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2022 Indian Pursuit Limited | Road Test Review

2022 Indian Pursuit Limited
Style, performance, weather protection, comfort, safety, infotainment – whatever a rider and passenger might need, the Pursuit provides. Photos by Kevin Wing.

Indian Motorcycle, now in its ninth model year since being relaunched under Polaris ownership, continues to expand its range of American-made V-Twins. Less beholden to tradition than Harley-Davidson, Indian has embraced liquid-cooled engines since the introduction of the Scout for 2015. The air-cooled Thunderstroke V-Twin is still available on Indian’s Chief, Springfield, and Roadmaster models, but radiators are found across the Scout cruiser and FTR street-tracker lineups, and the liquid-cooled PowerPlus 108 powers the Challenger bagger that was introduced for 2020.

2022 Indian Pursuit Limited
Measuring 8.2 ft from stem to stern and weighing 925 lbs ready to ride, the Pursuit is large and in charge, just as an American luxury tourer should be.

Joining the Challenger for 2022 is the new Pursuit, a full-dress tourer that adds a top trunk with an integrated passenger backrest, vented fairing lowers, a Touring Comfort seat, and heated grips. The Pursuit is available in two versions: the Limited with chrome finishes (starting at $29,999) and the Dark Horse with blacked-out finishes (starting at $30,999).

Both versions of the Pursuit are available with a Premium Package ($3,000) that adds electronically adjustable rear suspension preload, Smart Lean Technology, integrated driving lights, and heated seats for both the rider and passenger.

2022 Indian Pursuit Limited
The optional Premium Package includes Smart Lean Technology, which adds an IMU and cornering-adaptive ABS and traction control.

After the Pursuit was unveiled in February and first shown to the public at Daytona Bike Week, Rider got early access to a Premium-equipped Pursuit Limited for a full test.

Power to the People

All of Indian’s liquid-cooled V-Twins share some common elements. They have a 60-degree spread between their cylinders, four valves per cylinder, and high compression ratios. Unlike the DOHC valvetrain on the Scouts and FTRs, however, the PowerPlus 108 in the Challenger and Pursuit models uses SOHC with hydraulic cam-chain tensioners and hydraulic valve lash adjusters.

2022 Indian Pursuit Limited
The PowerPlus 108 is a liquid-cooled, 60-degree V-Twin with SOHC, four valves per cylinder, and a 11.0:1 compression ratio that makes 113 lb-ft of torque and 108 hp at the rear wheel.

Indian went all-in with full conventional liquid cooling on the PowerPlus rather than the partial liquid cooling used on Harley-Davidson’s Twin-Cooled Milwaukee-Eight. The frame downtubes on the Challenger and Pursuit wrap around a large black radiator to downplay its presence. Full liquid cooling improves an engine’s thermal efficiency, more effectively manages temperature in a wide range of conditions, and more easily satisfies increasingly stringent emissions regulations. Liquid cooling also improves performance, fuel efficiency, and comfort for the rider and passenger. Heat radiating from the engine was not a problem during our test of the Pursuit. Like other Indian tourers, it has rear-cylinder deactivation that kicks in when the bike is idling at a stop.

Displacing 108 cubic inches (1,768cc), the PowerPlus churns out a claimed 128 lb-ft of torque and 122 hp at the crank. After working its way through the clutch, gearbox, and belt final drive, engine output was 113 lb-ft of torque at 3,500 rpm and 108 hp at 5,600 rpm at the rear wheel on Jett Tuning’s dyno. Even though a pair of big 4.25-inch pistons work through a 3.8-inch stroke, the PowerPlus revs eagerly from idle all the way to its 6,500-rpm redline.

2022 Indian Pursuit Limited
Taking advantage of 31 degrees of cornering clearance.

The Pursuit Limited with the Premium Package weighs a hefty 925 lbs, but it pulls away from stops authoritatively and lunges forward with quick twists of the throttle. Three ride modes – Standard, Sport, and Rain – adjust the throttle-response map to suit conditions or preferences. When it’s time to just cruise, shifting into the overdriven top gear of the 6-speed constant-mesh transmission turns the engine at a relaxed 2,500 rpm at 60 mph, and cruise control is standard.

We’re In This Together

A big part of what distinguishes the Challenger from the Pursuit is the latter’s top trunk with integrated passenger backrest. A two-up test ride with my wife, Carrie, earned high marks for the passenger accommodations. The wrap-around backrest provides both comfort and security, and we both appreciate the firm-yet-supportive Touring Comfort seat. There are separate seat heating controls for the rider and passenger, with individual buttons on the left side of the seat. The Ride Command+ touchscreen can also be used to activate seat heaters as well as the heated grips.

2022 Indian Pursuit Limited
The plush Touring Comfort seat has separate rider and passenger heating.

Carrie also liked the passenger footboards and speakers integrated into the backrest, which allowed her to hear and feel the music when we cranked up the tunes on the 100-watt audio system. What she was less enamored with, however, was the amount of bobblehead helmet buffeting she experienced when the electric windscreen was in the lowest position. That’s my favored position for the windscreen because it allows me to see over the top of the screen while providing wind protection for my upper torso.

2022 Indian Pursuit Limited
Shown in its highest position, the windscreen is adjustable over a 3-inch range. The large vent at the bottom smooths airflow when the screen is raised.

Raising the windscreen to its highest position did a fantastic job of reducing turbulence and noise for both of us, though it forced me to look through the screen. With the screen all the way up, there’s an almost eerily quiet bubble within the cockpit, isolating the rider and passenger and allowing the thrum of the engine to be the primary soundtrack. In all, the windscreen has 3 inches of height range, so riders and passengers of different heights and preferences should be able to find a happy medium. On warmer days, opening the vents on the lowers and inner fairing boosts airflow through the cockpit.

2022 Indian Pursuit Limited
Large vents in the fairing lowers can be opened or closed on the fly.

The electronically adjustable preload on the Fox rear shock is a convenient, useful feature. On the Ride Command+ touchscreen, the rider can make various selections: Solo or Passenger; No Luggage, Light Luggage, or Heavy Luggage; and Trunk or No Trunk. The rider’s weight can also be set, and preload can be fine-tuned up or down in two increments. The system is user-friendly and makes a significant difference in how the Pursuit handles under different load conditions. (It’s available as a $999.99 accessory upgrade on all 2022 Challenger and Pursuit models.)

2022 Indian Pursuit Limited
The Pursuit’s radiator is discreetly tucked between the frame’s downtubes. Brembo 4-piston front calipers squeezing 320mm rotors are serious anchors, and ABS is standard.

Like the Challenger, the Pursuit delivers a comfortable ride and responds predictably and confidently to steering inputs when pushed hard through a series of corners. With 31 degrees of cornering clearance, the footboards rarely scrape the pavement. The frame-mounted fairing takes weight off the handlebar, giving the big tourer a neutral, low-effort steering feel when applying pressure to the grips.

Part of what gives the Pursuit such poise is its modular aluminum backbone frame, which is shared with the Challenger and similar to the one used on the Chieftain. The frame is rock-solid, and despite having hundreds of pounds of engine, motorcycle, humans, and gear trying to twist it out of shape, it remains as unmovable as a mountain. This is the same frame that, by regulation, must be kept in stock form for the MotoAmerica King Of The Baggers series, where Indian’s factory team regularly wins races on Challengers.

2022 Indian Pursuit Limited
Thanks to a stout modular aluminum backbone frame, the Pursuit feels solid and responsive at speed and in corners. The suspension is tuned more for comfort than performance, but it holds its own with the rear preload set properly.

A pair of 4-piston Brembo front calipers clamping down on big 320mm rotors and a 2-piston Brembo rear caliper squeezing a 298mm rotor provide prodigious stopping power. The front brake lever is adjustable for reach, but the clutch lever is not. ABS and TC are standard on the Pursuit, and the Premium Package goes a step further by adding an IMU that enables lean-angle-adaptive ABS and TC as well as drag-torque control.

Take It with You

The Pursuit’s top trunk is the same one used on Roadmaster models, and it’s a cavernous cavity that holds two full-face helmets. It’s also lined with durable gray fabric and has a 12-volt power socket. If the Pursuit’s 35 gallons (132 liters) of storage aren’t enough, the trunk has a chrome luggage rack on top for lashing down your kitchen sink. The keyless fob has buttons to lock and unlock the luggage remotely. There are also two small, non-locking storage cubbies in the fairing, and the one on the right has a USB port for connecting/charging a smartphone or thumb drive. Under a flip cover on the dash is another 12-volt outlet, so none of your devices should feel neglected.

2022 Indian Pursuit Limited
The Pursuit’s trunk has 17 gallons (64.4 liters) of cargo capacity – enough to hold two full-face helmets. A 12-volt power socket keeps devices charged as you ride.

Indian’s Ride Command+ is one of the most feature-rich and flexible infotainment systems available. Mission control is the 7-inch touchscreen, which has multiple screens for vehicle info, settings, navigation, music, and more. A button on the left switchgear allows riders to quickly toggle through the screens, and there are five prominent buttons below the screen to directly access specific functions. Vehicle/trip info screens can be customized by moving or swapping out different widgets, so you always have your favorite stats in one place.

Ride Command+ includes tire-pressure monitoring, Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay integration (which requires an iPhone and a Bluetooth headset), GPS navigation with turn-by-turn directions and built-in points of interest, and a customizable route builder that allows riders to add up to 100 waypoints. Pursuit owners get a free year of Ride Command+ connected features, which include live traffic and weather overlays, as well as a new vehicle locator feature that works through Indian’s Ride Command mobile app or website (after the first year, a Ride Command+ subscription costs $99.99/year).

2022 Indian Pursuit Limited
Indian’s Ride Command+ is one of the best infotainment systems available. Electronically adjustable rear preload can be set using the touchscreen.

Hot Pursuit

Baggers and tourers are big motorcycles that can pack in a lot of performance, technology, and amenities. But without style they’d be like the shy, pimply-faced teenager at the school dance, staring at his shoes with no one to dance with. Going down the road in a big American V-Twin needs to make a visual statement.

Leading the charge is a trim fender topped with an illuminated Indian headdress ornament. The fender hugs a 19-inch Sport Contrast Cut cast-aluminum front wheel, which is paired with a 16-incher out back, and both are shod with Metzeler Cruisetec tires. The Pursuit’s massive, wide-mouth, frame-mounted fairing has a large central LED headlight flanked by LED running lights/turnsignals.

2022 Indian Pursuit Limited

GEAR UP
Helmet: HJC RPHA 1N
Jacket: Highway 21 Winchester
Gloves: Highway 21 Trigger
Pants: Highway 21 Blockhouse Jeans
Boots: Highway 21 Axle Shoe

Outboard of the frame downtubes are highway bars and large fairing lowers that provide leg protection and house driving lights (on Premium-equipped models). Toward the rear are tip-over bars just ahead of the saddlebags, and the bags have black-plastic panels that protect their leading edges and lower sides from rock chips and other road debris.

Our Pursuit Limited test bike is painted a lustrous Deepwater Metallic blue (it’s also available in Black Metallic and Maroon Metallic over Crimson Metallic; the Pursuit Dark Horse is available in four other colorways), and it has just the right amount of chrome and Indian badging. The Pursuit’s trunk gives it more visual weight at the rear to balance out the large fairing. Overall, it’s a handsome machine that will make owners feel a sense of pride and confidence when going down the road or parking it on bike night.

2022 Indian Pursuit Limited
Total storage capacity on the Pursuit is 35 gallons (132 liters), including the top trunk, saddlebags, and storage cubbies in the front fairing. There’s also a luggage rack on the trunk, and accessory storage compartments can be added to the fairing lowers.

It’s About the Ride

With my feet up on the floorboards and my fundament down in the diamond-stitched seat, taking a long ride on the Pursuit reminded me of why we picked the Challenger as our 2020 Motorcycle of the Year. As we wrote in our September 2020 issue:

“The PowerPlus 108 … offers the performance, comfort, and lower emissions that only liquid cooling can provide, and delivers impressive grunt and smoothness with the rumbling character that makes V-Twins so popular. That plus muscular, modern style, an excellent chassis, a full range of available technology, generous wind protection and luggage capacity, and plenty of long-haul comfort make the Challenger a really great bagger.”

The Pursuit advances to the Challenger platform with greater touring capability, improving comfort, convenience, weather protection, and cargo capacity. Equipped with the Premium Package, the Pursuit Limited and Pursuit Dark Horse are fully featured and leave nothing on the table. Still, motorcyclists love to customize their machines. Indian’s accessories include performance upgrades, speakers for the fairing lowers and saddlebag lids, a Pathfinder Adaptive LED headlight, and more.

2022 Indian Pursuit Limited

Passionate V-Twin fans love to debate the merits of air versus liquid cooling, loud versus quiet exhausts, different vee angles, and much else, but the bottom line is that cruising down the road on a big V-Twin touring bike is deeply satisfying. The pulse and relaxed cadence of the engine, the solidity and security of a heavyweight machine, and the go-all-day comfort always feels good and never gets old. Whether it’s a short ride to blow out the cobwebs or a weeklong journey to escape and explore, the enjoyment is a renewable resource, the gift that keeps on giving. Life, liberty, and the Pursuit of happiness.

2022 Indian Pursuit Limited Specs

Base Price: $29,999
Price as Tested: $33,749 (Premium Package, Deepwater Metallic color)
Warranty: 2 yrs., unltd. miles
Website: indianmotorcycle.com

ENGINE
Type: Liquid-cooled, transverse 60-degree V-Twin, SOHC, 4 valves per cyl.
Displacement: 1,768cc (108ci)
Bore x Stroke: 108.0 x 96.5mm
Compression Ratio: 11.0:1
Valve Insp. Interval: N/A (self-adjusting)
Fuel Delivery: EFI, 52mm dual-bore throttle body x 2
Lubrication System: Semi-wet sump, 5-qt. cap.
Transmission: 6-speed, cable-actuated assist wet clutch
Final Drive: Belt

CHASSIS
Frame: Modular cast aluminum w/ engine as stressed member & cast aluminum swingarm
Wheelbase: 65.7 in.
Rake/Trail: 25 degrees/5.9 in.
Seat Height: 26.5 in.
Suspension, Front: 43mm inverted fork, no adj., 5.1 in. travel
Rear: Single shock, electronically adj. for spring preload (as tested), 4.5 in. travel
Brakes, Front: Dual 320mm floating discs w/ 4-piston radial calipers & ABS
Rear: Single 298mm floating disc w/ 2-piston caliper & ABS
Wheels, Front: Cast, 3.50 x 19 in.
Rear: Cast, 5.00 x 16 in.
Tires, Front: 130/60-B19
Rear: 180/60-R16
Wet Weight: 925 lbs
Load Capacity: 460 lbs
GVWR: 1,385 lbs

PERFORMANCE
Horsepower: 108 hp @ 5,600 rpm (rear-wheel dyno)
Torque: 113 @ 3,500 rpm (rear-wheel dyno)
Fuel Capacity: 6.0 gals.
Fuel Consumption: 34 mpg
Estimated Range: 204 miles

2022 Indian Pursuit Limited

The post 2022 Indian Pursuit Limited | Road Test Review first appeared on Rider Magazine.
Source: RiderMagazine.com

2022 Indian Pursuit Limited and Dark Horse | First Look Review

2022 Indian Pursuit

Indian Motorcycle defied the bagger status quo when it released the liquid-cooled Challenger in 2020. The firm wasted little time proving the PowerPlus V-Twin’s performance potential with a victory at the inaugural King of the Baggers Invitational. In 2022, Indian is back for a second helping, but this time, the company takes the Challenger’s winning formula and adds a dash of grand-touring pedigree with its new Indian Pursuit models for 2022.

Powered by the same 108 cubic-inch, liquid-cooled PowerPlus V-Twin found in the Challenger, the new Pursuit Limited and Pursuit Dark Horse pump out 122 horsepower and 128 lb-ft of torque (at the crank). While the Pursuit and Challenger share the same power figures, Indian engineers have refined the power delivery for improved low-speed drivability.

2022 Indian Pursuit

The similarities don’t end there though. The Pursuit’s frame-mounted fairing carries over the same blocky design language that made the Challenger such an eye-catcher. However, Indian’s design team adds extra wind protection to the new long-distance tourer in the form of lower leg fairings and a tall, adjustable windscreen. The team further enhances that cushy cockpit with a Touring Comfort seat and heated grips. Combined with the Pursuit’s new power-locking cargo trunk, total storage capacity (with saddlebags) increases to 35 gallons of capacity, enabling  long-haul travelers to embark on far-flung adventures.

Tech also improves cockpit accommodations, with a 7-inch TFT display and Indian’s Ride Command+ system putting Apple CarPlay and turn-by-turn GPS navigation at riders’ fingertips. Both the Pursuit Dark Horse and Pursuit Limited come with complimentary one-year Ride Command+ access, including live traffic and weather map overlays, and the brand’s new vehicle locator.

2022 Indian Pursuit

For customers fully committed to pounding the pavement, Indian also offers a Premium Package for both Pursuit variants. The top-of-the-line trim adds an electronically adjustable Fox rear shock, enabling riders to adapt the suspension to various loads directly from the infotainment control system. The electronic preload system is standard on all Premium-trim Pursuits, and the feature can be added as an upgrade to any Challenger from Indian’s parts and accessories catalog.

2022 Indian Pursuit
2022 Indian Pursuit Limited

Along with the up-spec Fox monoshock, the Premium Package includes a Bosch six-axis IMU that manages cornering traction control and lean-sensitive ABS, as well as a heated seat and integrated lower fairing driver lights.

With chrome finishes, the Pursuit Limited retails for $29,999, while the Pursuit Dark Horse’s satin black accents raise the MSRP to $30,999. In Premium Package form, the Pursuit Limited jumps to $32,999, while the Pursuit Dark Horse’s sticker price increases to $33,999.

2022 Indian Pursuit
2022 Indian Pursuit Dark Horse

Of course, Indian’s after-purchase catalog includes a wealth of Pursuit accessories such as storage and audio options for the lower fairings, various Spirit Lake Luggage pieces, LED lighting upgrades, and mid-rise handlebars.

The post 2022 Indian Pursuit Limited and Dark Horse | First Look Review first appeared on Rider Magazine.
Source: RiderMagazine.com