With the introduction of the 2020 Challenger, Indian has made no bones about its intended target: Harley-Davidson’s Road Glide. The Challenger enters the arena with an all-new 60-degree V-twin, a six-speed transmission, and a suite of electronic rider aids. On the Cycle World dynamometer, the liquid-cooled, solid-mounted PowerPlus 108 engine cranked out more horsepower and torque than a 114ci Road Glide Special. And on the street, the PowerPlus delivers right-now acceleration with less engine heat funneled to the rider. A snout-nosed fixed fairing is perhaps the Challenger’s defining aesthetic feature, with standard touring goodies—adjustable windshield, locking saddlebags, electronic cruise control, three ride modes—going a long way toward sealing the deal.

Three trim levels are available: Challenger, Challenger Dark Horse, and Challenger Limited. The base model ditches navigation but keeps antilock braking. Dark Horse and Limited bring Indian’s “Smart Lean Technology,” which uses a Bosch IMU to enable cornering ABS and traction control as well as Drag Torque Control. “The Challenger strikes an excellent balance between engine performance and chassis precision,” Andrew Cherney wrote after riding the Challenger Limited, “with the added benefit of well-calibrated electronics capped off with pleasing ergonomics.”