2018 Indian Roadmaster. Photos by Kevin Wing.
Editor’s Note: This Quick Read is part of our Luxury Touring Bike Comparison, which you can read here.
Even though we?re only in the fourth model year since Polaris re-launched Indian Motorcycle, it feels like the brand has been going strong for much longer. Polaris? experience creating the Victory brand from scratch certainly helped it hit the ground running with Indian, leaving a checkered past of restarts for the historic brand far in the rearview mirror. Even though the decision made economic sense, we were disappointed when Victory was shut down early last year. Fortunately, the best of Victory?s DNA?strong V-twins, solid chassis and good handling?lives on in the new-generation Indians. Contrast stitching and conchos add a touch of style, and separate rider and passenger seat heating is standard. The voluminous trunk and saddlebags have central locks.
Indian?s air-cooled, 49-degree Thunder Stroke 111 V-twin is a workhorse, churning out a big helping of torque for 13 models in the lineup?every bike without ?Scout? in its name, in fact. We?ve been consistently impressed with the Thunder Stroke?s heavily chromed, flathead styling and downward firing exhausts, though it can be loud under hard acceleration and radiates significant engine heat on hot days. The engine sends power to the rear wheel through a 6-speed transmission with a cable-actuated wet clutch and belt final drive, and the non-linked triple-disc brakes are e...