say which mode you were in, but sport mode makes it a much sportier experience!
I really like the look of that. I do likes a power cruiser. In a way, I've sort of ruined things for myself by getting a Niken. I don't know if I could go back to a conventional motorcycle.
Interesting review & bike I can totally see the appeal. I couldn't have it as my only bike but it's still very cool.
As ever, nice unbiased review… lovely bike and lovely weather … that’s my Saturday off to a good start!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Coming late to this review but I have to agree, it's a great looking machine. I have a several bikes in my garage and have just ridden a similar machine. I'm very tempted to replace my aging Wide Glide...decisions... Loving the channel. Cheers
Thank you for watching and for the kind words!
My friend has the Indian Challenger Limited. I’ve ridden it a few times it’s a beautiful bike and tons of power for a cruiser. I’ve ridden most of the Harley models and they are overpriced, have good fit and finish but terrible suspension and handling, and unless you throw a bunch of money at them they lack decent passing power. The challenger is in my opinion the best “BIG” cruiser out there right now.
Great review as always Andy, I recently got my hands on a Harley Sportster and having never ridden one before I too love the torquey grunt ,and am also surprised how well it handles. Why can't other manufacturers fit a TFT like that ,needs louder pipes imo 😄
Yes agreed on all points - particularly like the way Indian do the TFT too….
I’d look at changing the brake pads for something with more feel. I know someone who’s bought one in Australia and is besotted with it.
Might go for one next!!!! Thank you for the upload.
Any time!
Use the torque and the full gearbox Andy!!
You’re not the first to say that!
@@TheMissendenFlyer maybe it’s because it’s not loud enough?
I have ridden a few of the larger touring orientated Indians and like the brand. I feel Harley Davidson are usually better finished and over in New Zealand, a better re-sale. Amongst my bikes I have a 2021 HD Sportglide 107 with stage 2 cam updates. I agree with you, the cruisers are good for the laid back rides and especially in stronger winds as the weight minimises cross wind buffeting. The group of guys I ride with are on Suzuki Hyabushas, BMW, KTMs, Triumph 765 Street Triples & Ducati so I mainly ride my R1200R or the Ducati Multistrada V2S. Like you, I enjoy taking out the 1200 Triumph Speed Twin for shorter rides in the twisties. Keep up the good work.
Cheers James - nice collection you have!
Is there a reason we never saw you above 4th gear even at 60mph? As a cruiser surely it’s all about the low revving lazy torque?
I think thats just cause he isnt "a cruiser man" and short shifting is not really how he normally rides
You may be right!
Did you use any of the rider modes, just been looking at the specs & there's 3 available modes-- sports standard & tour. Needs a performance exhaust methinks 👍
Fork lowers on my Road Star made as much difference as a full windshield, a must have for wind in the chest...
Too me all these new bikes are very expensive...
anytime you are riding that route taking a bike out from Krazy Horse, the big roundabout you turn round at has a biker haunt 500 yards up the Brandon road. Walkers Cafe.
Yes I have seen that - next time!
I ride an Indian motorcycle too a KTM Duke 390 (made in India). .also well done on the small print Mr Missenden ~ great copy!
Well paused!
@@TheMissendenFlyer weird luck
Another brilliant video, i do like tge look on the indian sport chief, its definitely a head turner, any more tours coming up butty i really like them videos
Oh yes Mike - I’m on one now as I type this….stay tuned!
I think the black would look the best on a bike like this.
Nice review, whilst I have have other bikes in the garage, my Harley softail slim is the one that I’m more often drawn to take out. Cruisers are coming into their own with regards to matching traffic and road conditions we now have in the U.K., especially considering the restrictions on speed
It's a bit heavy for a bike advertising itself as a Sport model, but I'm used to big V-twins so for me it's not an issue, but for some smaller riders who are not used to manhandling a heavy bike it might present a problem, and probably impossible to lift if falls over. Other thing, change gear, they're smoother than the way you're riding it in low gears.
Thanks for the advice!
Great video, as always. Made me smile all the way through. That motorcycle will sell in droves around the highways of Suffolk. The top spec parts, cutting edge technology, all for the bargain price of 20K.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Great review ! I live near krazy Horse. Great place ! . Nice one Mr Flyer 👍
It is a great dealership - fabulous set up and super people….
I have a Scout which I absolutely love. If you ride it like a cruiser, using the torque rather than the revs, there is no vibration. The gearbox needs to be run-in.
Yes might just be me….
Definitely the way you're riding it.
Keep it at 4k revs in 3rd gear and you get vibes, I am almost always around 2.5k revs in top.
Use the amazing torque of the engine and its pure bliss, but plenty of grunt and performance when you want to have fun in sport mode.
Oh, and it took me around 500 miles from new for the gears to get less agricultural.
looking amazing, i love the finish on indian bikes
So do I
The inspiration for the Sport Chief is without doubt Harley’s own FXR series….I myself have one, and it handles quite well….Eric Buell hand a hand beefing up the frame when they were designing it. Overall it reflects the club style which Harley and Indian both are exploiting to the extent possible. Personally I like what is on offer. Low revving well handling bikes make more sense than you will ever understand.
Why don’t you think I can understand that out of interest?
@@TheMissendenFlyerNot you personally….everybody who sniffs at what we ride, without getting on one and trying it out.
Always liked the Scout, but not the bigger ones, too much chromed plastic and not quite a Harley. This one seems to have nailed it though, love the instruments.
That really is a good looking engine, the rest of it looks a bit clumsy in places, fairing looks like an afterthought.
As the man said, the fairing is really functional and works surprisingly well.
Great report!
Thank you!
Nice bike, did appear to be a great day to be riding. Be well
Yes it sure was!
311 kg !! Yes, it is actually a "bit heavier", than i thought 😃 Nice bike though.
As a native American in the midwest, I believe that the absolute oversaturation of Harley Davidsons and even Indian motorcycles in previous years leads me towards the alternative of the R18 Roctane. I do have a riding history of BMWs, including two boxer motorbikes, but I like that they are a little less often seen if at all. Another odd reality is that BMW's R18 Roctane, which directly competes with the Road King Special, is about $6,000 USD less expensive sticker price.
I can see if you are in Europe and are cosplaying as a biker dude from America it feels more authentic to go Harley Davidson or Indian, but here in America if I buy a Road or Street Glide I better have my name painted on the tank because I'd find myself accidentally sitting on a stranger's bike.
Yes good point - when Ive been to the US I’m always struck by the number of Harleys, over here you rarely see them….
And THAT'S why Indian are gaining popularity. People starting to realise that Indian are making some damn fine motorcycles.
Sons of Missenden see it now 😮 nice bike,,bet on a wet day your back would be mucky,, nice change and a direct challenge to Harley,,☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️ from northern Ireland
Having the vibration makes it a deal breaker for many.
Yes - I understand that!
Pricey fella, the Sport Chief, isn't it.
Not for me but a lovely looking thing.
I've got a Yamaharley V Star 1100 Andy. Not an Indian or HD obviously.
I'm going hard to make it not look like a V Star but it's a decent bike. Powerful, reliable and cheap as chips. It was only a few grand.
The price on the Merican brands is arse puckeringly high.
Yes crazy isn’t it…
I noticed the specs for this machine say it has 6 gears but you only used 4 of them and rode it higher in the rev range. Is there a reason for this. Does it vibrate more at lower revs?
Yep!
The brakes are set up in a manner that American cruiser riders are accustomed to. For many of them, a good strong rear brake is a must, as many Americans shun using the front brake, and with a front brake that does a very good job only when squeezed harder than on sportier bikes. Most Harleys are smoother, with less vibes, but I have always preferred the handling of the big Indians to most of the Harleys, except the Low Rider ST, my personal favorite. I am sure you will enjoy that Indian. Ride safe.
Cheers - you too!
Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines, don't really wanna sell my trike lol.
According to my calculations, 116 cubic inches is 1901cc ... co-incidentally the number that matches the first year of Indian. Numbers aside, it looks a great bike. If I had one, I'd be putting Metzeler Cruisetec tyres on it. Why? If you're not ridin' on Metzelers, you're not really ridin' :)
I put the me33 marathons on my scout because i wanted some money left for gas, the cruiztecs were a $100 more a pair and very similar characteristics.
@@jamesschneider3828 That's interesting feedback James. I had a bad run with Michelin Commander IIIs (vibrated, just bad quality control from Michelin, who wouldn't answer my emails), so put a Cruisetec on the front, which was amazing. Then I ordered a Cruisetec for the rear, but during the waiting period (several months), the rear Michelin Commander III wore down to the canvas in one place (this tyre wasn't round from day one!), so I just had to replace it with a Marathon ME888 instead. Whilst I'm sure the Cruisetecs differ from the Marathon and are better, the Marathons are very good anyway and overall I'm very happy with the Metzelers. You're probably right, there's probably not a huge difference between the Cruisetec and Marathons, and price is always going to be an important part of the decision making. Kind regards from the south west coast of the island of Australia.
Great review, beautiful bike
Thanks! 👍
It must be me...... When you said you've never ridden an Indian you didn't like made me instantly think of the Karma Sutra!🤣🤣🤣
It’s you….
Looks good. It wouldn’t be my first choice though
What would?
Ride camera 😩….🇨🇦😎good vid
Hey There! great video, thank you. You mentioned it has a USB charging point, I guess after 8 months you're not going to remember where it is located :)?
That is correct!
What a beautiful bike,personally I prefer Indians to harley’s,great video Andy.
Thanks 👍
Hmmm, 300kg+ is never going feel sporty... Perhaps this explains why you felt the brakes were a bit lacking. I'd love to see you review a fully dressed Indian tourer like the Roadmaster, now that would be awesome! Quite a contrast to your Goldwing I imagine.
PS. Maybe fewer vibes if you use higher gears and take advantage of the low-rev engine torque?
Lovely bike, as are all the Indians. Shame about the price. Ill be going Speedmaster 1200 myself and saving a wedge
they really couldn’t be bothered to give some extra suspension travel, an inch was all they could muster🤦♂️
otherwise, a perfectly serviceable ride
You got to enjoy life as it is not a practice for another chance
Very true….
I know bikes are getting more and more expensive, ive a 21 1250 GS i bought new but, when you stated the price I did say out loud a phrase i cant write on here. I do like some Indians but not keen on this one, though theyve done great job on the TFT.
I would like them to shrink the switch housing on the bars. Seems like a lot of manufacturers are starting to make them really big.
As long as they make the buttons large for gloved hands too….
Bit of a curates egg, that bike, for me. There's a lot to like - but I don't like the look of that fairing. It looks like it's sucking a lemon. And I couldn't live with that numberplate position - I'd have to devise some way of mounting it centrally, on the back of the mudguard.
I'm surprised the brakes are poor. It's a heavy bike but with twin-discs and 4-pot Brembos it should stop OK. And at £20K it's in a very different price bracket to the likes of the Speedmaster, but probably up there with Harleys which I guess will be its main competition in the market. I had a quick look at accessories; putting a pair of saddlebags on it will cost over £1,500!
As for the vibes - as you say, it's something one would have to experience to decide if it's a problem or 'just character'.
Nice informative review as usual Andy. Ta!
Vince
The vibrations are a low rumbly type not a high buzz type that knumb your hands.
HD, Indian & others. Whatever you like your still a biker, I will acknowledge you. However, the only cruiser i'd consider is Rocket 3. Hey each to their own n enjoy.
Nice one Andy. It’s a looker that’s for sure. I like the front cowl and it looks like you can lean this one a bit more. I found similar vibrations on an 1200FTR I rode. Wouldn’t be able to put up with that for long. I wonder if there are panniers available to use for touring. I guess there are but how many miles out of that tank? 100? Not enough.
Thanks for watching and for stopping by!
Step one.....ditch the parts bin fairing.
Again, interesting film, thank you.
Hi Mr Flyer, one of your kids here 🙂. Another lovely review of a beautiful bike but unfortunately slightly outside of my budget. Any chance to see you reviewing Honda Rebel 1100T? Really curious to hear what you'll have to say about it
Stay tuned!
You might want to blur out your speedo after over taking that tractor! 😅
The summonses are in the post, all of them 🤣🤣🤣
Very nice review. I have never ridden Indian motorbike but I think it is very similar to Harley.
On a different note, are you planning to do a review on the new BMW S1000RR and compare it with the the preview model?
No plans currently but you never know…
@@TheMissendenFlyer thanks a lot. Will hope it comes soon 😁
Nice looking bike 😊
Do you prefer this or the dark horse as you have reviewed both?
I think the dark horse for me (mostly on looks)..
I would like to point out that when Andy says to buy 'the real thing' if you want a cruiser, so buy a Harley or an Indian, and not the BMW R18, that BMW is not copying Harley because the R18 has it's own history, mainly the BMW R5 from around the thirties, in other words, BMW has its own history and doesn't need to 'copy' Harley. If you use this logic then nobody should buy the Pan America, because it is just a copy of the GS, so buy a GS because it is the 'real' thing. ;-)
Yes I agree with that last statement! Only my views of course, no more valid than anyone else’s!
The backend looks pants but it doesnt have decent mudguards :P
I think the only reasons i would buy one is the name of the engine and the fact that it is built by burley men with spanner's 😂😂
When you were overtaking the clock went red, was that red lining or just a warning to change up?
I don’t honestly know! Sorry!!
Nice review. How does it handle compared to the BMW NineT for example or other modern retro bikes?
Fine!
If only the switchgear was bigger 😂
Morning TMF! Ah, beautiful Suffolk. And on a rather nice looking cruiser. Like you, I’m not into cruisers but I’ll definitely own and run one in the near future, just through curiosity. Liking this one. Was this a one off or have you got this for a bit longer?
Sadly a one off Simon…
@@TheMissendenFlyer Shame! I was thinking about what you said re American cruisers. Might be fun to try an old Yamaha 1300 Royal Star in one of your classic bike reviews?
Beautiful... Japan cannot build these bikes like the Americans do... Regarding "the vibes" remember... It's an iron horse!
You need to ride the Harley FXLRS kicks that thing to the weeds
I’d love a go!
Have you ridden both? Otherwise you're just guessing.
@GraemeBlore yep I rode both, and the ducati diavel...I went Harley 100% soon as a rode it and I wasn't a harley fan boy then! Came from a z1000sx
Just curious if the vibes are thumping pulse like? Or Kawasaki Concours paralyze your hand in 10 minutes?
Closer to the former than the latter….
@@TheMissendenFlyer Many thanks for the clarification. Ride safely and watch out for those white vans!
Nearly twenty grand for quite a basic bike. HD are the same, their prices lately are going the wrong way too. Not for me.
Fair enough!
I would rather have a Honda 90 than that!
Do t be daft!
@@TheMissendenFlyer after my experiences with Indian it would be a better option.
this is good cruiser bike.
Ugly at the front (headlights) and end side is the first thing I notice.
No passenger or luggage possible. Fuel tank is too small. Not suited for touring.
I like it that the satnav is build in.
I’m not a fan of those big American bikes. For me it’s all a big too much. Too big, too heavy, too much bling.
I want a more practical bike that you can use for commuting, traveling and touring with weather protection and luggage capacity.
Fair enough!
Got to ask Andy as it is bugging me - what is the text frame that pops up for a nano second at the start of your videos?
It’s the small print - good pausing skills required!
@@TheMissendenFlyer very good pausing skills 🤣
Did that bike have the stock seat on it Andy? If not, I wonder what brand and model the seat was?
I think it did but I couldn’t be 100% sure…
@@TheMissendenFlyer Hi Andy, I also watched the Sport Chief review on Blockhead's channel and it appears the seat on both their demo bike and the bike you rode had stock seats on them. The Blockhead guys gave the Sport Chief a big thumbs up in many ways, so I'd be tempted to have a go on one. Best wishes from the south west coast of the island of Australia :)
The ladies love a bike with vibes… apparently 😁
What a shame about all that black finish...looks like someone hit it with a dozen cans of black rattle can paint.
Is that kilometres on the dash as it displayed 70 in a 50 and 45 in a 30
Yes, of course
Yep
@@TheMissendenFlyerClearly mph - you clearly have no respect for speed limits - they are there for a reason and you should know better
American made struggles to sell here now owing to the currency exchange rate.
Was surprised to see you ride past the Three Kings in Fornham All Saints, there at the start of the video; stayed there one time, visiting a mate on a trip to the UK about twenty years back! I rather like the look of the Indian and I'm sure that it'd be fun to ride, particularly with all the torque but, as we currently don't have them here in Australia, I guess I'll never know!
They are here in Australia & have been for a month or more. Take one out for a test ride; I reckon you will LOVE it! If I didn't have my Challenger I would own one of these little beasties in a heartbeat, they are that good.
@@GraemeBlore Thanks for that; couldn't see them on the website when I checked it. 👍
It’s worrying me how the older you get, the more you’re liking these big boring cruisers 😅😂. There’s only so long you can keep saying ‘I’m not a cruiser man’ but liking half the fleet too.
Only joking 😋. If I was forced to I’d take the BMW, but have you reviewed the Triumph rocket?
I have indeed (and I share your concern!)
@@TheMissendenFlyer I shall go rewatch! Thanks for the content as always
An American bike. You have to give the front brakes a yank. I wouldn’t expect anything else 😅😅
Fair point!
I got the pun 😂