2023 Indian Sport Chief Evaluate – First Trip

Indian pulled no punches and left little question when it got here to the bike it had in its crosshairs when creating its newest mannequin. Often at press intros, everyone knows what different mannequin(s) may very well be thought of competitors, nevertheless it’s very uncommon to have the host producer come out and say it. They normally resist the urge to speak about their rivals by title – and particularly received’t point out a selected competitor mannequin – when hyping up their new product.  

Not Indian. As a substitute of beating across the bush, Indian reps made it completely clear which producer and which mannequin they have been going after – the Harley-Davidson Low Rider S. Growth. Pictures fired. Clearly, the Harley vs. Indian rivalry is displaying no indicators of slowing down.

2020 Harley-Davidson Low Rider S Evaluate – First Trip



The weapon of selection? Indian’s new Sport Chief. A spinoff of Indian’s in style Chief platform, the Sport Chief will look immediately acquainted to followers of each the Chief and even the Low Rider S. Lengthy, slim, and athletic, the silhouette is distinctive, and the quarter fairing on the entrance is an apparent nod in the direction of the Harley. However there’s extra to it than that.

For reference, right here’s the Harley-Davidson Low Rider S (left) and ST. Pull the tank badges off and it’d be onerous to inform the distinction between them.

What Makes A Sport Chief

The recipe for a Sport Chief is fairly easy: make it deal with and cease higher than the usual Chief. To see how Indian achieved this, we truly begin in the back of the bike and work our means ahead. Particularly, the suspension. Indian partnered with Fox to provide a set of dual remote-reservoir shocks with 4(!) inches of journey – that’s an inch greater than the usual Chief. It solely has spring preload adjustability, nevertheless it’s price taking a minute to understand the truth that a cruiser has prioritized suspension journey over low seat heights and truly given the again tire an opportunity to maneuver up and down over bumps as an alternative of blowing via the shock journey instantly and jolting the backbone. If compression and rebound changes are vital to you, the Indian catalog has a set of upgraded Fox shocks that provide you with that skill.

Suspension journey, particularly within the again, is normally severely missing on cruisers. The Sport Chief’s twin FOX shocks have 4 inches of journey, which actually enhance the experience.

Aside from giving the rear finish extra compliance via extra suspension stroke, the longer shocks additionally increase the rear of the bike, pitching extra weight over the entrance finish. This accomplishes just a few issues: first, it helps the bike flip faster, which is aided additional by totally different triple clamps, giving the bike a 28º rake angle and 4.4 inches of path. This in comparison with the 29º rake and 5.2 inches of path on the usual Chief. The brand new triples even have 14mm extra offset to assist clear the gas tank. Additional, elevating the rear offers the bike extra cornering clearance. General, the Sport Chief’s 64.6-inch wheelbase makes it two inches longer than the usual Chief.

In comparison with the usual Chief, and its conventional fork and single disc setup, the Sport Chief will get a KYB inverted fork (non-adjustable) and two 320mm discs paired with radial-mount, 4-pot Brembo calipers.

Transferring to the entrance of the bike, the Sport Chief advantages from a KYB inverted fork, however with none skill for adjustment. Bringing the occasion to a cease are a pair of 320mm semi-floating discs paired with radial-mount Brembo four-piston calipers. It’s truly the identical braking system used on the Challenger, however with totally different brake pads for the Sport Chief software. Within the again are a 300mm rotor and a two-piston caliper. 

Placing the rider in a primary place to floor down some pegs, the rider triangle contains mid-mount foot controls, a solo gunfighter seat, and most significantly, six-inch risers (the usual Chief has the bars mounted straight to the triple clamp) for the bars. Relying in your physique kind or private model, 10-inch or 4-inch risers are additionally obtainable, as is a shorter seat and even an prolonged seat for a passenger (you’ll must get the passenger pegs, too). So, there is no such thing as a scarcity of choices to get the seating place to your liking. As for the quarter fairing itself, it comes normal with a 6-inch windscreen, however taller or shorter variations can be found, with or with out a flare. 

Adjustability is the title of the ergonomic recreation for the Sport Chief, and the usual 6-inch risers could be swapped for taller (10-inch) or shorter (4-inch) variations from the Indian equipment catalog. These are additionally appropriate throughout the Chief vary.

On the coronary heart of all of it is Indian’s signature Thunderstroke air-cooled 49º V-Twin engine and six-speed transmission. With the Sport Chief, you’ve the choice of getting the 111ci model, or you may step it as much as 116ci. With a bore of 103.2mm, stroke of 113mm, and an 11.0:1 compression ratio, Indian says the undersquare engine pumps out 120 lb-ft of torque. A formidable quantity, but when we’re enjoying tit for tat, Harley says its Milwaukee-Eight 117 makes 125 lb-ft. Petty variations apart, the T-Stroke options rear cylinder deactivation when at a cease to assist scale back how a lot sizzling air wafts your means whilst you’re ready for the pink gentle to show inexperienced.

The Thunderstroke engine wants no introduction. The 116ci model we examined is wholesome however feels choked with EPA restrictions.

From a mechanical standpoint, these are the Sport Chief’s massive speaking factors, however hidden inside the sporty persona of the bike are some spectacular tech like cruise management, three totally different experience modes (Touring, Normal, and Sport), and the 4-inch spherical TFT show with Indian’s Trip Command tech. Operable with the contact of a finger or via buttons on the left bar, the spherical dial retains the aesthetic that befits a motorbike just like the Sport Chief, however it’s full of fashionable capabilities. The speedo and tach dials look analog, however you even have the flexibility to swipe together with your finger to entry totally different menu screens, together with the navigation display screen that may present turn-by-turn instructions.

The 4-inch spherical TFT show is surprisingly informative, simple to make use of, and nonetheless readable even in direct daylight.

The 2023 Indian Sport Chief is available in 4 colours: Black Smoke ($18,999), Ruby Smoke ($19,499), Stealth Grey ($19,499), and Spirit Blue Smoke ($19,999).

Using Impressions

The time period sport cruiser is just a little oxymoronic if you happen to ask me, however to its credit score, the Sport Chief seems the half. Then once more, so does the Low Rider S. So far as cruisers go, I’ve lengthy had a gentle spot for those that try and have some sport chops (however don’t inform anybody that). 

Appears to be like are subjective after all, however so far as cruisers go, the Sport Chief seems fairly good.

A keyless ignition means the fob can keep in your pocket. All it’s important to do is push the button on the bar to activate the ignition. Doing so awakens the TFT show with Indian’s flashy intro and disclaimer about bike using being harmful. Thumb the starter and the Thunderstroke 116 (in our case) gargles to life. You possibly can inform a hearty and wholesome V-Twin rumble desires to come back out, nevertheless it’s clearly muffled by the Uncle Sam-mandated inventory exhaust.

Selecting it up off the sidestand isn’t terribly difficult, indicating its 685-pound curb weight is unfold out evenly. Earlier than leaving, our experience chief instructed we begin our experience within the Normal experience mode, particularly as the primary part can be via city and quite a few cease lights. It was simple to do with solely three presses of the touchscreen, and after clunking the trans into first, we have been on our means. The Sport Chief pulled away cleanly, albeit with much less eagerness than I anticipated. Curious, after solely two cease lights I gave the Sport using mode a attempt. It was clear to see why Normal was the instructed mode. In Sport acceleration is rapid, which is sweet and what I wished, however as we have been using at regular speeds and at impartial throttle, the bike had a bent to surge, making it onerous to maintain it calm and regular. It seems placing it in Normal mode and sacrificing rapid torque for a easy experience is the optimum tradeoff.  

Cruisers generally, and cruisers with sporting chops particularly, usually get criticized (and rightly so, for my part) for sacrificing shock journey in alternate for low seat heights. The Indian workforce made an enormous deal concerning the suspension on the Sport Chief, so the primary order of enterprise was to see how properly it might deal with some bumps. Fortunately Austin, Texas, the vacation spot for our experience, is stuffed with uneven roads and manhole covers. 

Three manhole covers in and I can verify the 4 inches of shock journey make an enormous distinction. Whereas different cruisers could include rear shocks however are mainly nonetheless hardtails that ship jolts up the backbone over any bump, the Sport Chief truly takes most of that hit. As suspension is meant to do. To this point, so good for the Sport Chief. 

Rolling alongside via the highways and again roads, I discovered the Sport Chief’s cockpit to be a reasonably snug place to be. The mid controls are located completely for this sort of bike, the seat is properly padded and bolstered, and the usual six-inch bar risers are a very good top. If it have been me, I might go for the elective seat to maneuver nearer to the bars, however my 5-foot, 8-inch body is scrawny with quick arms. Clearly, your mileage could differ. 

It ought to come as no shock, however cruising is what this Thunderstroke engine does properly. It’ll lope alongside in sixth gear at freeway speeds, and with all that torque, there’s no have to downshift to make a go. However right here’s the catch: peak torque comes at 2,900 rpm, however a particular engine vibration begins at 3,000 rpm and continues for a minimum of one other thousand revs. Redline hits at 5,000 rpm, so mainly, you utilize the torque if/whenever you want it however are all the time conscious of clicking the subsequent gear as quickly as you may to maintain issues easy. Others within the group who experimented with the 10-inch risers stated the vibrations have been exacerbated by the taller bars. 

Greater than only a model piece, the Sport Chief’s quarter fairing does an admirable job deflecting the wind contemplating its dimension. I hardly felt any helmet buffeting or gusts coming towards my chest. Totally different physique varieties and private preferences will doubtless attraction to the taller or shorter choices from Indian, however for me, the inventory display screen shortly turned an afterthought.

Because the experience transitioned from boring slab to extra thrilling again roads, it turned time to essentially discover the Sport within the Sport Chief’s title. Clearly, no person’s going to be mistaking certainly one of these for a sportbike, nevertheless it does really feel like a sporty cruiser. Even with a 19-inch entrance wheel and 28º rake, it turns comparatively simply. You’ll contact the peg feeler (and ultimately the remainder of the peg) down pretty shortly, nevertheless it folds up and provides you just a few extra levels of lean angle earlier than extra inflexible onerous elements begin touching down. Not that you need to be exploring these limits, however if you happen to do end up there, you’ll see the Sport Chief is fairly succesful in that regard. 

Clearly, that is nonetheless a cruiser in any case, and with such a protracted wheelbase, the Sport Chief desires to be guided easily from nook to nook, not manhandled and whipped into submission. You should use the 2 entrance brakes to regulate your velocity, and the Brembos will provide you with loads of stopping energy and respectable really feel to do it, however use all three brakes and the Sport Chief actually slows down. For those who really feel so inclined, some gentle path braking helps the lengthy bike into the corners. I discovered myself utilizing way more of the rear brake to pivot the bike within the course I wished. Both methodology works. 

Being the kind of riders we’re, motojournos typically push the bounds of what a motorbike can do – particularly in the case of cruisers. And contemplating the bike has Sport in its title, we shortly discovered ourselves navigating the twisty sections of our route at velocities the typical Sport Chief proprietor in all probability received’t discover themselves in (precise speeds are being withheld to guard the responsible). Nonetheless, anticipating what’s subsequent and utilizing the brakes successfully allowed the SC to get via the route quite a bit faster than something this massive, lengthy, and low ought to actually have any proper to. 

However that is additionally the place we discovered the bounds of the usual suspension. Ramp up the tempo and you may blow via the suspension journey at each ends, leading to a jolt up your backbone. The elective suspension upgrades within the Indian catalog will assist with this. The factor is, I discover it onerous to imagine the typical proprietor is basically going to be pushing to those ranges. Ridden inside its boundaries and for its meant use, the Sport Chief can be a good place to be.

Negatives

Does the Sport Chief have some downsides? After all. As talked about earlier than, the thrill beginning at 3,000 rpm could be very noticeable and never one thing you wish to experience with if you happen to can keep away from it. Shift early and experience the torque wave. I already talked about the Sport experience mode is just too sensitive for on a regular basis using, so maintain it in Normal and twist the throttle just a little extra. Touring mode wasn’t used as a result of, properly, there wasn’t a cause to change. 

You don’t give a lot thought to mirrors till you really need them. I couldn’t place the Sport Chief’s mirrors to see something helpful behind me.

Talking of touring, this brings us to my subsequent gripe. The mirrors are completely ineffective. The teardrop form lends itself to giving an honest view behind, however the ball and socket the mirrors are mounted on don’t enable sufficient articulation to place the mirrors in a usable vary. Loads of bikes have unhealthy mirrors, however normally, I can transfer them to a spot the place I can a minimum of see just a little of what’s behind me. With the Sport Chief, I ended up relying completely on the shoulder verify anytime I wished to see what was taking place on my six. 

If the entrance cylinder alone generates sufficient warmth to roast your thighs at a cease, we’d hate to suppose how sizzling it will get when each cylinders are firing.

Lastly, there’s the engine. Particularly the warmth. You already know concerning the buzziness, however the Thunderstroke engine additionally will get actually sizzling. Fortunately, the V-Twin will deactivate the rear cylinder at a cease (and you recognize this as a result of there’s a logo on the TFT show), however the entrance cylinder alone generates loads of warmth as it’s and may get you good and roasted if you happen to’re sitting at a pink gentle for lengthy sufficient. Then it’s finest to relaxation your proper foot on the peg to keep away from the scorching sizzling exhaust pipes.   

Pictures Fired

Indian is blatantly gunning for Harley-Davidson each likelihood it may possibly get, and the Sport Chief is the most recent tit for Harley’s tat. It’s fascinating how easy modifications like longer shocks, totally different geometry, higher suspension, and higher brakes can actually change a motorbike, however within the Sport Chief’s case, it positively offers it extra athleticism over the usual Chief. It’s an pleasant cruiser to experience, with sufficient muscle and just a little little bit of cornering chops to please somebody who’s, say, a reformed (retired?) sportbike man. It might be enjoyable to uncork one and actually let it breathe, however fortunately you are able to do that by yourself via the Indian catalog if the Sport Chief is your jam. 

After all, the massive query is the way it stacks up in opposition to its most blatant rival – Harley’s Low Rider S. Having not ridden one but it’s unattainable to reply that query. However don’t fear, this comparability is already on our to-do record. 

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