Best Touring: 2020 bikesales Bike of the Year Awards

The 2020 bikesales Bike of the Year (BOTY) Awards recognise excellence across 11 separate motorcycle categories.

And here’s how it will work. After a massive five-day test through north-east Victoria in late November – utilising the stunning roads around the picturesque Victorian township of Bright – we'll whittle our category winners down to one outright bikesales Bike of the Year winner, to be announced on Friday, December 18.

Let's continue the 2020 BOTY by announcing the Indian Challenger as the winner of our Touring category.

When Indian Motorcycle released the sporty FTR 1200, it looked like an attempt by the brand to break free of its historical cruiser roots. So in that regard, the 2020 Indian Challenger almost seemed like a step backwards for ‘America’s First Motorcycle Company’. Fortunately, it wasn’t a step backwards – it was a massive leap forwards.

The 2020 Indian Challenger isn’t just an updated or repurposed version of one of Indian’s many previous baggers or cruisers – it’s an all-new machine, with an all-new engine. And with the Harley-Davidson Road Glide directly in its sights, the Challenger means business.

Big-cube V-twin touring bikes only represent a relatively small part of the wider bike market, and most people wouldn’t see a new bagger as a first choice to reinvigorate a company, but the Challenger is certainly up to the, err, challenge. It’s a bike that maintains its historical roots, but isn’t afraid to destroy stereotypes at the same time.

You might be wondering why the Challenger has won our Touring category, rather than the Cruiser category. Well, definitions of cruisers, baggers and tourers can be broad, and they often intertwine. The Challenger is a great cruiser, but its all-round ability makes it perfect for those long multi-day jaunts along the lonesome road.

Firstly, the all-new 1768cc liquid-cooled PowerPlus 108 engine is incredibly versatile. It will happily lope along at slower speeds, but it’s also super sporty when it needs to be. There's torque in spades, with a peak of 178Nm at 3800rpm. Regardless of where you are in the rev range, the Challenger is ever-ready to surge forwards with blistering pace.

Another area where the Challenger defies its heft is handling. Most baggers are designed for straight-line performance. Sporty handling isn’t the name of the game (although the recent King of the Baggers race begs to differ!). But the Challenger handles way better that it should.

It flows through the twisties like it wants to be a sportsbike, and the solid suspension setup keeps the ride smooth and balanced. The decision to use a chassis-mounted fairing instead of the typical fork-mounted fairing is a massive plus in the handling department.

The Challenger exceeds its electronic expectations too. For a 120-year-old company that holds its history with high regard, you’d forgive Indian for not including all the electronic bells and whistles. But the Challenger is jam-packed with features.

At the centre is the updated Indian Ride Command system, which caters for phone calls, messages, navigation, music (via the impressive sound system) and much, much more. There are also three ride modes, keyless ignition, cruise control, electronic windshield, and keyless lockable saddlebags.

Since we tested the Challenger earlier in the year, Indian has added Apple CarPlay to all models that feature the Indian Ride Command system. We're keen to see what this adds to an already solid package.

For those long tours, there is plenty to like in the comfort and storage departments. The electronically adjustable windscreen provides near-total protection from the wind, while the upright (but not too upright) riding position will suit long-distance rides. There is also plenty of storage with two roomy saddlebags, and smaller compartments for phones and wallets in the cockpit. And with a very generous pillion seat, which would be further complemented by a back rest, you're all set to take your partner or mate along for the ride.

The Challenger comes in two variants – the Limited and the Dark Horse. The differences between the two are mainly aesthetic, with the Dark Horse (as shown in this article) offering a menacing blacked-out colour scheme in place of the Limited’s brighter and more traditional appearance.

We tested the Dark Horse back in April, but for our BOTY test we’ll be piloting the Limited, allowing us to showcase the contrast between the two variants.

Pricing for the 2020 Indian Challenger starts at $39,595 for the Dark Horse, with the Limited raising the stakes to $39,995. Yeah, the Challenger ain’t cheap. But when you take into account the belting performance, supreme handling, and comprehensive standard equipment, the price is a little more justified.

Is the Indian Challenger the best bagger that America’s First Motorcycle Company has ever produced? Quite possibly. One thing’s for sure – Indian has crafted a great-performing, great-handling, and super-practical machine that makes long-distance touring a whole lot of fun. Congratulations, Indian Motorcycle.

Related reading:
2020 Bikesales Bike of the Year Awards
2019 Bikesales Bike of the Year Awards: in summary
2018 Bikesales Bike of the Year Awards: in summary
2017 Bikesales Bike of the Year Awards: in summary
2016 Bikesales Bike of the Year Awards