Indian powers up new V-twin engine

A new engine 1769cc (108cu) will propel the biggest and baddest bagger to wear an Indian badge to date.

The PowerPlus engine pumps out 121hp (90kW) and 178Nm, giving what Indian says is class-leading performance.

The liquid-cooled 60-degree V-twin engine uses hydraulic valve lash adjusters and hydraulic camshaft chain tensioners to minimise time spent on maintenance and comes with three ride modes so riders can adjust throttle mapping on the fly.

The PowerPlus – the name is borrowed from the Indian PowerPlus bikes build from 1916 to 1924 – will first see service in the new Indian Challenger – a fixed-fairing bagger that is set to be launched by the end of October.

Indian says the PowerPlus was tested for more than 1.6 million km of simulated riding, validated by another 400,000km of real-world testing.

Company vice-president, John Callahan, says the engine is a tribute to the engineers.

“You simply cannot deliver the ultimate bagger without an engine that stands head and shoulders above anything else in its class, and that was the motivation behind the PowerPlus,” Callahan says.

“We developed the most sophisticated V-twin powerplant in the industry, and then we spent month after month, hour upon hour, putting it through the most intense paces to ensure it could take whatever we threw at it. The end result is something truly special.”

• Engine Displacement: 1769cc
• Power: 120.6hp (90.1kW) at 5500rpm
• Torque: 178 Nm at 3800rpm
• Maximum Engine Speed: 6500rpm
• Architecture: 60-degree V-twin, liquid-cooled powerplant
• Timing System: Overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder
• Fuel System: Electronic fuel injection with 52mm throttle bodies
• Compression ratio: 11:1
• Transmission: Six-speed with true overdrive, constant mesh
• Clutch: Assist clutch