Indian Challenger Dark Horse

Indian Challenger Dark Horse – $39,595
Indian Challenger Limited – $39,995

Indian claim to have redefined the bagger with their new Indian Challenger platform.

Powered by the recently revealed Indian PowerPlus engine, Indian’s first liquid-cooled large displacement motor (1769 cc/108 cubic-inch, 60-degree, four-valve, overhead-cam V-twin) packs a best-in-class 122 horsepower and 178 Nm of torque at 3800 rpm.

The new powertrain also features a six-speed transmission with true overdrive and an assist clutch to reduce clutch effort. Hydraulic valve lash adjusters and camshaft chain tensioners lower maintenance costs.

The Challenger features all the premium touring amenities riders expect from Indian Motorcycle, including electronic cruise control, full LED lighting, a long-haul seat, ABS, keyless ignition, and weatherproof saddlebags with over 68 litres of storage space.

In addition, a modern and aggressively styled chassis-mounted fairing sits over the Challenger’s inverted front suspension.

A cast aluminium frame and hydraulically adjustable Fox rear shock give the rear end a reasonable 114 mm of travel.

High-spec radially-mounted Brembo brakes provide the stopping power to haul up the Challenger which in Dark Horse form weighs in at 361 kg dry, while the Limited registers 365 kg on the scales.

Challenger’s chassis-mounted fairing features an adjustable windscreen with nearly three inches of travel and adjustable air vents – delivering unprecedented rider protection from all elements.

LED running lights, a central headlamp, and a redesigned and modernised Indian Motorcycle head-dress adorn its front fender.

Reid Wilson – Vice President of Indian Motorcycle

“The Indian Challenger delivers a new level of performance for riders who understand that the seemingly small details make a huge difference. Our mindset was to leave no stone unturned and deliver a bagger that exceeds the standards in categories like power, handling, comfort, and technology.”

Challenger Limited and Challenger Dark Horse are equipped with a Bosch IMU to add cornering pre-control to the dynamic traction control and ABS, as well as Drag Torque Control.

These models also feature Indian RideCommand, the largest touch-screen info-tainment system on two wheels.

The Challenger’s seven-inch Ride Command system features weather and traffic overlays, key vehicle information, Bluetooth and USB mobile pairing, and an all-new quad-core processor for faster response. In standard form the system boasts 100 watts of power.

Riders can customise the bike’s throttle mapping by selecting one of three ride modes, including Rain, Standard and Sport – resulting in one motorcycle with three distinct performance personalities.

Each ride mode has been engineered with its own distinct traction control setting to align with each mode’s specific throttle mapping.

The 2020 Indian Challenger Dark Horse is available in Thunder Black Smoke, Sandstone Smoke, and White Smoke. The Indian Challenger Limited is available in Thunder Black Pearl, Deepwater Metallic, and Ruby Metallic.

For its inaugural year, the Challenger lineup is accompanied by a variety of Indian Motorcycle Authentic Accessories that allow riders to upgrade their ride based on their preferences. With the Indian Challenger Rogue Collection, riders can and add premium blacked-out styling with a gloss black mid-rise handlebar, a tinted curved windshield and gloss black front highway bars.

For an added measure of comfort over longer hauls there’s the Indian Challenger Tour Collection, including a 406 mm (16-inch) windshield, quick release passenger sissy bar, passenger backrest and passenger floorboards, an extended reach seat, rider backrest pad, infinite highway pegs and pinnacle heel shifter. Riders can also upgrade the Indian Challenger’s audio experience with the PowerBand Audio Plus system, which delivers exceptional sound and clarity from high-output fairing and saddlebag speakers that are 50 per cent louder than the Challenger’s stock audio system.