by Carter Jones from https://www.bizjournals.com
Indian Motorcycle is commemorating the 100th anniversary of its influential Indian Chief models with three reimagined bikes for its 2022 lineup.
Indian is the vintage motorcycle brand owned by Medina, Minnesota-based motorsports company Polaris Inc. (NYSE: PII), which revived and positioned the brand as a direct competitor to Milwaukee-based Harley-Davidson Inc. (NYSE: HOG). Indian introduces the 2022 Chief models three weeks after Harley-Davidson introduced its lineup for 2021. Indian’s 2021 model rollout came back in September.
According to the motorcycle maker, Indian’s new Chief, Chief Bobber and Super Chief were designed with a simplistic and mechanical aesthetic that harkens back to the glory days of American motorcycles with a timeless, simplistic steel-tube frame.
“The Indian Chief is a truly iconic motorcycle and what better way to celebrate its 100th birthday than unleashing an entirely new Indian Chief lineup,” said Mike Dougherty, 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 lineup.”
The lineup features dual exhaust, LED lighting, keyless ignition, cruise control and adjustable ride modes: sport, standard or tour.
The Chief starts at $14,499 and provides a stripped-down riding experience, due to analog gauges and the option to not have ABS.
The Chief Bobber has bulky tires on spoke wheels, a larger front end and a solo bobber seat that pay homage to post-war bikes.
Meanwhile, the Super Chief includes a saddlebags and a windshield for more versatility on longer rides.
“We wanted to capture a timeless look that never goes out of style, and looks beautiful whether naked or fully dressed,” said Ola Stenegard, director, industrial design for Indian. “We also wanted to keep it simple enough to allow riders’ imaginations to take flight with personalization 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.”
Indian Motorcycle is also debuting a new line of Chief apparel with shirts and hats that coincide with each model.
