New 2022 Indian Chief range unveiled

Indian Motorcycle has pulled the covers off its new 2022 Indian Chief range, comprising the Indian Chief Dark Horse, Indian Chief Bobber Dark Horse, and Indian Super Chief Limited.

Slotting into the American manufacturer's cruiser line-up, the three bikes mark a century since the introduction of the very first Indian Chief, which arrived in 1921 and went on to become one of the most iconic models in the company's storied history.

The three newcomers see a tubular steel frame wrapped around Indian's Thunderstroke 116 engine – a 116-cubic-inch (1890cc), air-cooled, 49-degree V-twin.

Indian doesn’t quote a maximum power output for the donk, but it does say it's good for a claimed 162Nm at just 3200rpm, so it's certainly not lacking for grunt.

That's pushing a wet weight of 304kg in the Chief, 315kg in the Chief Bobber, and 335kg in the Super Chief Limited.

Simplicity and timeless style are at the heart of these new models, said Ola Stenegard, Indian Motorcycle's Director, Industrial Design.

"We wanted to capture a timeless look that never goes out of style, and looks beautiful whether naked or fully dressed," he said.

"We also wanted to keep it simple enough to allow riders' imaginations to take flight with personalisation options and possibilities. Ultimately, this is a bike that evokes emotion with simple mechanical styling and raw American muscle. It's a pure riding machine."

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The new range begins with the Indian Chief Dark Horse, a stripped-down and minimalist cruiser with numerous blacked-out components, including that centrepiece Thunderstroke 116 V-twin. The model will launch in Black Smoke, Alumina Jade Smoke and Stealth Gray.

The model features 19-inch cast wheels, drag handlebars, mid-mount controls, a slim headlight bucket and a solo bobber seat, and it's priced from $25,995 ride away.

The Indian Chief Bobber Dark Horse, with its chunky tyres, spoked rims and bobbed fenders, harks back to the post-war era American V-twins, and will launch in Black Smoke, Titanium Smoke and Sagebrush Smoke.

Features include 16-inch wheels, mini-ape handlebars, fork and shock covers, and a large headlight bucket. It's priced from $27,495 ride away.

That leaves the Super Chief Limited, which comes equipped with a quick-release windshield and black leather saddlebags, and is ready for the long haul. It will launch in Black Metallic, Blue Slate Metallic, and Maroon Metallic.

Features include 16-inch spoked wheels, a large headlight bucket, fork covers, full chrome exhaust, traditional cruiser handlebars and highway boards. It's priced from $29,995 ride away.

Don't be fooled by the heritage looks, though – there's no shortage of tech in these new additions, with the array of features including keyless ignition, ride modes, cruise control, rear cylinder deactivation (which stops the rear cylinder when the bike is stopped, to reduce heat for the rider) and LED lighting.

The full trio also receives a RIDE COMMAND touchscreen, offering a wealth of ride and trip data, turn-by-turn navigation, audio streaming, phone call management and more.

"The Indian Chief is a truly iconic motorcycle and what better way to celebrate its 100th birthday than unleashing an entirely new Indian Chief line-up," said Mike Dougherty, Indian's President of Motorcycles.

"These bikes capture the mechanical simplicity and attitude of classic American V-twins, yet bring it all forward with modern sophistication and features. We could not be more thrilled to bring this new platform into our line-up."

The new line-up will also launch with a long list of factory accessories, allowing owners to customise their bike's look to their liking.

Indian Motorcycle Australia says it expects the first examples of these new Indian Chief models to arrive in Australian dealerships in May or June 2021.